Day 2 of our beery advent-ure brings us to Belfast and a brewery that you may only have had in the Belfast area.

Yardsman Rivets

• ABV: 5.6%
• Beer Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Brewery: Hercules Brewing Company
• Origin: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Hercules Brewing Company is the first craft brewery to open in Belfast for almost 160 years, aiming to restore the heritage of the city as the leading powerhouse in brewing that was initially established in the 1800’s. The brewery, which originally operated in Hercules Street in Belfast between 1845-1855 was widely believed to be the earliest brewery in the city, when there were 13 breweries in Belfast. This is at a time when Belfast was the biggest exporting port on the island and indeed the second biggest in the British Isles. This was primarily down to the indigenous industries of Linen Making, Rope Making, Ship Building, Distilling and Brewing.

The onset of the industrial revolution however, meant that the Guinness Family were able to invest ahead of the curve and as a result, the powerhouse of brewing became centred in Dublin and the 13 breweries in Belfast disappeared. The re-borne Hercules Brewing Company uses some of the old traditions of brewing to create a small batch brew lager called Yardsman. Our small batch brew is created with the best of local ingredients and filtered through Irish linen.

Independently owned and drawing on our rich heritage of brewing, the Hercules Brewing Company puts craft at the heart of everything it does. Hercules Brewing Company embodies Belfast’s craft movement and the time is right to revive and celebrate our crafted heritage in brewing.

Yardsman pays homage to the great men who worked in the mills, the yards and factories. The men who were proud to serve apprenticeships and perfect their craft. The good men who valued people above possessions.

What we put in is what we get out. We take time to perfect our craft and every small batch brew in Belfast’s first craft brewery since 1855. This is where we create history, this is how we create Yardsman.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Golden, with slight haze. Big fluffy white head.
• Aroma: Pithy orange, grapefruit, with subtle pine notes.
• Flavour: As this uses a single hop (cascade), this is all about the citrus! Orange peel and grapefruit with a delicate lingering bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light, soft carbonation.

This may not be one for the hardcore hop heads, but this is a nice quaffable beer. It may also be a less intimidating IPA for those new to the style.