Ballykilcavan Farm, our family’s heritage for 13 generations since 1639, has evolved to ensure sustainability for the future. In 2004, taking over from my father, I aimed to secure the farm’s legacy. Recognising the limitations of barley cultivation alone, we diversified into brewing, launching a brewery and visitor experience. Spanning 440 hectares in the heart of Ireland, Ballykilcavan retains its ancestral charm with hedgerows, trees, an 18th-century stone farmyard, stable yard, walled garden, and the champion black walnut tree of Ireland. Traditionally a mixed farm, we preserve grassland and cultivate barley for our beers and Waterford Distillery. Situated in a prime malting barley area near Stradbally, Co. Laois, our barley, malted by Minch Malt, reflects generations of expertise. Our well, divined in the 18th century farmyard, provides our brewing water. With our expanding hop garden, we craft unique Fresh Hopped pale ale, sourcing all ingredients within 500m of the brewery. Our Visitor Centre is open for scheduled tours (details on our website at ballykilcavan.com) or for private group bookings.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do in our Brewery and Visitor Centre. We are members of Origin Green and are independently audited every year on our progress towards ambitious targets on ingredient sourcing, energy reduction, water reduction, packaging, waste, biodiversity and community support. We have won the overall Sustainability Award at the national Small Firms Association awards and were named Best Small to Medium Sustainable Business at the 2022 Sustainable Business Awards.
We are a craft brewery.
Our range of Craft Beers are available from Egan's Off-Licence, Midlands Park Hotel, The Heritage Hotel, PJ Kavanagh, Jeremiah Grant, DM Shelly, Sally Gardens, The Square Bar, as well as in SuperValu stores in Stradbally, Abbeyleix and Athy.
We are Gold status members of Origin Green. We have also won three medals at the 2023 Concours International de Lyon Beer Competition.
