The Hop’s Summer Beer Festival starts this Thursday (14^th July) and runs until Sunday evening (17^th July) at Granary Wharf in Leeds, and promises to be a date that lovers of good beer should pencil in. As well as their impressively sized existing bar which boasts 10 hand pulled cask beers, the pub will also have a special upstairs festival bar serving 15 more beers for you to choose from. On the bars will be established classics such as Elland’s 1872 Porter and brand new brews like Dissolution IPA from the recently formed, but already reliable, Kirkstall Brewery.

The festival focuses on local beers, with most of the cask ale being sourced from breweries in and around West Yorkshire – which is lucky for us as that’s where some of the best beer in the country is currently being brewed. There’s never been a better time to be a beer lover than now, and The Hop festival looks set to prove it.

As well as the aforementioned Elland 1872 Porter and Kirkstall Dissolution IPA there are a few other beers which are definite ‘must tries’ in my mind, and these are the ones that I’d recommend you give a go first, as they might not be around for very long!

Great Heck – Amish Mash 4.7%

Great Heck are a really small brewery who are just starting to make their way into pubs in and around Yorkshire. They produce fairly traditional but massively well made beers and the few I’ve tried have been very good. These guys deserve our support and as the only Great Heck beer featuring during the festival this is one that I’ll definitely be looking out for. The brewery are also working with Leeds based beer blogger extraordinaire Zak Avery on a collaboration brew, so are definitely one to watch.

Elland – Kama Citra 4.5%

Elland make some simply stunning beers, and have been doing so for many years. I’m yet to try a bad beer from these guys and this Citra hopped offering should be a real hop lovers treat. Citra is a hop variety which gives beers a massive citrusy flavour and aroma, which when used well produces bucket loads of grapefruit, mango, lime, and orange peel flavours. If you’ve never tried a Citra beer before then this could be a pleasantly rude awakening for the senses.

Ilkley – Ilkley Black 3.7%

If there was one style of beer that looked set to be resigned to the history books a decade ago it was Mild. This much misunderstood style of beer is understated but extremely rewarding, with dark roasted malt combining with light hopping to create a satisfying yet hugely drinkable dark beer. Plus Ikley Brewery are low ABV specialists, so don’t be put off by the modest strength either, as these guys pack a hell of a lot of flavour into some very small beers.

Burley St. – Burley St. IPA 5.6%

Burley St. Brewhouse is based inside the Fox & Newt Pub on Burley Road in Leeds, and are one of only a few true Brewhouses in the area, where you can drink the beer that has been made on site. But don’t let the small operation fool you; these guys make some seriously big flavoured beers. This India Pale Ale (IPA) is heavily hopped and brewed to a formidable 5.6% as an homage to the strong and hoppy IPAs brewed to survive the long sail to India at the time of British Raj.

Saltaire – Elderflower Blonde 4%

This refreshing blonde ale is a perfect summer thirst quencher. Combining the citrus freshness of Elderflower and dry, fresh hop flavour, this is a beer that is just asking to be drunk in the sunshine. If the clouds part for a day and the sun squeezes its way out, this is the one you should go for. Light, drinkable, refreshing yet hugely tasty.

The Hop is a great venue, and if the weather is sunny don’t forget that all the festival beers can be taken outside and enjoyed in their outdoor drinking area, on the attractive Granary Wharf canal side development.

The Hop
The Dark Arches
Granary Wharf
Leeds
LS1 4BR

Contact Number 0113 2439854

This preview was written by Neil Walker from the “Eating isn’t Cheating” Food & Beer blog. If you’re a fan of real ale, craft beer, food and all things tasty, why not pay a visit to his blog here.