THE irony is not lost on Sue Cooper, one half of the talented pair behind Little Valley Brewery, Hebden Bridge.
"It's a bit like sending coals to Newcastle," says Sue, who happens to be from that region.
"We're actually going to be exporting stout to Ireland."
The collection of delicious, premium-quality English and Continental style beers produced by Sue's partner, Dutch-born Wim van der Spek, a Bavarian-qualified master brewer, has already gained an enviable reputation from fans in Calderdale.
But now its fame is spreading overseas and the couple have just clinched a deal to sell their ales to Dublin – and on top of that the American market's tastebuds have been tickled too.
Little Valley Brewery is perched high on the hills above Cragg Vale, based at Turkey Lodge, a former farm.
It all began with a dream but the reality is there is now a real taste for the environmentally-sound beers, which are pure, natural and fresh-tasting.
"I had always wanted to get into brewing and have my own brewery but I never thought I would end up doing it in England," laughs Wim.
So, on English soil he may be, but there is no doubt that he is now a serious contender in the world of connoisseur beers.
He has produced award-winners in his native Holland, Germany and now on British soil too – in England and in the Scottish Highlands.
So far Little Valley's clutch of accolades include gold and silver medals from CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), awards from the Soil Association (all of Little Valley's beers are 100 per cent organic, certified and audited by the Soil Association) and awards for being the favourite beer at various festivals.
And of course their fame is growing.
At the end of last year the couple travelled to Ireland for an exhibition organised by the British Embassy and the result is that six from their stable of regular stable of seven standards are now going on sale in Dublin.
Soon Dubliners will be enjoying a glass of Withens India Pale Ale (a big favourite with Calderdale drinkers), Fairtrade Ginger Pale Ale, the full and rounded Cragg Vale Bitter; the white, hazy continental-style Hebden's Wheat, and the yellow and fruity Tod's Blonde – and of course the rich, black and chocolatey Stoodley Stout.
"Yes stout to Ireland does seem odd. Whether or not they take to it will be another thing. We'll just have to see," says Sue.
She and Wim are now preparing for a visit from US importers after a successful exhibition in Las Vegas last year.
"The Americans are very into their English beers and ours went down very well so we are hoping that it won't be long before our beers are on sale there. That would be something," she adds.
"Everyone has their favourite beer, this is what we are discovering," says Sue, who met Wim during a mammoth cycling trip from Holland to Tibet.
"I was working in Nepal at the time, completing some research and I met Wim who had cycled from Holland."
"We went for a meal, met up again in India and then decided to cycle together from India to Pakistan.
"Eventually we settled in Hebden Bridge. I knew the area and it seemed perfect for a brewery. For Wim it has fulfilled a lifetime's ambition."
Wim adds that the Cragg Vale moorland is the perfect location in which to set up a brewery.
"The water here is very soft, which is just what you need for brewing. And because we are on the edge of the moors we have the wonderful heather and the smoked peat mould, which is what goes into our popular Moor Ale (another of the seven standards.)"
The smell of hops permeates the air as we tour the brewery and Wim talks expertly about brewing temperatures, the crystallisation of sugars and the many other technicalities required to produce a good beer.
An imaginative use of locally-sourced ingredients such as organic lemon peel, elderflower and coriander seeds give the beers their distinctive flavours.
And as well as the regular seven – a different one for every day of the week – Wim also produces beers for every month of the year.
These include Pontus Hebdanus in March (a German-style beer made 'the old way'), while April will bring Midgley Mild (sweet and delicate), June heralds Sixpence (floral with a berry fruit aroma) and August means Dutch Courage (a pleasant, hoppy character).
Wim's fame is spreading to such an extent that a number of Calderdale businesses and pubs have begun to sell his brews, as well as use them in their speciality products – butcher Andrew Jones of Brighouse uses the robust ales in his delicious award-winning pies.
Local restaurants are also stocking them.
"We have great feedback from people when we take part in the festivals, which is lovely," says Sue.
"It's good to hear from people how they enjoy the beers and which are their particular favourites."