Inspired by Belgium,
It began as a conversation (yes while drinking beer) between two friends and colleagues, one Belgian one Irish, about the frustrations of their jobs as rural veterinary surgeons and the desire for new challenges. That conversation led to us starting a brewery specialising in brewing traditional Belgian ales and new way of life.
From Stethoscopes
to Brewing Paddles
It all began with a conversation in 2010 between two friends who had been colleagues for over a decade. Irishman Cillian Ó Móráin and Belgian Bart Adons were both veterinarians in Westport, but the strain of out-of-hours work had them dreaming of a different life. That conversation planted a seed that would eventually grow into Mescan Brewery.
The intention from the beginning was simple: make and promote Belgian beer styles, brew to a high standard using natural ingredients and traditional techniques, and have some fun along the way. What we didn’t anticipate was just how much we’d have to learn beyond brewing itself.
Watch What We're Pouring
Beer, Belief & a Bit of Madness
Garage Brewing
and Grand Ambitions
Our brewing journey started in the most humble way possible – welding together our first brewery from old beer kegs to create a 50-litre setup in Cillian’s garage. For three years, we brewed every week, creating recipes, learning from our mistakes, and slowly developing what would become our signature Belgian-style beers.
The real work began when we decided to take the leap into commercial brewing. We converted a shed on Bart’s farm, building a 1,000-litre brewhouse from scratch using recycled bulk milk tanks. It was a labor of love that required us to become experts in everything from welding stainless steel to troubleshooting plumbing, electrics, heating elements, hydraulics, gas burners, and glycol chillers.
But brewing was only part of the learning curve. We also had to master warehousing legislation, VAT, Excise, and countless other aspects of running a business. It was steep, sometimes overwhelming, but mostly very enjoyable as we watched our dream take shape bottle by bottle.
Where Saints
and Brewers Meet
Mescan Brewery is named after Mescan the monk, who was St. Patrick’s friend and personal brewer – a fitting patron saint for our endeavor. Situated in the foothills of Croagh Patrick, our location connects us to this ancient brewing tradition while surrounding us with the stunning Mayo landscape that inspires everything we do.
This isn’t just about geography; it’s about belonging to a place and honoring both its history and its natural gifts. The water we use, the local ingredients we source when possible, and the unhurried pace of rural life all contribute to the character of our beers.
New Chapters
and Old Traditions
In 2014, we sold our first beer – a milestone that marked the official beginning of Mescan Brewery as you know it today. Over the years, we developed a core range representing the best-loved Belgian beer styles, each one crafted with the same patience and attention to detail that characterized our garage brewing days.
In 2021, Bart made the difficult decision to step back and return home to Belgium. While we miss his daily presence, his influence remains in every recipe and technique we use. Cillian took on running the brewery with the support of Naomi Clarkin, whose focus on sales and marketing has helped more people discover our beers, and we now have a small crew of exceptional staff who share our commitment to high standards.
What’s Brewing
for Tomorrow
The future holds exciting possibilities. We’re planning changes that will allow us to welcome many more visitors to Mayo, to see what we do, and to taste our beers in the place where they’re made. We want to share not just our products, but our process, our stories, and our passion for this ancient craft.
But some things will never change. Our commitment to creating beer of exceptional quality using natural ingredients and traditional, slow brewing methods remains at the heart of everything we do. We believe the best things in life are worth waiting for – and that includes the 2-3 months it takes for our beers to develop their distinctive character.
The Mescan Way
Time & Tradition
We let nature take the lead, allowing our beers to mature slowly over months, not weeks. This patience unlocks deeper flavors and smoother character that simply can't be rushed.
Natural Ingredients
Every beer we make uses only natural ingredients, with no shortcuts or artificial additives. What goes into the beer is as important as how it's made.
Continuous Learning
From those early days in the garage to today, we remain students of the craft, always refining our techniques and deepening our understanding.
Community & Place
We're proud to be part of Mayo's community and Ireland's craft brewing movement, supporting local suppliers and welcoming visitors to share in our passion.
Passion,
Not Profit
From the very beginning, Mescan has been about doing something we love. Not chasing margins or scaling fast. Brewing was never a business decision. It was a calling that grew from a shared belief that great beer is worth taking your time over. We wanted to create something with depth, character and integrity. And to enjoy ourselves while doing it.
That passion still guides every decision we make. We brew slowly, using traditional methods that don’t cut corners. We experiment, learn and improve because we’re genuinely excited about the process. And we measure success not in spreadsheets, but in the pride we feel when someone enjoys their first Mescan beer. And comes back for a second.
Come See
What We Do
Want to experience our story firsthand? There’s something magical about tasting our beers in the place where they’re made, surrounded by the Mayo landscape that inspires us every day. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or simply curious about craft brewing, we offer several ways to dive deeper into the Mescan experience.
Join us for one of our intimate brewery tours where you’ll witness our slow brewing methods in action, sample our complete range of Belgian-style beers, and hear the real stories behind our journey from veterinarians to brewers. For those who want to go beyond tasting, our hands-on brewing courses let you get your hands dirty creating a commercial batch of beer that you’ll take home to enjoy.
Splash