Business

Yardsman passes million bottle mark in stout new move

Helping launch the new Belfast-brewed Yardsman Original Double Stout are Gareth Loughran and Jolene Doyle from Hercules Brewing. Pictures: Stephen Hamilton (Press Eye)
Helping launch the new Belfast-brewed Yardsman Original Double Stout are Gareth Loughran and Jolene Doyle from Hercules Brewing. Pictures: Stephen Hamilton (Press Eye) Helping launch the new Belfast-brewed Yardsman Original Double Stout are Gareth Loughran and Jolene Doyle from Hercules Brewing. Pictures: Stephen Hamilton (Press Eye)

GLOBAL drinks industry veteran Niall McMullan, who less than two years ago opened the first craft brewery in Belfast in almost 160 years, is taking on the big boys with his latest venture.

For his Hercules Brewing Company, which is cashing in on the growing worldwide demand from consumers for craft beers, has just launched its own stout.

"Seriously though, we're not quite ready to take on Guinness just yet, but it's a start I suppose," quipped McMullan (47) as he launched Yardsman Original Double Stout.

Being sold exclusively in draught form at a select number of bars mainly in Belfast and Derry, it is the fourth product to be launched by the brewery in the 18 months since its launch.

And it will catapult production at the Hercules brewery in Belfast's harbour estate to more than a million bottles - three times more than when it first started in February 2014.

"It's been an incredible year and a half for the business," says McMullan, who previously worked with companies like Diageo and Coca-Cola.

"Hercules Brewing Company puts craft and local at the heart of everything we do, and Yardsman Original Double Stout is no different. We've been waiting on this brew to develop for months so it is very exciting for us to finally reveal this unique, quality stout.

“It is our first stout, following our successful Yardsman Lager, pale ale and IPA, and we're confident stout lovers in Belfast and beyond will taste our craft in every sip.

"The fresh, quality ingredients in our brew set us apart from other stouts and truly represent the craft of brewing. I have always wanted to share quality, local, craft brews with the region and so am particularly pleased that the Yardsman line has been received so well."

Hercules uses locally sourced products to create its Yardsman craft beers, which revive and celebrate Belfast's heritage in brewing and are named after those who worked in industries like linen-making, ship-building, distilling and brewing.

Yardsman stout (4.3% abv) is brewed with freshly roasted barley and a range of high quality coloured malts, as well as Irish hops and water and is filtered through Irish linen. The stout is nitrogenated, which creates the white head and a settled, clear but dark ruby black body.

"Like all the products in our range, Yardsman Original Double Stout is completely free from all chemicals, preservatives, stabalisers and animal bi-products and only is brewed using the four natural ingredients of hops, barley, water and yeast, making it completely vegan friendly," says McMullan.