The best of the rest

Bullhouse: Where to begin? Founded in 2011 by William Mayne, Bullhouse Brew Co has been at the centre of Northern Ireland’s craft beer scene since its inception. William’s name is, by now, synonymous with a growing, nation-wide campaign to reform Northern Ireland’s draconian licensing legislation, and make it fit for modern-day purposes. Bullhouse East, the brewery’s taproom, was the first in the country to attain a full alcohol licence. 

Boundary: If you need a reminder that good things come to good people, let the story of Boundary Brewing be the memo. Founded by Matthew Dick in 2014, Boundary crafted and grafted — brewing independent beer for the good people of Belfast and beyond — for eight years before it secured the alcohol licence needed to open a taproom. In that same year, the team was offered the opportunity to take over proprietorship of The John Hewitt, an iconic pub in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Both are must-visits if in Northern Ireland. 

Beer Hut: Founded in 2017 by brothers in law Andrew McBride and Neil Chambers, Beer Hut Brew Co started, as so many do, as a homebrew project in Andrew’s garden shed — hence the name. Since then, it has expanded and moved around Kilkeel and Newry, several times, but currently has roots in the town’s centre where an on-site pizzeria allows people to gather and enjoy a beer with pizza. 

Heaney: For Malcolm McCay, brewing has always been about care and consistency, the force of which beats through the farm and brewery he and his wife Suzanne run together. Heaney isn’t a brewery you’ll forget easily, with its connection to the surrounding land, to ingredients, to the family farm and those who ran it before Mal and Suzanne, informing everyday operations. While Heaney doesn’t currently have a taproom of its own, the brewery does run occasional events (so keep an eye on its social media) and is almost always stocked at The Sunflower pub, in Belfast city centre. 

Northbound Brewery: David and Martina Rogers acquired their taste for craft beer over a decade spent in Australia, eventually taking their insight and experience back to Derry’s coast where they founded Northbound Brewery in 2013. Using Irish ingredients and David’s experience as a master brewer, the brewery prides itself on crafting natural beers that are unpasteurized, unfiltered, with no artificial additives and bottled fresh on site.

Whitewater: Established in 1996 on the fifth generation family farm, in County Down, Whitewater Brewery is now the largest independent brewery in Northern Ireland. With planning permission granted for a brand new 15,000ft² brewing facility in 2016, Whitewater can now comfortably operate its 6500-litre microbrewery, while bottling on-site, continuing to innovate, and even offering contract packaging services to other breweries. In addition to offering 15 core beers and a range of hard seltzers, the brewery is working on the development of low alcohol beers, so watch this space!