Hilden Brewery — Ireland's oldest independent brewery: a 45-minute tour with Irish stew and a flight of beers.
Getting in: Guided tour only, booked in advance; the coffee shop is open to all. The brewery has at times been listed as closed to visitors, so confirm tours are running before you travel.
Tours: 45-minute brewery tour, £20 including Irish stew lunch and a flight of beers.
Opening: When running, tours are Wed, Thu and Fri at 12pm; restaurant and coffee shop have separate hours, so check before you go.
Food: Irish stew lunch included with the tour (vegan option); Stables coffee shop for tea, coffee, tray bakes and lunches.
Family-friendly: Geared to adults given the tasting; the coffee shop is open to families.
Age limits: Tour includes a beer tasting, so best for adults; check the current age policy when booking.
Plan your visit
Two brewhouses and a flight to taste
The tour takes in both the original brewhouse in the old Georgian stables and the second, larger brewhouse added in recent years. You follow the process through the bottling and canning lines and learn how Hilden builds its range of stouts, lagers, red ales and IPAs. The 45 minutes ends with a flight of beers so you can taste the results, and a bowl of traditional Irish stew is included with the £20 ticket. A vegan stew is available if you ask when booking.
Guided 45-minute tour£20 includes lunch and tastingIreland's oldest independent breweryFlight of beersStables coffee shop on siteFree on-site parking
Good to know before you go:
Hilden runs regular Tap Rooms, Boozy Brunches and seasonal events alongside its weekday tours, and the venue also hosts private functions. Dates and ticketed events change through the year, so check the brewery's own channels close to your visit.
Before you set off
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.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Getting in
Guided tour only, booked in advance; the coffee shop is open to all. The brewery has at times been listed as closed to visitors, so confirm tours are running before you travel
Opening
When running, tours are Wed, Thu and Fri at 12pm; restaurant and coffee shop have separate hours, so check before you go
Tours
45-minute brewery tour, £20 including Irish stew lunch and a flight of beers
Age limits
Tour includes a beer tasting, so best for adults; check the current age policy when booking
Food
Irish stew lunch included with the tour (vegan option); Stables coffee shop for tea, coffee, tray bakes and lunches
Family-friendly
Geared to adults given the tasting; the coffee shop is open to families
Parking
Free on-site parking
Accessibility
On-site toilets and Wi-Fi; contact the brewery about access on the tour route
How long to allow
About 2 hours for tour, lunch and tasting
Address
Hilden Brewery, Grand Street, Hilden, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 4TY
Questions
Before you go
Do I need to book?
Guided tour only, booked in advance; the coffee shop is open to all. The brewery has at times been listed as closed to visitors, so confirm tours are running before you travel
Are there tours?
45-minute brewery tour, £20 including Irish stew lunch and a flight of beers
When is it open?
When running, tours are Wed, Thu and Fri at 12pm; restaurant and coffee shop have separate hours, so check before you go
Is it family-friendly?
Geared to adults given the tasting; the coffee shop is open to families
Is there food?
Irish stew lunch included with the tour (vegan option); Stables coffee shop for tea, coffee, tray bakes and lunches
Getting there
Hilden Brewery is at Hilden Brewery, Grand Street, Hilden, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 4TY. Free on-site parking. Tap below for directions.
Hilden Brewery started in 1981 and is recognised as Ireland's oldest independent brewery, brewing continuously on the same Lisburn site for over 40 years. It built its reputation in the early days of craft brewing, long before the wave of independent breweries that followed.
The original brewhouse occupies converted Georgian stables in the courtyard of Hilden House. A second, larger brewhouse was added in recent years, along with bottling and canning lines, expanding the range to include stouts, pale lagers, red ales and IPAs. The adjoining Stables coffee shop and event spaces have made the site a small destination in its own right.