Ards Brewing Company — Days Out NI

Local beer with a decade behind it

Ards Brewing brings brewing back to the Ards Peninsula, and it has stuck at it longer than most. The beers cover the range you'd hope for from a small brewery: a hoppy pale ale in Hip Hop, a full-bodied dark stout in BallyBlack and an easy golden ale in Scrabo Gold. They're produced in small batches as cask, bottle-conditioned and keg, which is why you'll find them on cask in the right pubs rather than on every supermarket shelf. If you like knowing exactly where your pint came from, this is about as local as it gets.

Brewing since 2011 Over-18 Small independent brewery Hip Hop, BallyBlack & Scrabo Gold Contact ahead to visit Local Ards Peninsula beer

Good to know before you go:

Small breweries like Ards turn up at local food and drink markets, beer festivals and tap takeovers around County Down through the year, and that's often the easiest place to taste a few alongside other Northern Irish makers. Check before you travel, as dates and availability change.

What to bring

🪪Photo IDYou need to be 18+ to drink — bring ID if you look under 25.

🚗A plan to get homeA designated driver or a lift, so everyone can enjoy a tasting.

👟Comfy shoesA working brewery tour means standing and a few stairs.

💷A few poundsFor the taproom and a bottle or two to take home.

Everything before you go

Getting in

Working brewery, not a walk-in attraction — contact ahead to arrange a visit or buy direct

Opening

No set public visitor hours — check before you go

Tours

Some directories list brewery tours; not confirmed, so ask the brewery directly

Age limits

Over-18 for anything involving beer

Food

No café on site

Family-friendly

No — adults only, this is a brewery not a family attraction

Parking

Check when you arrange a visit

Accessibility

Check before you go

How long to allow

A short visit if pre-arranged; otherwise seek the beers out in local pubs

Address

34B Carrowdore Road, Greyabbey, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2LX

Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?

Working brewery, not a walk-in attraction — contact ahead to arrange a visit or buy direct

Are there tours?

Some directories list brewery tours; not confirmed, so ask the brewery directly

When is it open?

No set public visitor hours — check before you go

Is it family-friendly?

No — adults only, this is a brewery not a family attraction

Is there food?

No café on site

Getting there

Ards Brewing Company is at 34B Carrowdore Road, Greyabbey, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2LX. Check when you arrange a visit. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

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The story

About Ards Brewing

Ards Brewing Company was established in 2011 to bring brewing back to the Ards Peninsula, and it has run as a small independent operation ever since. Based near Greyabbey just outside Newtownards, it makes cask, bottle-conditioned and keg beer in small batches, keeping distribution tight to the local area around Newtownards and Belfast.

Its beers have become familiar names to County Down drinkers, including Hip Hop Pale Ale, BallyBlack Stout and Scrabo Gold, the last named after Scrabo Tower, the Victorian landmark on the hill above the town. More than a decade on, it remains one of Northern Ireland's longer-running craft breweries and a genuinely local one.