Ghostly history of a new rye beer from Northern Ireland
Lacada Brewery, the award-winning Northern Irish craft brewer, has launched another novel craft beer reflecting one of the myths of the region in which it is based. The brewery has introduced Half Hung, a rye India Pale Ale (ABV 6.2%) based on its interest in working with malts.
Lacada is a community co-operative brewery based in the Northern Ireland seaside resort of Portrush in county Antrim. The team there have developed a portfolio of beers which take their names from local landmarks and historic characters from the area.
"The hops used give aromas of vanilla and citrus, with some fruit and pine. Half Hung originated from a co-owners home brewing recipe that we tweaked a bit for the brewery. We love working with malts as much as we do with hops. Rye is an interesting malt - a little goes a long way," says director Heather Quiery.
The name is based on a local ghost story, she adds. "We thought that as the nights draw in we would hit the market with a ghost story and a warming beer for the chilly weather.
"The ghost story is based on the legend of John MacNaghten, who was at one time the tax collector and addicted gambler in the Coleraine, county Derry area in the 18th century.
"He is said to have botched the kidnapping of his lover and then shot her dead by mistake. He was sentenced to death but the first attempt to hang him failed. He could have escaped but failed to pull it and was hanged a second time.
"His ghost is said to haunt a bothy, a small shelter, in the area frequented by salmon fishermen up until the 1990s. If one of them happened to fall from a hammock, they used to blame the ghost of 'Half Hung' MacNaghten. Nowadays, the bothy is restored and is used by kayakers and others," she adds,
The beer has been created by Lacada's experienced master brewer Laurie Davies.
The small brewery has won a UK Great Taste Award and was named the 'Best New Product' for its unique stout in the recent Blas na hEireann Awards, the Irish National Food Awards.
