Craft brewing, cider making and distilling

Northern Ireland's craft brewing sector has grown steadily over the past decade. According to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), there are around 30 independent breweries operating in 2025, ranging from small family-run producers to larger regional brewers.

What is craft beer

Beer is an alcoholic drink made from malted grain (usually barley), yeast, water and hops. The term craft beer typically refers to beer made in small batches by independent producers focusing on flavour, quality and authenticity.

Beer includes ales, porters, stouts and lagers. CAMRA defines real ale as beer brewed from traditional ingredients and matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is served (typically a cask or bottle).

Types of breweries

There are several types of breweries in Northern Ireland:

• Commercial brewery produces beer on a large scale for retail or export.
• Microbrewery brews smaller quantities, often for local sale.
• Brewpub brews beer on site to sell directly in its own bar or restaurant.
• Contract or client brewing involves a commercial agreement by which a producer uses another brewery's facilities. Often, this is because they lack their own premises or resources to scale up production.
• Commissioned brewing is when a business, such as a bar or a pub, hires a brewery to produce beer under their own labelled brand, typically as a unique or signature product. This allows the business to sell exclusive beverages while leveraging the brewery's expertise and equipment.

Licensing and regulations for craft brewers

You need several licences and registrations to start a craft brewery in Northern Ireland. You must:

• apply to HMRC for approval to produce alcoholic products in the UK
• register as a food business with your local council, to produce/handle a food product
• apply to a local county court for a local producer's licence, to legally sell your beer

A local producer's licence in Northern Ireland, under the Licensing (NI) Order 1996, permits selling your product for off-site consumption directly from your production site and, in limited cases, from other premises (under strict licence conditions). Once you have this licence, you can apply for a suitability order, which allows sales for consumption on premises, like in taprooms or during tastings, enabling you to offer on-site customer experiences.

See how to apply for a licence to sell alcohol in Northern Ireland.

You may need additional authorisation if you intend to supply your drinks product to other businesses for resale - for example, a pub or a shop.

Breweries in Northern Ireland are not generally subject to strict controls on production volumes or alcohol strength in the same way distilleries are. However, they must comply with other regulations, including payment of beer duty, VAT and excise rules, advertising and marketing of alcohol, food safety and hygiene, packing and labelling, waste management and more. 

For comprehensive information, see legal considerations for breweries, cideries and distilleries.

Opportunities for craft breweries in food and drink tourism

Craft beer is an important part of Northern Ireland's food and drink tourism offer. Breweries can attract visitors with tours, tastings, and events. New breweries can benefit by offering these experiences, working with local food producers, joining local festivals, and promoting their unique beers.

Many visitors to Northern Ireland look for authentic and welcoming experiences, so craft breweries have a great chance to tap into food tourism opportunities.