The Rathmor Brewery

Standing proudly on the banks of the River Glas in Abercain, the Rathmor Brewery is the beating heart of the Caerwyn Isles’ brewing tradition and the largest producer of beer anywhere in the archipelago. Founded in the mid-19th century, the brewery first made its name supplying nourishing ales to farmhands, slate miners, and quarrymen working the rugged interior of Rathmor. These early brews were simple but dependable—crafted to quench thirst, fortify labourers, and bring warmth to tavern hearths after long days in the fields and quarries.

In 1901, the brewery relocated from its original site in Gwynhaven to Abercain, drawn by the purity of the River Glas, whose mineral-rich waters soon became central to its brewing identity. Locals still insist that this natural source gives Rathmor’s ales their unmistakable character—crisp, clean, and subtly marked by the geology of the surrounding highlands. Today the brewery’s sprawling brick complex remains a defining landmark of the town, its tall chimneys, copper kettles, and clattering drays a familiar part of the daily rhythm.

Its flagship India Pale Ale (IPA) is among the most celebrated products of the islands. Known for its fragrant hop aroma, floral bitterness, and balanced malt backbone, it has become a prized export enjoyed throughout northern Europe. Barrels of this pale golden ale leave Abercain each week, travelling by rail and ship to pubs and taverns far beyond the islands’ shores. Alongside the IPA, the brewery produces a range of robust stouts, their deep roasted flavours said to echo the smoky fires once kept alight in the slate miners’ cottages of central Rathmor.

Rathmor Brewery is also at the heart of the islands’ social calendar. Each autumn, the towns of Abercain and Gwynhaven host lively beer festivals celebrating the brewery’s heritage and craftsmanship. Music fills the streets, local foods are shared, and the famous barrel races—a tradition nearly as old as the brewery itself—send cheering crowds spilling across cobbled lanes.

Today, the Rathmor Brewery stands as both a guardian of tradition and a symbol of island pride—a place where history, craft, and community continue to ferment together.