Franciscan Well Brewery

4.6 (88 reviews)

ModerateBreweries

Open • 1:00 pm - 12:30 am (Next day)

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Franciscan Well Brewery - Interior bar - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Franciscan Well Brewery - Shandon Stout - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Franciscan Well Brewery - Out front signage - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

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Franciscan Well Brewery - Entry way - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Recommended Reviews - Franciscan Well Brewery

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Brent L.

I had one of their brews at a different pub somewhere in Ireland, and a few nights later, when I found out their brewery was located in the town I was visiting, I just HAD to stop by and check it out for myself. This place breaks the mold of the traditional Irish brewpub and instead represents itself more as a beer garden than anything else. Plenty of indoor as well as outdoor covered areas for those rainy nights and days. The service is good and food is available 7 nights a week (mainly pizza). Just like every single other pub or bar I visited on my trip, this one offers a full bar. I don't think I visited a single place that was beer and wine only like we see quite often in the states. I'm a fan of red ales, so I highly recommend their Rebel Red ale. Very malty like a red ale should be, and also with a bit of a stronger caramel finish than the typical red ale. I really enjoyed this brew. I also had the Ole Pilsner. It was good, but nothing stood out as being unique or distinct from other pilsners. I'm not a fan of pale ales or stouts, but they have a pale ale and a stout that are aged in Jameson whiskey casks. It sounded very intriguing, so if you are into those styles, you should inquire within. Great place for a visit, and they do offer tours - check their website for details. I would give them a solid 5 stars, but I'm deducting 1/2 of a star because there was slight cigarette smoke smell inside, because the doors to the back patio (where smoking is allowed) were propped open. There's absolutely no reason to *NOT* visit this place if you find yourself in the area - check them out. They have a very unique history that you can read about on their website.

Jeff W.

Great craft brewery in Cork. I enjoyed The Chieftain Irish Pale Ale. They also have a cocktail bar upstairs and a patio out back where you can order pizza.

Kathleen D.

It was a bit of a hike to walk here from my hotel on South Mall, but it was worth it. We crossed the bridge and walked into a less-traveled area but I soon found the brewery's entrance. We visited on a weekend and table pickings were slim. I ended up finding an awkward table where it was semi-hard to sit, but that sure was better than attempting to hold a flight while drinking each sample! The flight was fairly expensive but the pours were larger than a typical flight. I didn't like that I couldn't customize the options, which meant I got stuck with an IPA, but at least I did get to try most of the beers they had available at the time. It was a fair operation in a building steeped with history. They also had a back patio but it started to drizzle a bit and I didn't feel like drinking outside. I didn't stay too long since it was hard to hear above all the noise from weekend revelers, but it was a cool spot and definitely a must-stop for beer lovers traveling in Ireland.

Oliver G.

The pub has its own beer, which is sold nationwide now, it speaks for its own. The pub is small, but the beergarden with the pizzeria and the original tiny brewery make it quite big. It is popular, so be prepared to meet an international folk, Apple HP is just around the corner. The beers and the pizzas are very good and the prices are fair. The staff is fast and attentive.

Stephanie S.

Great spot in Cork! The beers here are excellent. I had a Weiss and a blonde. Both of those beers were excellent. They have about 6 of their own beers as well as some others from around Ireland. We also got a pizza. It was only €10, so it was a pretty good deal! We got one with mozzarella and thin cut potatoes. The crust was really thin. Overall, it was a really tasty and filling pizza. The inside is semi small but there is also a large outside area with a heated patio. It was a good stop, I would recommend it.

April H.

So glad that I was able to hit up this brewery while in Cork. The location was easy to find and I am glad we were walking because parking didn't seem to be easy to come by. The brewery has an interesting layout. Inside is the bar and outside is the food counter. The outside area is covered so even if it was raining, like when I was there, you can still sit outside. The pizza wasn't anything to brag about but I have had much worse. The beer was excellent. In addition to their house beers they also have a large selection of other small Irish breweries. If you are like me and want to try local beers that you can't get everywhere you will be very happy with the selection. Both the inside bar and outside patio are very atmospheric and enjoyable.

Cristin L.

We were asked by friends to join them at a craft beer festival in Cork. We thought why not, so high-tailed it down the country to the Peoples Republic of Cork. The Franciscan Well Brewery is an excellent establishment tucked away through an archway on the North Mall. Welcomed warmly by the barman, we found the main bar has excellent tanks / kettles on display behind. We ordered our first pint, 5 EUR for a Purgatory and moved out to the beer garden. This was where the main action was. Here we found the Winter Ales beer festival in full swing. Well as full as it could get for during the day. We ordered pizza from the in house pizzeria, Pompei, and it was excellent, fantastic base especially. It was also very quick and they bring it to your table - take note Big Blue Bus, there is room for improvement after my experience here. Later in the night the beer garden really filled up and the atmosphere was ninety. A fantastic experience here at The Franciscan Well Brewery. I can't wait to go back next time I am in Cork.

Jenny R.

Hidden gem! What a great spot with a nice interior, and an awesome beer garden in the back with a separate brick oven pizza vendor, Pompeii. The beer was delicious, I had an amazing Belgian ale and my friend had the stout, which he did not stop talking about for days. There actually is a noted well here. Apparently one which used to be known for its healing properties. Since it's the brewery's namesake, you would think the well would be the centerpiece of the brewery, but oddly it is tucked away, ignored and dirty behind some couches in the corner. The beer garden is very comfy, with the option of couches or traditional benches. Smoking allowed :) Free WiFi. Clean bathrooms inside. Also noted some high top tables along the wall inside with side wall heaters... perfect place to sit on a chilly day. The pizza was as amazing as the beer! Very very good. We had to hit the road but we were both wishing we had ordered more. We visited the nearby historic gaol and it was about a 10 minute walk, so we didn't have to deal with Cork parking, which requires a special token that one must purchase at the city hall or post office, I believe.

Reuben G.

I love the Franciscan well beers so of course the place they are brewed has got to be a good place to go. Even if this place was not actually a brewery, it would still be worth going to for the beer garden alone. Almost the entire courtyard outside is covered and has patio heaters. In fact the beer garden is bigger than the inside of the pub. A number of guest beers on tap and bottle are available as well as their own beers. Outside in the beer garden is the brewery in its own out building with large glass windows so you can see the shiny copper kettles etc. The Well also plays host to a number of Beer festivals during the year with the EasterFest being the biggest and best.

Sarah P.

Well its time for beer again! And we popped along to go and try some of their tasty samples whilst in Cork. Great little bar hidden away down an alley off the river. Great selection of beers/ciders/bottles Slightly disappointed as we were hoping to get a tour - which really strangely they only do during the week. When did a tourist attraction ever not happen on the weekend?!? Made up for it though with delicious wood fired pizzas from the outdoor area. Note: they are bigger than expected and unless you're starving dont get one per person! ;)

Sean E.

Great little gem of a pub hidden away on the North Mall of cork. Those guys know their beer and if you're lucky they'll give you a recommendation and even a quick tour of where the beer is brewed out back and the actual "franciscan well" itself! As the beer is brewed on site each month the flavour changes all the time. The very essence of craft from brew to tap!

Qype User (cor…)

THE FRANCISCAN WELL Called into the Franciscan Well Brew Pub over the weekend. You know this is a different sort of pub when you see the three big vats behind the counter and a group of fifteen fellows coming in to start the tour. But, micro-brewery or no, it is still a pub, a fine spacious one at that, with a very friendly and helpful service. If you are wondering which of the many beers you should taste on draught then you'll get a little sample to help you make up your mind. Leaving the Friar Weisse, the Rebel Red and the Shandon Stout aside, at least for this visit, I went for the Blarney Blond. This lager is an excellent drink and a pint and half cost about €6.45 which is more or less the normal lager price. Well worth a try if you are a lager drinker. As the bar is a magnet for tourists, there is also a large selection of international beers available (though no Heineken or Carlsberg or Guinness or Murphy's, nothing form the big name brewers). But you won't miss them. I'm beginning to liking for Czech lagers. They didn't have Staropramen and, from the selection offered by the very helpful Polish bar-person, I choose the 1795 Budejovicky Pivo. A 50cl bottle cost me €4.80. This is a terrific drink, even better then the Staro, and I'll certainly be looking out for it in the future, especially if I'm passing Bradleys in North Main Street. The Franciscan Well is nicely laid out and has a covered Beer Garden. They also do various Beer fests, seasonal barbeques, live music, tours and tastings and also supply Party Kegs. See their website http://www.franciscanwellbrewery.com or ring 021 4210130.

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Ben N.

205

10 years ago

Absolutely a great selection - we had a flight, and substituted the Blonde for the IPA (just not our thing). Such a great blend of tastes and after tastes. I'm not a big beer guy and I loved this flight. We paired or beer with a chorizo pizza from the place out back. Quality ingredients and a simple approach highlighted this fire grilled beauty. We have a similar joint back home in Alaska that is always over run and takes forever. Maybe we got lucky, but this was fast, and easy and we loved it. read more

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Rachael Z.

Elite 24

309

489

12 years ago

Five stars isn't enough! Being craft brewery fans from Chicago, we were stoked to find this spot. We visited in the early afternoon in June (4pm) so there was only one other person there. We opted to sit at the bar in hopes that we'd make friends with the bartender. Our hopes were not disappointed! We spoke with the bartender for about an hour - about travel, beer, festivals, you name it - all the while, drinking great beer. Hubby's favorite was the IPA brewed in Jameson barrels. I loved the Stout! The glasses were great, too. We only wished we could have purchased the glasses! Great joint - definitely swing by when you're in Cork! read more

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Qype User (dcroni…)

236

14 years ago

As another viewers said, this place is truly special. It has a huge beer garden and variety of locally brewed beers. One of my favourite times here was a the beer festival and I don't even drink beer! read more

Franciscan Well Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

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Kerri T.

Elite 23

180

318

2352

12 years ago

We came across the ad for this brewery in Aer Lingus magazine on our flight over to Ireland so we decided to check it out whole in Cork. We also found out the local tour agency recommends tours of the brewery as well (10pounds for tour and tastings at 6:30pm). We walked over from our B&B to the brewery and liked the overall vibe. Not sure why they aren't a bar/restaurant. They have great beer and cider but you have to sit out back to order pizza from Pompeii. The pizza is baked outdoor in the brick pizza oven (fresh and fantastic) but I would have loved a salad to go with my pizza as well as some bread. The brewery is cool, the vibe is laid back and relaxed and worth the stop by the barb a pint. The local cider was damn good! read more

Franciscan Well Brewery - Pizza in the back area - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Franciscan Well Brewery - Out front - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Franciscan Well Brewery - Cider - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

Franciscan Well Brewery - Pay attention or u will walk right by - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

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Alexei B.

Elite 25

153

11 years ago

5 stars for the margherita pizza @ Pompeii in the back! (Monday through Saturday evenings only.) It's sort of New York style, featuring a lovely caramelized mozzarella patina; succulent, fresh-tasting tomato sauce; and a lovely, crisp crust cooked to perfection in a giant stone oven. The beers surely deserve the full 5 stars as well, though I only got to try the Red. (Which was excellent!) read more

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James H.

11 years ago

Great beer (and a few ciders from other local companies), with a cozy beer garden out back. I did do the tour, but the pairing of the Cheiftain IPA with their pizza was "grand!" read more

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Matthew B.

Elite 17

246

10 years ago

Enjoy a tasty Franciscan house brewed IPA with my lovely wife. About to get some wood fired pizza and relax. They have a four piece band playing, it is amazing! Sweet decor and beer garden! read more

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Amber P.

105

10 years ago

The pizza was very good, but you have to go to the pizza counter to order. The beer garden was nice and seemed to be a hip spot. It's a nice change to have some local beers. read more

Franciscan Well Brewery - This was an exceptional pizza! We ordered the Parma ham, mushrooms, & rocket (arugula). - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

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Daniel M.

8 years ago

A must for all tourists in cork. There pints are fantastic especially chieftain. Can't get enough of it. Its addictive and will blow the head of you. Want something lighter then I would recommend the blarney blonde read more

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Seb C.

9 years ago

Fantastic place. Best craft beers in Cork. Nice beer-garden where you can order pizza. Drink a Rebel Red. read more

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Alex S.

12 years ago

As a craft beer fan, living in the mecca of craft beer in the states, I had to try this place while in Cork. The atmosphere was nice and comfortable. And the pizzas they serve are good. The three star rating is because I was hoping for something a little bit more from the beer itself. I had two pale ales and a stout, while all being tasty, I could not help but feel like I was not drinking a craft beer. There wasn't anything about the taste or smell that made the beer memorable. read more

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Tim L.

8 years ago

We came to the Franciscan Well Brewery on the recommendation of a local friend and we were very pleased! The brewery's crafted Chieftain IPA ("Irish Pale Ale") is wonderful as is its only menu item - delicious, freshly made, brick-oven pizza. (We ordered a 14" pizza with parma ham, cheese and rocket.) The most pleasant surprise was the Irish Storyteller session featuring Teddy Black. This is a free weekly (Wednesday) offering to brewery guests. It's an absolutely delightful, 90 minute, lively oral tour of Ireland's past and present, humor and nostalgia, through story, poetry and song from a professional storyteller from West Ireland. What an unexpected treat! The Brewery ambiance is comfortable with indoor seating and a spacious outdoor/courtyard beer garden. I highly recommend this as a rest stop when you are in Cork! read more

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Qype User (George…)

17 years ago

This pub is small but special. It is just out of the centre and does not get as much trade as it deserves. There used to be a Franciscan monastery around here, hence the name. They brew their own beer on site. This pub is frequented by those in the know. Cork professionals often have a penchant for nipping over here in their lunch hour. Not especially a place for bright young things. read more

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Jeannie T.

16 years ago

I used to live in Dublin and I got used to good micro brewed beer there, but thank god for Franciscan well in cork. Great selection of beers..hurrah , nice venue, I like the area out back for hanging out in.Only problem is that its practically in the centre but just a little out of the way. read more

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lisa O.

16 years ago

This is an awesome place to hang out for an evening. At the moment they have BBQ on weekends and make yummy burgers. They brew all their own beer and cider and it is all delicious. If they ever have a festive on make sure you have time to visit here! read more

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Peter H.

14 years ago

My favorite pub when I lived in Ireland! They have an excellent selection of beers. The atmosphere is very laid back, and the garden is suitable for larger gatherings. Excellent spot for foreigners looking for an authentic Irish pub experience! read more

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Scott C.

587

14 years ago

We heard about this pub from a friend and found it close to our Hostel. It was a nice evening so we sat outside in their patio area and enjoyed two pints of their home brewed Stouts. Great setting. Seems very popular among locals. Only had pizza available, but it was good thin crust offering. read more

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Jay W.

11 years ago

A Sunday afternoon walk from the City Center to this North side of town led me to the Franciscan Well Brewery. Immediate rustic vibe as soon as walk through the entrance hall, then an adjustment to the dim monastic effect of the bar room, and to the Blues music that would have sounded like chants back in the days. There's a beer garden outside for a more social and less contemplative atmosphere, and also a wood-oven pizza station to satisfy the temporally hungry. The stars of the show, of course, are their craft beers, and I recommend the drinkable not-so-bitter Chieftain IPA and the very pleasant Blarney Blonde ale for their subtle flavours. A MUST, if you are ever in Cork. read more

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Kyle Y.

13 years ago

Although I lived right across the river from this pub for a while, I had only been there a handful of times. The Well has an impressive variety of seriously good house beers they brew themselves. My favorites included the Rebel Red and their stout (believe it was called Shandon Stout). read more

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Sarah R.

13 years ago

The beer is amazing, my husband and I had the blonde, lager and cider (all Franciscan Well brewed), the pizza is superb (we had the Quattro daily special). Service was great, place was hopping on a Friday night! read more

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Alessandro M.

13 years ago

The beer is great (I love the white one) and the pizza here is great (I'm Italian and this was one of the best pizzas ever)

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ash e.

9 years ago

Wonderful beer- the Rebel Red & the stout are outstanding. Mix of locals, UCC students , American college kids, tourists. Knowledgable & friendly staff. Try a flight! read more

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Nathan E.

Elite 21

238

13 years ago

This place is one of my favorite breweries I've been to in the world. Their Shandon Stout is one of the top rated (overall) beers in my database, and several others are extremely good as well. The Rebel Red is a very good ale. The building is awesome, with the stone open area out back. They have a wonderful Oktoberfest celebration here where other breweries from around Europe will come set up stalls and there's also food stalls during this. The people are friendly, the beer is tasty, and the locale is wonderful. There's nothing not to love about Franciscan Well. read more

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Kerry V.

7 years ago

So good! The drink selection was amazing (I've found my new favourite cider), and the pizza in the beer garden was delicious. The live music was wonderful and such a perfect end to our night in Cork. read more

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Bushmill J.

7 years ago

Great location, friendly staff and patrons. Order pizza out back - it's tasty! Beer was very good. We sat inside with the kids and it worked out great. Highly recommend getting down on the Chieftain. read more

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Ash M.

9 years ago

Basically stumbled on a tour here and I was SO glad I did (I had stopped in to find something a little bit more hoppy to drink, and was hanging out at the bar when I noticed people coming in and asking for the tour so then I was inspired to do the same, not sure of what I was getting into) It was by far the coolest brewery tour of my life. The facility was teeny but the brewer was SO informative and SOO passionate that it was a delight to hear about him talk about his projects. Not at all like the brewery "tour"s I'm used to where you get to look at a room, they say "this is where we brew our beer" and then you move along. So, the tour part was awesome, but THEN you went upstairs for a TASTING. And not just any tasting, but almost like a mini, super-cool, discussion based class (with generous beer tasting involved). but such a unique experience to get to be so involved with discussing various components of the flavors of the beer with fellow beer loving strangers). I was here a couple ago and still get excited when I talk about it. Not sure if they still do the tours but even without it, worth stopping by to get a taste of what the brewers have been passionately working on. read more

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Kristen J.

Elite 9

109

16 years ago

I had a sampler and liked every single beer. That never happens! I bet on a warmer day, the beer garden is an absolute blast.

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Brenda G.

200

115

187

13 years ago

We had a great time last night at The Franciscan Well! I love the Shandon Stout. I ordered a wood fired pizza -- chorizo, goat cheese & black olive. Sooooo good. Vibe here is friendly and cool. It has a great outdoor area with long tables. by 10 it was packed on a Thursday. read more

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Shane O.

227

14 years ago

The only brewpub we were able to find in Cork. Stopped in on a Sunday, place is pretty expansive, nice wait staff and very good beer. Brewed beer runs the gamut from a Weiss to an expected Irish Stout, but oddly enough, no Belgians! There were also no casks on and no food both of which were disappointments. But all in all definitely worth a stop, if they added some food or casks or a nice Belgian Golden, would be 5 stars. They did have 2 nice guest taps on. read more

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Qype User (nori…)

134

16 years ago

Brilliant pub with it's own micro brewery, the beer fest here is a must! Huge selevtion of unusual beers here.

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Stephen H.

11 years ago

Awesome brewery with great ambiance. They also have a nice covered patio out back where they sell pizzas. Definitely try the Rebel Red!

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Brett D.

11 years ago

This place is awesome. Awesome beer! Awesome pizza! The beer garden and bar is great to hang out in and have a couple pints and some wood fire pizza. The staff was very friendly and were patient with us while we tried beers. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Franciscan Well Brewery - Awesome pizza! - Breweries Near Me - Cork, Colorado

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Lauren M.

Elite 18

408

958

9 years ago

One of my favorite spots in Cork, Franciscan Well is a local brewery with a great atmosphere, fantastic brews, and the best pizza in Ireland! I'm serious, while I've yet to visit Italy, I'm convinced that Fran Well's stone-fired pizza rivals all other pies in Europe. There's an abundance of toppings and signature pizzas including one topped with potatoes (doesn't get more Irish than that!). The layout of the pub is especially unique, consisting of a traditional indoor area with a bar and high-top tables, as well as a roofed outdoor wing that is open year-round. The open fireplace and space heaters throughout the patio ensure the space is a desirable seating location regardless of the unpredictable Irish weather. The signature Fran Well beers are brewed on site in the brewery and are among my favorite beers in Ireland (Rebel Red and Chieftain are Cork favorites!) The bartenders are very knowledgable and will help you find a drink that you will love if you are new to the Irish beer scene. If you find yourself visiting Cork, Franciscan Well Brewery is an absolute must, you won't regret it! read more

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Qype User (acedis…)

18 years ago

Definitely the best bar in Cork for beer. The Franciscan (as it's known) has its own microbrewery, so there's always something new to try. In fact, you can have a different pint every time you go there. You'll never need Heineken again. read more

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Heidi J.

10 years ago

Love this place. I studied in Cork two summers ago (2014) and this was the first place I went the night I arrived and frequented many times during my stay. They have delicious beers and ciders and thin crust pizza from a brick oven in the back patio area. Definitely check out this place if you are in Cork! read more

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Gordon R.

17 years ago

Great pub and beer garden. The Blarney Blond is so popular in summer it often sells out. Very little food, just snacks, etc. and BBQ schedule on Fridays and Saturdays during summer(?) but go for the beer. read more

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Aoife W.

10 years ago

Great beer. Spacious beer garden. Great atmosphere. Wonderful service. Pizza to die for.. What more would you be looking for in a brewery?? Tips: They only take cash at the pizza stand so bring some with you or get cash back on purchases over €10 at the bar. read more

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William F.

Elite 22

865

10 years ago

Franciscan Well is my favorite of the three breweries I visited in Cork. Any homesick American should find comfort in a pint of the Chieftain IPA. Franciscan Well's beer garden is what sets it apart though, with plenty of seating and even some shelter from the occasional rain shower. One of the best places to grab a drink in Cork. They offer pizza, which I didn't get to try, but looked pretty good. The Irish beer scene has fallen pretty far behind that of America so most breweries seem to offer the same variety of styles (an IPA, a wheat beer, a lager, a red ale etc) all of which are low ABV and pretty low IBU, even the IPAs don't seem to top 50. The experience is kinda similar to brewpubs of 10-15 years ago. The main difference is that the beer is pretty consistently good which is a credit to the technical proficiency of the brewers. Sure, its not as exciting, but there are no clunkers. If all you like to drink are avant garde experimental beers and double/triple IPAs, maybe the Irish beer scene isn't for you, but for everyone else, you can be assured of a good pint almost anywhere. read more

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Joey A.

9 years ago

One of the best beers in town. You can also order pizza inside, and they just match perfectly with the Rebel Red!

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Dave L.

12 years ago

I found this place on Yelp before making a trip to Ireland. I am a craft brew fan and I made a special trip to visit this microbrewery. It was extremely hard to find, but it was worth it. Definitely a good place and it lived up to the reviews I read. We visited on a weekend when the fired up the wood-fired pizza oven. The beers were excellent and the staff was very good. Our party of 4 had a great time. It can definitely be chilly in chilly weather, so go prepared. I highly recommend this place! read more

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14B North Mall
Cork, T23 P264
Republic of Ireland
Directions
(021) 439 3434
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.franciscanwellbrewery.com

Hours

What time does Franciscan Well Brewery open?

Franciscan Well Brewery opens at 1:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Franciscan Well Brewery close?

Franciscan Well Brewery closes at 11:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Franciscan Well Brewery closes at 12:30 AM (Next day) on Friday and Saturday.Franciscan Well Brewery closes at 11:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 1:00 PM - 11:30 PMFri-Sat 1:00 PM - 12:30 AM (Next day)Sun 1:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does Franciscan Well Brewery have catering options?

No, Franciscan Well Brewery does not have catering options.

Services

Is Franciscan Well Brewery by appointment only?

No, Franciscan Well Brewery is not by appointment only.

Indoor Amenities

Does Franciscan Well Brewery allow dogs?

Yes, Franciscan Well Brewery allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Franciscan Well Brewery have bike parking?

Yes, Franciscan Well Brewery has bike parking.

Does Franciscan Well Brewery have parking?

Yes, Franciscan Well Brewery has parking options. Street Parking

From the Business

History

Established in 1998.

The Franciscan Well Brewery was founded in 1998 on the North Mall in Cork City and is built on the site of an old Franciscan Monastery and Well, dating back to the year 1219. Legend has it that the water from the well has miraculous and curative properties and people would come from afar to drink from it. The Brewery has combined modern technology with old age tradition in forming classic beer styles including lager, ale, stout and wheat beer. All the beers brewed at the Franciscan Well are natural, and do not contain any chemical additives or preservatives and are made with the best ingredients. The Brewpub houses three serving vessels located directly behind the bar which dispense our beer to the taps. The tanks, which holds 300gl each, offer the beer drinker a unique setting in which to enjoy our craft brewed beer.

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Review Highlights - Franciscan Well Brewery

“Even if this place was not actually a brewery, it would still be worth going to for the beer garden alone.”

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Rising Sons Brewery

4.4(19 reviews)

0.4 km

•€

Excellent service great beef tenders. Had a wonderful conversation with one of the beer backs. And…read morewas very knowledgeable with the local beers they serve. Honestly felt like home away from home here in Cork!

Stopped into Rising Sons Brewery for a flight of their craft beer. The inside aesthetic was a mix…read moreof a brewery and sports bar. They had great music playing! They currently had (6) of their beers on tap and flights offer (3) beers to taste. We got the Handsum (indian pale ale), Wheat Dreams (german wheat), and Mí Daza (irish stout). The bartender was super friendly and gave us a good background on the brewery, their beers, and why there was a giant hippo hung in the brewing area. They have minimal merchandise but the beers were really good!

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Killarney Brewing Company

4.5(63 reviews)

72.2 km

•€€

A fun bar with local beers! This is a brewery that has its beer! We sat by the bar and spoke with…read morethe bar tender, who was great The beers tasted pretty good! We would come back if we had more time in Killarney

Killarney Brewing Co has two locations in Killarney: the taphouse (beers only) and…read morebrewery/distillery (beers and liquors). We stopped by the taproom to try a flight of beer. Additionally, they had soda, wine, and pizzas. The inside had some of the beer machinery on display. They had some indoor seating, a decent patio, and around (8) beers in tap to try. We got the Full Circle IPA, Devil's Helles Lager, and Casey Brothers Extra Stout. A worker also gave us a free taster of the Spailpin Saison! At a separate time, we had also tried the Golden Spear Blonde Ale. All the beers were good! The flight came with a paper that described the flavors, hops included, and information on the beer. The merchandise section was low on stock so they recommended going to the brewery/distillery for anything you wanted to buy.

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Taproom Machinery

Whiskey tasting

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Tour

Elbow Lane

4.6(46 reviews)

1.0 km

•€€

This review is for the Elbow Lane brewery and smoke house restaurant which is part of the Market…read moreLane dining complex. Went in here after a long day's work for a quick dinner, and was pleasantly surprised by the great beer and food. Elbow Lane lager: an easily drinkable lager with good sweetness and a bit of hoppy taste. Sweet and spicy pork belly: grilled to perfection, crispy lean fiber and soft melting fat part. I would personally love more sweet flavor and less chilli on top, but a great appetizer overall. Grilled rack of pork ribs: grilled on order, served piping hot. Crispy surface, perfectly seasoned meat, served with rich and flavorful gravy. A great feast. Ice cream and brownie: standard. Overall, a very satisfying dinner. Will recommend this place to anyone visiting Cork.

We arrived early for our reservation and were offered seats at the bar, close to the open fire…read morekitchen area. It's a fantastic place to sit and watch the amazing chefs at work. The live theatre of the kitchen adds a fun and busy ambiance, and the staff were friendly and welcoming, and ready to explain menu and dishes and make recommendations. Drinks arrived fast, and the cocktails were clever and tasty. They have a good wine selection as well as house beers from their own brewery. But the food is jaw-dropping - the best meal we had the whole trip without doubt. I suspect anything from the menu would be delicious, but the blue cheese greens and the baby new potatoes were the perfect accompaniment to the steak. Portions are very large, so we shared everything and still couldn't finish. We happened to be there on the night there was a fire evacuation, and had just paid our bill when the alarm sounded. Full credit to the incredible team for their swift and calm reaction, evacuating the restaurant (and the sister location next door) - it's heartbreaking that they'll be closed for a few weeks, but I can't wait to return and see them open and thriving again. Evacuation aside, our meal was a such an amazing experience and the Elbow Lane team are a credit to the company and to the Irish fine dining community.

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Lamb dish (menu changes based on available local ingredients)

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Beamish & Crawford Plc

4.0(1 review)

0.5 km

Heineken Ireland

4.0(1 review)

0.9 km

THE KILN Enjoyed my recent visit to the Kiln, the…read morehospitality "pub" of Heineken Ireland. There are no public tours of this brewery and unlikely to be according to a spokesman who said the modern computer controlled processes, largely conducted out of sight, weren't conducive to a tour situation. "Who wants to see a few people pressing buttons?" So if you want to get to the Kiln you'll have to rely on an invitation. I have been lucky enough to get a few over the years and things have changed there in the last 12 months. Previously, you had a choice of Heineken products e.g. Murphy's Stout plus Heineken and Amstel lagers. But since the Dutch giants took over the other brewery in the city, you may now sample Beamish Stout and Fosters Lager. It is still a little strange to see the two rivals now advertised side by side on posters around the Kiln. But I took advantage of the occasion to enjoy a few pints of Beamish this time. Variety is the spice of life!

Kinsale Brewing

3.0(2 reviews)

21.7 km

I feel I was ripped off but have nobody but myself to blame. I knew this was a new distillery with…read moreno historical or architectural significance so why did I book a tour for €60? Yes it came with a "premium" tasting but that should be €20 max. The tour, lasting about an hour, was in part a commercial for their distillery/brewery. Why should I pay them to listen to an ad? Admittedly the tour included behind the scenes of the facility with its modern brewing and distilling operations, and explanations of how it all works. All of which I've seen before at other distillery tours. Which makes me wonder, what's the draw of these tours? Once is really enough, unless it's a place with historical significance like Middleton, which I didn't get to visit. I do question some of what I heard though. On seeing the tank where the CO2 is added to the beers, I asked whether this practice was universal; is CO2 always artificially added? The response was an unqualified yes, even when I asked what they did before industrial CO2 was available? Answer: "They drank flat beer." I don't think so. The tour included the usual explanations of the process of making beer and spirits, from the ingredients through fermentation, aging, and bottling. Accompanied by open jars of samples: grains, hops, gin additives. All of which had almost no discernible smell because they were too old, probably never refreshed since they started giving tours. Besides beer and whiskey they also make gin, vodka, and rum. "Make" is stretching it for the vodka though. They don't ferment and distill the grain there. They buy 95% ethanol from a major corporate supplier and redistill it. This and several other facts weren't volunteered. I asked many questions with followups to get answers out of the guide. He may have been getting annoyed with me for forcing him to divulge these secrets. Then it came to the tasting portion of the tour. This included beer drinkers (the other couple) and whiskey drinkers (me; it was a very small group that day). That was a good way to do it because I got to hear the beer descriptions even though I wasn't drinking them. As for the whiskey, I tried 6, 3 from their standard line and 3 from their "premium" line. None were particularly good, and none were aged past 5 years, though the distillery has been in operation since 2015. Here's where it all got even stranger. As the guide was explaining the whiskeys, he told me to start with the glass labeled 4, after he confirmed with an associate by phone. So I did, pretending to agree with his tasting notes. Then 5. Then 6. I commented on its smokiness. That got his attention. He was puzzled, investigated, and consulted with his associate again. Turns out it was wrong! The first three to try were 1, 2, and 3! So he refilled 4, 5, and 6, then poured more into 1 for good measure. So I had a lot of whiskey! I protested slightly, not seriously, and he laughed it off saying I'd be fine on my bike (he knew because he saw me riding up in my rental). Understand I'm not complaining or faulting him in any way for this, just adding the detail. I know how much to drink and I didn't even finish it all. As for the tour's ending, I didn't like how that went. As soon as he finished his explanations of the beers and whiskeys, he thanked us for coming. We were all still finishing up. By the time he basically repeated the same thanks again, it was clear it was time to go. Not the nicest way to end the experience.

Hidden away in the popular fishing village this tiny brewery is a great find. You can do a brewery…read moretour, but it is so small I wouldn't bother. Just head upstairs to the nice bar - or sit on the sun trap balcony if the weather is nice and sample the wars. All the house beers are really good, especially the stout, and they even sell a decent range of clothing.

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Jane M.

11 years ago

Love this spot! It's so cute and cosy, tucked away across the river from the city centre. My work colleagues and I would be big fans of the local craft beers in this bar, particularly the house cider and Rebel Red! This bar is unlike any in Cork and everyone should visit it. Btw, the pizza is gorgeous too. read more

Mary S.

11 years ago

Amazing local beers. Pizza in the back was made right in front of you and flashed baked in a raging hot pizza oven. Costs for all was very reasonable and everything was the highest quality. Not a corporate bloodbath like most places in cork! read more

Paula B.