Beer in Northern Ireland
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Lisburn , Northern Ireland |
| Products | Beer, Microbrewery products |
Northern Ireland's beer industry has been significantly influenced by migration from Scotland and the pre-partition of Ireland drinking customs prevalent throughout Ireland. The consumption of whiskey, notably linked with Guinness from Dublin, played a role in shaping beer varieties throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Brewing heritage waned as many smaller breweries either ceased operations or were absorbed by larger entities, which themselves eventually closed their brewing sites. The establishment of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in 1971 paved the way for the opening of Hilden Brewing, the region’s first new brewery, a decade later.
The majority of microbreweries in Northern Ireland encounter difficulties in distributing draught beer due to tied-pub systems primarily controlled by Diageo (Guinness), C&C Group (Tennent's), and Molson Coors Brewing Company.
History
Brewing activity in Ireland can be traced back to before 1,000 BC, with barley as the main ingredient. Initially, Irish ales were brewed without hops; these were introduced from England during the 18th century.
In the 18th century, the Irish Parliament imposed taxes on distilling to promote brewing, considering beer a less harmful alternative to whiskey.[1] By the 1760s, annual beer production reached approximately 600,000 barrels. The Royal Dublin Society recognized brewers who utilized Irish-grown hops and produced Porter with awards.[2]
Throughout the interwar period, whiskey tended to be favored over beer in Northern Ireland.[3]
The Caffrey's Ulster Brewery, established in Belfast in 1897 and acquired by Bass in 1974, closed its doors in 2004, marking the end of major commercial brewing within the region.[4] Stout remains Northern Ireland’s leading beer style, followed by lager and bitter varieties.[5] Guinness stout from Dublin continues to hold a dominant market share.[5]
Founded in 1981, Hilden Brewing Company is recognized as Ireland’s longest-standing microbrewery.[6]
In 2007, Whitewater Brewing Company’s Clotworthy Dobbin was ranked among the top 50 beers worldwide.[7]
The number of microbreweries grew swiftly from five in 2012 to thirty by 2018.[6]
Craft breweries in Northern Ireland have long advocated for legislative changes to permit direct sales to consumers. In 2023, an amendment to the Licensing and Registration of Clubs Act introduced a new license category that allows local brewers to sell their products on-site and online, thereby diminishing dependence on third-party distributors.[8]
List of Northern Ireland breweries
| Brewery | Town | County | Established | Contract Brewed? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ards | Greyabbey | County Down | 2011 | ||
| Armagh Brewing Company | Armagh | County Armagh | 2020 | ||
| Beer Hut | Kilkeel | County Down | 2017 | ||
| Bell's | Belfast | County Antrim | 2022 | ||
| Boundary | Belfast | County Antrim | 2015 | ||
| Bubble (formerly Norn Iron Brew Co) | Derriaghy | County Antrim | 2023 | ||
| Bullhouse | Belfast | County Antrim | 2016 | ||
| Dopey Dick | Derry | County Londonderry | 2016 | Rough Brothers | |
| Farmageddon | County Down | 2013 | Fermanagh Beer Co | ||
| Fermanagh Beer Company (Inishmacsaint) | Derrygonnelly | County Fermanagh | 2010 | ||
| Heaney Farmhouse | Bellaghy | County Londonderry | 2016 | ||
| Hercules (Yardsman) | Belfast | County Antrim | 2014 | ||
| Hilden | Lisburn | County Antrim | 1981 | ||
| Knockout | Belfast | County Antrim | 2015 | ||
| Lacada | Portrush | County Antrim | 2015 | ||
| MashDown | Banbridge | County Down | 2018 | Whitewater | |
| McCracken's | Portadown | County Armagh | 2018 | ||
| Warrenpoint | County Down | 2015 | |||
| Derry | County Londonderry | 2015 |
See also
- Beer and breweries by region
- Beer in the United Kingdom
- Beer in England
- Beer in Scotland
- Beer in Wales
- Beer in Ireland
- List of breweries in Ireland
External links
- Society of Independent Brewers
- Campaign for Real Ale Northern Ireland
- NI Breweries - Quare Swally NI
- NI Breweries - Tilt n Pour
- Craft Beer in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Craft & Slice
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Alcohol and Temperance in Modern History.
- ↑ "Bass Ireland Limited — Ulster Brewery".
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