Global quality award for Northern Ireland's Yardmaster lager

Yardmaster Lager, among Northern Ireland's most dynamic craft beers, has won a gold medal in the Brussels-based Monde Selection International Quality Awards.

Yardmaster is a small batch beer produced by Hercules Brewing Company which seeks to revive brewing traditions in Belfast dating back to the 19th century. Hercules was the first brewery established in Belfast in more than a century.

The original Hercules Brewery operated in Belfast city centre in the 1840s and was among craft breweries in the city then when shipbuilding, linen weaving and rope making were the main industries. The name Hercules is taken from the city's main street - Hercules Street, now better known as Royal Avenue.

The current Hercules Brewing Company was formed by Niall McMullan of Phoenix Drinks in 2013 to revive the city's brewing tradition and subsequently produced Yardmaster Lager, its first beer, last year.

Mr McMullan formed the small brewery from his experience in the industry especially in the distribution of major brands.

Founded in 1961, Monde Selection's mission is to test consumer products and grant them a bronze, silver, gold or grand gold quality award.



This quality label, awarded by a totally independent professional jury, offers the consumer and the producer numerous advantages.

No less than 3160 products, coming from over 82 different countries, are tested each year in categories including beer, spirits and wine.

Beers are assessed by Belgian experts, most of whom are associated with the Institut Meurice, an internationally renowned body within the brewing industry.

The award is the first won by a Northern Irish brewery.