Brewery’s East Coast IPA only NI beer to be honoured at Dublin Craft Beer Cup

One of Northern Ireland’s newest craft brewers, Mourne Mountains Brewery, has been honoured at the 2016 Alltech Dublin Craft Beer Cup with a prestigious silver medal for their East Coast IPA.

Now in their fourth year, the awards showcase the finest quality craft beers from across the world, and medals are decided by a panel of expert international judges who assess each brew on its appearance, aroma, flavour, body, style and quality.

This year more than 150 breweries were commended for their efforts, but Mourne Brewery’s East Coast IPA was the only Northern Irish brew to be recognised.

Connaire McGreevy, Founder of Mourne Mountains Brewery said: “As a microbrewer, it is always satisfying to win any award for your beer, but for such an experienced panel to present our East Coast IPA with silver medal is a real honour, especially when you consider how many other great beers were up for consideration.

‘We’re still only in our first year as a brewery, so to receive this accolade already is a great boost and hopefully the first of many more to come.

“Credit has to go to our Master Brewer Tom Ray, who has worked tirelessly to perfect the recipes for all of our brews, and a little bit of credit must also go to the Mourne Mountains themselves, as all of the water that goes into our beers is taken straight from the Spelga Dam.

“It’s beautifully soft and perfect for brewing, making it one of the unique characteristics of our brewery and something we believe to be a key part of our success.”

Alongside East Coast IPA, Mourne Mountains Brewery’s range also includes Red Trail, which is a red IPA, Mourne Gold, a golden ale, Big Rock, a German style wheat beer and Mourne Mist pilsner, while they also have a number of seasonal specials in the pipeline for 2016.

“Our beers are now stocked in more than 70 bars, restaurants and off licenses across Northern Ireland, and we’re working hard to expand this in the coming months. It’s an exciting time and we have a lot in store for this year, from limited edition brews to special events, so watch this space.”

Head Judge Dr. Gearóid Cahill, a Brewmaster with almost 20 years’ experience commented: “The standard of craft brewing in Ireland and internationally is rising all the time. There is great interest among brewers in achieving independent expert recognition for their beers. The Dublin Craft Cup and medals awarded to brewers are a fantastic accolade from independent, experienced beer judges and showcase the finest quality craft beers.”
For more information visit www.mournemountainsbrewery.com or to find a stockist search Mourne Mountains Brewery on Facebook. #JointheClan

“Following the incredible success of “Snout”, a bacon-infused stout, to celebrate Ulster FRYDay, Masterbrewer James of the Walled City Brewery has hand-crafted a single batch of ale that has been lovingly infused with luscious seasonal Bramley apples and tangy Valentine rhubarb from their very own Walled City Brewery gardens!

The beer is called “Love LocAle” and is a celebration of NI’s Year of Food & Drink 2016 February theme of “Love Local”.

Masterbrewer and owner James Huey said “At the Walled City Brewery we pride ourselves in going against the grain by creating entirely new flavour combinations. “Love LocAle” is the second batch of exciting new-world beers and, to set the mood for Valentine’s Day, it has even been tinged pink by the rhubarb!”

“Love LocAle” will be exclusively available at the Walled City Brewery, Ebrington Square, Derry-Londonderry from Valentines Days 14th February 2016.

The Walled City Brewery will continue to launch a brand new beer every month based on the individual themes.”

For further information contact James on 075 91850920 or james@walledcitybrewery.com

Local charity Storehouse, which aims to break the cycle of poverty for those most in need, was delighted to be a major benefactor of this week’s Guinness World Record pancake flipping attempt.
After the excitement died down and the crowd of flippers had cleared from Belfast Met Titanic Quarter, the 1000 frying pans which had been donated by Asda NI from its George Home range, were passed on to Storehouse for wider distribution to those living in poverty.

“We consider this a double whammy,” said Joe McDonald, Corporate Affairs Manager NI for Asda. “Not only were we able to build momentum and support for Year of Food & Drink, but we were also able to help the many families and individuals who rely on donations from Storehouse.”

Matt Orme, Storehouse Project Manager commented, “We’re so incredibly thankful to Asda for the donation of the frying pans. At Storehouse, one of our biggest aims is to restore dignity and hope to those who are experiencing difficult times. Whilst we’re thankful for all kinds of donations, being able to provide brand new items really goes a long way towards helping restore those things that are lost through poverty.”
While the organisers continue to wait for validation of the world record attempt, the team from Storehouse will be working with other local groups and charities to ensure the frying pans are put to good use in homes across Northern Ireland.

Pictured (L-R) Dennis Hutchinson, Storehouse volunteer, Matt Orme, Project Manager Storehouse and Joe McDonald, Corporate Affairs Manager NI for Asda.

-Hundreds turn out to become record breakers

 

As part of the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 plans, Tourism Northern Ireland gathered hundreds of people in the Courtyard of Belfast Met Titanic Quarter (Tuesday February 9) to attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the most people flipping a pancake. The current record for the most people flipping a pancake for a duration of thirty seconds in one place, without dropping it, currently stands at 890, but Tourism Northern Ireland together with Asda, which supplied the frying pans for the flip, Irwin’s Bakery and Belfast Met, hopes to smash it by getting 1000 flippers.

Rachel Quigg, Tourism Northern Ireland, said: “This month’s Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 theme is ‘Love Local’, so what better way to celebrate than getting hundreds of locals, including students and members of the public together to try and break a world record, and on Pancake Tuesday!”

The daring record-break attempt took place in sight of the world’s largest Titanic attraction, Titanic Belfast, and the SS Nomadic, tender to the Titanic and the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world.

“We’d like to thank everyone who attempted the record as well as Volunteer Now who provided our stewards, well-known chef, Niall McKenna and Diane Poole OBE from Stena Line who were the independent judges and our two time keepers, former boxing champion, Brian Magee and Natasha McClure.”

Joe McDonald, Asda NI commented: “This huge gathering of pancake flippers is the perfect way to bring Year of Food and Drink 2016 to life, have some fun and celebrate all that is great about our local produce. Asda is proud to support the initiative which is sure to make Pancake Tuesday another day to remember in this important year-long celebration.”
“It’s fantastic to be involved in the World Record attempt today with Tourism Northern Ireland,” Colette Wilson, Irwin’s Bakery said. “It is a very exciting time for Northern Ireland and the Year of Food and Drink 2016 is going to be a great way to celebrate so many Northern Irish brands, highlight the quality of our food and of course the warmth of our hospitality. The pancake flipping attempt is a perfect example of this – I hope we break the record!”

Harry Robinson, Curriculum Area Manager for Catering and Hospitality at Belfast Met, said: “We are thrilled to host this event during the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016. Belfast Met have developed a year-long programme of events with our talented staff and students to celebrate it. We wish all students the best of luck with the record attempt and would also like to thank them for their efforts and enthusiasm.”

There will be a nervous wait now for the record attempt to be validated by the Guinness World Records.

“We have put all the evidence together and sent it to the Guinness World Records. We are very hopeful we have broken the record but we won’t know for sure until we get the official word – wouldn’t it be flipping marvellous to have taken the record!” concluded Rachel.

For more information on Year of Food & Drink 2016 visit www.discovernorthernireland.com/yearoffoodanddrink2016. You can keep up to date with what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #EnjoyNI16.

HASTINGS Hotels has continued its commitment to supporting local food producers by signing a new deal with Portadown beekeeper Lyndon Wortley to supply his Waggle Dance Honey, made in Northern Ireland, to its six hotels.

Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels said: “Food provenance is of utmost importance to us and we have worked hard to ensure that where possible, we buy locally produced ingredients for our guests to enjoy. Which is why I am delighted that we have secured a new partnership for locally produced Waggle Dance Honey from Lyndon Wortley, who is a prominent member of the Northern Ireland Beekeeping Association.

“At breakfast our porridge oats come from White’s in Tandragee and this is accompanied by fresh cream from Farmview Dairies in Belfast or Bushmills Whiskey. And now for the first time, we are able to offer our guests a honey accompaniment from Portadown.

“The honey that Lyndon produces collaboratively with other local NI Beekeepers, Waggle Dance, is named after the figure-eight dance of the honey bee, as it searches for pollen and indicates the best places to search to its fellow bees. The honey is also being used to glaze the vegetables in our special menus during February, when ‘Love Local’ is the theme throughout the province for the 2016 Northern Ireland Year of Food & Drink,” Howard added.

Local beekeeper Lyndon Wortley said: “I am thrilled to have secured a contract with Hastings Hotels to supply its six hotels with my Waggle Dance Honey. Working alongside my father Leslie, we provide help and accommodation for a few colonies of honey bees, deep in ‘The Garden of Ulster’. I look forward to working with Howard and the chefs in his six hotels to ensure guests from around the world enjoy a true taste of Northern Ireland.”

-Product of the Show Finalists Announced –

THE shortlist for the IFEX 2016 Product of The Show Award has just been announced, ahead of the main event, which is Northern Ireland’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality event, taking place at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, on 8-10 March 2016.

Recognising the very best innovation and development within the industry, ten products have been shortlisted from the 140 plus exhibitors – including food, drinks, packaging, equipment and technology.

Caroline McCusker, Event Manager of IFEX comments: “IFEX has long been recognised as being a national platform for thousands of fantastic products, from the bigger well-known companies and also from small independent producers, who are creating innovative and niche goods to meet with rising customer expectations.

“IFEX Product of the Show is a great platform to highlight and reward the hard work behind these products. The standard of entries that we received this year was phenomenal and this year’s shortlist is filled with some very deserving finalists – it will be a challenge for our independent panel of judges to settle on a winner.”

The finalists include Yummy Bakes, Paganini, Blazin Digital, Suki Tea, Tamnagh Foods, Glass 2 Sand, Dunnet Bay Distillery Ltd, Food Safe System, Butterfly Cup and SousVide Tools.

All of the finalist products will on display at IFEX and the winner will be officially announced on the first day at 14:45 on The Stage in the Chef Skills Theatre.

IFEX 2016 is taking place from Tuesday 8th March to Thursday 10th March at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. The show opens daily at 10am and runs until 6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and to 4pm on Thursday. Register your attendance for free now at www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk. Follow IFEX on twitter @IFEX_NI or via Facebook.com/IfexBelfast or join the IFEX NI Group on LinkedIn.
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