It is said that Ireland’s beer history can be traced back to the Bronze Age, long before the birth of Jesus. According to an old legend, even St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, had his own brewer – the priest Mescan.
In the Middle Ages, it was mainly monks who were responsible for brewing. “Uisce beatha,” or water of life, as the Celtic monks called it, was brewed in the monasteries. Ireland’s unique climate and soil allowed barley, the grain typically used in beer production, to thrive. The grain was malted, meaning sprouted and dried, before being used for brewing beer. During the process, various herbs and spices were added to flavor the beer.
In the 18th century, Ireland was set to make its mark on the world map when it came to the production and sale of beer.
The 18th Century
In 1710, the Smithwicks brewery in Kilkenny was established as one of the first large-scale operations. The red ale they produced quickly became popular. Over time, Dublin became the center of a rapidly growing beer industry in Ireland.
In 1759, Arthur Guinness founded St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Arthur had learned the art of brewing from his father and began producing a dark, rich beer – Guinness. This was the beginning of an adventure that would make Irish beer world-famous.
Ups and Downs
Throughout the 19th century, Guinness’ brewery gained an increasingly dominant role. From a peak of perhaps over one hundred different breweries in the 18th century, this number had been reduced to only around 30 by the turn of the 20th century. By then, Guinness had become Europe’s largest beer producer, and it would take less than 20 years for the brewery to become the largest in the world. It was precisely during this period that the unique beer type, Irish dry stout, was developed.
To avoid the tax imposed on the use of malted barley, brewers instead used unmalted barley. It is this unmalted and roasted barley that gives the characteristic dry and bitter taste that defines Irish stout.
Further into the 20th century, the global economy collapsed, making it increasingly difficult to run breweries. Guinness and other international companies acquired more and more of the smaller players. After World War II, very few breweries were left in Ireland.
Revival
In the 1990s, this slowly but surely began to change. Several small craft and microbreweries emerged. Not all were successful, but over time, there has been a good selection of craft beers in Ireland. Irish beer is now recognized worldwide and is no longer synonymous only with Guinness, even though it still holds a dominant role.
Below is a list of various Irish beers I have tried. All were purchased in Dublin. There is no particular order.
O’Hara’s Irish Pale Ale 5.2%
If you’re a fan of IPAs, you will definitely enjoy this one. The beer is dry-hopped, giving it a strong aroma. A distinct citrus taste with a floral finish. Fine white foam. Pairs perfectly with fish and chips.
O’Hara Brewery is one of the pioneers among Irish microbreweries and has been operating since 1996.
Smithwick’s Red Ale 4.5%
This is one of the traditional Irish red ales. Personally, I found it a bit dull, but it is one of Ireland’s best-selling red ales.
As previously mentioned, Smithwick’s Brewery has over 300 years of history behind it. Guinness acquired a stake in the company in 1965, and all production was moved to Dublin in 2013.
Hop House 13 Lager 4.1%
A fresh, clean, and aromatic lager with flavors of apricot and peach. My favorite among the Irish lagers.
Hop House 13 Lager is a newcomer that enjoyed immediate success after its launch in 2015. It is produced at The Open Gate Brewery in Dublin, which is owned by Guinness. The beer uses Guinness yeast and hops sourced from both Australia and the USA. The name comes from a storage building in Dublin where hops were kept.
Kinnegar Limeburner Pale Ale 4.7%
Delightful and light with a strong lime flavor. Pairs well with fish.
Kinnegar Brewing consists of a small group of enthusiasts specializing in farmhouse-style brewing.
Kinnegar Scraggy Bay IPA 5.3%
A crisp and fruity IPA with a distinct hop character. Pleasant balance between sweetness and bitterness.
Rye River Lil’ Bangin’ Session IPA 3.8%
A light, smooth, and easy-drinking session IPA with a hint of mandarin flavor.
Rye River Brewing Company produces a wide range of beers and has won numerous international awards.
Five Lamps IPA 5.0%
Five Lamps’ IPA has a noticeable hop character but, in my opinion, was somewhat average in terms of flavor.
The Five Lamps Brewery gets its name from an iconic five-branched lamppost in Dublin, positioned at the intersection where five roads converge.
Guinness Draught Irish Dry Stout 4.2%
The Irish classic is quite enjoyable, especially if you like dark beer. It is fresh, easy to drink, and has a delightful, soft, fine foam. The taste is creamy with hints of coffee, burnt toast, and chocolate. Instead of carbonation, nitrogen is used, which gives Guinness its characteristic thick foam.
If you’re not a fan of dark beer, Guinness might not be for you.
Rockshore Irish Lager 4.0%
A light and easy-drinking lager. It was a bit too plain for my taste. The brand is owned by Guinness.
Kilkenny Draught Irish Red Ale 4.3%
Similar to Smithwick’s Red Ale but with less hop flavor. Additionally, nitrogen is used instead of carbon dioxide, producing thick, fine foam like that in Guinness. If you buy Kilkenny in a can, you might notice a small ball inside. This ball, known as a widget, recreates the fine foam you get when ordering a draft beer. A similar widget can be found in canned Guinness.
Kilkenny is a classic ale available worldwide. It was brewed at the Smithwick’s Brewery in Kilkenny until 2013. Now Guinness handles the production.
Galway Hooker Citrus West Coast IPA 5.1%
A flavorful IPA with a distinct citrus profile.
Galway Hooker Craft Brewery claims to have brewed the original so-called Irish Pale Ale – a beer style that has become popular among Ireland’s microbreweries.
The Ginger Man House Beer All Brett Session IPA 5.2%
A drinkable light IPA with a hint of caramel. You need to visit The Ginger Man pub in Dublin to try this one.
Dublin Blonde Lager 4.4%
A light and pleasant lager. A bit uncertain who produces this now – if you know, please leave a comment below.
HopKnut Irish Pale Ale 4.9%
Characteristic hoppy flavor with notes of lemon and orange. Well-balanced with a caramel-like aroma. This one was quite decent. Produced by the microbrewery Wicklow Brewery.
Jack Smyth
Jack Smyth is a small series of beers associated with a restaurant in Dublin – Gallagher’s Boxty House. Here, you can enjoy a unique Irish pancake called boxty. If you order the Jack Smyth beer tasting, you’ll get a glass of each of these four varieties:
Jack Smyth Classic Stout 4.8%
Rich, flavorful stout. Very good – better than Guinness, in my opinion.
Jack Smyth Irish Red Ale 4.5%
Especially tasty and creamy red ale with a good amount of fine foam.
Jack Smyth Irish Pale Ale
Slightly fruity with a noticeable malt flavor. A bit bland and tasteless.
Jack Smyth Crisp Lager
A drinkable and refreshing lager. Pairs well with salty food.
Galway Bay Of Foam & Fury 8.5%
A Double IPA (DIPA) with a fine combination of grapefruit, citrus, and mango flavors. Slightly strong bitterness. Be aware of the alcohol percentage!
Galway Bay Brewery was established in 2009 as one of Ireland’s first brewpubs called The Oslo Bar in Salthill, Galway on the west coast. They have since expanded and moved to Oranmore, just outside Galway.
Galway Bay Bay Ale Red Ale 4.4%
A rich red ale with a delightful caramel aroma. This was one of my favorites in Ireland.
YellowBelly Citra Pale Ale APA 4.8%
Distinct hoppy taste. A quite good American Pale Ale with a pronounced citrus flavor. Great art work on the can!
YellowBelly Beer is a prolific craft brewery that has launched over 300 different beers since its start in 2015.
Brú Brewery Citrus IPA 5.5%
An IPA with a fresh citrus taste. The beer is rich yet easy to drink.
Brú Brewery is another Irish craft brewery. They have been operating for 10 years and produce both traditional and modern experimental beers.
The White Hag Atlantean New England IPA 5.4%
As typical for New England IPAs, this one is notably cloudy. The beer is brewed with oats and lactose, which give it a creamy texture and reduce much of the bitterness from the hops. Very good beer.
The White Hag is based in Sligo, in the northwest of Ireland. Their beers are rooted in traditional flavors with a modern twist.
The White Hag Altitude Pale Ale 4.8%
A pleasant balance between sweetness and bitterness, with a fresh and good taste. This beer is brewed for Dublin Airport and can only be enjoyed there.
Dead Centre Brewing Teeny Tiny Micro New England IPA 3.3%
Dead Centre’s Teeny Tiny is a light and fruity IPA. Dead Centre Brewing operates as a brewpub in Athlone.
O Brother The Nightcrawler Milk Stout 4.5%
A rich and deliciously flavorful stout. The Nightcrawler surpasses Guinness by a good margin. Flavors of roasted caramel, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. My absolute favorite! Look for this next time you are in Ireland.
O Brother Brewing is a microbrewery run by three brothers in Wicklow.
Hope Beer Handsome Jack India Pale Ale 6.6%
Prominent acidity from citrus fruit and a distinct sweetness from Irish malt. The beer is named after the Irish pirate Jack Criss. Pairs well with burgers, pizza, and Indian food.
Hope Beer is a microbrewery that specializes in brewing beers to complement different dishes.
How Much Does a Pint of Beer Cost in Ireland?
The average price of a beer in Ireland is €6.
However, in the most popular areas, such as the Temple Bar district in Dublin, you may need to pay up to €8.
How Much Is a Pint?
1 pint equals 0.568 liters.
Wondering what to eat with your beer?
Irish Beer – A Summary
I wouldn’t claim this is a 100% complete guide, but hopefully, it provides a solid starting point for finding good local beer when visiting Ireland.
Sláinte!
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