Alex Lawes, Co-Founder of Whiplash and Fidelity, Dies
Alex Lawes, co-founder of the popular Dublin brewery Whiplash and Dublin bar Fidelity, has died. The news was announced by Fidelity on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Fidelity shared a statement expressing profound sadness at Lawes’ passing, describing him as “part of the heart of both businesses,” “infectious, brilliantly funny and a genius,” and “our friend.” The statement continued, noting his magnetic personality touched many and that the team would take time to honor his memory.1
From Homebrewing to Full-Time Brewery
Lawes co-founded Whiplash in 2016 with Alan Wolfe, beginning as a weekend homebrewing project. The brewery quickly gained demand, leading the pair to run Whiplash full-time by the end of 2017.1 Whiplash initially brewed at various facilities across Ireland and Europe before building its own custom-designed brewery in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in 2019.1
Fidelity: A Collaboration with a Focus on Sound and Craft Beer
In December 2022, Whiplash opened Fidelity on Queen Street in Dublin’s Smithfield area, in collaboration with The Huge Romance.1 Fidelity is known for its custom-designed sound system and curated selection of craft beers.1
Lawes was recently featured in The Recent York Times discussing Dublin’s pub scene.1