Dot Brew

Microbrewery in Dublin, Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪

Established in 2015

Contact
9 Dolphins Barn Unit B, Dublin, Ireland
Description
Founder of Dot Brew, Shane Kelly, has made a name for both himself and his brand over the last few years through a keen passion and love for experimentation when it comes to his brews, most notably in the form of barrel ageing and hybrid styles. The Dublin based brewer has carved out quite a niche, developing a unique style and approach which has helped put Dot Brew at the forefront of the Irish Craft Beer scene. While the beers are brewed in various microbreweries in and around Dublin, they are then brought home to Dolphin’s Barn. The site is home to about 50 barrels in a small warehouse which Kelly refers to as his ‘spice rack’, with casks ranging from French oak, Mexican tequila and American bourbon, to name but a few.

     Show


7
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Tap at Winter Affair 2026. Hazy golden body, off-white head. Old barrel, caramel white grapes, quite a bit of umami, sharp aroma. Dry figs and raisins, aggressive alcohol. The taste is more of the same, sweet, aggressive alvcohol, dried fruit, caramel and old barrel. Fun, but not quite enchanting.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 19:55


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Tap at Winter Affair 2026. Blackish body, off-white head. Oily, dry, oaky malty aroma. Lean, dry, bit empty malty taste, lightly toasty, some oaky notes. Clean and drinkable, very much not memorable, very much a good beer!

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 17:04


6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Tap at Winter Affair 2026. Hazy pale golden-yellow body, off-white head. Melon, light strawberry, bit dry and ouly, okay. Lean, dry taste, yellow fruit, sweetish, bit herbal, paprey, some bitterness. Oookay.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 15:22


6.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Tap at Winter Affair 2026. Brownish body, pale, less brown than the red ale hahah, ivory head. Lean, dry, toasty aroma, lean, dry, toasty taste, simple, tasty, quite okay.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 12:20


7.3
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Tap at Winter Affair 2026. Quite brown bodied, off-white head, creamy. Nutty, caramelly, smooth, sweetish aroma. Smooth nutty, caramelly taste, simple, tasty, some light warmth, quite okay... but not red? Still, well integrated alcohol, fun to try!

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 11:18


4
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4

Tap at Zichovec Winter Affair 2026. A bit yeasty, a bit sourish too. Not very good.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 08:03


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Tap at Zichovec Winter Affair 2026. Quite good basic brown. Nutty, a bit chocolatey. Dry, a bit watery, but quaffable.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 07:17


7.4
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Tap at Zichovec Winter Affair 2026. Brown, not red. Strong, boozy, but ok sipper. Lots of maltiness, dried fruits too. Good.

Tried from Draft on 24 Jan 2026 at 05:16


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle at home, picked up from Craft Beer Central.ie, 25/12/2025.
Black topped with a good sized khaki head that dissipates to a healthy swirl over time.
Nose is roast malts, dried fruit rinds, molasses, mellow barrel tones, raisins.
Taste comprises dark malts, modest barrel, chocolate, toffee, dried fruit esters.
Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, light drying close with a mellow rising boost.
Okay sipper for the price point but overall lacking complexity and barrel presence.

Tried on 25 Dec 2025 at 23:28


7.6
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Bottle 0,33 ltr: Opaque black colored brew with an smooth bittersweet taste with hints of roasted malts, vanilla, dark chocolate, very smooth Irish whiskey and oak.

Tried from Bottle from De Bierwinkel on 13 Dec 2025 at 20:47