Franciscan Well Brewery
Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland · Est. 1998
Tally's Take
Why this matters
Cork's craft pioneer, brewing on the site of a Franciscan monastery well since 1998 and genuinely one of the breweries that started Irish craft. Molson Coors bought it in 2013. Rebel Red still tastes like Cork; the profit does not stay there.
The Museum
Timeline
- 2013Bought by Molson Coors
Acquired in 2013, six years before Ireland's craft scene peaked. One of the breweries that started Irish craft becomes a multinational subsidiary while still brewing on the North Mall.
The Beer Library
Beers
Rebel Red
Year-RoundChieftain IPA
Year-RoundShandon Stout
Year-RoundTravel Guide
Plan a visit
- Historic brewpub
- Wood-fired pizza garden
Follow the money
How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1998Founded
- 2013Bought by Molson Coors
Acquired in 2013, six years before Ireland's craft scene peaked. One of the breweries that started Irish craft becomes a multinational subsidiary while still brewing on the North Mall.
Today the chain tops out at Molson Coors Beverage Company.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Franciscan Well Brewery is controlled by Founder / family.
Molson Coors — SEC DEF 14A Proxy Statement · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · 2026-04
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Franciscan Well Brewery
- Who owns Franciscan Well Brewery?
- Franciscan Well Brewery is owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company. Franciscan Well Brewery is based in Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland.
- Is Franciscan Well Brewery still independent?
- No. Franciscan Well Brewery is owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company and is no longer independent.
- When was Franciscan Well Brewery acquired?
- 2013. Acquired in 2013, six years before Ireland's craft scene peaked. One of the breweries that started Irish craft becomes a multinational subsidiary while still brewing on the North Mall.
- When was Franciscan Well Brewery founded?
- Franciscan Well Brewery was founded in 1998 in Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland.
Drinking Franciscan Well Brewery? Stamp it in your passport.
Discover it here — collect it in the Passport. Track every beer, earn stamps, and build your own beer passport.
Every brewery deserves its full story told.
If you're the owner or team behind Franciscan Well Brewery, we'll build out your complete profile — history, the people, every beer — and feature you in a Tally's documentary. No cost, just your story.