Forget the Black Stuff: Meet the Rebel Brewers Rewriting Dublin's Beer Story
Ask most people to picture Irish beer and they'll conjure the same image: a pint of Guinness settling in a dimly lit pub, that slow cascade of nitrogen bubbles doing its theatrical thing. It's iconic, fair enough. But spend any real time drinking your way around Dublin in 2024 and you'll quickly realise that image is only part of the story — and arguably the less exciting part.
Ireland's craft brewing movement has exploded over the past decade, producing some genuinely world-class independent beers that are challenging old assumptions about what Irish drinking culture looks like. For UK visitors making the hop across the Irish Sea, exploring this scene is one of the most rewarding things you can do — and Temple Bar is as good a place as any to start.
Here are five Irish craft breweries worth knowing about before you arrive.
1. Whiplash Beer — Dublin's Genre-Defying Experimenters
Founded in Dublin in 2017 by Alex Lawes and body Roche, Whiplash has become arguably the most talked-about name in Irish craft brewing, and not just domestically. Their beers regularly appear on international best-of lists, and limited releases sell out within hours of dropping online.
What sets Whiplash apart is a refusal to settle into any particular style. One week they're releasing a hazy New England IPA bursting with tropical fruit; the next it's a lean, bone-dry lager or an experimental farmhouse ale. The consistent thread is quality and a genuine curiosity about what beer can be.
For UK craft beer drinkers already familiar with the likes of Verdant or Cloudwater, Whiplash will feel immediately at home — but with a distinctly Irish character. Their core range is increasingly available in Temple Bar's better-stocked bars, and if you spot a can or draught line bearing their name, don't hesitate.
2. Wicklow Wolf — Where Wild Nature Meets the Brew Kettle
Located in Bray, just south of Dublin in the shadow of the Wicklow Mountains, Wicklow Wolf has built its identity around the rugged landscape that surrounds it. Founders Quincey Fennelly and Simon Lynch launched the brewery in 2014 with a mission to create approachable, well-crafted beers that reflect their corner of Ireland.
Their Arcadia Pale Ale has become something of a modern Irish classic — clean, citrus-forward, and dangerously easy to drink. But the brewery's range extends well beyond that, encompassing everything from robust porters to refreshing session lagers. They've also been thoughtful about sustainability, investing in renewable energy and local ingredient sourcing in ways that would resonate with the environmentally minded UK drinker.
Wicklow Wolf is one of the more widely distributed Irish craft breweries, which means you'll find their beers popping up across Temple Bar with reassuring regularity. It's a brilliant gateway brewery for anyone dipping their toes into Irish craft for the first time.
3. Kinnegar Brewing — Small-Batch Brilliance from Donegal
Travel north to the wild Atlantic coastline of County Donegal and you'll find Kinnegar, a small-batch brewery that has been quietly producing exceptional beers since 2013. Founded by Rick and Libby Sheridan — no relation to the Irish coffee inventor, though the name is a happy coincidence — Kinnegar operates out of a converted farm building and produces beers of striking character.
Their Rustbucket Rye Ale is a particular standout: spicy, complex, and unlike almost anything else being brewed on the island. The Scraggy Bay IPA, named after a local beach, offers a more classic hop-forward experience but with the kind of balance that only comes from careful brewing.
Kinnegar isn't as widely available in Dublin as some of the more urban breweries, which makes spotting one of their beers on a Temple Bar tap list something of a find. Ask bar staff specifically — the good ones will know their stock.
4. Rascals Brewing Co. — The Fun-First Philosophy
If Kinnegar is the serious, craft-focused end of the spectrum, Rascals occupies the opposite corner — not in terms of quality, which is consistently high, but in terms of attitude. Founded in Dublin in 2014 by Joe and Cathriona Donnelly, Rascals has always worn its sense of humour on its sleeve, from the cartoon branding to the deliberately irreverent beer names.
But don't let the playfulness fool you. Rascals produces a genuinely impressive range, including one of Ireland's best milk stouts, a punchy double IPA, and seasonal specials that keep regulars coming back to see what's new. They've also leaned into the food-pairing conversation in interesting ways, producing beers specifically designed to complement Irish pub food — something worth keeping in mind if you're sitting down for a meal.
Rascals beers are well-represented across Dublin's more forward-thinking bars, and their cans have become a fixture in off-licences across the city. For UK visitors who've grown up on the likes of BrewDog or Magic Rock, Rascals will feel like kindred spirits.
5. Eight Degrees Brewing — The Antipodean-Irish Fusion
Founded in 2011 in Mitchelstown, County Cork, by Australian expats Scott Baigent and Cameron Wallace, Eight Degrees occupies a fascinating cultural crossroads. The founders brought with them a Southern Hemisphere brewing sensibility — bold, hop-driven, unafraid of big flavours — and grafted it onto the Irish craft scene at a time when most domestic drinkers were still finding their feet with anything beyond stout.
Their Howling Gale Ale was one of the first Irish craft beers to make a serious impression on UK import shelves, and the brewery has continued to expand its range in interesting directions. The Sunburnt Irish Red Ale is a particular favourite — a style that feels authentically Irish in character but with the technical polish of a brewery that's been pushing boundaries from day one.
Eight Degrees has grown considerably since those early days and is now one of the more widely exported Irish craft brands, meaning UK visitors may already have encountered their beers at home. Tasting them fresh in Dublin, though, is a different experience entirely.
Where to Find Them in Temple Bar
The good news is that Temple Bar's drinking landscape has evolved considerably to accommodate Ireland's craft brewing boom. While you'll still find the big names on every bar, the area's more adventurous venues have made genuine efforts to stock independent Irish breweries alongside international craft imports.
When you're here, ask specifically about Irish craft taps — any bar worth its salt will be able to point you in the right direction. Look for chalkboard menus listing brewery names and locations, a reliable sign that the staff know and care about what they're serving.
The craft beer revolution didn't happen overnight, and it hasn't replaced the traditions that make Irish pub culture what it is. But it has added something genuinely exciting to the mix — a layer of creativity and ambition that makes Dublin's drinking scene richer, more varied, and more interesting than it's ever been.
The black stuff will always be there when you want it. But it's worth straying from the familiar, just this once.