Whitewater Brewery

Whitewater Brewery was founded in 1996 on a fifth-generation family farm in the Mourne Mountains of County Down. From the beginning, the aim was to produce distinctive, flavourful beer shaped by the brewery's surroundings and local heritage. Production started modestly on an 800-litre brewing system, with each batch made by hand as Whitewater gradually established itself within Northern Ireland's developing independent beer scene.

Over the following two decades, the brewery grew considerably. Its beers collected awards and reached a wider audience, while increasing demand eventually pushed the original farm operation towards a major expansion. In 2016, after twenty years of brewing, Whitewater received planning permission for a new brewery facility, beginning the next stage of the company's development in Castlewellan.

Today, Whitewater operates a modern 6,500-litre brewhouse, a substantial increase from the 800-litre system on which the brewery began. Around fifteen different beers form its range, with production and bottling carried out onsite. Despite that increase in scale, Whitewater continues to describe its central aim in straightforward terms: producing exciting, great-tasting beer that people want to drink.

Locality and sustainability have become important parts of the brewery's approach. Whitewater works with local farmers and suppliers where possible, aiming to incorporate high-quality ingredients and a sense of Irish provenance into its beers. Its location in the Mourne Mountains and its origins as part of a long-established family farm remain important parts of the brewery's identity nearly three decades after its first brews.

The expanded Castlewellan brewery has also allowed Whitewater to develop a substantial visitor experience. Brewery tours and tastings are available to book, giving visitors the opportunity to see the brewing facility and learn more about how its beers are produced. The brewery also hosts events, making the site a public-facing destination as well as a production facility.

Food has become another part of that experience through Beer Dough, Whitewater's onsite sourdough pizza offering. The pizzas are made using some of the brewery's own beer and a house sourdough culture, proved for 48 hours and stone baked. Walk-in and takeaway service operates on Saturdays, with the brewery again emphasising locally sourced ingredients where possible.

From an 800-litre setup on a family farm in 1996 to a 6,500-litre brewery producing fifteen beers, Whitewater has grown substantially while remaining rooted in Castlewellan and the Mourne Mountains. Brewing, tours, tastings, events and Beer Dough now bring production and hospitality together at the same site, while the brewery continues to focus on local sourcing, innovation and distinctive beer.