Where is Caffrey's Irish Ale brewed?
By Mark Porter Last checked 9 September 2026 How we check
Caffrey's Irish Ale is sold as a beer from Ireland. It is brewed in Britain, at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.
What to drink instead 6 beers on the same shelves that are what they say
Every beer on the shelf by strength · How the units are worked out
More about the brand: rights, style, when it was created, where it is brewed at home
Partly verified
At least one of those three claims rests on a secondary source or an inference, a disagreement between sources is still open, or a split supply has a format that has not been read.
Owner and Tadcaster site verified from Molson Coors. ABV history and current 3.8% from Wikipedia only; no retailer page or can photo. Mainly an on-trade keg brand.
2026-09-09: the 3.8% is supported by Molson Coors' 2010 announcement reported in Campaign and by an archived wholesale listing, but no current supermarket pack was found at any chain, and no Irish retail listing exists, so there is no home-market comparison to make.
The small print on the base of a current can or bottle, giving the producer name and address, would settle this.
In short
Caffrey's Irish Ale is sold in Britain as a beer from Ireland. The cues are 'Irish Ale', Caffrey family and Ulster Brewery (Belfast) heritage. The UK supply comes out of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, brewed by Molson Coors. It is 3.8%. There is no Irish original to compare with: the brand was created in 1994 by Molson Coors Beverage Company for the UK market. On the recipe: Two strength cuts since launch (5.2 to 4.2 to 3.8%).
This page is about the packs sold in supermarkets. Draught in pubs can come from a different brewery, and this page does not cover it unless a format table says so.
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 to 2005 | Bass Ireland / Interbrew / Coors at the Ulster Brewery | Belfast | en.wikipedia.org |
| 2005 to now | Coors Brewers / Molson Coors UK | Tadcaster (current, per Molson Coors) | molsoncoors.com |
Questions people ask
Where is Caffrey's Irish Ale brewed?
The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire by Molson Coors.
Is Caffrey's Irish Ale brewed in the UK?
Yes. It is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.
Is Caffrey's Irish Ale really Irish?
The branding is Irish, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.
Who owns Caffrey's Irish Ale?
Caffrey's Irish Ale is owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company, headquartered in United States / Canada. In the UK the brand is handled by Molson Coors Brewing Company Ltd.
What strength is Caffrey's Irish Ale in the UK?
Caffrey's Irish Ale is 3.8% ABV in the UK. A UK pint is 2.2 units.
Which beers are similar to Caffrey's Irish Ale?
Other beers sold as Irish in the UK include Guinness 0.0, Guinness Draught and Guinness Extra Stout.
See also
Every beer sold as Ireland · What else is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire · Every brand owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company
Sources
- Molson Coors (molsoncoors.com): Caffrey's brewed at Tadcaster
- Molson Coors (molsoncoors.com): brand in Molson Coors portfolio
- Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org): secondary: 1994 launch, ABV cuts, Ulster Brewery closure 2005
- Campaign (campaignlive.co.uk), 11 March 2010: Molson Coors: 'the ABV of Caffrey's Draught will be reduced from 4.2% to 3.8%'.
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