Northern Ireland’s Commercial Breweries and Brands

30 at the last update (April 2024)

27 breweries and 3 contract brands. Of these 27, 3 brew occasionally and the current brewing status of another is unknown.

(Only referencing operating breweries and brands since this blog’s creation in 2013)


27 BREWERIES

  • 1. HILDEN – Hilden, Co Antrim. Est 1981
  • 2. WHITEWATER – Castlewellan, Co Down. Est 1996
  • 3. FERMANAGH BEER CO / INISHMACSAINT – Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh. Est 2010
  • 4. ARDS – Greyabbey, Co Down. Est 2011
  • 5. SHEELIN / WHISHT – Bellanaleck, Co. Fermanagh Est 2013 *occasional brewing*
  • Pokertree – Carrickmore, Co Tyrone 2013-2018
  • Red Hand @ The Brewers House restaurant – Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone 2013-2018 
  • Farmageddon – Ballygowan, Co Down. Est 2014. Brewery closed in 2023 but brand now owned and brewed by Fermanagh Beer Company (Farmageddon is now classed as a brand – details below)
  • 6. HERCULES/YARDSMAN – Belfast. Est 2014
  • Hillstown – Ahoghill, Co Antrim 2014-2021
  • Glens of Antrim– Murlough, Co Antrim 2014-2019
  • 7. NORTHBOUND – Campsie, Co L’Derry. Est 2014
  • 8. WALLED CITY – Brewpub/restaurant, Ebrington, Derry/Londonderry. Est 2014
  • Station Works/Foxes Rock – Alltech owned 2014-2018 Now in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland
  • Barrahooley – Co-located at Hillstown, Co Antrim 2015-2019
  • 9. KNOCKOUT – Belfast. Est 2015 *current brewing status unknown*
  • 10. BOUNDARY – Belfast. Est 2015
  • 11. LACADA – Portrush, Co Antrim. Est 2015
  • 12. MOURNE MOUNTAINS – Warrenpoint, Co Down. Est 2015
  • Maltmeister, Bangor, Co Down 2015-2016
  • 13. O’CONNOR CRAFT – Greysteel, Co L’Derry. Est 2015 *occasional brewing*
  • Black Mountain @ The Speckled Hen brewpub/restaurant – Milltown, Co. Antrim 2016-2023
  • 14. BULLHOUSE – Belfast. Est 2016
  • 15. HEANEY FARMHOUSE – Bellaghy, Co. L/Derry. Est 2016
  • 16. BEER HUT – Kilkeel, Co Down. Est 2017
  • 17. MASHDOWN – Banbridge, Co Down. Est 2018
  • Baronscourt – Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone 2018-2023
  • Lecale – Ardglass, Co. Down 2018-2020
  • Red Bay – Cushendall, Co.Antrim 2018-2020
  • 18. McCRACKEN’S – Portadown, Co. Armagh. Est 2018
  • 19. ROUGH BROTHERS, Derry/Londonderry. Est 2019
  • 20. NORN IRON BREW CO/BUBBLE BREWING – Derriaghy, Co. Antrim. Est 2019/2023
  • 21. MODEST BEER – Randalstown, Co. Antrim. Est 2019
  • 22. TWISTED KETTLE – Donaghadee, Co. Down. Est 2019 *occasional brewing*
  • Spadetown – Lurgan, Co. Armagh 2019-2023
  • Bloodline – Portglenone, Co. Antrim 2020-2022
  • 23. ARMAGH BREWING – Armagh. Est 2020
  • 24. BELL’S @ The Deer’s Head brewpub – Belfast. Est 2020
  • 25. OUT OF OFFICE @ Ulster Sports Club, Belfast. Est 2022
  • 26. OUR BREWERY – Randalstown, Co. Antrim. Est 2022
  • 27. ORMEAU – Belfast. Est 2022
  • ** DEIRGE – Castlederg, Co. Tyrone. Coming soon.
  • ** TREBLE – Belfast. Coming soon.

3 CONTRACT BRANDS

  • Clanconnel/McGraths – Contract brewed by Whitewater 2008-2022
  • Clearsky – Contract brewed at Hilden 2013-2021
  • Cloughmore – Contract brewed by Whitewater for Noreast Drinks 2014-2019
  • Nightcap/Gallopers – Contract brewed by Sadlers, England 2015-2018
  • Sailortown – Contract brewed by Station Works for Drinksology 2015-2021
  • 1. DOPEY DICK – Contract brewed by Rough Brothers. Est 2016
  • Fifth Quarter – Contract brewed by Hilden for Drinks Inc 2017-2018
  • Samuel’s Brewing – Contract brewed by Knockout 2017-2020
  • Loopland – Contract brewed by Knockout 2018-2019
  • Downstream – Contract brewed by Whitewater for Ireland Craft Beverages 2018-2023
  • 2. TILT & POUR – Cuckoo-style brewery at Heaney. Est 2023
  • Irish Gods – Contract brewed by Farmageddon 2023
  • 3. FARMAGEDDON – Brand owned and brewed at Fermanagh Beer Company. Est 2023