beer tours ireland

Smithwicks Experience Kilkenny

Barrel Yard

• The Final Draft

Smithwick's Experience: Kilkenny Brewing Tour & Beer Tasting

Visit smithwick’s and experience ireland’s famous ale.

Immerse yourself in the story of Smithwick’s, told as only a local knows how. Where 300 years of history combine with extraordinary brewing innovations, to create the Smithwick’s tour – an experience like no other.

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Visit and experience Ireland’s most popular ale

Immerse yourself in the story of Smithwick’s, told as only a local knows how. Where 300 years of history combine with extraordinary brewing innovations, to create an experience like no other.

Whether seeking to tap into Kilkenny's vibrant music scene, immerse oneself in local festivals, or simply savour Ireland’s famous ale, there is no better place than the Smithwick’s Barrel Yard.

Get hands on, get involved

Nothing beats getting stuck in and experiencing some hands on experiences. As part of your tour, you’ll have the chance to mill the malt, stir the mash and smell the hops, just as you would in the brewing process.

Get hands on and get involved

Take a step back in time.

Get ready to experience a tour with more than a few surprises along the way. Our local guides are waiting to introduce you to some very memorable characters, as you’re transported back in time.

Moving portraits & virtual monks

Get ready to experience a tour with more than a few surprises along the way. Our local guides are waiting to introduce you to some very memorable characters, as you’re transported back in time on the Smithwick’s Tour.

Gateway to Ireland’s Ancient East

Here in the heart of historic Kilkenny, we’re less than 90 minutes from Dublin. We’re less than a 10 minute stroll from the iconic Kilkenny Castle, and are very proud to be part of Kilkenny’s famous Medieval Mile.

Things to do in Kilkenny

Here in the heart of historic Kilkenny, we’re less than 90 minutes from Dublin. We’re just a 7 minute stroll from the iconic Kilkenny Castle, and we’re an integral part of Kilkenny’s famous Medieval Mile.

Our Ales & Beers

Our experience is the perfect way to enjoy a pint of your favourite Smithwick’s Ale, right in the heart of Kilkenny. Why not take the opportunity to upgrade your ticket and taste our red ale, pale ale and Kilkenny beer? (You might even have a new favourite by the end of your tour.) Soft drinks provided for under 18s.

Our experience is the perfect way to enjoy a pint of your favourite Smithwick’s Ale, right in the heart of Kilkenny. Why not take the opportunity to upgrade your ticket and taste our red ale, pale ale and Kilkenny beer? (You might even have a new favourite by the end of your tour.)

Soft drinks provided for under 18s.

• Purchasing Terms & Conditions
• Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny, 44 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny, Ireland, R95 VK54 +353 56 778 6377
• [email protected]

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GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

Welcome to the home of guinness.

If you want to truly immerse yourself in the unique history, heart and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer, there’s only one place to go – its home. The Guinness Storehouse contains seven unforgettable floors of sights, sounds and sensations in a building that has been brewing beer for over 250 years. Hopping with entertainment, this experience takes you on an immersive experience from grain to glass. From the artful brewing process to the iconic Guinness advertisements that have become pillars of Irish culture throughout the globe, there are so many special things to see. The 9,000 year lease signed and sealed in 1759 by Arthur Guinness himself is so impressive, it’s hard to find something even more special to top it. But there is.

VISIT THE STOREHOUSE

Exceptional Restaurant Experiences At The Guinness Storehouse

Plan Your Visit To Ireland’s Biggest Visitor Experience

Buy Tickets Now

THE GRAVITY BAR

Doubled in size in 2020, it provides you with unparalleled 360-degree views over one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A high point in Dublin, Gravity Bar must be experienced to be believed. With so much to see and do on the floors beneath it, it’s also the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy your complimentary pint of Guinness.

KEEP UPDATED WITH ALL THINGS GUINNESS

THE 10 BEST Ireland Beer Tastings & Brewery Tours

Beer tastings & tours in ireland.

• Cultural Tours
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• Up to 1 hour
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• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out

• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Dublin Out-Off-Tourist-Path Pub Tour and Tastings with a Local

2. Dublin Coastal Craft Beer & Seafood Trail with a Local

3. Afternoon Dublin Mountain Pub Tour(small group pub crawl max 15)

4. Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Pub Tour small group tour max 15 people

5. Classic Irish Pubs Private Tour of Dublin: Live Music, Beer and Nightlife

6. Dublin Private Guinness and Jameson Whiskey Tour with Transfers

7. Dublin Mountain Pub Tour ( small group Pub Crawl max 15 people)

8. Original Dublin Pub Tour

9. Guinness Pint Tour in Dublin with Tasting

10. Dublin Sights and Pints (Walking Tour)

11. Sip and Stroll Whiskey History Walking Tour in Dublin

12. Killarney Jaunting Car Tour with Craft Brewery Beer & Pizza

13. Rock Cashel Kilkenny & Smithwick’s Experience Semi Private Tour.

14. The Black Experience Pub Tour

15. Visit 3 Dublin Pubs on your Irish Storytelling Trail

16. Galway Gourmet Adventure: A Culinary Odyssey

17. Killarney Food Tour

18. Dublin Pub Tour (Walking Tour)

19. Private Dublin Pub Odyssey: Storytelling, and Pub Culture

20. Dublin VIP Roe & Coe Whiskey Class and Drinks Whiskey Trail Tour

21. Pubs, Pints & History: Beer & Whiskey Dublin Walking Tour

22. Best of Irish Food & Beer Tour with Jameson Irish Whiskey Demo

23. 2-Day Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin

24. Aran islands pub tour from Galway. Inisheer/Inishmore. Guided.

25. Connemara & Mayo pub tour from Westport. Mayo. Private guide. Full day.

26. Private Irish Whiskey & Galway Spirits Tour from Galway

27. Connemara Pub Tour from Galway City. Co Galway. Guided. Half Day.

28. Silicon Docks Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Dublin

29. Traditional Irish Food and Dublin Old Town Private Tour

30. Private Tasting of Irish Beer and Dublin Old Town Tour

What travellers are saying.

Craft Brewery Tours and Taprooms in Ireland: By County

Ireland has always been known for their whiskey and dark beer.  Of course a trip to Guinness and Jameson is usually on the top of many tourist’s list when visiting the country.  Ireland is slowing starting to build their market in craft beer and spirits.  Here you will find some of the best brewery tours and taprooms in Ireland. I composed a list of craft breweries by county in Ireland.

One thing I always research when visiting a new country or city it the local craft beer and distilleries. I love to see what the locals have to offer, and often find something new that I find to love. Our favorite breweries are small craft breweries with a hometown feel.

***The legislation is due to change this year which will allow for taprooms, so check with each brewery to see their quickly updated process on this.

County Carlow

Carlow brewing company (o’hara’s).

Muine Bheag Business Park, Royal Oak Rd, Moneybeg, Muine Bheag, Co. Carlow, Ireland

Tours  take place on Friday afternoons at 2pm and are by prior appointment only Special Tour Bookings  We are happy to receive specific group tour bookings outside of our regular tour day by prior arrangement where possible.

Bookings  Email [email protected] or telephone: +353 (0)59 9720509

Duration  The tour takes approximately one hour

Rates    Adults: €10.50 per person.  Group rate: €7.50 per person (groups of 10+)

Clare County

Dooliner beer.

Hotel Doolin, Rivervale, Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland

Doolin Beer is actually part of Fitzpatricks? Pub many people eat here without realizing that craft beers are made specifically for this restaurant. This location is the perfect place to stop of you are visiting the Cliffs of Moher or Burren area. You can read more about where to eat and drink in this town here .

Burren Brewery

17 Rooska, Rathbaun, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, V95 X5Y6, Ireland

Opening times from March to 4th November 2018 :

Monday to Friday from 12pm to 4pm & 6pm to 9pm     

Saturday & Sunday from 12pm to 9pm

We will be closed for food from 5th November 2018 until March 2019.

For group lunches, group dinners, beer or whiskey tastings for groups, please contact us directly on  [email protected]

County Cork

Blacks of Kinsale

Knocknabohilly, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland

Check here for brewery tour dates and times.

Franciscan Well Brewery 

14 N Mall, Sunday’s Well, Cork, Ireland

Brew Pub (food offered 7 nights a week) :

Opening Times

– Monday to Thursday 13:00 – 23:30

– Friday and Saturday 13:00 – 00:30

– Sunday 13:00 to 23:00

9 White Deer

Killeen, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, Ireland

Tours are available from  Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5.00pm. For larger group tours outside of this time please call us to discuss availability. Tours are 15 euros.

To find out more about our brewery tours check here

Cotton Ball Brewing Company

18 Old Youghal Rd, Mayfield, Cork, T23 AE78, Ireland

Opening hours

Monday:  12.00pm – 11.30pm Tuesday:  12.00pm – 11.30pm Wednesday:  12.00pm – 11.30pm Thursday:  12.00pm – 11.30pm Friday:  10.30am – 12.30pm Saturday:  10.30am – 12.30pm Sunday:  12.30pm – 11.00pm

Contact for Tours: Telephone: 021 4503096 Email:  [email protected]

Munster Brewery

Unit 2F, Youghal Business Park, Parkmountain, Youghal, Co. Cork.

No taproom for now, tours are €10 per person including beer and samples. No credit card payments possible as we have no techie thing to process them. Contact to schedule a tour.

Call Us :087 9878 171

E-mail : [email protected]

Unit 3, Coolnanave Industrial Park, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Ireland

No taproom at the moment

Mountain Man Brewing

RENANIRREE, CORK, IRELAND

Murphy’s Brewery

MURPHY’S BREWERY, LEITRIM STREET, BLACKPOOL, CORK, IRELAND

Unfortunately they are unable to facilitate brewery tours as the Murphy’s Brewery is a fully functioning brewery.

There are however plans to showcase the Corks brewing tradition, which includes Murphy’s, of course, in the Visitor Center in Cork City. This is due to be complete in 2017/18.

Rising Sons Brewery

Cornmarket St, Centre, Cork, T12 WK27, Ireland

Hours: 12pm till late 7 days a week

Book your Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in advance at [email protected]  or call Frank on 086 1426145  // €12 per person

West Cork Brewing

Casey’s Hotel, Church Strand, Ballylinchy, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

Beers are served at Casey’s Hotel :

Open 7 days a week

Food served from Noon to 2.30pm and from 6pm to 9pm

Food served all day on Saturdays and Sundays

WEEKLY TOURS AT 3PM FRIDAYS, BEGINNING MAY 4TH!

BOOKING IS A MUST!

  00353 86 356 5166

   [email protected]

€12 per person, limited numbers will apply. Over 18s only.

County Donegal

Kinnegar brewing.

K2, Ballyraine Industrial Estate, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland

Tours cost €10 and you must book in advance on 074 910 3890. Please give us a couple of days notice!

Tours proceed subject to six or more participants booking in. We will inform you in good time (minimum 24 hours in advance) if the tour is not going ahead.

December 2018 — Booking essential!

Thursday 13 December, tbc 5pm Thursday 20 December, 5pm Thursday 27 December, tbc 2.30pm Saturday 29 December, tbc 2.30pm

Donegal Brewing Company

No tours or taproom

Muckish Mountain Brewery

Guinness brewery and storehouse.

St James’s Gate, Dublin 8, Ireland

Hours: Everyday 9:30am -5pm

I usually try to stay away from the main tourist attractions but the history of Guinness beer and its family has always fascinated me. I 100% believe a trip to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is worth it. You can read more about our tour at the Guinness Storehouse here .

Porterhouse Brewing Company

45 Nassau St, Dublin, D02 RP20, Ireland

Hope Craft Brewery

Unit 1 Howth Junction Business Park, Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin, D05 H2K2, Ireland

Tour Price = €15 / person

Tour Times Available:

Thursday – 5pm

Friday – 5pm

Saturday – 2pm & 4pm

Book Tours Here .

JW Sweetman

1-2 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland

Mon-Thur  10am – 11:30pm Fri-Sat 10am – 2:30am Sun 12pm – 11pm

Tours: Available on request for groups of 10 or more.

Rascal’s Brewing

Goldenbridge Estate, Tyrconnell Rd, Inchicore, Dublin, D08 HF68, Ireland

Not only have a taproom they also serve pizzas here.

WED: 4pm-10pm THU: 4pm-10pm FRI: 4pm-10pm SAT: 12pm-10pm SUN: 12pm-10pm  Kitchen closes at 10p

Tours coming in 2019

Breweries in Dubiln guest tapping, no taproom open to the public yet:

5 Lamps Brewery

Barrelhead Brewery

Brown Paper Bag Project

Four Provinces Brew. Co.

Stone Barrel Brewing

Wood Key Brewing

County Galway

Independent brewing.

Unit 2C, Carraroe Industrial Estate, Barraderry, Carraroe, Co. Galway, Ireland

***Permanently Closed***

Galway Hooker Brewery

Deerpark, Oranmore, Co Galway, Ireland

No taproom or tours

Galway Bay Brewery

Unit 12B, Monivea Rd, Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland

N-17 Brewery

Tuam, Co. Galway

County Kerry

Killarney brewing company.

Muckross Rd, Dromhale, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Hours: Thursday- Saturday 4pm -11pm

Tour: Run Between March 17th and October 31st. 12 Euros person. Book here in advance or in person.

We also got a chance to tour Killarney Brewing Company during our last stop along the Ring of Kerry (you can read about our stops here ). We got to try the many brews that Killarney Brewing Company has to offer. When we went the brewery was only licensed to serve beers with a purchase of a tour. But they were hoping to have that changed with a food service option as well. You can read about our tour at Killarney Brewing Company here.

Dingle Brewing Company

Spa Rd, Grove, Dingle, Co. Kerry, V92 HP08, Ireland

We got to visit Dingle Brewing a few years back. Only serving one beer, a cream ale, this is still a great stop to rest while on your drive around the Dingle Peninsula while in Ireland.

**I was just informed that this brewery has closed due to conflicts with the family of Tom Crean, who their beer was name after, whom is also the former home of the building their brewery resides in.

Tig Bhric & West Kerry Brewery

An Riasc, Ballyferriter, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, V92 P681, Ireland

Winter hours Monday – Wednesday closed Thursday 10.30am – 10pm- Friday & Saturday 10.30am – 12.00 midnight  Sunday 11.30am – 12.00 midnight

Brewery Tours  Monday – Friday 12.30pm & 3pm  Book in advance

Stay at the brewery for your nightly accommodation here .

Crafty Divils

Crafty Divil’s Brewing Co. are currently brewing their beers in Kelly’s Mountain Brewery, while they are setting up their own Brewery on the Banks of the Laune in Killorglin, Co. Kerry.

Torc Brewing Company

No taproom or Tours

County Kildare

Rye river brewing company/mc gargles.

Dublin Rd, St. Wolstans, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Tours: Staring at 20 euros a person.

Classic Tours and Premium Tour both last approx. 90 minutes and however those on the Premium Tour will receive a McGargles Pint Glass upon exit.  Book a tour here .

Tour begins from our front reception at Rye River Brewing Co at 6:30pm sharp on Fridays and 3pm sharp on Saturdays.

We advise all visitors to arrive roughly 10 minutes early to put on the required safety gear supplied by Rye River Brewing Company.

Remember you will be in a brewery so dress warm!!

Trouble Brewing

No tours or taproom. Find their beers here .

Kelly’s Mountain Brew

No tours or taproom.

County Killkenny

44 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, Ireland

Open year round, closing only from December 24th– 26th each year. Hours vary slightly by season.

• March – October Open daily from 10.00am – 6.00pm (last tour at 5.00pm).
• November – February Open daily from 11.00am – 5.00pm (last tour at 4.00pm).

Tours are one hour for around 16 euros, tickets include a complimentary pint. Book here for a discount.

• July & August   Every 20 minutes, 10.00am – 5.00pm
• March – June & September – October  Every 30 minutes, 11.00am – 5.00pm
• November – February   On the hour, every hour, 11.00am – 4.00pm

Highbank Orchards

HIGHBANK ORGANIC FARM, CUFFESGRANGE, KILKENNY, R95 N1KC, Ireland

Not a brewery but Cider

Open 9am-5pm Mon to Friday Sat by Appointment Only

Schedule tours here .

Sullivans Brewing Company

16 John Street Lower, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 CC8N, Ireland

• Monday from 3pm-9pm
• Tuesday from 3pm-9pm
• Wednesday from 3pm-9pm
• Thursday from 3pm-10pm
• Friday from 12pm-11.30pm
• Saturday from 12pm-11.30pm
• Sunday from 12:30pm-9pm

County Laois

12 acres brewery.

12 Acres Brewing Company, Clonmore, Killeshin, Co Laois, Ireland

No tours or taproom, list of where to find their beers here .

Ballykilcavan Brewery

Ballykilcavan House, Ballykilcavan, Stradbally, Co. Laois, R32 PY89, Ireland

Tours: around 13 euros and person. Click here to book and check availability.

County Leitrim

Carrig brewing company.

The Food Hub, Drumshanbo, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Price: 19 euro per person Duration 1 hr/ 1.5 hrs 

A complimentary beer of your choice included  Transport to and from carrig brewery within a 20 kilometre radius for groups of ten or more included  All tours must be pre-booked by email or telephone  Contact us advance for brewery availability 

Telephone: 071 964 0566 between 9:00am- 5:30pm Monday -Thursday 9:00am – 4:30pm Friday Email: [email protected] 

County Limerick

Jj’s craft brewing company.

Glenfield Rd, Ardyoul, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, Ireland

by appointment only, contact Email:  [email protected]

County Longford

St. mel’s brewing.

UNIT 4 LONGFORD ENTERPRISE CENTRE LONGFORD BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY PARK, BALLINALEE, Templemichael, Longford, N39 K520, Ireland

No tour or taproom

County Louth

Jack cody’s brewery.

Unit 1, Boyne Business Park, Termon Abbey, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland

Boyne Brewhouse

Platin Road, Drogheda, Co. Meath, Ireland

Opening in 2019, tours coming soon

Carlingford Brewing Company

The Old Mill, Dundalk Road, Maddox Garden, Riverstown, Co. Louth, Ireland

Taproom is closed during the winter months, in Spring and summer they will open to the public on Saturdays and have wood fire pizzas for purchase.

Only on Saturdays, at 2:30pm

Tour and Tasting 18 euros

Tour, Tasting and Wood Fired Pizza 30 euros

Book your tour and check availability here .

County Mayo

Reel deel brewing.

Knockalegan, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Open: Mon–Fri 9.30am–6:30pm

Viewing by Appointment: [email protected]

West Mayo Brewing

Hilltop Farm, Drumneen, Islandeady, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 XY91, Ireland

No taproom or tours, contact for list of local pubs to purchase their beer.

Mescan Brewery

Cartoor, Kilsallagh Lower, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 FW70, Ireland

Available Tours:  

 2019: February 22,  April 22,  May 6, June 3, June 29, July 15, July 27, August 9, September 6

All tours start at 16:00. Cost €15. Book tour here .

Achill Island Brewery

Achill Island, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

***Possibly Closed***

County Meath

Bru brewery.

OAKTREE BUSINESS PARK , UNIT 5 SITE 6, TRIM, CO. MEATH C15 RW10, IRELAND

KITCHEN HOURS:

Monday – Tuesday  4-9 Wednesday – Thursday 4-10 Friday 12-10 Saturday 12-10 Sunday 12-9

Menu and reservations here .

County Monaghan

Brehon brewhouse.

Dunelty, Co. Monaghan, Ireland

Monday through Saturday 9:00 am- 5:30 pm

County Offaly

Bo bristle brewing.

Unit 5 Banagher Enterprise Centre, Church St, Kylebeg, Banagher, Co. Offaly, Ireland, Church St, Kylebeg, Banagher, Co. Offaly, Ireland

County Roscommon

Black donkey brewery.

Srah Business Park Ballinlough, Srah, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, F45 KN60, Ireland

County Sligo

Lough gill brewing company.

Cleveragh Business Park, The Back Ave, Cleveragh, Sligo, Ireland

Currently Tours are offered Saturdays 12- 3pm and. Tour groups are limited to a maximum of 10 guests. Tours cost €10 per person. Booking is essential so contact us today at [email protected]  to book your tour to avoid disapointment!

White Hag Brewery

The White Hag Brewing Company Unit 1, Block 2, Ballymote Business Park, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, Ireland

Tours not currently available

County Tipperary

White gypsy brewery.

Templemore Enterprise Centre, Railway Rd, Kiltillane, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, E41 W110, Ireland

Restaurant hours: Monday- Friday 9am to 6 pm

County Waterford

Dungarvan brewing company.

Westgate Business Park, 5, Parkeenaflugh, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland

Our Friday evening Tour and Tasting sessions will resume in May 2019.  Dates will be available in the coming weeks and you can book your spot under Brewery Tours.

Tours can be booked online.

Group bookings (minimum 10 people) can be arranged for Saturdays, email us to check availability. 

Metalman Brewing

Unit 14, Tycor Business Centre, Tycor, Waterford City, Co. Waterford, X91 HP89, Ireland

No open for tours or taproom

County Wexford

Clever man irish craft beer (drew fox brewing company).

Drew Fox Brewing Company Unit 8, West Point Business Pk Clonard, Wexford, Ireland

Yellow Belly Beer

YellowBelly Beer, Whiterock Hill, Pembrokestown, Wexford, Y35 HW27, Ireland

County Wicklow

Manor brewing.

The Bell Tower, Manor Kilbride, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, W91 Y9F6, Ireland

Book in advance. [email protected]

Wicklow Wolf Brewery

Galtrim Park, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Opening in 2019

O Brother Brewing

KILCOOLE, CO. WICKLOW, IRELAND

Not ours or taproom

Other Information

The craft beer market in Ireland is quickly growing. I will do my best to keep this up to date. If you have any information please pass it on to me and I will do my best to update the post. Many breweries in Ireland are not quiet suited for tap room and tours, but many of them plan to open to the public within the 2019 and the coming years. Many breweries will send you lists of stores and pubs where you can find their craft brews (just ask or visit their site). Always double check as they change their hours often to align with tourism seasons.

For More On Ireland

One Day on the Ring of Kerry

A Perfect 48 Hours in Dublin

A Dingle Peninsula Drive Itinerary

Where to Eat and Drink in Doolin

Where to Eat and Drink in Killarney

Visiting Killarney Brewing Company

Visiting Guinness Storehouse and Tour

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The Most Decorated Craft Brewery In The World

We’re beer lovers and beer makers first and foremost. A team of 63 people in Co. Kildare, with different palates and tastes, who work together to make great beer, create new flavours and never settle for just ‘okay’.

WITH OVER 150 AWARDS TO OUR NAME, WE PRIDE OURSELVES AS PROGRESSIVE BREWERS , SHAPING INGREDIENTS WITH TECHNIQUE AND SKILL ON OUR JOURNEY AS ONE OF IRELAND’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT CRAFT BREWERIES.

Jigsaw DDH IPL

Introducing our light and crisp dry-hopped India pale lager bursting with a myriad of mosaic hops! YCH have brought three different mosaic products to piece together this IPL: YCH 701 & 702 Trial extracts and classic T90 Mosaic Fit together perfectly in this beer!

PIÑATA PARTY SMOKED PINEAPPLE SOUR,

Introducing the electrifying PIÑATA PARTY SMOKED PINEAPPLE SOUR, a collaborative concoction with Cervecería Morenos that promises a fiesta in every sip!

With a punchy 5.0% ABV, this brew combines the tangy sweetness of pineapple and lime with a hint of smoky heat from habanero chili. It’s like smashing open a piñata filled with tropical goodness! Salud!

Miami J 2024!

Introducing the Miami J IPA 2024 Edition: a triumphant return for our 10-year anniversary celebration! Crafted with passion and precision, this Juicy IPA is a testament to our dedication to quality and innovation.

Find Out More Here!

Introducing Smashed Clogs!

You’ve met the brewers, now its time to meet our last seasonal of the year: Smashed Clogs, a DIPA we smashed out with Jopen Bier… Nu Breekt Mijn Klomp!

Give Some, Get Some Christmas Gift Appeal

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support of Rye River Brewing Company over the past ten years. We would like to once again pay it forward this holiday season by bringing back our annual Give Some, Get Some Christmas gift appeal.

Find Out More Here

Scotach Wee Heavy Barrel Aged Seasonal

We are a wee bit excited to introduce our latest seasonal: An Irish beer of Scottish descent! Here is our Barrel Aged nod to the Wee Heavy.

Find Out More Here! 

Jandal Joose NZ IPA

Summer is here and we’re stoked to be brewing with heaps of New Zealand hops. Nelson Sauvin and Motueka have this NZ IPA BURSTING with tropical, citrus and white wine notes. Slap on some sun cream, slip on the old jandals and crack open this JOOSEY SUP!

Straight From The Source

Pulling flavour and personality straight from the source, we sat down with The Irish Times recently to discuss the importance of achieving quality and consistency throughout our annual releases. #StraightFromTheSource

Revelery Red Lemonade Sour

This gose is bursting with the inspirations of red lemonade: sour lemons, tart raspberries and sharp cherry! Crack open this refreshing seasonal sour and revel in our red lemonade!

BRCGS Approved

We are delighted to announce that we have received the highest grade possible: AA+, in our recent BRCGS Audit.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and our team who have worked tirelessly to make this possible. Being awarded a AA+ standard is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into producing our high quality Irish craft beer.

WHERE WE ARE BASED

RYE RIVER BREWING COMPANY DONAGHCUMPER DUBLIN ROAD CELBRIDGE W23 AX07 CO. KILDARE

+353 1 6287255

[email protected]

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Brewery Tours in Ireland by County

I am not a big beer drinker. I just never really warmed up to the stuff. (Perhaps I didn’t have enough fun in college?). My husband on the other hand loves to try new brews when he gets the chance. Of course that means he usually tries a few samples while we are in Ireland.

During one of our trips, we were in a fabulous pub in Letterkenny, Donegal, The Brewery Bar, and Joe asked the bartender for a recommendation. He ended up with a wit beer from the White Hag Brewing Company located in Sligo. He was in love. He actually still talks about this beer. It got me thinking…

There are dozens of local breweries in Ireland. Many of them offer tours including the big ones like Guinness Storehouse (of course!) and small microbreweries that you’ve never heard of. I thought I would do a little digging and compile a list of brewery tours in Ireland (at my own peril—Joe will want to see them all).

Of course all of them end with at least a taster, which is always fun (just make sure you drink responsibly and have a designated driver—Ireland has a lower alcohol limit than the US at .05%). Now the list:

Brewery Tours in Ireland

County Carlow:

Carlow Brewing Company Ltd (O’Hara’s) Tours are Friday afternoons at 1:30 by appointment or contact for additional times if you have a group Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland

County Cork:

9 White Deer Tours are Monday-Friday 9:30 am- 5 pm. Book in advance. Killeen, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, Ireland

Blacks of Kinsale Book in advance. Tours beginning May 2017 Farm Lane, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland

Cotton Ball Brewing Co. Book in advance (includes, pizza, t-shirt & branded glass!). 18 Old Youghal Rd, Mayfield, Co. Cork, Ireland

Munster Brewery Book in advance. Their website says: Phone, text, email, tweet, pm, dm or write us an old fashioned love letter (I think I like their style already!). Payment in cash. Unit 2F, Youghal Business Park, Parkmountain, Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland

County Donegal:

Kinnegar Brewing Book in advance. See website for specific dates and times. Payment in cash. Aughavannon, Rathmullan, County Donegal, Ireland

County Dublin:

Guinness Storehouse Buy tickets online for a discount and a set entry time or in person when you arrive. St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland

County Kerry:

West Kerry Brewery Book in advance. An Riasc, Ballyferriter, (Dingle,) Co. Kerry, Ireland

Killarney Brewing Company Book tickets online. Tours resume March 2017. Muckross Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland

County Kildare:

Rye River Brewing Company Tour runs at 6:30 PM on Fridays or 3:00 PM on Saturdays. Book tickets online. Donaghcumper, Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland

County Kilkenny:

Highbank Orchards (Ok not a brewery but Cider, which way more up my alley) Book in advance. Highbank Farm, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Smithwicks Beer Tour Tours operate daily from March – October 10 am – 6 pm (last tour at 5 pm), from November – February 11am – 5pm (last tour leaves at 4 pm). Recommended to buy (discounted) ticket online in advance. 44 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

County Limerick:

JJ’s Craft Brewing Company Call or email to book tour. Kilmallock Enterprise Centre, Bruree Road, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, Ireland

County Louth:

Jack Cody’s Brewery Check website for updated tour times and dates. Book in advance online. Unit 4 Boyne Business Park, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland

Boyne Brewhouse Tours starting in 2017. Contact for more information. Lagavooren, Platin Rd., Drogheda, Co. Meath, Ireland.

County Monaghan:

Brehon Brewhouse Tours operate Tuesday-Friday: 10 AM-4 PM. Book in advance. Contact for more information. Dunelty Inniskeen, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, Ireland

County Roscommon:

Black Donkey Brewery Tours operate Thursday & Friday: 10:30 AM -12:30 PM.  Book in advance. Srah, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, Ireland

County Sligo:

Lough Gill Brewing Company Tours operate Wednesdays 5 PM – 7 PM and Saturday 12 PM- 3 PM or private tour can be arranged.  Tours last one hour. Book in advance. Unit 1, Cleveragh Business Park, Cleveragh, Co. Sligo, Ireland

County Waterford:

Dungarvan Brewing Company Book in advance. Westgate Business Park, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland

Metalman Brewing Tours operate on Fridays at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 PM. Email to book in advance. 14 Tycor Business Centre, Tycor, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Ireland

County Wexford:

Clever Man Irish Craft Beer (Drew Fox Brewing Company) Book in advance. Unit 8, West Point Business Park, Clonard, Wexford, Ireland

County Wicklow:

Manor Brewing Book in advance. The Bell Tower, Manor Kilbride, Co. Wicklow, W91 AE09, Ireland

Wicklow Brewing Email to book in advance. Galtrim Park, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Wicklow Brewery Book online in advance at 5:00 PM daily. Main Street, Redcross, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments below. Happy touring!

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My husband’s favorite beer in all of Ireland was from Co. Galway… Galway Hooker. I think it was a Pale Ale. He still talks about it all the time too!

Yes! I saw that one while digging up all the tours in Ireland. Joe hasn’t tried it yet (but there is still time!). I will have to let him know. :-)

Stephanie: unlike you I had more than my fair share of beer while in college! Maybe that’s why I hardly touch the stuff anymore. However, while in Ireland, I am content to order a pint (Guinness of course) and be happy with it. Funny, in my younger days I couldn’t stand it–my what I missed! Myself, I prefer the whiskey tours–I’ve done Kilbeggan, Tullamore and Jameson (Middleton). Great post for the craft beer drinker, though!

Another for your list: YellowBelly Beer. The brewery is now beneath their pub Simon Lambert & Sons in Wexford. They are building a new brewery. I’m not sure of the completion date but I imagine they’ll have tours when it’s done. The pub has a great selection on tap from many breweries as well as a good variety in bottles and cans and imports. The owners are very friendly. We discovered them on our month-long trip last summer. Their web site is http://simonlambertandsons.ie/

Oh thanks so much Nancy! I’ve not stumbled across them yet. Another one for the list. :-)

Stephanie, I can attest to the deliciousness of Kinsale’s IPA (KPA). Next time you’re in Cork treat Joe to one. And if you wanna send one my way, that’d be cool too :)

Oh I will definitely tell Joe. IPA is Joe’s favorite type–I am sure he’ll appreciate the tip! :-)

My husband’s favorite beer was Kilkenny from Kilkenny. He has only found it one place in CA so far but is still searching. Maybe a reason to go back!

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• CREATE YOUR CUSTOM TOUR

Welcome to Ireland Hops

Ireland Hops allows you to choose your own route and we will help you to build in unique, memorable experiences along the way. Ireland Hops is the little sister of Brewery Hops of Ireland, which was set up in 2012 by Mia Tobin.

Mia has developed exceptional itineraries all over Ireland to showcase Ireland’s growing craft food and drink industry.

Unique tours of Ireland

Whilst growing her beer and whiskey tours, Mia was repeatedly asked for private tours to cater for families and small groups who wanted to tour Ireland in their own way. As a National accredited tour guide, she loves nothing more than helping people to design the perfect itinerary to suit their passion.

Special interests groups catered for include heritage and castles, golf, hiking or off the beaten track routes as a highlight.

Ireland Hops puts you in the driving seat when it comes to a bespoke tour.

So gather friends and family to join forces to make it a memorable trip to Ireland.

The Perfect Combination

Ireland Hops puts you in the driving seat when it comes to a bespoke tour. So gather friends and family to join forces to make it a memorable trip to Ireland.

Beer Lovers Rejoice

We bring you to the best craft beer breweries and whiskey distilleries in Ireland.

Small Group Tours

With a max of 16 guests per tour, you’ll enjoy a more immersive experience.

Fully Guided Tours

We aim to give ALL our guests the best quality experience of Ireland.

Cosy Accomodation

You’ll stay in locally owned B&B’s and get to meet the locals.

What our happy customers say!

Wonderful custom tour!

This was my second trip with Mia, having done an 11-day organized group tour in 2017 that left me wanting to see more of this beautiful island! This time Mia developed a personalized 7-day tour of both the Republic of Ireland and the North, for our group of 10 family members and friends. Mia is an extremely knowledgeable guide with a relaxed and friendly demeanour that makes touring with her a pleasure! She offers great alternatives to the planned itinerary if the weather is not cooperating, and knows the best places to eat in every town at day’s end. I highly recommend touring with Mia, whether it’s one of her pre-planned brewery and distillery tours, or a custom itinerary with your own group. Thank you, Mia, for an amazing trip!

Fantastic 10 Day Trip

Mia guided my family on a 10 day trip to Ireland in March and it could not have gone better. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and Mia was a big part of it.

Mia was hands down the most responsive and personable, and her rates were very reasonable when compared to many other drivers we contacted. We were expecting a driver, but ended up getting a trip planner, tour guide, and friend throughout our trip. In the months before the trip Mia provided feedback and recommendations on our proposed route, helped us organize tours and reservations, and answered countless emails from our group.

Upon arrival she was waiting outside the airport in her brand new Mercedes van. The van was comfortable, spacious, and equipped with a microphone so we could listen to Mia point out the sites and share stories about Irish history. Her commentary made the days with a lot of driving fly by.

Mia went above and beyond, and we were all sad to leave when the trip was over. We will definitely be booking her again next time we return to Ireland!

Guide To a Guinness Brewery Tour in Dublin

• By Oisin Feeney
• January 12, 2020
• Category: Dublin

Taking a Guinness Brewery Tour is one of the most popular things to do in Dublin .  When visiting the Irish capital, you just have to sample some of the country’s most famous beverage – Guinness. There really is no place better to try a pint of this well-loved beer than at the original source. 

The Guinness storehouse dates all the way back to 1759, where it was founded by Arthur Guinness . Since then, you can’t pass a pub anywhere in Ireland where they aren’t proudly pouring this stout. So if you are visiting Dublin , be sure to tick this significant activity off your list. 

The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

The historic Guinness factory is located right in the heart of St James’s Gate. Since 1759, this has been the home of Guinness – where Arthur Guinness signed a 9000-year lease! The actual Guinness Storehouse, where the tour takes place, was once the brewery’s fermentation plant. This building goes back to 1904.

This Guinness tour and tasting experience will give anyone a complete understanding of this beverage. Not only will you get to see and learn about the production of this beer, but you will also get to taste it in the perfect setting. The tour includes some interesting sights and experiences. 

If you are interested in learning about a massive part of Irish cultural heritage, then you just have to visit the Guinness Brewery Dublin. Even if you are not a massive beer fan, this experience is well worth doing for the view at the end in the Gravity Bar! 

About the Guinness Tour

This brewery tour is one of the most iconic attractions in Dublin. Whether you love the famous stout, or just want to experience a unique Irish landmark, then this tour is a must. 

The Guinness Storehouse is a 7-story building. The tour covers the entire place, allowing you to learn everything there is to know about Ireland’s favourite drink.

The tour involves a completely interactive journey through this building – teaching you absolutely everything you could imagine about Ireland’s beer brewing heritage and history. The tour is self-guided, so you can choose to take it at whatever pace you like. 

You get to see some really amazing things during this tour, such as a blue indoor waterfall from the Wicklow Mountains, and walls with barley growing on them. There is also a room modelled after the old ships that used to transport Guinness. Another highlight is all of the old ad campaigns on display.

Some of the different themes that the tour covers include history, production, ingredients and recipes, the craft of brewing, distribution and transport, advertising and Guinness sponsorships. You will also get to learn how to pour the perfect pint and can choose to do the connoisseur tasting experience. 

Each floor will unveil new stories around the history and life of Guinness. You will get to learn about how Guinness has become one of the world’s favourite beers. The tour also focuses on the beer’s creator. 

Guinness Brewery Tour Highlights

As this tour covers a large area, there are many exciting things to expect along the way. Here are some highlights of the experience. 

The World’s Largest Pint Glass

The Guinness factory tour starts at the glass atrium. This is the very bottom of the world’s largest pint glass. 

To put this massive glass into perspective, it would hold 1 million regular pints of Guinness! Taking a tour through a gigantic beer glass is definitely a unique Irish experience. 

Gravity Bar

Enjoy a multi-sensory tasting experience at the very top of the Guinness Storehouse. After climbing your way up the building, learning all about this beer, there is nothing better than finally enjoying a taste of it.

The Gravity Bar is the brewery’s own special bar – a worthwhile attraction to visit in itself. This bar offers unbelievable sweeping views over Dublin. With the Guinness Storehouse below you and St James all around you, there is no better place to raise a glass of the top Irish stout.  

The tasting experience here will really allow you to appreciate and enjoy this famous black brew. 

The Cooperage Cafe

Located on the first floor, the Cooperage Cafe is the perfect place to line the stomach pre- or post-tour. Delicious coffee, pastries and sandwiches can be enjoyed here. If you need some quick fuel, then this cafe is always a favourite. 

Before leaving your Guinness tours, make sure to stop off at the fantastic souvenir shop. The store should definitely be explored before leaving the brewery in order to secure that perfect keepsake. 

From pint glasses to rugby balls, there is plenty of Guinness merchandise to help remember your Dublin adventure. 

What You Need to Know About the Guinness Tour, Dublin

If you’re planning on buying Guinness Storehouse tickets, there may be a few things you’ll need to know. Here is some important information on this must-do tour. 

How Long is the Brewery Tour?

As the tour is completely self-guided , you can take as long as you want to do it. The recommended duration of the tour is 1.5 hours, but you can stay longer if you want to make the most of the facilities.

Click here if you would prefer tickets for a guided tour of the facility. 

When is the Brewery Tour Open?

Guinness Storehouse tours operate from 9.30 am to 7 pm. This is open throughout the week. The last admission to the tour is at 5 pm on regular days. During the June, July and August summer months, the storehouse closes at 9 pm with final admissions being at 7 pm. 

The tour operates all year long but is closed on Christmas eve, Christmas day, Good Friday, and St Stephens day. 

Should You Book Guinness Tours?

It is possible to purchase Guinness Storehouse tickets on arrival, but we do recommend booking in advance. As this is such a popular Dublin attraction, having your ticket ready beforehand will make things much easier and may save you some disappointment. 

Pre-book your Guinness brewery tour for skip the line tickets. 

Where is the Guinness Storehouse?

The Guinness Storehouse can be found at St James’s Gate in Dublin. You’ll find the entrance on Market Street. 

If you’re travelling there by public transport, it would be best to take the Red Luas from the city centre. This stops at St James’s Street – a five-minute walk away from the brewery tour. There are also plenty of taxis that wait outside the tour – making it an easy place to find transport. 

Guinness Storehouse Tour Options

When taking the tour, there are two different options that you can choose from. You could go for the regular option which involves the standard tour through the brewery. 

Otherwise, there is the premium tasting experience which you can add onto your tour. This option includes a stop at the Guinness Academy where you will learn the 6 step process to pouring the perfect pint. 

You will leave this with a diploma, as well as a tasty glass of Guinness to enjoy!

Accommodation Near the Guinness Factory, Dublin

If you are planning a trip to Dublin, then the Guinness tour is something that you just can’t miss out on. Here are some great places to stay near the brewery.

Liberty Townhouses

The Liberty Townhouses are only a 5-minute walk away from the Guinness Storehouse – making them the ideal base during your trip. Each unit is fully kitted out, with a complete kitchen, dining area, lounge and garden. 

You can enjoy the comforts of home in these townhouses, as they are fully equipped with all of the amenities you may need during your stay. 

Ashling Hotel Dublin

The Ashling Hotel is perfectly located in central Dublin. If you want to walk to the city’s top attractions, then this is the ideal base. Only a 5 minute walk away from the Guinness brewery tour, your position couldn’t get any better. 

The hotel is really comfortable and stylish, with beautiful interiors. There is also a great restaurant here. 

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin

Luxurious Dublin accommodation doesn’t get much better than the Hyatt Centric Liberties . The place is super stylish and modern – allowing you to enjoy a comfortable stay in the heart of Dublin. 

The hotel is well-equipped and very close to the brewery, as well as other top Dublin attractions. 

Final Thoughts on the Guinness Tour, Ireland

There is good reason that Guinness is such a popular drink in Ireland, and this tour will allow you to discover exactly why. Anyone wanting to experience all there is to know about this delicious dark brew must definitely give this tour a go. 

It is an essential indoor activity in Dublin , and if you love beer it is an absolute must. Take this tour to unlock a very special part of Irish heritage. 

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About The Author

Oisin feeney.

Oisin is a journalist and award-winning photographer. Published in Lonelyplanet.com, buzz.ie, Derry Journal and Irishcentral.com. Currently working as a tour guide in Ireland, Italy, France and Iceland, Oisin is an expert on Ireland.

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Keep In Touch

Ireland Hike, Distillery, & Brewery Adventure with BYO Magazine

September 12 - 18, 2024

“May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!” An Irish Toast by someone who was probably on an ireland brewery tour

This trip is sold out! Please  contact us  if you would like to join our waitlist.

Brad Ring, Publisher of Brew Your Own Magazine , personally invites you to join him on this exclusive and epic Ireland Brewery Tour.

Céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes)! Despite being a relatively small country, Ireland has made some fairly big contributions to worldwide beer culture. Chances are when you hear the words “Irish pub” you can conjure up a pretty distinct image that has been imitated around the globe. Irish beer history reaches all the way back to the Bronze age when the first form of beer in Ireland is believed to have been brewed, though a variety of plants and herbs take the place of hops. And taking a look at modern day, Ireland is experiencing a craft beer boom, developing new creative brews around the country.

Join your fellow beer enthusiasts as we spend our days in perfect balance between physical activities and beer-focused experiences. Our evenings are spent in accommodations that range from fun and modern hotels to warm and welcoming country guesthouses.

We’ll explore breweries ranging from the very well-known such as Guinness to smaller, newer craft breweries you likely have never heard of. And as a change of pace, we’ll also sample a bit of the harder stuff and visit a few whiskey distilleries.

We’ll be pairing our beer experiences with a variety of splendid, picturesque hikes throughout the Irish countryside and coastline. The hikes are more rambles than peak climbing, so generally suitable for most people. We’ll visit some of the top natural sights in the country such as the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Dingle Peninsula.

This adventure is brought to you by:

Private Tour Info

This tour is available for private groups of a minimum of six people.

• Dates: September 12 - 18, 2024
• Cost Per Person: $4,250
• Single Supplement: $900
• Activities: Hiking, Brewery Tours, and Distillery Visits
• Difficulty: All Ability Levels
• Guides: And Local Guides

Trip Highlights

• Touring and tasting at 11 different breweries from huge (Guinness) to tiny (Dick Mack's Brewhouse)
• Rambling on scenic Irish trails and country roads, taking in Ireland's stunning beauty
• Visiting several Irish whiskey distilleries including Killarney, Dingle, and Burren distilleries
• Seeing some of Ireland's iconic sights such as the Rock of Cashel and the Cliffs of Moher
• Starting and ending in Dublin, heart of Ireland and of the Irish beer industry

Fáilte (Welcome) to Ireland! Our adventure starts at 1:00 PM, allowing you to arrive in Dublin this morning or the day before (which we highly recommend). After a few short introductions, we head out on a short educational and fun walking tour of Dublin to learn about the history and culture of this incredible city. We end our tour at Guinness's Storehouse , located in the heart of the St. James's Gate Brewery. We'll enjoy an engaging self-guided tour that ends with a pint of their iconic beer and instruction on how to properly pour it. We'll then head over to the Guinness Open Gate Experimental Brewery to taste some of the new creations. We finish things off with a wonderful welcome dinner at Porterhouse Brewing . After dinner, you can walk back to our hotel or head out for a drink in Dublin's oldest pub dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head .

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll head out on the road for our first brewery stop of the day. But first we'll stop at the Rock of Dunamase, the ruins of an ancient Celtic where we can wander around on our own - no visitor center or entrance fee here. It is then on to Ballykilcavan Brewery for a farm tour, brewery visit, and charcuterie beer pairing lunch - 13 generations and 383 years in one family! After lunch we travel on with a visit to the Whitefield Brewery , which gets great reviews for its quality beers using traditional Irish styles and ingredients, and then on to our home for the night in Killarney. This is our longest drive day, four hours, as we get to the lovely southwest corner of Ireland. Dinner tonight is in the pizza pub of Killarney Brewing.

We depart this morning for 9 White Deer Brewing in the region of West Cork, an area known for the high number of people who speak Irish on a daily basis. The brewery is not generally open to the public but our host, Brad Ring, knows the owner and that gets us in the door. We then move on to the cute village of Kenmare where you can enjoy lunch on your own, followed by a visit to Tom Creane Brewery , a very new establishment (November of 2019) with a rustic taproom and with owners sporting super interesting backgrounds. We'll then shuttle to the Gap of Dunloe, an incredibly scenic mountain pass where we'll walk on trails and small roads to Kate Kearney's Cottage, an Irish pub with 170 years of history and a good place to grab a pint if you so desire. Dinner is Killarney Brewing Company's second location, the main brewery, preceded by a tour of their distillery.

Our destination today is one of the cutest and most scenically-located villages in Ireland: Dingle. We'll break up the drive there by doing a walk on the Three Peaks Annascaul Meelin Hill Loop, with views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in Dingle, you'll have time for lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants on the main street of town. After lunch we'll meet at the Dingle Distillery for a tasting. While they are currently closed for tours, we'll get them to open up their warehouse for a tasting for our group. We then switch back to beer with a visit to Dick Mack's , a pub that has been in operation and in the same family since 1899, with a recently added brewhouse. With outdoor seating it is a great place to spend the remainder of the afternoon. We'll then check into our central Dingle hotel before walking to dinner at Ashes Restaurant, which offers local seafood as well as other traditional dishes.

The Dingle Peninsula and Ireland's southwest coast was named "The most beautiful place on earth" by National Geographic magazine. We'll drive to the very end of that beautiful peninsula to look out over the Atlantic, doing a morning hike at Slea Head. After, we'll head to the West Kerry Brewery , the original and first microbrewery in County Kerry, brewing traditional yet progressive beers. We'll then depart over Connor Pass for the town of Limerick and a tour and tasting at Treaty City Brewery , started by an Irish expat living in Vancouver, BC who started as a home brewer before moving back to Limerick. Dinner this evening is at a local pub - with an optional visit to Mother Mac's craft beer bar for one last drink before heading to bed.

If Dingle is stunningly beautiful, the Cliffs of Moher are truly breathtaking. The Cliffs are a part of the UNESCO Global Geopark (a special region with outstanding geology) and rise an impressive 702 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at their highest points. We'll walk along the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail, taking in their raw natural beauty. We'll then make a stop at Burren Brewing with lunch at their associated Peter's Pub. After lunch we'll stop at Burren Distillers , a new company that is making Irish Whiskey in the spirit of the 13th century monks who first started distilling in the Burren region. It is then on to Galway, our home for the night, where we'll have a local dinner and perhaps an after-dinner drink at one of the many local pubs in the city.

After breakfast, we'll hit the road back to Dublin. But first it is one more brewery stop, this one at Galway Bay Brewery , one of Ireland's larger craft breweries, for a tour and tasting. We'll then say our farewells and drop you off at the Dublin airport for you to either hop on a flight home or continue exploring what Ireland has to offer.

Trip Accommodations

PLEASE NOTE: Hotels may have smaller hotel rooms than you are used to and there are not usually elevators, so pack lightly! (If you have traveled in Europe before, then you know what to expect.)

Located in the heart of Dublin's city center, this 4-star luxury hotel overlooks the Guinness Brewery and Phoenix Park. If you arrive to Dublin early, this is also nicely situated to explore the city on your own. The hotel has a spa, restaurant, bar, and even a small outdoor dining area. It is the perfect starting point for a week of adventure!

This four-star hotel is situated in central Killarney, right across from Killarney Brewing, which we visit on the tour. And with the center of town being only three minutes walk away, you can easily stroll to see the sights, shops, and pubs of Killarney. With only 15 rooms, this small inn is a nice size with personal hospitality.

The Dingle Bay Hotel is located in the heart of Dingle, right next to the marina. It is Dingle's most modern hotel, with up-to-date comforts but a very welcoming atmosphere. Dingle itself is one of the cutest small towns in Ireland - which has plenty from which to choose! And if you are ready for a bit of Irish fun, Paudie's bar at the hotel is a local favorite.

This boutique-style hotel boasts an eclectic mix of contemporary style and comfort in a perfect central location, right in Limerick's city center. At four stars you get all the luxury you need but you will be tempted to spend your free time wandering the streets of Limerick near the hotel.

Located in the heart of Eyre Square in the center of Galway, this hotel offers warm and inviting accommodations amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. While the facade seems ultra modern, the hotel was built using part of an 1800s building that was in the location and also a section of the Galway to Clifden railway tunnel.

Arrival & Departure

You are free to arrive in Dublin (airport code: DUB) anytime you like prior to our after-lunch meeting on Day 1. This allows you to travel the day before or arrive that morning. However, if you are flying from North America we highly recommend arriving at least a day ahead of time to recover from your travel and any potential delays.

Our adventure ends the last afternoon of the trip in Dublin where we will drop all guests off at the airport no later than 1:00 PM to either catch their flight home (we would suggest not booking a flight earlier than 3:30 pm) or continue on to explore more of what Ireland - or Europe - has to offer.

What's Included?

• Our local guide will accompany Brad Ring, publisher of Brew Your Own Magazine
• Double occupancy lodging is included. If you are traveling solo, you can choose to pay a single supplement for your own room or ask us to find you a roommate; you will need to pay the supplement if we are unable to do so.
• All breakfasts and dinners are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included. Many lunches are included and some are not.
• All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day until we say goodbye in Dublin on the last day.
• All scheduled tastings and brewery/distillery visits are included.
• NOT INCLUDED Beverages outside of brewery and distillery visits, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guide, personal expenses and travel to and from the destination.

The weather in Ireland is always a bit unpredictable. In September, the weather is cool yet comfortable with the highs during the day in the mid-60s and the lows at night in the 50s. You'll want to bring layers that can easily be taken off and on during our various hikes. You'll especially want to bring rain gear as we may experience showers throughout the tour - it is Ireland after all!

Ability Level

This tour is rated For All Abilities and is a moderately active trip but with relatively easy hiking with some incline where you can take your time and go at your own pace. Daily mileage varies depending on beer tastings and other activities for each day but is roughly 5 - 12 kilometers for hiking.  While you will get daily activity by walking each day, this is not the best trip for someone looking for a major workout and tons of mileage (check out some of our other hiking trips  for that!).  Conversely, this is not the best trip for someone not interested in being active on vacation (check out our  Taste Vacations  for that).

In order to see and do as much as possible on this tour, we do have quite a bit of van time to get from place to place. We try to break up the driving with stops along the way as best we can. The good news is, the Irish countryside is absolutely beautiful, so you'll always have something pleasant to look at out the window!

Changes to the itinerary

While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a brewery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance! We will attempt to keep our website itinerary as current as possible and communicate any major changes with you in the weeks prior to the tour.

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Savoring the Spirits: A Pub and Brewery Tour of Ireland

Pub and brewery tour of ireland.

When it comes to enjoying a pint in a lively atmosphere, there’s no place on earth quite like Ireland . With a history steeped in brewing traditions and a culture that values conviviality, a pub and brewery tour of Ireland promises an unforgettable journey through some of the world’s finest establishments. Join us as we explore the heart and soul of Irish hospitality, one frothy glass at a time.

Dublin: The Beating Heart of Brewing Excellence

Our tour begins in the vibrant city of Dublin, where centuries-old pubs stand shoulder-to-shoulder with innovative craft breweries. Here, you’ll embark on a journey that traces the evolution of Ireland’s brewing heritage. From the storied halls of the Guinness Storehouse to the charming craft breweries tucked away in cobbled streets, Dublin offers an unparalleled introduction to the world of Irish brewing.

Galway: A Melting Pot of Craft Beer Creativity

Next on our itinerary is the lively city of Galway, where the craft beer scene has blossomed into an artistic endeavor. Here, you’ll have the chance to explore a vibrant community of independent brewers pushing the boundaries of flavor and technique. Whether you’re sipping a pint of a locally brewed IPA or enjoying a session with a traditional Irish band, Galway embodies the spirit of creativity and camaraderie that defines the Irish brewing culture.

Cork: A Tapestry of Tradition and Innovation

As we make our way to Cork, you’ll discover a city that seamlessly marries the time-honored traditions of Irish brewing with a dynamic craft beer scene. With its historic pubs, picturesque waterfront, and a thriving community of artisanal brewers, Cork provides a fascinating backdrop for our exploration of Ireland’s diverse brewing landscape.

Belfast: A Resurgence of Craft Beer Culture

Our journey culminates in Belfast, a city that has witnessed a renaissance in craft beer appreciation. Here, you’ll find an array of innovative microbreweries, each with its own distinctive character and flavor profile. From the historic pubs where locals share tales over a pint to the cutting-edge breweries pushing the boundaries of modern brewing, Belfast offers a fitting conclusion to our tour.

This pub and brewery tour of Ireland is not just about the beer; it’s about the stories, the people, and the traditions that make each pint a living testament to Ireland’s rich brewing heritage. Join us for an adventure that will not only tantalize your taste buds but also leave you with a profound appreciation for the soul of Irish brewing.

Book your spot today, and let the journey through Ireland’s pubs and breweries become a cherished chapter in your travel memoirs. Sláinte!

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The Jameson Distillery

Visiting the Jameson Distillery, a half-hour east of the city in Midleton, is an experience most visitors to Cork will have at the top of their lis...

Munster Brewery

Twin brothers Padraig and Adrian Hyde say they like to talk about beer as much as brew it. Almost. At their medal-winning Munster Brewery, the brot...

Blacks Brewery

This craft brewery and distillery focuses on beers & artisan gins. Husband and wife team Sam & Maudeline Black welcome visitors throughout the week...

Longueville House Cider & Brandy

This 500-acre estate and Georgian country house hotel has 30 acres dedicated to growing cider apples for their famous independent craft Cider's and...

Clonakilty Brewing Company

In the bustling market town of Clonakilty in West Cork, you can take tours of this local craft brewery.

9 White Deer Brewery

This is one of the most innovative craft breweries in Ireland with a range that includes gluten-free beers. They are happy to welcome visitors and...

West Cork Distillers

West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by close friends Denis McCarthy, Ger McCarthy & John O’Connell in the historic fishing port of Union Hall,...

Franciscan Well Brewery

One of the oldest and best loved craft brewers in Cork, the Franciscan Well boys have their own micro-brewery, pub & pizzeria in the heart of Cork,...

West Cork Brewing Co

West Cork has long been associated with the best in quality artisan food both locally, nationally and beyond these shores. West Cork Brewing Compan...

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The Perfect Cork Pint

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BREWERY TOURS

€20 per person

• Guided tour of the brewing process with an up-close look at the raw ingredients used to make Galway Hooker Beer.
• Drink on arrival which can be brought with you along the tour.
• Galway Hooker craft flight tasting board (includes 3 beers).

Tour Duration: 1 hour approx.

Please note the tour is based on a minimum number. Special Tour Operator rates available.

Please call  +353 91 381200  (option 1)

YOU’RE WELCOME IN

We’re delighted to open our brewery doors to people who want a guided tour of our premises – to experience some of the many refreshing brews we bring to life on site.

Maybe you’re coming to Ireland from overseas and you want to savour some authentic Galway brews with your family and friends? You might be planning a stag or hen party, getting your office ready for a corporate do, or gathering the squad together for a fun day out.

Whatever you’re planning to do as a group, you can be sure that the Galway Hooker Brewery in Oranmore is the place to do it.

Take a look behind the scenes of how Ireland’s third-oldest craft brewery produces its iconic beers. Located on the outskirts of Galway City, a tour of Galway Hooker Brewery, gives visitors an insight to the craftsmanship that goes into producing our beers and an opportunity to taste the first-ever-produced Irish Pale Ale, Galway Hooker Irish Pale Ale.

Galway Hooker is Connacht’s oldest existing brewery – and we’re proud to make authentic, refreshing, vibrant beers that embody the Wild Atlantic Way. We’ve been making waves in the craft beer world since 2006, and our Galway Hooker Brewery in the coastal surrounds of Oranmore is the best place to see how we’ve been doing it.

There are few better ways to welcome in the weekend or enjoy time with friends than over a thirst-quenching beer. That’s why we’re welcoming you to visit our home – our brewery – where you can taste the best that the West of Ireland has to offer.

As soon as you set foot into our brewery, you’ll feel like you’re in a home away from home – and our tour guides will bring you on a journey of the senses as you enjoy the tastes and scents of unique beverages across the ground floor and mezzanine.

Why not try our signature Original Irish Pale Ale, which is a real crowd-pleaser?

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Cork craft beer guide – breweries, pubs, and the cork ale trail.

We’ve been traveling to Ireland for 20 years and we’ve been drinking Guinness for that long. Only in the last several years that we’ve started to learn more about Irish craft beer. We started our exploration in our adopted hometown of Limerick, but since have explored more. One of the cities that has exploded in the craft beer world, though, is Cork. We researched and visited as many Cork craft beer breweries and pubs to put together this guide.

*This post contains compensated links. Find more info in my  DISCLAIMER . As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Craft Beer In Cork

Many food and drink travelers are familiar with most of the big breweries in Ireland, which often specialize in Irish stout as well as other beer styles. Even Heineken and Budweiser technically brew on the island, which means that the “imported” commercial beer is actually domestic in a strange way.  For travelers looking to avoid commercial and industrial beer, Cork is a great city to visit. 

In this beer guide, we will share our tips on how to taste all the craft beer you can handle in Cork city, as well as County Cork. This includes breweries, pubs, and the Cork Ale Trail, which is relatively new to the scene. In the end, we will offer you all the tools you need to create your own Cork craft beer tour. 

Traveling to Ireland? Check out Ultimate Ireland Packing Guide  

Cork Travel Guide And Tips

Where To Stay In Cork : We stayed at the  Maldron Hotel Cork City Center . We’ve stayed with Maldron a few times. They have hotels across Ireland. It is super centrally located, only a few minutes’ walk from the train station. The Maldron is a good value for a contemporary hotel in Cork. Get the best rates  here . Or, check for other top hotels in Cork at  Booking.com . 

Rental Cars : In order to see the best of the island, though, you need to hit the open roads. If looking to rent a car, we recommend  RentalCars.com . They compare prices at the top rental car companies to get you the best deal. Some travelers don’t like the idea of renting a car in Ireland, though, because they drive on the “wrong” side of the road. It can be a challenge, particularly on narrow and windy roads.

History of Brewing In Cork

Although we’ve always been big Guinness fans, down in Cork, people drink a lot more Murphys. James Jeremiah Murphy started brewing Irish stout in 1856 at the Lady Well’s Brewery in Cork. Heineken purchased the brewery in 1983 and changed the name to Murphy’s Brewery. To this day Heineken brews its own brand, Murphy’s, and other brands for distribution to the Irish market. 

Even before that, Beamish, another Irish stout, started in 1792. Heineken also owns Beamish, which means that a lot of the local beer is still brewed by Heineken. Even beyond beer, there’s a Jameson Distillery just east of Cork in Middleton. 

In more recent years, a slew of Irish breweries has crept up in and around Cork. Their beer can be found in Cork city and at Irish pubs around the island.

Breweries In Cork Ireland

There are a handful of Cork beer breweries located within the city limits. Two of these can be visited, either for tours or tastings.

Franciscan Well Brewery

The “craft beer” often debated in pubs around Ireland. Franciscan Well Brewery is one of Ireland’s longest-established and best-respected craft breweries. Since 1998, Franciscan Well has been brewing award-winning, high-quality Irish craft beer. The brewery is situated on the site of an old Franciscan monastery, which dates back to 1219. Franciscan Well gained fame across Ireland and on the international scene for its craft beers along with its successful collaboration with Jameson Whiskey. They are most known for their Irish red ale, an IPA, a Weisse beer, and an Irish stout. 

Their Cork brewery operates a brewpub and bar within Cork city centre. There is an outdoor beer garden in the back, with a wood-fired pizza oven. 

Franciscan Well Cork has two locations on Google Maps, be sure to walk to the correct one at Sunday’s Well. One is in the east of the city, across from the train station on Centre Park Road. That is a newer facility where they brew beer. This brewery opened when it became too big to brew all of its beer at its first location. That Franciscan Well facility is not open to the public. 

Franciscan Well Brewery And Brewpub , 14 N Mall, Sunday’s Well Cork City. Cork Brewery Tours: Advanced booking required. Tours are held Sundays through Thursdays at 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm.

Rising Sons Brewery

Rising Sons Brewery Cork

In the heart of Cork City, Rising Sons Brewery brews up some of Ireland’s best craft beers. They focus on using the highest quality and locally sourced ingredients, which are chemical and additive-free. Brewing in small batches, Rising Sons, produces only 50 kegs a week. 

They operate an on-site taproom, with all of the brewery operations behind glass behind the bar. The tap room has more of a sports bar feel, with loads of TV screens. They serve food too, with a focus on pizza and Mexican. Their lager won the best craft beer in Ireland at some point, but we preferred their Irish stout. That’s not surprising considering the history of Irish stout in Cork. 

Rising Sons , Cornmarket Street Cork. Cork Brewery Tours: A one-hour brewery costs €12 and finishes with a tasting. Tours are offered seven days a week but must be booked in advance.

Breweries In County Cork 

In addition to the Irish craft breweries in Cork city, there are a few breweries within County Cork that are worth mentioning. Even if you can’t get out to visit one of these breweries, look for their beers at pubs in Cork.

West Cork Brewing Company

West Cork Brewing Company In Baltimore

In Co. Cork, West Cork Brewing is a boutique craft brewery from idyllic West Cork in the town of Baltimore. And, it doesn’t get much further west than this. The next stop farther west is the other Baltimore, in Maryland! 

This is a region with a long history of using high-quality ingredients in both its food and drink, West Cork Brewing is perfectly situated to produce some of Ireland’s best craft beers. Using only the purest ingredients including natural spring water, West Cork strives to produce craft  beers  in the style preferred by the local Irish population.

They produce six main beers for distribution within Ireland. We tried their Ruby Red Irish red beer, but I was not a fan. I think I am realizing I am not a fan of Irish red ale in general. Look for their Coffee Oatmeal Chocolate Stout, which they call Breakfast in Baltimore, or try their Imperial Rum and Raisin Red Ale. 

West Cork Brewing Company  is in Baltimore, about 90 minutes southwest of the city center. They offer brewery tours on Fridays at 3 pm for €12, but it is best to confirm in advance.

Blacks Of Kinsale Brewery

Blacks Of Kinsale in Kinsale

The only Kinsale brewery, located just a half-hour south of Cork City. Kinsale is a popular summer seaside retreat. It’s an idyllic Irish coastal town, with brightly colored buildings,  Irish seafood restaurants , and Irish pubs. Blacks is located just at the edge of town. 

Blacks is actually a brewery and distillery, which started brewing Irish craft beer in 2013. In 2015, they started producing gin, rum, and whiskey, making it unique among the brewers in Cork. Notably, they produce a gluten-free lager and their Blacks KPA, or Kinsale Pale Ale. 

Blacks Of Kinsale , Farm Lane in Kinsale. Currently, they do not have a tap room or offer tours, although both are in progress. Look for their beers and liquors in pubs all over Kinsale as well as in Cork City. 

8 Degrees Brewing Cork

8 Degrees Brewing in Mitchelstown

Plagued by the question, “why are there not more local craft beers in Ireland?’” a Kiwi and an Aussie set out to change this. Since 2010, Eight Degrees Brewing has been brewing a wide range of quality Irish craft beer. Located in the Ballyhoura region of Cork, Eight Degrees uses only the best ingredients to brew their award-winning beers. 

They offer a core range of beers and are constantly experimenting and creating new offerings for the Irish beer market. The name 8 Degrees refers to Ireland’s longitude, which also happens to be the perfect temperature to drink their beer. 

Eight Degrees Brewing , Mitchelstown, about 45 minutes north of Cork City. They do not have a tap room nor do they offer craft brewery tours. A taproom is in the works. It’s easy to find their beers at pubs across Ireland, and they even export to Italy, France, and Belgium. 

9 White Deer Brewing Cork

9 White Deer Brewery in Ballyvourney

Located in West Cork, 9 White Deer Brewery is an award-winning brewer of a wide range of Irish craft beer. 9 White Deer prides itself on using the highest quality Irish ingredients and an innovative brewing process. Offering beers for all drinkers, including a gluten-free IPA, 9 White Deer is an Irish craft beer to track down. In fact, they are the only gluten-free brewery in Ireland.

9 White Deer Brewery Cork , about an hour west of Cork City. They offer brewery tours for €15 for groups of 10 or more people with prior confirmation.

Cork Ale Trail in Cork Ireland

The Cork Ale Trail  

A handful of brewers and Irish craft beer pubs have banded together to create the Cork Ale Trail. You can essentially walk down the River Lee, which runs through the center of Cork City, and hit several of them in one afternoon. There are a few other places in the city that stock Cork craft beer as well as Irish and international craft beers, but if you only have one day in Cork, this is where I would start. 

In addition to the Cork craft beer pubs listed below, Franciscan Well is part of the Cork Ale Trail as is a craft beer bottle shop called Bradley’s.

Abbot’s Alehouse

Abbot Ale House offers over 120 Irish beers, and 500 international beers, and has 10 taps in rotation. It’s a small, basement pub, with a gregarious Russian owner. The pub has been around for 15 years. Look for Blacks of Kinsale here. 

Abbot Ale House , 17 Devonshire Street

The Friary Bar

The Friary has an enviable corner location with views over the River Lee. It’s another small spot, with a handful of tables and a small bar. The owner is also a bit gregarious, treating the bar more as a community center than a bar. When we visited, they were about to host their first “airing of grievances,” essentially a time for the craft beer-drinking regulars to provide feedback. Never heard that before. They have a large selection of Irish and international craft beers, as well as seasonals and limited releases. Look for West Cork Brewing Company here. 

The Friary Bar Cork , 62 Shandon Street, Sunday’s Well

The Bierhaus Cork Ireland

The Bierhaus Cork

A must-visit during any trip to Cork. The Bierhaus does its best to promote Cork and Irish craft beer. They offer 220 craft beers, including 22 taps. Of these 16 are rotating guest taps featuring mostly Irish beers. It’s a little confusing to understand which Irish beers are on tap versus bottle and which beers on tap are from Cork or Ireland. This might be due to the sheer variety of beers on offer, almost all of which are advertised somewhere on the big wall of beer. They do work with Blacks of Kinsale on collaborations, including co-branded craft beer.

They also occasionally host Cork Craft Beer Festivals, with special events, music, and food, all based in the bar. They’ve also hosted a Sourfest, dedicated to sour beers, much like the international and  Italian craft beer  festival in Reggio Emilia. It’s a must-visit for craft beer drinkers in Cork. 

The Bierhaus Cork , 28 Popes Quay, Shandon 

Check out our Ultimate Guide To Irish Craft Beer  

Other Artisan Distillers, Brewers, And Producers

Although not directly craft beer related, there are a few other producers that are worth visiting or tasting while traveling in Cork.  West Cork Distillers  is producing artisan gin and Irish whiskey in Skibbereen. The Longueville House Hotel in Mallow is producing artisan cider and apple brandy. There are also two other craft beer breweries, which we did not try, including  Munster Brewery  and  Clonakilty Brewing , also within County Cork. Keep an eye open for each of these when traveling through County Cork. 

Most interesting is the  Kinsale Mead Company , also located at the edge of the village of Kinsale. Mead is a honey-based liquor that is sort of produced the same way as wine. There is a long history of mead production in Ireland going back thousands of years. More recently, it’s sort of been forgotten. That is until the Kinsale Mead Company came along. 

Kinsale Mead was founded in 2016 to rediscover the ancient art of mead making and to create a delicious, refreshing new Irish drink. Kinsale Mead lovingly hand-crafts each batch of mead sourcing the best natural local ingredients. Although it can be drunk on its own, look for it at specialty cocktail bars  as an ingredient in unique drinks. They offer tours for €12 a person with advanced booking. Tours include a history of mead, how mead is made, and a sampling of various meads.

Check out our Irish Drinks Guide for more traditional Irish drinks .

Cork Craft Beer And Brewery Map

Understanding the geography of County Cork is helpful for food and drink travelers in search of great Irish beer. Use our Cork Craft Beer Map to help you explore the region. If you are only able to explore within Cork City, just zoom in to find all of the stops on the Cork Ale Trail. Cheers! Or, better, Slainte! 

FAQs – CORK BREWERY AND CRAFT BEER BARS

County Cork is located in Southwest Ireland, with Cork City being the largest city in the county. It is approximately a 2 to 3 hours drive from Dublin. It can be reached by train, bus, and car. Cork’s airport has flights from the UK and Europe, but not the United States.

Cork City is about 3 hours by car southwest of Dublin and about 90 minutes directly south of Limerick. The city is also accessible by train from both cities. In order to explore some of the breweries outside of the city, a car is your best option. There are buses that travel from Cork to Kinsale, though.

There are a few restaurants in cork that also specialize in craft beer. Elbow Lane Smokehouse in Cork specializes in grilled meats, but they also brew their own beer. Market Lane Restaurant in Cork also has craft beer to pair with their more contemporary cuisine. The Crane Lane Theater also has a good selection of craft beers. Their selection is more in bottles than on tap.

Cork is Ireland’s second-largest city. In addition to being home to the Cork Craft Beer Trail, Cork is considered by many to be the foodie capital of Ireland. The city is bursting with traditional Irish as well as international restaurants.

Amber Hoffman

Amber Hoffman, food and travel writer behind With Husband In Tow, is a recovering attorney and professional eater, with a passion for finding new food and drink destinations. She lives with her husband, Eric, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Together over the last 20 years, they have traveled to over 70 countries. Amber is the author of the Food Traveler’s Guide to Emilia Romagna. She regularly lectures on social media marketing to travel professionals throughout Europe.

2 thoughts on “ Cork Craft Beer Guide – Breweries, Pubs, And The Cork Ale Trail ”

The airing of grievances is part of Seinfeld (tv series) lore as a component of “Festivus” (for the rest of us). Thanks for the post, here in Cork for 20 days on business, Ale trail sounds very promising.

I assumed it was a Festivus reference, but he didn’t say for sure. Enjoy Cork!

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Felix and Kevin enjoying Metalman beer tastings

So where’s the beer you ask? We will visit Metalman Brewery in Waterford City before hitting the Greenway, they have their own canning line so we can enjoy our tastings over lunch along the Greenway. At the end of the Greenway, visit Dungarvan Brewery to tour the brewery and taste their bottle conditioned beers before checking in to your accommodation. Enjoy the harbour town of Dungarvan which has lots of pubs and restaurants to enjoy.

Day 2 takes in a scenic drive to the Comeragh mountains and a stroll with the sheep to Mahon Falls, a 240ft waterfall overlooking the Copper Coast.

Kyle and Jeremy climbed up Mahon Falls to get a better view over the valley.

Travel onto Kilkenny City, a medieval city – free time to walk the medieval mile and visit your choice of Kilkenny castle, St Canice’s Cathedral, climb a round tower, visit a Dominican Abbey or peruse the many craft and design shops in town.

If you like a pint of Smithwick’s red ale, the Smithwick’s experience offer self guided tours of St Francis Abbey where the monks first brewed Smithwick’s in the 1300’s. Smithwick’s is now owned by Diageo and is brewed in St James’ Gate, the home of the Guinness brewery.

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Private car parks are accused of "confusing drivers" after introducing a new code of conduct - despite "doing all they can" to prevent an official government version.

The code of practice launched by two industry bodies - British Parking Association and the International Parking Community - includes a ten-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after the parking period they paid for ends.

It also features requirements for consistent signage, a single set of rules for operators on private land and an "appeals charter".

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.

That comes after a government-backed code of conduct was withdrawn in June 2022, after a legal challenges by parking companies.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "We're flabbergasted that the BPA and the IPC have suddenly announced plans to introduce their own private parking code after doing all they can over the last five years to prevent the official government code created by an act of Parliament coming into force.

"While there are clearly some positive elements to what the private parking industry is proposing, it conveniently avoids some of the biggest issues around caps on penalty charges and debt recovery fees which badly need to be addressed to prevent drivers being taken advantage of."

BPA chief executive Andrew Pester said: "This is a crucial milestone as we work closely with government, consumer bodies and others to deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists."

IPC chief executive Will Hurley said: "The single code will benefit all compliant motorists and will present clear consequences for those who decide to break the rules."

Sky News has learnt the owner of Superdry's flagship store is weighing up a legal challenge to a rescue plan launched by the struggling fashion retailer.

M&G, the London-listed asset manager, has engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells to scrutinise the restructuring plan.

The move by M&G, which owns the fashion retailer's 32,000 square foot Oxford Street store, will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge - but sources say it's possible.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman 's story here...

NatWest says its mortgage lending nearly halved at the start of the year as it retreated from parts of the market when competition among lenders stepped up.

New mortgage lending totalled £5.2bn in the first three months of 2024, the banking group has revealed, down from £9.9bn the previous year.

The group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Coutts, also reported an operating pre-tax profit of £1.3bn for the first quarter, down 27% from £1.8bn the previous year.

An unexplained flow of British luxury cars into states neighbouring Russia continued into February, new data shows.

About £26m worth of British cars were exported to Azerbaijan, making the former Soviet country the 17th biggest destination for UK cars - bigger than long-established export markets such as Ireland, Portugal and Qatar.

Azerbaijan's ascent has coincided almost to the month with the imposition of sanctions on the export of cars to Russia.

Read the rest of economics and data editor Ed Conway 's analysis here...

Rishi Sunak has hailed the arrival of pay day with a reminder his government's additional National Insurance tax cut kicks in this month for the first time.

At last month's budget, the chancellor announced NI will be cut by a further 2p - so some workers will pay 8% of their earnings instead of the 12% if was before autumn.

The prime minister has repeated his claim this will be worth £900 for someone on the average UK salary.

While this additional cut - on top of the previous 2p cut in January - does equate to £900 for those on average full-time earnings of £35,000, there are two key issues with Mr Sunak's claim:

• Once the effect of all income tax changes since 2021 are taken into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reports an average earner will benefit from a tax cut of £340 - far less than £900;
• Moreover, anyone earning less than £26,000 or between £55,000-£131,000 will ultimately be worse off.

In short, this is because NI cuts are more than offset by other tax rises.

We explain below how this is the case...

Tax thresholds

This is partly down to tax thresholds - the amount you are allowed to earn before you start paying tax (and national insurance) and before you start paying the higher rate of tax - will remain frozen. 

This means people end up paying more tax than they otherwise would, when their pay rises with inflation but the thresholds don't keep up. 

This phenomenon is known as "fiscal drag" and it's often called a stealth tax because it's not as noticeable immediately in your pay packet.

That low threshold of £12,570 has been in place since April 2021. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility says if it had increased with inflation it would be set at £15,220 for 2024/25.

If that were the case, workers could earn an extra £2,650 tax-free each year.

Less give, more take

Sky News analysis shows someone on £16,000 a year will pay £607 more in total - equivalent to more than three months of average household spending on food. 

Their income level means national insurance savings are limited but they are paying 20% in income tax on an additional £2,650 of earnings.

In its analysis , the IFS states: "In aggregate the NICs cuts just serve to give back a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax and NICs changes - in particular, multi-year freezes to tax thresholds at a time of high inflation."

Overall, according to the institute, for every £1 given back to workers by the National Insurance cuts, £1.30 will have been taken away due to threshold changes between 2021 and 2024.

This rises to £1.90 in 2027.

The UK could face a shortage of cava due to a drought in the sparkling wine's Spanish heartlands.

The Penedes area of Catalonia is dealing with its worst drought on record, with vineyards across the region so parched the roots of 30-year-old vines have died.

It's left shrivelled red and green grapes languishing under intense sun, fuelled by fossil-fuel driven climate change.

Cava is an increasingly popular drink in the UK, with 17.8 million bottles sold in 2023 - an increase of 5% from the previous year, when Britons stocked up on 16.8 million bottles, according to the Cava Regulatory Board.

That makes the UK the fourth-biggest buyer, behind only the US, Belgium and Germany.

Workforce slashed

The problems have been compounded after Catalonia-based cava producer Freixenet announced it will temporarily lay off 615 workers, almost 80% of its workforce.

Under Spanish law, companies facing exceptional circumstances can lay off staff or reduce working hours.

This measure is expected to take effect from May and it is not known how long it will last.

Price rises

One industry source told retail publication The Grocer  that cava shortages would push up prices "certainly for next year" if there isn't enough supply.

This could last for years if the drought persists, they added.

Consumer expert Helen Dewdney told MailOnline the staff cuts at Freixenet can only mean one thing - price rises.

However, she added, supermarkets say they are not experiencing any issues right now.

Parents are being hammered by rising childcare costs, according to a new study that suggests they may spend more than £160,000 raising their child to the age of 18.

Research by Hargreaves Lansdown has found that parents with children pay £6,969 a year more than couples without.

Over 18 years and assuming an annual inflation rate of 3%, that amounts to a whopping £163,175, the investment platform said.

Its study also found that parents were less likely to have money left at the end of the month.

Single parents carry the biggest burden, with the research suggesting they have just £85 left on average compared to £365 for couples with children.

Hargreaves Lansdown also found just 23% of single parents reported having enough emergency savings to cover at least three months' worth of essential expenses, compared to 63% of couples with children.

Parents are also at a slight disadvantage when it comes to pensions, the research found, with only 43% of couples with children on track for a moderate retirement income, compared to 47% without. Only 17% of single parents have a decent projected pension fund.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at the firm, said "having children is one of the most expensive decisions a person can make".

She adds that as a result of having a child, "financial resilience suffers across the board", and added: "For single parents, life is even tougher, and they face far lower resilience on almost every measure.

"It means we need all the help we can get."

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

One of the top stories shaking up the markets this morning is that UK-based mining company Anglo American has rejected a major $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover bid.

Details of the attempted buyout by Australian rival BHP emerged yesterday  - sending Anglo American shares soaring.

The deal would have created the world's biggest copper mining company - with the news coming as the price of the metal hit record highs this week.

However, Anglo American has now dismissed the proposal as "opportunistic" and said BHP had undervalued the company.

Anglo's shares are slightly down by 0.8% this morning - suggesting investors may not have given up hopes that a deal could eventually be agreed.

However, overall the FTSE 100 is up around 0.4% this morning, buoyed by strong reported earnings from US tech giants Microsoft and Google owner Alphabet.

It's helped the index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, hit yet another intraday (during the day) record of 8,136 points this morning.

The winning streak comes after a week of all-time highs on the index - including a record close of 8,078 points yesterday. The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Among the companies doing well this morning is NatWest - despite the bank reporting a fall in pre-tax profits of nearly 28% for the first quarter of the year.

Shares in the lender are up more than 3% after its results were better than expected by analysts.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, almost on a par with yesterday.

Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has crept up slightly to $89 (£71).

Self-checkouts - they're like marmite, people seem to either love them or hate them.

But the boss of Sainsbury's has claimed that his customers do  enjoy using self-checkouts, despite criticism that that machines don't always provide the convenience promised.

Simon Roberts told The Telegraph that there are more of them in Sainsbury's stores "than a number of years ago" as shoppers like the "speedy checkout".

But despite this, he said there won't be a time when they'll replace cashiers completely.

"Over the last year, where we've put more self-checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there," he said.

His comments come after northern supermarket Booths ditched self-checkouts at all but two of its sites after customer feedback. 

Walmart and Costco in the US have also scaled back on the systems.

Let us know in the comments - do you love or hate self-checkouts?

We've all heard consumer advice that's repeated so often it almost becomes cliché. So, every Friday the Money team will get to the bottom of a different "fact" and decide whether it's a myth or must.

This week it is...

'Smart meters save you money'

For this one, we've enlisted the help of Dr Steve Buckley, also known as the Energy Doctor and head of data science at Loop...

So do smart meters help you save? 

"The short answer is both yes and no," Steve says.

"Installing a smart meter by itself won't magically reduce your energy consumption. But, by giving you easy access to your energy usage data, smart meters pave the way for savings that you couldn't achieve otherwise."

Before smart meters, most households only found out how much energy they had used when the bill arrived. 

By that stage it's too late to address wasteful usage, leading to what's known as "bill shock". 

"With a smart meter, you can see your usage and costs in real-time through an in-home display or an app provided by your supplier," Steve says. 

"This immediate feedback encourages you to use less energy. If you measure it, you can control it."

In 2022, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found that homes with smart meters used about 3.4% less electricity and 3% less gas. 

"This might not seem like a lot, but it adds up to a saving of over £50 per household annually," Steve says.  

If all homes in the UK made similar cuts, that would amount to savings of around £1.5bn and a potential reduction in CO2 emissions by about 2.7m tonnes each year. 

"Good for individual households but also great for the planet," Steve says. 

Smart meters are often installed at no extra cost to the consumer - it's effectively free data for households. 

Limitations

Smart meters are more or less what you make of them - a simple, free tool that allows you to see headline figures. 

However, "without detailed analysis, it's tough to identify and eliminate" where you could be wasting money, Steve says. 

Apps like Utrack, Loop and Hugo Energy can help you work out where you might be losing money by offering a more detailed breakdown if connected to your smart meter. 

Those tools are often free, but you may need to register your card details as proof of address. 

The tools give a number of useful insights, including looking at consumption in other households of similar size or monitoring where chunks of your money are going, such as to a faulty boiler or the "phantom load" (energy wasted by devices left on unnecessarily).

Myth or must?

Although smart meters alone don't reduce energy bills, they are a vital tool to help energy efficiency and cost savings. 

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without spending a lot.

In this series, which ends today after digging into yoghurt, bread, pasta, fruit juice and plant-based milk, we've tried to find the healthiest options in the supermarket for the best value.

Sunna Van Kampen,  founder of  Tonic Health ,  who went viral on social media for reviewing food in the search of healthier choices, has given his input for the past six weeks.

And for the final part of the series, we're looking at the nation's favourite snack: crisps. 

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

We're a people obsessed: in the UK, we get through six billion packets of crisps a year.

Sunna has three easy tips for finding the tastiest options that are kinder to your body...

1. Understand the fat facts

"Typical crisps can be oil sponges and contain over 30% fat from low-quality vegetable oils that have been fried," Sunna says. 

"What we are on the lookout for those that buck the trend and stay away from the fat." 

So, he says, aim for crisps that contain less than 15% total fat.

2. Fibre up your snack time

"While crisps aren't exactly salad, some can offer more nutritional value than others," Sunna says.

"Check the labels for options that have more fibre or protein."

These help you feel fuller for longer and also keep your digestive system happy.

3. Portion control

"It's easy to demolish an entire bag in one sitting - however, many brands offer multipack bags that are portion-controlled, usually around 25g a bag," Sunna says.

Sticking to these helps to manage calorie intake and stops overindulging.

The big picture

"Small changes might not immediately seem like a lot but if you eat a bag a day with your lunch, we are talking about up to a whopping two litres of oil cut from your diet over the course of the year," Sunna says,

"This is not permission to eat crisps every day (enjoy as an occasional treat) but rather an indication of how small changes add up quickly overtime."

The good news is Sunna's recommendations are all similar in price to their popular, fattier rivals - so you don't need to make a bigger investment to reap some health benefits. 

We've included the prices for the brands' standard multipacks at Tesco - correct as of time of writing. 

Walkers Oven Baked - £1.95 for six-pack

"Around £1.95 for a pack of six, these crisps are baked, not fried, slashing the fat content to 13%, so a great option."

Popchips - £2.25 for five-pack

"These have just 13% fat content as they're popped rather than fried so are a great way to go reducing fat without compromising on the crunch."

And for some non-crisp options...

ProperCorn Popcorn - £2 for six-pack

Often described as "the healthier, lighter option", Sunna says ProperCorn "isn't actually the best option on the market for fat content at 17.4%".

That being said, you do get "double the fibre of standard crisps at 10.9g per 100g". 

At only £2 for a pack of six, it's well-priced, too.

Snack A Jacks - £2.20 for five-pack

"At only 8.3% fat per 100g, it's a great option at £2.20 for a pack of five."

Penn State Baked Pretzels - £1.50 for 175g bag

Now for Sunna's winner.

"The German classic is a great option at only 4.6% fat per 100g," he says.

One downfall is that they are not available in portioned bags, so be careful with the whole 175g bag for £1.50.

Want another option altogether?

"If you want to be even healthier, consider the switch to nuts, seeds or even dried cheese snacks," Sunna says.

"Higher in calories yes, but higher in good healthy fats too and are more satiating which will limit the chance of overeating."

The nutritionist's view -  from  Dr Laura Brown , senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University...

"Baked instead of fried crisps is definitely a way forward as well as the popcorn suggestion," she says.

"We should also be aiming to look at the amount of protein and fibre found in products. For example, lentil and pea snacks are growing in popularity due to their higher protein and fibre values, so the focus should be more on looking for ingredients other than potatoes, oil and salt. 

"I also feel 'crisp' based snacks made in an air fryer are becoming more popular. These can include a wholemeal wrap with a small amount of oil added, and placed in the air fryer with paprika and other seasoning added for flavour. 

"Also, chickpeas in the air fryer make for a super delicious protein and fibre rich snack. They are cheaper than crisps and lower in fat since no oil has to be added."

Read more from this series... 

Halifax has become the latest major lender to up mortgage rates.

They are putting up a range of deals by 0.2%.

BM Solutions also announced increases today.

It follows similar moves by TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry last week.

Lenders are responding to swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - rising on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

This is what average mortgage rates look like as of today...

Justin Moy, managing director of EHF Mortgages, told Newspage: "Yet more bad news for mortgage borrowers, as two of the biggest lenders announce increases to their fixed-rate products. 

"As mortgage rates creep up and past 5% even for those with the largest deposits, we seem to be lacking a clear strategy of the government or the Bank of England on how rates will eventually fall. 

"Even 2% inflation may not be enough to reverse the recent trends in rates."

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