Business

Belfast brewery launches new 'nitro' stout can

Yardsman founder Niall McMullan with the new nitro can stout launched this week. Picture by Darren Kidd/ Press Eye
Yardsman founder Niall McMullan with the new nitro can stout launched this week. Picture by Darren Kidd/ Press Eye Yardsman founder Niall McMullan with the new nitro can stout launched this week. Picture by Darren Kidd/ Press Eye

A BELFAST brewery has launched Ireland's craft nitro can stout on the market.

Hercules Brewing Company, the city's first craft brewery in almost 160 years has launched its new Yardsman Original Double Stout Nitro can this week, provide a unique offering for Northern Ireland consumers.

The innovative packaging method, which qualifies the creamy Belfast Double Stout as a nitro stout, involves ‘nitrogenising the can’ by replacing CO2 with nitrogen. This adds a new dimension giving it a smoother finish with fine bubbles to deliver the same characteristics and quality of draft beer.

The traditional Yardsman Original Double Stout first came to market in November 2015, the fourth in a line of award-winning craft beers produced by the Belfast brewery, and was only available to buy in draft form from bars.

Since its launch, creator Niall McMullan, has been researching the nitro can to perfect his own draft quality stout in a can, without using the better known patented widget technology.

"Nitrogen infused drinks of all sorts have been rising in popularity in recent years and when I first heard about it I was excited about its potential so I immediately started thinking about how we could produce something of our own”, Mr McMullan explained.

"As is the nature with craft beer, it has been a fine art perfecting this nitro stout to a standard that our customers expect and I’m delighted to be able to introduce the first craft brewed nitro can stout in Ireland.”

Yardsman Original Double Stout is now available to buy in 330ml nitro cans in restaurants and off-licenses across Northern Ireland.