Hilden Brewery

County Antrim


Ireland's oldest independent brewing company, dating from 1981, produces superior brews including caramel-malt Twisted Hop, Buck's Head double IPA, Barney's Brew wheat beer with coriander and golden Belfast Blonde pale ale. Tours lasting 45 minutes show you how they're made and include a tasting. In mid-August, Hilden hosts a two-day beer festival. Take the train from Belfast's Great Victoria St station to Hilden station, from where it's a 300m walk.

The brewery has its own restaurant, the Tap Room, serving dishes such as soup with Hilden Stout wheaten bread and Belfast Blonde–battered haddock.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby County Antrim attractions

1. Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum

0.95 MILES

The history of Lisburn's once prosperous linen industry is celebrated at this interesting museum, inside the 17th-century Market House. The 'Flax to…

2. Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park

2.17 MILES

Rolling meadows, woodland, riverside fields and formal gardens make up this beautiful park, along with a walled garden, a Japanese-style garden, a…

3. Giant's Ring

3.33 MILES

This huge prehistoric earthwork, nearly 200m in diameter, is a circular neolithic ritual complex with a dolmen (known as the Druid's Altar) in the centre…

4. Malone House

3.54 MILES

A late-Georgian mansion on the grounds of former private estate Barnett Demesne, Malone House is now used mainly for weddings and conferences, with art…

5. Shaw's Bridge

3.68 MILES

This five-arched stone bridge is a popular starting point for riverside walks and kayaking.

6. Lagan Meadows

4.62 MILES

This tree-fringed loop in the river to the right of the Lagan towpath (heading south towards Lisburn) is a good place for a picnic on a summer's day.

7. St Malachy's Parish Church

4.64 MILES

Overlooking Hillsborough village is St Malachy's, a splendid 18th-century church, with twin towers at the ends of the transepts and a tall spire at the…

8. Hillsborough Fort

4.74 MILES

Built as an artillery fort by Colonel Hill in 1650 (William of Orange stayed here on his way to the Boyne in 1690), Hillsborough Fort was remodelled as a…