Molson Coors bought Franciscan Well in 2013 but will now close it down. Photograph: Chris MaddaloniMolson Coors is to close its Franciscan Well brewery in Cork, in the latest blow to the industry in Ireland. The craft beer industry has struggled with spiralling costs in recent years and had been hit with a jump in commercial water charges this year as well as US tariffs. While Franciscan Well was backed by Molson Coors, many independent businesses without a big backer have struggled to manage these costs without passing them onto consumers. The squeeze hasn’t just hit the beer industry, with a string of whiskey distillers also struggling this year.

Source: The Irish Times November 17, 2025 16:28 UTC