Dublin's Beer Delights: A Guide To Drinking In Ireland's Capital

Dublin is a city built on beer, with a world-renowned brewery and a vibrant craft beer scene. If you're looking for a pint of the black stuff, you won't have to look far—it's served proudly in almost every pub across the city. But there's more to Dublin's beer story than that. The Irish craft beer movement began in the mid-1990s, and today the city enjoys a growing community of craft beer-focused pubs, brewery taprooms, and brewhouses. So, whether you're a fan of stouts, IPAs, ales, or something more unusual, here's a guide to some of the best places to drink beer in Dublin.

The best craft beer bars and breweries in Dublin

Dublin's craft beer scene has been thriving since the mid-1990s, when the opening of a small brewpub at the edge of Temple Bar heralded a new chapter in the city's beer story. Today, there is a growing community of craft beer-focused pubs, brewery taprooms, and brewhouses, offering something for every beer lover's palate. Here are some of the best craft beer bars and breweries to check out in Dublin:

• The Porterhouse Brew Company: Dublin's original craft brewer, The Porterhouse, opened its small Temple Bar brewpub in 1996 and remains independent to this day. They offer live music, tasty food, and 20 taps featuring a range of beers, including IPAs, ales, stouts, and porters. They also have a second location, Tapped, on Nassau Street, which offers a wider selection of local and international craft brews.
• Galway Bay Brewery Pubs: Galway Bay Brewery operates several bars across Dublin, each with its own unique atmosphere and a broad choice of draught beer. Some of their popular locations include The Brew Dock, The Black Sheep, Against the Grain, and The Gasworks. Their beers, such as "Of Foam and Fury," have gained a reputation for being some of the best craft beers made in Ireland.
• Rascals HQ: Located in Inchicore, Rascals HQ is a fun-loving brewery that offers immersive tours, tastings, and a taproom serving delicious pizza and tasting trays. They have 12 taps pouring straight from the tank and frequently showcase guest breweries. Rascals HQ also hosts various events, including movie and sports screenings, quizzes, and parties, making it a fun and engaging destination for craft beer enthusiasts.
• Underdog: Located on North King Street, Underdog is a beloved craft beer bar among Dubliners, known for its eclectic and ever-evolving selection of craft beers. They work directly with breweries to secure rare batches and kegs, often offering first-time pours in Ireland. The bar has a loyal following and has moved locations multiple times, with its current spot at the top of Capel Street.
• The Big Romance: Named after an album by Irish musician David Kitt, The Big Romance is a music-centric craft beer bar in Parnell Street. It features a bespoke hi-fi sound system, a vinyl-only policy, DJ sets, and live jazz sessions. They offer a dozen craft beer taps, including several core pours from Dublin's Whiplash Brewery, alongside rotating taps from international breweries.
• Fidelity Bar: Fidelity Bar, located on Queen Street, is a collaboration between The Big Romance and Whiplash Brewery. It offers a high-energy atmosphere with rotating DJs and a dozen temperature-controlled taps showcasing Whiplash's beloved brews. They also have six rotating taps for tap takeovers, collaborations, and guest breweries, ensuring a constantly evolving selection.
• Urban Brewing: Urban Brewing is a long-standing brewpub located in the Docklands' CHQ Building. It is owned by O'Hara's and offers a mix of their classic favourites and in-house brews, along with tapas-style food. Urban Brewing provides a beautiful sun-filled terrace bar above 200-year-old vaults and hosts tours and tastings to explore brewing techniques, recipes, and food pairings.
• Four Provinces Brew Co: Four Provinces Brew Co is a unique bilingual suburban pub and brewery in Kimmage. They offer a range of craft beers, including their flagship 'Piper' Amber IPA and 'Gob Fliuch' Dark Mild. The pub also hosts regular traditional music sessions, Irish language classes, and private tours of the brewery.
• BrewDog Outpost: Located at the spot where the Grand Canal meets the River Liffey, BrewDog Outpost features two bars, outdoor spaces, a beer school, microbrewery tours, fire pits, and shuffleboards. They have 32 taps, including a growing list of dark beers from their own brewers and guest breweries.
• Guinness Open Gate: Guinness Open Gate, located on James Street, is the historic home of experimentation for Guinness. It opened in 2015, inviting visitors into their creative brewing space. They host regular festivals, seasonal events, and weekend openings with small-batch brews and a sharing-friendly menu. Their beers are mostly limited editions, with past favourites like Black Forest Stout and Honey Brown Ale.

The best craft beer pubs in Dublin

Dublin is a city built on beer, with a world-renowned brewery and pubs across the city serving its famous black stuff. But there's another side to Dublin's beer scene: a growing community of craft beer-focused pubs, brewery taprooms and brewhouses, with something for every beer lover's palate.

The Porterhouse, Temple Bar

The Porterhouse in Temple Bar is Ireland's first-ever brewpub and has the largest selection of world-class beers in the country. It stocks lagers, stouts, IPAs, pale ales and porters, as well as its own signature beers. It also offers pub grub, live music and a great atmosphere.

BrewDog, The Docklands

A world-renowned brand, BrewDog serves some of the best craft beers from around the globe in Dublin's docklands. It has a microbrewery, beer schools, plenty of seating and a simple food menu of wings, burgers and vegan-friendly dishes. It also has alfresco seating and is known for its quirky bar and restaurant, as well as a wide range of brews.

Against the Grain, Wexford Street

This quaint pub is not your average for Wexford Street. It has a lovely atmosphere and is the place to go for tasty, unique beers. It's home to many Galway Brewery creations and has a world-class range of international craft beers, with as many as 10 different choices on tap at any one time.

P Macs, Lower Stephen Street

A much-loved candlelit pub in the city centre, P Macs is perfect for a date or a catch-up with friends. Its craft beer menu is one of the best in central Dublin, but it also offers favourites like Birra Moretti, so there's something for everyone. It has a cosy, beautiful environment filled with warm candles and dark wood, and it offers more than 100 options to choose from.

The Beer Market, High Street, The Liberties

This old-fashioned pub is beautifully designed and offers a great supply of craft beers just a stone's throw from Christchurch. It's a must for craft beer enthusiasts but also worth a visit for its lovely decor.

Tapped, Nassau Street

Tapped is relatively new to the Dublin pub scene, but it's becoming hugely popular. It specialises in craft beers from Ireland and abroad but in a much more modern setting than many other pubs. It has over 50 taps serving craft beer, wine, prosecco and cocktails. One to try is Atlantean by the White Hag – a lovely fruity NEIPA and arguably the best Ireland has produced.

The Underdog, North King Street

The Underdog has found a permanent home on North King Street after moving three times in its first six years. It has Dublin's best selection of craft beer, with an ever-evolving and eclectic offering. It's the only bar in Ireland to have Lambiek on tap, and it also has a few regulars like Hopburgh Helles. It does a lovely charcuterie board, too.

Rascals HQ, Inchicore

Most of Dublin's smaller breweries aren't open to visitors, but Rascals Brewing Company fills that gap with aplomb. It offers everything from immersive tours and tastings to a taproom serving serious pizza and tasting trays. It has 12 taps pouring straight from the tank or showcasing guest breweries, and there's a sunny terrace that's perfect for its Happy Days Session Pale Ale.

Fidelity Bar, Queen St

Fidelity Bar is a high-octane craft beer haven with rotating DJs. It has a dozen temperature-controlled taps showcasing what Whiplash loves to do, from their beloved 'Body Riddle' Pale Ale to nitro takes on brown ale and stout. Six rotating taps allow for tap takeovers, collabs or guest breweries.

Urban Brewing, CHQ Building

Urban Brewing is a long-standing brewpub in Dublin, owned by O'Hara's. It has two bars offering beer tasting trays and two kitchens crafting rotating menus. Regular Taps + Tapas tasting menus showcase the food-friendliness of onsite brews, which might include a hybrid-fermented Cream Ale. It also has 18 taps and a vast list of large-format and limited-edition bottles.

Four Provinces Brew Co, Kimmage

Opened on St Patrick's Day in 2019, Four Provinces Brew Co is a bilingual suburban pub with a brewery out the back. Pop in for a pint of their flagship 'Piper' Amber IPA, or their 'Gob Fliuch' Dark Mild, and a hearty lunch or easy toastie. Stick around for the regular trad music session or Irish language classes, or book a private tour of the brewery.

The Bernard Shaw, Glasnevin

Great for a party, with extensive beer, cocktail and food menus, drag brunch, quiz and bingo nights, and a huge garden.

Craft beer bars in Dublin City Centre

Dublin's craft beer scene has been thriving since the mid-1990s, with a growing community of craft beer-focused pubs, brewery taprooms and brewhouses. Here are some of the best craft beer bars in Dublin City Centre:

The Porterhouse, Temple Bar

The Porterhouse is Dublin's original craft brewer, opening its small Temple Bar brewpub in 1996. It offers live music, tasty food and 20 taps featuring IPAs, stouts, porters and limited-edition ales. It's a great place to bring visitors, with its friendly staff, traditional Irish food and beer decorations.

Galway Bay Brewery Pubs

Galway Bay Brewery operates several bars in the city centre, including The Brew Dock, The Black Sheep, Against the Grain, The Gasworks and The 108. Each bar has its own unique draw, from games of Jenga to open-mic comedy nights and pub quizzes. Their website lists the current tap list for each bar, making it easy to find what you're looking for.

Rascals HQ, Inchicore

Rascals HQ is a fun-loving brewery that offers immersive tours and tastings, as well as a taproom serving pizza and tasting trays. They have 12 taps pouring straight from the tank and showcasing guest breweries. They also host movie and sports screenings, quizzes and parties, making it a fun spot for craft beer enthusiasts.

Underdog, North King Street

Underdog is a craft beer lover's paradise, with a wide and eclectic selection of beers. They deal directly with breweries to secure rare batches and kegs, often offering first-time pours in Ireland. Their location on Capel Street is convenient for exploring the city's culinary delights.

The Big Romance, Parnell Street

The Big Romance is a music-focused bar with a bespoke hi-fi sound system, vinyl-only policy, DJ sets and live jazz sessions. They offer a dozen craft beer taps, including several core pours from Dublin's Whiplash Brewery, as well as rotating taps featuring international breweries.

Fidelity Bar, Queen St

Fidelity Bar is a high-octane craft beer bar with rotating DJs and a dozen temperature-controlled taps. They showcase a range of beers from Whiplash, including their beloved 'Body Riddle' Pale Ale and experimental nitro takes on traditional styles. They also offer six rotating taps for tap takeovers, collabs and guest breweries.

Craft beer-friendly neighbourhood pubs in Dublin

Dublin has a thriving craft beer scene, with a growing community of craft beer-focused pubs, brewery taprooms and brewhouses. Here are some of the best craft beer-friendly neighbourhood pubs in Dublin:

The Porterhouse, Temple Bar

The Porterhouse is Dublin's original craft brewer, opening its small Temple Bar brewpub in 1996. It offers live music, tasty food and 20 taps featuring IPAs, stouts, porters and ales. It's also decorated with hundreds of beer bottles from all over the world. The Porterhouse is a great place to bring visitors, with friendly staff who are happy to answer any questions about the beers on offer.

Underdog, North King Street

A pub for diehard Dublin craft beer fans, Underdog has a loyal following. It offers a wide and eclectic selection of craft beers, with owner Paddy Delahunty dealing directly with breweries to secure rare batches and kegs. You'll find treats like Galway brewery Land & Labour's spontaneously fermented 'Biere du Rhubarb' sour.

The Big Romance, Parnell Street

Named after an album by Irish musician David Kitt, The Big Romance was established in 2018 by music promoters Hidden Agenda. Music is king here, with a bespoke hi-fi sound system, vinyl-only policy, DJ sets and live jazz sessions. Expect around 12 craft beer taps, including several core pours from Dublin's Whiplash Brewery, as well as rotating taps from international breweries.

Fidelity Bar, Queen St

A high-octane craft beer bar with rotating DJs, Fidelity was opened in 2023 by the team behind The Big Romance and Whiplash brewery. It has 12 temperature-controlled taps showcasing Whiplash's beloved beers, from their 'Body Riddle' Pale Ale to their nitro takes on brown ale and stout. It also has six rotating taps for tap takeovers, collabs and guest breweries.

L Mulligan Grocers, Stoneybatter

L Mulligan Grocers is serious about its beer, offering a range of craft beers from breweries like Trouble Brewing. Try the 'Ambush Juicy Pale Ale' or 'Pumpkin Ale', and tuck into a Sunday roast.

The Bernard Shaw, Glasnevin

Great for a party, The Bernard Shaw has extensive beer, cocktail and food menus, drag brunch, quiz and bingo nights, and a huge garden.

Blackbird, Rathmines

A short trip out of the city centre, Blackbird offers a range of Irish and international craft beers, as well as more mainstream lagers and Guinness. It's also known for its pizza.

Where to buy craft beer in Dublin

The Porterhouse Temple Bar

The Porterhouse Temple Bar is a Dublin institution and was the city's first-ever brewpub. It has live music, tasty food, and 20 taps featuring IPAs, pale ales, stouts, porters, and limited-edition stouts barrel-aged in whiskey casks. It's also rumoured that Conor McGregor is buying a stake in the Porterhouse, so it's definitely worth a visit!

Underdog, North King Street

Underdog is the place for diehard Dublin craft beer fans. They have a 20-strong digital tap list that you can check out online before you go, featuring treats like Galway brewery Land & Labour's spontaneously fermented 'Biere du Rhubarb' sour. They've moved location three times in their first six years but have amassed a loyal fanbase that follows them everywhere.

The Big Romance, Parnell Street

The Big Romance is a vinyl bar with craft beer and cocktails. There are 13 taps (12 craft and 1 Guinness) and craft selections include lots from Whiplash and Boundary. You can also get pizza delivered from nearby.

Fidelity Bar, Queen St

Fidelity Bar is a collaboration between The Big Romance and Whiplash brewery, located near the Jameson distillery. It has a custom-designed sound system, a lovely long bar, and 18 beer taps. It also has excellent cocktails, making it a favourite Dublin bar.

Rascals HQ, Inchicore

Rascals HQ is one of Dublin's smaller breweries that is open to visitors. They offer immersive tours and tastings, as well as a taproom serving serious pizza and tasting trays. They have 12 taps pouring straight from the tank or showcasing guest breweries, and there's a sunny terrace too.

BrewDog Outpost, Grand Canal Dock

Dublin’s BrewDog Outpost has two bars and outdoor spaces, a beer school, microbrewery tours, fire pits, and shuffleboards. There are 32 taps, including a growing list of dark beers from their own brewers and guests like Thornbridge's 'Sticky Toffee' Imperial Stout.

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