Its that time of year again, the August Bank Holiday weekend is fast approaching which means the Hilden Brewery are hosting their
annual beer festival.
Last year's was a great success and if the beer line-up is anything to go by, this years will be no different. *
I can also reveal that Hilden will be previewing their new bottle range over the weekend. All of the beers have been seen as cask versions but this is the first time they've gone into bottle. Fantastic bold new branding and logo shows Hilden have really upped their game to compete with the newer brewers both here and over the water.
Without further ado; here are the brews, along with Hilden's own tasting notes. Please bear in mind this is not the finished list and is of course subject to change on delivery. There will also be ciders from Mac's and DJs for those of a more fruity bent.
Osset Hopmonster (5%)
Strong Hoppy Ale. A strong, heavily hopped and robust IPA. Moderate
bitterness, but intense aroma from new-season New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops.
This unique variety imparts a white wine fruitiness.
Look: Straw in
colour
Taste: Smooth, malty
and sweet on the palate with a refreshing citrus kick and refined hop after
taste.
Smell: Hoppy &
malty
A pale, full bodied bitter with a fresh gentle nose, taken over by
a smooth hop and citrus finish making this ale very drinkable.
This award winning golden beer has good bitterness
levels, with a fresh citrus and hop aroma. A hoppy flavour throughout
with a well hopped clean, dry finish. A CAMRA Champion
Beer of Britain
Finalist in 2004.
A light
refreshing distinctively hoppy beer with a freshness that belies its strength,
so easy to drink it will fool all
but the crustiest of sea dogs.
From the very first draught, this
pale hoppy ale will slake your thirst. A fusion of Maris Otter malts and Pilot
and Fuggles hops explode on the palate as biscuit and juicy fruit flavours give
way to citrus and berry hops, good hop aroma and hoppy after taste. A superb
summer beer
Golden Ale "A refreshing
honey toned, golden ale" Originally brewed in summer 2009 as Summer Gold,
it was subsequently selected by J.D. Wetherspoon’s to feature in their April
2010 Beer Festival when the name was changed to Brigantia. It is a honey toned,
refreshing, hoppy, golden ale with gorgeous aromas of tropical fruit and
grapefruit sharpness offset by hints of melon and pineapple; the result of
large quantities of German, Brewers Gold hops.
Our
signature beer - a pale bitter with a citrus fruit aroma and hoppy citrus
finish.
Created shortly after the brewery moved site to a tennis
club pavilion, this pale ale has a big fruity flavour with a peppery hoppiness
and a dry, bitter yet fruity finish.
Hilden
Brewery's take on a wheat beer brewed to commemorate the inventor of the
'Belfast Penny Bap', Bernard 'Barney' Hughes(1808-1878). Made from wheat and
barley, cardamom, corriander and a dash of black pepper, this spicy tipple is delicious and wont 'stick to your belly like lead'
A
wholly natural blonde beer with a clean and refreshing character derived from
the use of lager malt along with a small proportion of maize. This mixture of
continental and native varieties of late and early addition hops pleases both
the nasal senses and the taste buds.
A rich
warming premium beer. A classic red Irish ale with a full bodied flavour.
A
premium traditional Irish red ale with a malty, mild hop flavour. This special
reserve derives its name from the train line that used to service the local
linen mill.
Hilden Twisted Hop (4.7%)
An Irish pale ale. It has a medium-bodied character and good bitterness,
complementing the full hop flavour which lingers on the palate and in the
aroma.
College Green (Hilden) Headless Dog (4.2%)
A bright amber ale from our College Green range of beers, with an initially
smooth taste followed by a hint of Munich
malt coming through from the grist.
This is complimented by the stronger refreshing taste from
this well hopped beer, named after the unusual mural opposite the front door of
the brewery.
Hilden Scullion'sIrish (4.6%)
A bright amber ale, smooth initially with a slight taste of honey which is
balanced by a long dry after taste which lingers on the palate
Metalman Pale Ale (4.3%)
American style pale ale, dark gold in colour with a delicate white head. Citrus
and floral aromas lead into hop flavours characterised by grapefruit and
mandarin produced by American hops. A dry bitter finish makes this an eminently
enjoyable and refreshing beer.
Metalman Chameleon Ginger (4.5%)
A light summer ale with a ginger twist! A lightly hopped beer, this is an
easy drinking summer thirst quencher with subtle ginger flavours and a dry
finish. Perfect for a warm sunny day (if we were lucky enough to get such a
thing).
ABV 4.3%
A malt driven Irish style red ale
balance by the hop varieties Fuggles and East Kent Goulding
ABV 3.9%
This is a brilliant light and hoppy seasonal beer, carefully brewed
using the transatlantic pairing of the UK’s Brambling Cross
and Washington State’s own Chinook hops.
ABV 3.8%
Peppery hop in the mouth with a long, bitter finish. A classic
well-hopped and beautifully balanced beer with a deeply satisfying and
refreshing taste that is followed by a distinctively dry and long bitter
finish. Best enjoyed in true Black Sheep style, through a rich, creamy head.
ABV 3.7%
A traditional English bitter with the addition of single varietal hops
to give a robust bitterness and a strong hop finish.
ABV 4.2%
Roasted barley, rolled oats, chocolate & black
malts combine to produce our Traditional Irish Stout brimming with flavour. The
gentle coffee aroma is balanced wonderfully by rich hop flavours.
ABV 4.5%
Seasonal. Pale coloured, well balanced beer using English and Polish
hops.
ABV 4.2%
This is a very well built beer that starts with a delicate hoppy and
fresh floral aroma. The flavour is fruity, first you notice the grapefruit and
then a good dash of lemon comes through. At the end there is a rounded taste of
bitter hops. Easy drinking and very moreish.
ABV 3.8%
A golden beer whose aroma is dominated by
hops that give characteristic citrus notes. Hops and fruit on the palate are
balanced by malt and a bitter base. Dry hoppy finish with soft fruit flavours.
ABV 3.7%
New Zealand hops deliver fragrant aromatic floral
notes counterpointed with a mouth of subtle bitterness. Turner would marvel in
its composition!
ABV 5%
Straw coloured beer, hoppy aroma with a
hint of grainyness. The finish is clean and refreshing.
Rat - Dirty Rat (3.5%)
A velvetty dark brown mild. Low bitterness with a sweet malty finish
from a blend of three malt. The delicate hop aroma is not overpowering.
*Alright, there's nothing with the WOW factor perhaps but plenty of new brews to try. With additional beers the list is now looking pretty decent.
EDIT: Renamed beers (see comments) and more beers added 21/8/12.
26/8/12 Updated with actual beers available.
The 14th Belfast Beer Festival is almost upon us starting next Thursday (21st) and running until Saturday (23rd). In fact, as you read this a tireless band of volunteers are getting the stillages erected in preparation for the casks arriving over the next few days.
