County Roscommon brewery set to close after over a decade in business

After more than a decade of brewing bold, innovative beers and carving out a distinctive place in Ireland’s craft beer scene, Black Donkey Brewing Ltd, based in Ballinlough, has announced its intention to cease operations.

Founded in 2013 by Michaela Dillon and Richard Siberry, Black Donkey was Ireland’s first brewery to brew commercially with native wild yeast. With beers like Sheep Stealer and the Underworld series, the brewery embraced heritage, locality, and flavour in ways that resonated with a loyal following both at home and abroad.

The decision to close comes, the owners say, after "extensive consideration" and is rooted in a combination of commercial pressures and legislative constraints that have made the sustainable operation of independent breweries increasingly difficult.

"We’ve put everything we had—personally, professionally, and financially—into Black Donkey," said Richard Siberry, co-founder and head brewer. "We are immensely proud of what we’ve achieved, but the environment for small producers like us has become untenable," he said.

"A contributing factor to the brewery’s closure, and to the continued struggles of Ireland’s independent brewing industry, are Ireland’s outdated licensing laws," Richard added. "Modern consumers increasingly seek out authentic, local experiences like visiting breweries or taprooms, but Ireland’s licensing laws make it difficult and prohibitively expensive for small breweries to sell directly to and engage with the public. The same laws also restrict the number of available outlets for small independent brewers. Despite years of lobbying and sector-wide appeals, meaningful legislative reform has been slow to materialise, leaving independent brewers at a marked disadvantage compared to Ireland’s foreign owned multinational breweries.

"Ireland’s archaic, and arcane alcohol licensing laws have stifled innovation, growth, and tourism potential in the independent brewing sector for far too long," added Mr Siberry. "Unlike our counterparts in the UK, US, and mainland Europe, we have never had the ability to run a taproom or sell a pint on-site without navigating costly and convoluted legal and licensing barriers."

The decision to close was not made lightly, he explained. "Black Donkey Brewing has been an employer, a regional ambassador, and a voice in Ireland’s vibrant craft beer community. Its closure represents not just the loss of a brewery, but a missed opportunity for a more agile, more inclusive business environment."

A buyer for the business had been found in late 2024. However, circumstances beyond the control of either party meant the deal didn’t close. A search for another buyer was unsuccessful, and ultimately the directors decided that the end of the road had been reached. As a consequence, Roscommon will soon be one of Ireland’s few counties without its own beer brand.

Black Donkey Brewing has been a champion of wild fermentation, sustainability, and Irish provenance. Their iconic beers—including “Sheep Stealer”, “Western Warrior”, and the pioneering “Underworld” series using native Irish yeast—will be remembered as standouts in Ireland’s craft beer evolution.

The team extends heartfelt thanks to  supporters, loyal customers, distributors, retailers, and fellow brewers who have shared the journey.

"This is not the ending we envisioned, but we are grateful for every moment and every pint. We hope our legacy will continue to inspire a more supportive future for independent producers in Ireland," said Michaela Dillon.

Operations will wind down over the coming months, and the brewery will honour all existing commitments to suppliers, customers, and staff.