A RISING tide lifts all boats and there’s plenty of them in Portrush harbour. The Open Championship earlier this year may have given the Co Antrim town an unprecedented boost in terms of tourism, but even before the world’s greatest golfers swung into town, Portrush was quietly establishing itself as an increasingly desirable destination.
Playing a big part of that is Lacada Brewery which started brewing beer in the town in 2015, having got off the ground thanks to the contributions of the co-operative's initial members.
In a short space of time, they’ve knocked out some belting beers and clocked up a fair few awards. One of my personal favourites is 9 Rubies, their raspberry smoothie IPA, while more recently I have enjoyed their black IPA Zostera.
However, as the beer drinker becomes increasingly more discerning and the demand for their beers grows, Lacada are looking to expand their already considerable horizons while maintaing that spirit of co-operation which had brought them this far.
This week Lacada announced that they would be seeking additional investment to realise their three-year expansion plan. They hope to raise £250,000, some of which will go towards relocating from their current location in the centre of the town, which they have outgrown. This will mean opening a new premises with the possibility of a permanent taproom and restaurant.
Laurie Davies, Lacada’s head brewer, chairman and director, is excited by the prospect, saying: “When we first set up and had the idea to begin a co-operative, it was because we wanted to bring something to the community. We wanted to leave a legacy. Lacada has become much more than just a brewery, it’s a brand.
“It employs local people. We have tourists from all over the world visiting the brewery and we would like to increase that tourism offering in the future.”
If you want to invest in Lacada, you can for as little as £100 (see lacadabrewery.com) or you can support them in other ways, one of which is by taking yourself along to Portush Town Hall today for the fourth annual Portrush Beer Festival (portrushbeerfoodfest.co.uk).
Lacada will be serving a number of their own beers, including the barrel-aged version of their dulse stout Shore and a damson and redcurrant sour D Funk Era. There will also be beers from Beerhut, Heaney’s, Farmageddon, Third Barrell, Norn Iron Brew Co and Kinnegar as well as a selection of tasty food options.
