Days Out NI
Brewery & cider Holywood

Modest Beer

A small Bangor microbrewery behind some of NI's most sought-after hazy pales.

1 photo
Check hoursNo set public opening hours published — c…
TicketedTours & taproom
HolywoodBrewery & cider
Get directionsOfficial website
Not a sit-and-stay venue — minutes for a collection if arrangedHow long
Alcohol produce…Best for
TicketedEntry
NearbyParking
IndoorsSetting

Modest Beer — A small Bangor microbrewery behind some of NI's most sought-after hazy pales.

  • Getting in: No confirmed public taproom — primarily a production brewery and online shop. Message ahead for any collection.
  • Tours: No regular public tours advertised. Check before you go.
  • Opening: No set public opening hours published — check their website or social channels.
  • Food: None on site; this is a brewery unit, not a bar or café.
  • Family-friendly: Not a visitor venue — better suited to adults buying or following the beer.
  • Age limits: Alcohol producer — over-18s for any purchase or tasting.
Plan your visit

Beer worth seeking out

Modest built its name on a balanced hazy pale ale — tropical fruit flavour with smooth, easy drinkability — and has expanded into IPAs, farmhouse styles and limited specials. Core beers sit alongside small one-off batches, so the line-up changes regularly. The online shop sells boxes of 6 or 12 of the freshest cans, which can include duplicate cans when a release is in short supply. If you'd rather taste before you commit to a case, keep an eye out for Modest on the bar at independent NI pubs and craft beer spots.

Small-batch microbrewery Hazy pale ales Online shop & delivery Mixed cases & gift packs Independent NI craft Over-18 (alcohol)
Good to know before you go:

Small breweries like Modest often run tap takeovers, collaboration releases and the occasional open day or pop-up, usually announced through their newsletter and social channels rather than a fixed calendar. Follow them online so you don't miss a limited batch or a seasonal release.

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
No confirmed public taproom — primarily a production brewery and online shop. Message ahead for any collection.
Opening
No set public opening hours published — check their website or social channels.
Tours
No regular public tours advertised. Check before you go.
Age limits
Alcohol producer — over-18s for any purchase or tasting.
Food
None on site; this is a brewery unit, not a bar or café.
Family-friendly
Not a visitor venue — better suited to adults buying or following the beer.
Parking
Industrial-estate parking around the Balloo Drive units.
Accessibility
Ground-floor industrial unit; contact ahead for specific needs.
How long to allow
Not a sit-and-stay venue — minutes for a collection if arranged.
Address
Unit 43, Dunlop Industrial Units, 8 Balloo Drive, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 7QY
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
No confirmed public taproom — primarily a production brewery and online shop. Message ahead for any collection.
Are there tours?
No regular public tours advertised. Check before you go.
When is it open?
No set public opening hours published — check their website or social channels.
Is it family-friendly?
Not a visitor venue — better suited to adults buying or following the beer.
Is there food?
None on site; this is a brewery unit, not a bar or café.
Getting there

Modest Beer is at Unit 43, Dunlop Industrial Units, 8 Balloo Drive, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 7QY. Industrial-estate parking around the Balloo Drive units. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About Modest Beer

Modest Beer began in a parent's garage in Holywood, where Chris Morris — a tax accountant by day — brewed a small experimental batch of Kölsch for a friend's restaurant. It went down well, and the side project quickly outgrew the garage.

The brewery moved roughly 30 miles to a commercial unit in Randalstown, County Antrim, before settling into its own premises in Bangor, County Down. The name reflects the ethos: a small independent operation that values simplicity over hype.

Today Modest is an established part of the NI craft scene, with core beers and limited specials racking up hundreds of brews and tens of thousands of ratings from drinkers — a strong reputation built on hazy pales and a steady run of one-off releases.