Whiplash
Whiplash is an independent brewery from Dublin, started in 2016 as a weekend project by Alex Lawes and Alan Wolfe. They are known for hop-forward beers, especially NEIPA and DIPA, with the emphasis on aroma and texture rather than bitterness. In 2020, Whiplash was rated the best brewery in Ireland on Untappd.
- LocationDublin, County Dublin
- Founded2016
- TypeMicrobrewery
- Untappd 3.79 · 358k ratings
- At Hoptimaal4 in stock · 10 in total
In stock now 4
Previously at Hoptimaal 6
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
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From weekend project to its own brewery in Dublin
Whiplash began in 2016 as a weekend project by Alex Lawes and Alan Wolfe, who knew each other from working at an Irish brewery. Alex was a homebrewer who had taken a few steps into professional brewing, Alan worked as an operations manager at large breweries. They wanted to take the pace down with specials and one-off beers, and set up their own company for that.
The first beers were well received and the project went full-time to keep up with demand. In 2018 they brewed at facilities in Ireland and Europe, and in 2019 they announced a new brewery in Dublin. They built it themselves, purpose-designed, in Ballyfermot. A team of 13 now works there.
They also set up things outside the brewery: in 2019 they started Fidelity Festival, an international beer event in Ireland, and in December 2022 the bar Fidelity opened on Queen Street in Dublin, together with The Big Romance.
Hoppy beers with attention to texture
Whiplash makes modern, hop-forward beers, especially NEIPA and DIPA, where aroma and texture weigh more than sharp bitterness. The range is broader: Pellicle mentions, among others, True Love Waits Pilsner, Sweetsmoke Rauch Wine and Bowsie Nitro Brown Ale. The brewery makes traditional and modern styles, with four to six limited editions per month alongside a core range.
One of the most popular core beers is Body Riddle, an American-style pale ale with Lemondrop, Galaxy, Simcoe and Ekuanot. Pellicle describes lemon peel and passion fruit with a bit of pine in the background. In Dublin bottle shops, regular drinkers ask for Riddlers.
Recognition came quickly. The Irish consumer organisation Beoir chose Whiplash as Brewery of the Year in 2019, and that same year it was the first Irish brewery to be invited to the Mikkeller Beer Celebration in Copenhagen. In January 2021 Whiplash won Best International Brewery at Honest Brew, shortly followed by Best Dark Beer from Beer 52.
Whiplash at Hoptimaal
With us, you mainly find Whiplash as IPA. We have also had a porter, a stout and a quadrupel. The strength ranges from 5 to 11 percent and almost everything comes in 44 cl. Stock changes, so check the webshop to see what's in right now.
Highly rated on Untappd are, among others, Whiplash Surrender to the Void, Whiplash Hail the Apocalypse, Whiplash Water Jump, Whiplash Reckoner, Whiplash Close To Paradise and Whiplash Desire Lines.
Drink the hoppy beers as fresh as possible and well chilled, then aroma and fruit come out best. You pour the porter, stout and quadrupel slightly less cold and drink them more slowly.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Whiplash come from?
Whiplash comes from Dublin in Ireland. The brewery began in 2016 as a weekend project and now brews in a self-designed brewery in Ballyfermot.
What kind of beer does Whiplash make?
Whiplash is best known for hop-forward beers, such as NEIPA, DIPA and pale ale. They also make, among others, a pilsner, a brown ale and a rauch wine, plus a few limited editions every month.
How do you best store and drink Whiplash IPA?
Store hoppy beers cold and drink them as fresh as possible, because aroma and fruit fade quickly. Heavier beers such as stout and quadrupel you pour slightly less cold.
