Devil's Washtub beer launched by Northern Irish craft brewery

Lacada, the Northern Ireland craft brewery, has launched Devil's Washtub, a new IPA that reflects its location on the picturesque North Coast.

The brewery, based at Portrush in north east of county Antrim, one of Northerrn Ireland's holiday centres, describes Devil's Washtub (ABV 5.2%) as a "North Coast IPA" and as "dark beer with a solid malty backbone well met with four hops".

The Washtub name has been taken from a local landmark at Ramore Head on Northern Ireland's North Coast.

Lacada Brewery, a community brewing co-operative, has produced three core beers and 20 special brews in their first year of trading.

"We are growing more adventurous now and are well used to our big kit and along with playing with the hops available and selecting the right malts for the job we have been able to produce different small batch specials from an Ivy Honey beer to a Choco-Orange Amber beer made with Seville oranges," says head brewer Laurie Davies.

The small business gained a UK Great Taste Award 2016 for its Stranded Bunny Porter and this encouraged the development of a Utopian Stout (ABV 8%), which was also acclaimed by beer enthusiasts.

"The Great Taste Award confirmed what we knew - that there is a palette for a great porter in the market and ours is an excellent example of a smooth porter. We're glad we ignored some views not to go with that as a core beer.

"Our Devil's Washtub is a result of what we learned from the mix of four malts, both dark and light. The four hops bring the citrus aroma and kick you would expect. We think this Dark North Coast IPA will surprise in its flavour and will go down easily!"

Lacada Brewery Co-Operative has 283 community share co-owners who raised £100,000 to start the business, which now employs five people part-time and has been trading since October 2015.

The company has begun exporting to Great Britain. The three core beers are Giant's Organ (IPA), Sorley Boy's Stash, (Golden Ale) and Stranded Bunny, a porter. All are named after local landmarks around Northern Ireland's North Coast.