Guides

Dublin’s breweries

Image of black gates at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin.

When talking Dublin breweries, one towers above all others, quite literally and for the longest time.

The Guinness Storehouse needs little introduction, having risen to pole position as Ireland’s number one visitor attraction.

It got there for good reason: the panoramic mountain, bay and rooftop views from the 360º Gravity Bar tower are worth the admission alone, not to mention the creamy pint you’ll be handed in its rooftop bar.

Not content to rest on its laurels, this historic heavyweight is still evolving and a visit to the newer Guinness Open Gate taproom and beer garden around the corner on James Street is a sneak peek into the experimental side of the brewery, with small batch brews poured from a limited-run beer roster.

Elsewhere in the city a growing battalion of small-scale craft brewers are doing their own thing and sharing it with visitors in their own individual way. Think tongue-in-cheek tours followed by sourdough pizza and fresh brews at Rascals HQ in a Dublin 8 warehouse. Taps and tapas at Urban Brewing micro-brewery and restaurant in the slick surrounds of the financial docklands. Trad sessions and sharing platters from the original of the Irish pub brewer species, Porterhouse Brewing Company. It’s safe to say you won’t go thirsty.