Craft Brewery Recommendations

http://theporternouse.ie/index.php

The Porterhouse Temple Bank is industrial-sized and busy, with several branches (even in the US.). But the beer is worth chancing the crowds. The first establishment in Temple Bar is two decades old.

http://galwaybaybrewery.com/blacksheep/

My favourite in Dublin is the Black Sheep, a real local that's away from the Temple Bar tourist crawl. The small place is part of a growing chain operated Galway Bay Brewing, which can still claim craft beer legitimacy. Decent lunches.I haven't been to Galway but understand the area nurtured craft beer when Heineken and Guinness/Diageo owned the country.

http://www.jwsweetman.ie/index.html

Brews some of its own. On the south side of the O'Connell bridge, it's a little gloomier inside than some but a pleasant retreat for a late-afternoon pint.

Plenty has changes in the five years since my visit and a Google search will turn up many lists of best pubs.

The champion tour is at Guinness in Dublin. But it is not really a brewery tour, rather what now is known as an interpretive centre. An old warehouse in the brewery compound has been fitted with videos, visual displays, and a big gift shop. A rooftop glass observatory provides great views across the city. One beer is included in the admission; I took mine in a small bar lower down as part of a tutorial on pouring the perfect glass. To repeat: nice view on a sunny day.
Jameson's distillery on the outskirts of Cork is worth a visit. Historic buildings in modern use and a nice tasting. The Jameson in Dublin no longer makes the whiskey -- another interpretive centre.

Thanks this is great! I've found a few suggestions of craft breweries here or there throughout Ireland but always appreciate tips from people who can give their personal insight especially for less touristy spots.

Despite plenty of attempts I've never been able to stomache dark beers - is the Guinness tour worthwhile if I won't be imbibing in the namesake beer?

I personally would skip Guinness Warehouse. None of us enjoyed it and certainly on a cloudy day won't see anything from the rooftop bar. I seem to remember there was a microbrewery in Dingle. Perhaps Rick Steve's Ireland guide Steve will post his info as he is a Dingle resident.

When we were in Dingle in 2012 we stopped in at the Dingle Brewing Company. It was a fairly small operation then--no tour, but there was a tasting room. I expect it's a more polished operation now. As I remember the primary beer was a nice lager (named after Tom Crean I believe)--tasty and not at all heavy. We ran into fellow Oregonians there (at the time, and probably still, Oregon was known for its thriving brewpub culture) and we all agreed that the beer was quite good.

Thanks Gail for the honest feedback, I think I'll skip the Guinness tour in favor of something else in Dublin!

PJ, I have 2-3 days planned for Dingle so I will definitely look up that brewery. I'm intrigued that their best knon beer is a lager - the craft breweries I've researched in Ireland seem to be favoring the pale ale style. I look forward to a bit of beer style diversity.

The Dingle Brewing Company is a great visit and good beer. The brewery is about 2 blocks from the main part of Dingle. The lager is called Crean's Lager and I found it refreshing after a week of Guinness and Murphy's. I was at the brewery 2 years ago enjoying a pint in their bar area. A CIE tour came in for a brewery tour. The bar attendant was the only one working so he closed the bar area, invited my pint and myself to join the tour and after the tour gave me the complimentary pint that everyone on the tour received. The CIE tour was the "Irish Pub Tour" - sounds interesting. A week later when I was returning to Orlando on Aer Lingus I was pleasantly surprised to find they served Crean's on the flight. Enjoy Ireland - it's on my "return to" list.

Greetings from Ireland.
Gail is right - prob best to skip the Guinness Storehouse if you're seeking craft-beer. Though it is a pretty funky place.
However Guinness must be aware people have this legitimate feeling so they have come up with a response! I was there two days ago. A Guinness micro-brewery nearby. If you like the unique beers they let you taste hen they bottle them there and then to take away! Smart idea

In Dingle, Creans lager is plugging away. It's the only beer they produce. I like it and I like the people there.

A beer connoisseur cannot miss the west kerry brewery out in bricks pub near ballyferriter. European most westerly brewery and with a female brewer!! Don't miss .

Newsflash - the famous Dick Macks pub is launching it's own microbrewery in the historic sheds out back. Being renovated as we type.

Any questions - pop me a message.

Slainte!
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland tour-guide
Dingle, Derry & Dublin

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I have a great list now to help me explore Ireland's craft beer scene! I'm quite excited to give them all a try!