OUR STORY
We Are An Artisan Brewery
Nestled in the stunning surrounds of the Wild Atlantic Way. A pioneer of the modern craft beer movement, famous for its innovation and quality. Galway Hooker has developed a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading breweries.
Our ethos is to brew natural, full-flavored, high-quality, and preservative-free beers. The results are beers that have received numerous awards, including Gold Medals at the Irish Food Awards in 2015, 2015, and 2016 – the only Irish brewery to have achieved this distinction.
Furthermore, our Irish Pale Ale and Amber Lager were Gold medal winners at the 2018 World Beer Awards.
Established in 2006, Galway Hooker produced the original Irish Pale Ale – now the most popular style of craft beer in the country.
We also produce a diverse range of core and seasonal beers both on draught and in bottles. We consider beer to be like any other food: the fresher and less processed the better. Our beers are therefore devoid of any preservatives and are brewed using only malt, hops yeast, and water.
Galway Hooker is Ireland’s third-oldest independent brewery and the oldest existing brewery in Connacht. In 2014 the business expanded into a new state-of-the-art facility in Oranmore, making it one of Ireland’s largest and best-equipped craft breweries.
Aidan Murphy, Co-Founder, holds a Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling and is a qualified member of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
We named our beer after the iconic sailing boats used to navigate the wild North Atlantic Ocean which relentlessly pounds the west coast of Ireland.
Designed originally as a fishing craft, these boats were used chiefly for carrying goods such as livestock, turf, and more importantly beer across Galway Bay from Connemara to the Aran Islands and the Burren. The Galway Hooker is a vessel of strength, hand-built by highly skilled craftsmen, in a tradition passed down through generations to ensure it stands the test of time.
Our beers are likewise known for their craftsmanship which imparts strength, flavor, and defined characteristics. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
GALWAY HOOKER SAILING CLUB PARTNERSHIP
“It is an inspiration for me to see the passion and dedication the Galway Hooker Sailing Club bring to this beautiful and traditional craft” – Aidan Murphy.
Galway Hooker Sailing Club was established in 2019 with a vision to make Galway Hookers accessible to everyone and anyone who shares an interest in their revival. Commodore Ciaran Oliver, along with a core team of people, brought together a community of volunteers to support the expertise of boatwright Cóilín Hernon & Sons, in restoring Galway Hookers back to the sea, and teach not only the skills of restoration but the art of sailing these iconic boats.
The collaboration between Galway Hooker Beer and Galway Hooker Sailing Club fits well with the club’s vision of making Galway Hookers accessible. The foresight of Galway Hooker Beer to bring their boat to the club means that, with the help of the club, they can bring Caper Beag back on the water and in turn provide the club with an additional boat to use for training crew and providing open community sailing events.
The process of restoring a Galway Hooker is dependent on the condition of the boat – from a full rebuild to replacing ribs, planks, or spars – with all work done to ensure that the original shape and history of the boat remain intact.
Caper Beag, originally built in c1890, has recently been made seaworthy by the Hernons, with the addition of a new back beam, knees and helm seat, a repaired stem plus more.
“It is an inspiration for me to see the passion and dedication the Galway Hooker Sailing Club bring to this beautiful and traditional craft. I am extremely honoured to be associated with the families and friends of the Sailing Club. I’m sure we will have many exciting days out on the bay, and who knows, maybe even a beer or two!!” says Aidan Murphy founder of Galway Hooker Beer
This boat is now with a team of both club volunteers and staff of Galway Hooker Beer to caulk, sand and paint over the next few weeks so she can join the rest of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club fleet that sails from the Claddagh this Summer. This is just one of the exciting initiatives that Galway Hooker Beer have planned over the coming months, so keep an eye on their social media and website to get the news as it happens.
