Cork publicans team up with Dublin drinking houses to launch new brewery

Two well-known faces in the Cork pub industry have teamed up with Dublin drinking houses to create Ireland’s first brewery operation to be owned by a group of publicans.

Taking the future of brewing into their own hands, The Changing Times Brewery will see Shane Long, the founder of the Franciscan Well brewery, and well-known Cork publican Benny McCabe work alongside 15 pubs in the capital as part of an €1.8m investment.

“This is about looking after ourselves and our future, there are testing times at the moment,” said Mr Long.

“We view that we have to take the reins ourselves and really be ready to adapt to what is coming next.”

The Franciscan Well founder says that the new business will be different to other suppliers as it is led by people who are on the frontline and who see the customer on a daily basis.

“We are producing beers that we believe our customer is looking for. 

“Over the years we’ve seen so many products come and go that we were told were the next big thing. 

“We’re looking at things a little bit different to that. Everything is changing so quickly and we view that we need to adapt, we need to change quickly, and hence the name Changing Times.

“Combining high-calibre hops, barley, malt, yeast and more with the insights of our customers, we’ve been able to develop drafts with a great taste that we believe will help change people’s minds and become their regular pint.”

Changing Times will be offering beers brewed in its new state-of-the-art facility in Glasnevin.

The new brewery, which employs nine people, is currently producing 100 kegs a week for the selected pubs but is capable of producing up to 250 kegs a week, or 13,000 a year, with hopes of expanding to brew 30,000 kegs per annum.

The collective is expected to begin supplying its products in the coming weeks, initially selling a lager named Daydreamer and a hazy pale ale called After Hours, with other beers and a stout expected to follow.