How to Build a Tudor Brewhouse

Brewing Power: Food and Drink in Sixteenth-Century Ireland

(This event is part of an interactive public lecture series at Dublin Castle)

Dublin Castle is delighted to present a six-part public lecture series exploring how food and drink shaped everyday life, social relationships and authority in sixteenth-century Ireland. The series draws on new research conducted by the FoodCult project, led by Trinity historian Dr Susan Flavin, and moves between the kitchens of Dublin Castle and the reconstructed Tudor brew houses combining history, science, archaeology, craft and film.

How to Build a Tudor Brewhouse

Brewing beer in the sixteenth century required buildings, equipment and skilled labour.

Led by historic brewer Marc Meltonville, this talk examines how the FoodCult team reconstructed a working Tudor brewhouse using archaeological evidence, archival records and craft expertise. From hearth design to wooden vessels, it shows how space, heat and materials shaped brewing processes and the character of the beer produced.

The event highlights what historians learn when past practices are rebuilt and tested through making. The session concludes with a guided tasting and discussion, allowing audiences to connect historical evidence with the beer in the glass.

Link to the film Drunk? Adventures in Sixteenth-Century Brewing:
https://vimeo.com/864341037/f0527aecdd

Date: Friday, 13th February, 2026

Time: 7 pm – 8.30 pm (Doors open at 6.45 pm)

Location: George’s Hall, The State Apartments, Dublin Castle Upper Yard

Adults (18+)

Tickets: €7 (plus booking fee)

Susan Flavin - Associate Professor of History, Trinity College Dublin; Principal Investigator, FoodCult

Marc Meltonville FSA - Consultant Food Historian and Historic Brewer

Maurice Deasy - Founder and Head Brewer, Canvas Brewing (County Tipperary)

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Host or Publisher Dublin Castle, OPW