The brewery and pub are located on the north bank of the River Lee, on the site of an old Franciscan monastery from 1219,[1] and the monastery walls (including the eponymous well)[2] now surround the beer garden adjacent to the pub, where contemporary fermentation vessels are also visible.[3] During the 1940s the area was used to bottle Guinness beer, manufactured in Dublin, for Cork customers.[1]
While the Franciscan Well beer brand was acquired by Molson Coors in 2013,[1][4] the pub and brewery are still in the hands of the original owners.[5] Beer brands originated in Franciscan Well include Chieftain IPA, Rebel Red, Shandon Stout (created in partnership with Jameson distillers),[1] Well Hazy, Archway Lager, and Friar Weisse. In 2016, the packaging was rebranded from the original image of a monk, and several of these brands were selected for nationwide and overseas distribution in 330ml cans.[6]
By 2018, two decades since the brewery had been established, the annual production reached 90,000 kegs, and the brewery had become a well-established brand in Cork and Ireland.[7]
The bar resumed brewing in 2022 under a different name Original7 . The bar has always remained in the ownership of Shane Long and now the brewery is independent once again .
Many brewing collaborations have been done since with the likes of Jameson and famed Cork soft drinks producer Tanora
