County Kerry hosts several chief craft breweries and distilleries that contribute to the local production of beer and spirits. Dingle Distillery in Dingle opened in 2012 in the old sawmills on Milltown Road just outside the town. It produces Irish whiskey gin and vodka using hand-crafted copper pot stills with a special design incorporating a boil ball for reflux with its chief products including single malt whiskey single pot still whiskey artisan gin and vodka with a USP in its independent craft approach as one of the first new distilleries to challenge established Irish whiskey brands and its use of distinctive still design for smoothness and purity.
West Kerry Brewery also known as Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne in Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula began operations in 2008 founded by Adrienne Heslin as the first microbrewery in County Kerry since the 1800s. It produces ales using top-fermenting yeast and its own house strain with its chief products centring on traditional and innovative beers with a USP in its small-batch production in the Gaeltacht area using fresh yeast for consistent character and its status as the first female-led microbrewery in Ireland.
Killarney Brewing Company in Killarney commenced production in 2015 and operates as a craft brewery reviving brewing in the town after a long absence. It produces beers with its chief products including ales stouts and lagers with a USP in its revival of local craft beer production using natural ingredients.
McGill’s Brewery in Waterville on the Ring of Kerry functions as a family-run operation founded by Joe McGill. It produces craft beers with its chief products centring on ales and other styles with a USP in its family operation along the scenic Ring of Kerry route.
Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare operates as a purpose-built brewery. It produces craft beers with its chief products including ales and lagers with a USP in its position as one of the first purpose-built breweries in Kerry for nearly 180 years.
Dick Mack’s Brewhouse in Dingle brews on site at the historic pub. It produces small-batch beers with its chief products centring on ales and stouts with a USP in its integration of brewing within a traditional pub setting.
Skellig Six18 Distillery in Cahersiveen on the Skellig Coast produces Irish whiskey and gin with its chief products including whiskey expressions and gin with a USP in its focus on crafting spirits inspired by the Atlantic landscape history and resilience.
Portmagee Whiskey in Portmagee crafts small batches of Irish whiskey with its chief products centring on whiskey with a USP in its small-batch production tied to the fishing village heritage and spirit of the sea.
Craft Brewing & Distilling county by county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Dining
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow – Overall – County winners – Georgina Campbell – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
County Kerry:
Ireland’s county Kerry is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, with the Ring of Kerry offering scenic drives past lakes and coastal cliffs. Killarney National Park features the serene Lakes of Killarney and historic Muckross House, while Dingle’s coastal trails and dolphin-watching opportunities add natural allure. Accessible by seasonal ferry, the Skellig Islands’ ancient monastic ruins make Kerry a compelling choice for outdoor adventure and history. Kerry is Ireland’s fifth largest county by size (4,701 square km) and 15th largest by population (156,458). Population peaked at 293,880 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 112,785 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kerry is Ireland’s fourth most visited tourist county with around 877,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
