TWENTY TWENTY FIVE

Thirty batches of beer were brewed in 2025 and here are some that made their debut:

Modernity - Hazy IPA

Collabyrinth - American Stout

Snake in the Grass - West Coast Pale Ale

Rainbow Warrior - Hazy Pale Ale

The Dude Abides - West Coast IPA

Grot and Groove - Hazy IPA

Monkey Business - Hazy Pale Ale

Avalon Sunset - Sour Pale Ale

Seminary Gates - Hazy DIPA

Little Creatures - West Coast Pale Ale

Winter Solstice - Red IPA

Which one was your favourite?

Mine has to be Little Creatures. Sweet malt flavour, piney bitterness and a satisfyingly dry finish. And at 4.8% it hits the sweet spot for flavour intensity and drinkability. The Dairy in Gleno Lurgan has it on tap at the moment if you want to experience a pint of it on draught!

I can't wrap up the year without mentioning the newest addition to the MMB fam, Sean Downey - our brewery assistant. You may have met him pulling pints at the taproom or saw pics of him packaging cans at the end of the canning line, but Sean is always hands-on, digging out the mash tun or sorting all your online orders, while blasting hardcore hip-hop in the brewery. He's part of our story now, and I personally am glad to gave him working alongside me.

Speaking of taprooms! We hosted 5 pop-up taprooms at our location in Warrenpoint town square. We had guest beers from Kinnegar, Modest, Bullhouse, Beer Hut, Our Brewery, The Kernel, Rascals, Whiplash and cider from MacIvors. Local artist Helena Tarn hung her captivating abstract artworks on our taproom walls. We had music from loads of local musicians, a few trad sessions and a pub quiz! Sean and I honestly love hosting these. It's a rare opportunity to have a room full of people telling us how amazing our beers are haha.

So many other events took place in 2025, like festivals - our first time at Portrush Beer Festival (I really hope we are asked back this year!) where we met so many amazing people, beer fans and in the industry, and Bullapalooza hosted by Bullhouse, where despite the torrential downpour, people still came and the craic was class. Oh and a big shout out to our malt supplier, Loughran Brewers Select, who not only supply us with the best quality ingredients, but very generously sorted accommodation for a load of us to go over to BeerX in Liverpool. We are so grateful for the brewing community we have here on the island of Ireland, always ready to share successes and experiences. Where else would you find that?

So what's the plan for 2026?

Well of course we have loads of secret plans... but one thing you can count on, is plenty of new brews and (hopefully) even more pints than last year!

Keep her lit!

Gareth McGivern