What Whitewater Brewery does

Whitewater Brewery is a family-owned craft beer producer founded in 1996 by Bernard and Kerry Sloan on a fifth-generation family farm in the Mourne Mountains range of Northern Ireland. The company operates a 6,500-litre microbrewery in Castlewellan, Co. Down, producing approximately 15 handcrafted beer varieties spanning IPAs, lagers, stouts, ales, and hard seltzers, alongside contract brewing and packaging services for third-party beverage brands. It claims the largest and most advanced canning facilities in Northern Ireland, a capability it leverages for both its own branded SKUs and co-packing work for other producers.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model with four streams: (1) wholesale beer distribution through major UK retailers (Tesco, Sainsburys) and on-trade hospitality accounts (Hastings Hotels, McHugh's Belfast, Europa Hotel, Grace Neills, Hinch Distillery Brasserie); (2) direct-to-consumer sales via its on-site taproom, e-commerce shop, and merchandise; (3) paid brewery tours with tasting sessions priced at £20 per adult; and (4) contract brewing, recipe formulation, and packaging services from its 15,000 sq. ft. facility. The Beer Dough pizzeria and taphouse sub-brand extends the on-site experience using the brewery's own beer and sourdough culture.

The company is privately held by the founding family, with no institutional equity backing identified. The only known external capital is a 2017 Selective Financial Assistance grant from Invest NI under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme, the value of which is undisclosed. Whitewater has received two notable industry awards: a European Craft Beer Competition silver medal (2019, Budapest) for its Ewe Rebel 7% IPA and a Northern Ireland Golden Fork at the Great Taste Awards (2019) for its Kreme dela Kremlin Imperial Russian Stout. Distribution is concentrated in the UK and Ireland with no claimed international footprint.

Name

Whitewater Brewery

Legal name

Whitewater Brewing Co.

Website

https://whitewaterbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Whitewater Brewery is a family-owned Northern Irish craft brewery producing ~15 handcrafted beer varieties and hard seltzers from a 6,500-litre microbrewery in Castlewellan, distributing through UK supermarkets, hospitality venues, and its own taproom, tours, and contract brewing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Microbrewery production
• Contract brewing services
• Brewery tours
• Hard seltzer production

Headquarters

HQ city

Castlewellan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales: Sale of craft beers through multiple channels including on-trade (bars, restaurants, hotels) and off-trade (supermarkets, off-licences). Products include IPAs, lagers, stouts, ales, and hard seltzers.
2. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including pint glasses, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and gift vouchers through e-commerce and on-site.
3. Brewery Tours: Guided tours of the brewery with tasting sessions, priced at £20 for adults. Also offers group bookings and coach party tours.
4. Contract Brewing Services: Expert beverage manufacturing and packaging services for other brands, including recipe formulation, brewing, and packaging solutions for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Whitewater Brewery is an Irish craft brewery producing 15+ handcrafted beer varieties (IPAs, lagers, stouts, ales) and hard seltzers from a 6500-litre microbrewery in Castlewellan, Northern Ireland. The company also operates contract brewing and packaging services for other beverage brands, an on-site taproom and pizzeria (Beer Dough), guided brewery tours with tastings, and branded merchandise sales through its own e-commerce shop.

Product overview

Whitewater Brewery is an Irish craft beer company founded in 1996, producing 15 handcrafted beer varieties from their 6,500-litre microbrewery in Castlewellan, Northern Ireland. Their product portfolio includes IPA styles (Maggies Leap, Ewe Rebel, Hoppelhammer, Roll in The Haze), lagers (Belfast Lager, Helles Lager), stouts (Belfast Black, Irish Whiskey Stout), ales (Belfast Ale, Bee's Endeavour, Hen Cock and Pigeon Rock, Hallion Red, Marado Pale, Marado Red), and hard seltzers (Yuzu, Grapefruit & Pineapple, Coconut & Raspberry, Passion Fruit & Peach). The company operates contract brewing and packaging services from a 15,000 sq. ft. facility offering cans, bottles, and kegs. Additional offerings include brewery tours with tastings and the Beer Dough Pizzeria & Taphouse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beer Dough: Pizzeria and Taphouse operated by Whitewater Brewery, featuring stone-baked sourdough pizza using Whitewater beers.
• Tap Room

Products and services

• Maggies Leap A 4.7% ABV India Pale Ale brewed with Australian, New Zealand & American hops, packed with citrus flavours. Available in 500ml bottles and 330ml & 440ml cans. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts.
• Ewe Rebel A 7.0% ABV IPA Heavyweight with great balance of bittering and hops. Dominant citrus & grapefruit tones from American Cascade hop. Available in 500ml bottles and 440ml cans.
• Belfast Lager A 4.5% ABV crisp & full flavoured continental style premium lager brewed with Saaz hops. Available in 440ml cans.
• Belfast Ale A 4.5% ABV aromatic russet ale brewed with wheat and roasted barley. Rich fruitiness and gentle hop flavour leading to a smooth succulent finish. Available in 500ml bottles.
• Belfast Black A 4.2% ABV Traditional Irish Stout made with roasted barley, rolled oats, chocolate & black malts. Gentle coffee aroma balanced by rich hop flavours. Available in 440ml cans.
• Bee's Endeavour A 4.8% ABV wonderful golden ale with honey & ginger flavours and gentle warmth to the aftertaste. Available in 440ml cans.
• Hoppelhammer A 6.0% ABV triple-hopped India Pale Ale delivering up-front American hops and rich fruit flavours. Available in 440ml cans.
• Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock A 4.8% ABV punchy red ale delivering good bittering and aroma hop balance with ripe berry fruits on the finish. Named after three summits in the Mourne Mountain range. Available in 500ml bottles.
• Helles Lager A 4.2% ABV traditional helles lager using German Hallertau Blanc hops and spalt select hops. Features hoppy aroma, light slightly sweet malt body and restrained bitterness. Available in 330ml & 440ml cans.
• Hallion Red A 4.2% ABV cheeky red ale brimming with malt and caramel overtones with hints of dark, dried fruits. Available in 330ml cans.
• Marado Pale A 4% session pale ale using American Amarillo & El Dorado hops with a rounded citrus finish. Available in 440ml cans.
• Marado Red A 3.7% red ale with perfect balance of caramelised malt and hop presenting a smooth, easy drinkin' red ale. Available in 440ml cans.
• Kreme dela Kremlin A 10.5% ABV Imperial Russian Stout that won the Northern Ireland Golden Fork Winner in the 2019 Great Taste Awards. Small batch with limited availability.
• Roll in The Haze Hazy IPA style beer from Whitewater Brewery.
• Irish Whiskey Stout Irish Whiskey Stout brewed by Whitewater Brewery.
• Upstream Tangerine Tangerine flavoured beer from Whitewater Brewery.
• Whitewater Hard Seltzers 5% ABV clear sparkling alcoholic beverages in multiple flavours (Yuzu, Grapefruit & Pineapple, Coconut & Raspberry, Passion Fruit & Peach), 84 calories, gluten-free and vegan friendly, free from preservatives & sweeteners. Available in 250ml cans.
• Brewery Tours Interactive guided tours of the brewery facility with tasting sessions. Adults tour includes a tasting session for £20. Over 12's accompanied by an adult priced at £15 with one non-alcoholic drink included. Under 12's free but not permitted in the production area. Group bookings welcome outside tour times.
• Contract Brewing and Packaging Services Expert beverage manufacturing and packaging services including recipe formulation, trial brews (800-2,000 litres), full-scale production (up to 6,500 litres per batch). Packaging options include cans (250, 330, 440ml), bottles (500ml), and kegs with custom labelling/branding. Also produces health beverages, clear whey protein drinks, teas, coffees, and functional beverages for other brands under confidentiality.
• Beer Dough Pizzeria and Taphouse Pizzeria and taphouse offering sourdough pizza made with Whitewater beer and their own sourdough culture, stone baked. Walk-in and takeaway available every Saturday. Gluten-free options available.
• Branded Merchandise and Gift Vouchers Branded merchandise including pint glasses (from £5), t-shirts, sweatshirts (£40), and gift vouchers (£10-£55) sold through e-commerce and on-site at the brewery.

Quantifiable outcome

• European Craft Beer Competition Silver Medal 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hastings Hotels GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHastings Hotels showcases Whitewater craft beers across their properties including Slieve Donard Resort & Spa. They featured Maggies Leap at its 2016 launch event and have been promoting locally produced food and drink as part of their philosophy.
• NI Food ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNI Food Tours brings both local and international groups to experience Whitewater Brewery tours and tastings, providing a popular tourism experience.
• TescocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK supermarket chain that stocks Whitewater beers including Maggies Leap, providing wide retail distribution.
• SainsburyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK supermarket chain that stocks Whitewater beers including Maggies Leap, providing wide retail distribution.
• KWM WinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-license offering online service throughout the UK for Whitewater beer products.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eight Degrees Brewing: Independent Irish craft microbrewery based in County Cork producing IPAs, lagers, ales and stouts. Direct comparable to Whitewater on craft positioning, Irish provenance narrative, multi-channel distribution and family/independently-owned structure.
• The Porterhouse Brewing Company: Irish craft brewery with on-site brewpubs and bottled/canned distribution. Comparable to Whitewater on combining a brewing operation with taproom/hospitality experience, Irish provenance, and craft beer portfolio spanning multiple styles.
• Hope Beer: Independent UK craft brewery producing IPAs, lagers, and stouts with distribution across UK off-trade and on-trade. Comparable to Whitewater on craft portfolio breadth, can-led packaging, and ambition to grow in UK supermarket channels.
• Beavertown Brewery: London-based craft brewery producing IPAs, lagers, and seasonal beers with strong on-trade and off-trade UK distribution. Closely comparable to Whitewater on craft positioning, can-led packaging, and UK grocery listings, though at larger scale and Heineken-backed.
• Kinnegar Brewing: Independent Donegal-based Irish craft microbrewery producing a rotating range of ales, IPAs and lagers. Comparable to Whitewater on independent Irish craft production scale, on-trade focus, and limited geographic reach within Ireland.
• Cloudwater Brew Co. UK craft brewery recognized for award-winning IPAs and modern craft styles with on- and off-trade distribution. Comparable to Whitewater on independent craft positioning, emphasis on award validation, and SKU breadth across hop-forward and traditional styles.
• Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company: Irish craft microbrewery producing a range of ales, lagers and limited editions for the Irish and UK markets. Comparable to Whitewater on independent craft positioning, multi-SKU portfolio, and emphasis on local provenance storytelling.
• Carlow Brewing Company (O'Hara's): Long-established Irish craft brewery (founded 1996) producing O'Hara's branded stouts, ales and lagers with national Irish distribution. Highly comparable to Whitewater on founding vintage, craft positioning, Irish heritage branding, and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• BrewDog: Largest UK-headquartered craft brewer, producing a wide portfolio of beers and hard seltzers across multiple production sites. Directly comparable to Whitewater on product (IPAs, lagers, hard seltzers) and UK off-trade channels, but operates at vastly greater scale and with private equity backing.
• Diageo (Guinness): Global beverage major with flagship Irish stout brand and broad beer portfolio distributed across Ireland and the UK. Comparable as a competitive presence in Whitewater's off-trade and on-trade channels, particularly in the stout and lager categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whitewaterbeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/WhitewaterBeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/bernard-sloan-765b3354
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitewaterbeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whitewater Brewery