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food-drink · Friday 7 August 2026 · Various 
Bréifne Gael Brewing - Brew School Experience
At Bréifne Gael Brewing Company · Cavan, Co. Cavan
At Bréifne Gael Brewing Company · Cavan, Co. Cavan
If you have ever cracked open a craft beer and wondered how it actually gets made, this is the day to find out. Bréifne Gael Brewing Company’s Brew School is a hands-on session at their microbrewery in Cavan, and they mark International Beer Day - the first Friday of August every year - with a special public brewing experience. It suits anyone with a curiosity about craft beer, from complete beginners to home-brew enthusiasts who want to see how a small professional operation runs.
Bréifne Gael is an independent microbrewery based at Cavan Enterprise Centre on the Dublin Road, producing small-batch beers entirely from Irish ingredients. Their core range runs to four styles: Ór Dubh, a stout that took gold at the 2025 Irish National Homebrewing Championship; Mo Chroí, an Irish lager; Rua, a caramel-forward red ale; and Leann Éadrom, a pale ale. They also put out seasonal releases alongside the core four.
The Brew School gives participants a close-up look at the full brewing cycle - malt and hops selection, the mash and boil, fermentation, and how the finished beer gets packaged. Sessions are run by the brewery team in the working production space, so you are seeing real equipment in real use, not a demonstration kit. International Beer Day brings an extra layer to it: the brewery uses the occasion to open the doors more widely, and brewery tours run alongside the Brew School for those who prefer to watch rather than get involved. Times vary, so check the brewery website when booking.
Cavan town sits roughly in the middle of Ireland, about 110km north-west of Dublin. By road it is a straightforward drive - the N3 from Dublin runs directly to Cavan and takes around 90 minutes outside rush hour. From Belfast, the A3 and N54 route brings you in from the north, roughly 100km. Bus Éireann runs regular services from Dublin Busáras to Cavan town, with the journey taking around two hours. The brewery is on the Dublin Road side of town, close to the edge of the town centre, with parking available at the Enterprise Centre.
Cavan town has a decent cluster of good pubs and places to eat within walking distance of the brewery, and the wider county is lake country - over 365 lakes in total, which makes it serious ground for fishing and walking. There is more to see in Cavan and across Co. Cavan.
Heading to Bréifne Gael Brewing Company in Cavan? Cavan has plenty more to see. Read the Cavan area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.