10 Years, Thousands of Pints: The Powerful Story Behind Western Herd’s First Tap
As you all know by now, we celebrated our 10th year brewing in Kilmaley last November. But we never really took the time to reflect on everything we’ve been through to get here — and the people who helped us along the way. And where better to begin than with our very first customer.
Building a brewery from scratch
When you build something from scratch, there are a lot of ideas, budgets, research and form-filling. And despite all the planning, it’s still a huge leap of faith. Turning a working farm space into a place that could consistently make great beer was exciting, stressful and, if we’re being completely honest, fairly chaotic at times.
The call that came before the beer
Part of the early planning process was figuring out who our customers would actually be. We assumed they’d be in Dublin, Cork or Galway. So you can imagine our surprise when John Burke from the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point reached out and told us to sign him up — before we’d even brewed our first beer. That early vote of confidence mattered more than John could possibly realise.
Discovering the local demand
We quickly discovered there was real demand for fresh, flavourful, locally produced beer with a strong sense of place behind it — right on our doorstep. It gave us the confidence to build Western Herd the way we wanted to: rooted in Kilmaley, telling our stories and our history.
The Armada Hotel: part of our story from day one
From the very beginning, the Armada has been part of our story. Over the years, the relationship has grown into one of the things we’re most proud of: a local partnership built on mutual support, a shared love of quality, and a belief that what’s made in Clare deserves to be enjoyed in Clare.
Perched on the edge of the Atlantic in Spanish Point, the Armada Hotel is one of those places that feels woven into the fabric of West Clare — a warm welcome, serious hospitality, and a front-row seat to some of the best coastline in the country. It’s a spot that champions local food and drink, and that commitment to quality (and to Clare) is exactly why our relationship has worked from day one. Whether you’re calling in after a coastal walk or settling in for a proper night away, it’s hard to beat a pint with that view — and we’re proud to have Western Herd pouring there all year round.
The beer it inspired: Spanish Point American Pale Ale
And like any good relationship, it inspired one of our most loved beers: Spanish Point American Pale Ale. Created as a one-off special, it’s now firmly part of our core range.
A decade in, we’re still brewing in Kilmaley, still obsessed with ingredients, still chasing tiny improvements batch after batch — and still grateful for the people who backed us when Western Herd was just an idea with a building site attached.
John Burke and the team at the Armada Hotel took a chance early. They helped prove there was a market for local craft beer right here on the west coast, and they’ve supported us ever since.
Today, you’ll find Western Herd available in the Armada Hotel all year round — on tap and in cans — and we’re proud that our first proper “yes” came from just down the road.