Beer Hut Brewing

The moment you walk into Beer Hut Brewing, you're hit with the honest smell of fermenting beer and fresh grain. It's a proper working brewery in Kilkeel, not some polished visitor centre trying too hard. You can watch the brewers actually doing their thing - mashing, fermenting, packaging - rather than just reading about it behind glass.

The brewery does tours where you learn what goes into their beers, then get to taste the results. Fair warning: if you're not into craft beer or the nitty-gritty of brewing, you might find an hour feels a bit long. But for anyone who enjoys talking hops and fermentation, this is where locals come to understand what's happening in their pints.

It's a small operation, so check their website for opening hours and whether you need to book ahead - these things can be tight at craft breweries. The tastings are the draw here, not the gift shop or café side of things.

Perfect if you're staying at Annalong Holiday Park, just under five miles away, or Willowtree Glamping. After a brewery visit, you've got the Mourne Mountains practically on your doorstep for proper walking country. Pop in on a Saturday afternoon, grab a few bottles to take back to your accommodation, and spend the evening on the hills.