Hillstown Brewery

You'll find Hillstown Brewery just outside Antrim, and it's a proper working operation - not some themed experience tacked onto a gift shop. The brewery sits in a converted agricultural building, and what strikes you immediately is how seriously they take their craft. They produce a decent range of ales and lagers on-site, and if you time it right, you can watch the brewing process actually happening through the windows.

The tour itself takes you through the whole operation - from raw ingredients through to the finished product - and ends where it should, in the tasting room. The staff know their stuff and won't bore you with unnecessary jargon, which is refreshing. It's the sort of place where the owner's usually around, and that makes a real difference to the experience.

If you're staying at Lough Beg Glamping or Sunset Glamping nearby, this is an easy afternoon detour. It works best for adults and older teens who actually care about how beer gets made. Young children might find 90 minutes a bit long, though they're usually accommodating. Allow a couple of hours all in, including the tasting.

The brewery often has seasonal specials on, so it's worth checking their website for what's on when you're planning to visit. It's not a massive operation like the big names, but that's precisely why it's worth going - you get actual character here rather than industrial tourism.