The number of breweries in Ireland has fluctuated dramatically in the past century. Another culture has largely passed us by too; brewpubs. But if you look hard enough, there are a few to be found around Dublin. Even if you do have to expand the typical definition of what a microbrewery is a little.
The Dublin Craft Beer Tour is the best way to discover Irish craft beer with friends and an experienced guide with great value drinks, exclusive discounts and a unique view of the city’s history.
What is a Brewpub?
A brewpub is a bar, or restaurant that brews beer on-site and serves it directly to customers, often alongside food. Unlike the regular pubs around Dublin that rely on serving Guinness to tourists, our brewpubs serve beers brewed on-site. The range from core ranges that you could find anywhere, to specials and experimental styles only available in that brewpub.
It’s fairly typical that brewpubs serve food too because, even here in Ireland, there’s not much money to be made in beer, believe it or not!
Here are some of the best brewpubs in Dublin, even if the definition has to be a little broad.
Urban Brewing, CHQ
Urban Brewing is arguably the most authentic brewpub experience in Dublin. I base this on the size of the place and how close you can get to their brewing equipment. Urban Brewing is effectively an O’Haras bar. This is a Carlow brewery that is part owned the Hijos de Rivera, a Spanish family-owned company best known for the Estrella Galicia beer brand.
I point this out because it’s an odd experience seeing a craft beer you may have never heard of sitting along side a more macro brand like Estrella Galicia.
Urban Brewing offers up everything you’d expect from a classic brewpub. You’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of beer styles, some brewed on-site and a great selection of tapas style foods. It is a bit on the pricier side, but craft beer, brewpubs and Dublin in general has a tendency to do that to you.
When visiting Urban Brewing, you can do a short brewery tour and tasting with them too.
The location of Urban Brewing is absolutely fantastic too given it’s literally in the same building (CHQ) as the award winning, must-see on a visit to Dublin, EPIC.
Rascals, Inchicore
Already, the definition of brewpub has to be expanded a little bit. Rascals is really more of a taproom and brewery. This Inchicore location is where Rascals do all of their brewing and canning. The taproom is sizeable, with a nice beer garden and serves up some of the finest pizza in Dublin.
I know that there are many cities around the world that wouldn’t include a taproom on this list, but I am for two reasons. We simply don’t have that many brewpubs and Rascals really is a must see for craft beer fans.
At a glance, Rascals seems like it’s completely inaccessible for someone visiting Dublin, and I understand that. But the Dublin tram system, called the LUAS, will bring you there. In fact, if you have visited Urban Brewing, you can walk to the LUAS which is just 30 seconds away and catch the Red Line to the Black Horse LUAS stop. From here, Rascals is just about 4 minutes away on foot.
I always tell people visiting Dublin that Rascals is one of the best craft beer pubs in Dublin that most people don’t visit because it’s too far away. Grabbing the LUAS and getting there couldn’t be easier. It’s a genuine local favourite, worth a visit even if it is a little off the beaten path.
Brewdog Dublin Outpost, Docklands
As you can see, Dublin really is lacking the small brewpubs that you’ll find in nearly every other European city. To the point where the final two recommendations are massive well-known brands.
Brewdog is a massive brand. There’s barely a capital city you can visit that doesn’t have a Brewdog in it. But Dublin’s Brewdog is very special because it’s one of the company’s few brewpubs.
Brewdog Dublin Outpost can be a bit of a pain to get to, but again – if you’re venturing from Urban Brewing and CHQ you really are most of the way there and you get to walk through the highest buildings in Dublin in what appears to be our business and financial district.
Once you get there, Brewdog serves up a wide range of Brewdog core beers, guest beers and, of course, some beers brewed on site. The food menu here is respectable too with something for everyone and for all dietary needs.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery, James’ Gate
As a vocal supporter of indie craft beer, this one probably hurts me most. James’ Gate is owned, run and operated by Guinness. Hardly a small indie beer brand by any stretch of the imagination. But they meet all the requirements to be a classed as a brewpub.
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery is an experimental brewpub and taproom located on James Street near the Liberties of Dublin – which is a great place to grab drink a pint like a local with a toastie. The Open Gate Brewery is technically a brewpub on a pretty sizeable scale that serves as the innovation hub for Guinness, where brewers create unique and exclusive experimental beer. Many of these beers are limited editions and often changing, so there is something new on tap each visit.
The venue also offers a curated small plates menu designed to pair with their beers, featuring items like wings, fries, and sharing platters.
I guess it’s a nice thing to exist because many people are trying to work out The Guinness Storehouse or craft brewpubs. Because of the Open Gate Brewery, you can do both!
If you are strictly looking to grab a drink in a brewpub where the beers are brewed on-site, this list is pretty much the complete guide for Dublin. There are a few places if you loosen up the definition, like Fidelity which has beer brewed not too far away, but not on site. We have plenty of other guides available if you want to find other great pubs to try out. Or you could join the Dublin Craft Beer Tour and get guided to the Dublin’s hidden craft beer gems.
The Dublin Craft Beer Tour is the best way to discover Irish craft beer with friends and an experienced guide with great value drinks, exclusive discounts and a unique view of the city’s history.
