Event: Hop City | Location: Northern Monk Refectory, Leeds | Date: May 2026
About Hop City
Hop City is an annual festival hosted by Northern Monk at their refectory (The Old Flax Store) in Leeds.
This was our second time attending Hop City after managing to make it for the first time in 2025. We attended the Saturday day session, but there are evening sessions too. Tickets include a Hop City glass and unlimited 100ml pours.
What we drank…
With a choice of around 35 breweries, each pouring at least two different beers at a time, there was certainly plenty of choice.
We managed to sample 20 different beers. We avoided the highest ABVs for the first couple of hours, making sure we drank plenty of water between pours. We managed to track all the beers, although our tasting notes got less detailed as the day went on.
There were some excellent beers from some brilliant breweries, but here’s a run down of the beers we tried…
Clamp by Saint Mars of the Dessert (UK): IPA 5.5%
We started with this 5.5% IPA from Sheffield-based brewery, Sant Mars of the Dessert.
Brewer’s note: Koelship IPA with Mosaic and Waimea hops. ABV varies by batch and often has additional hop varieties.
Brewer’s website: SMOD
Hop City 2026 by Northern Monk (UK): DDH IPA 6.5%
The official event beer for 2026.
Brewer’s note: For this year’s Hop City release we’ve put all our energy into just one product. Giving it the care and attention it deserves. The result is an uber juicy, unbelievably drinkable DDH IPA, with orange, sweet peach, mango, sharp passionfruit and bright lime filling all your senses. On a rich hazy base made with oats and wheat, it’s got a long lingering texture to keep the flavours flowing.
The beer showcases Indie Hops’ Luminosa and Strata, El Dorado from Crosby Hops, and Galaxy and Citra in enhanced liquid format from Barth HaasX; all of these varieties made available by our festival sponsor, Brewers Select.
Brewer’s website: Northern Monk Craft Beers: Leeds Brewery
Squeezed by Floc. (UK): DDH IPA 6.6%
Another UK-brewed beer, this time from Canterbury-based, Floc.
Brewer’s note: Juicy DDH IPA brewed with No Seasons, Miami. Bursting with Freestyle Nelson Sauvin T90, Peacharine T90, and Riwaka SubZero Hop Kief. Expect bright tropical fruit, white grape, peach nectar, and dank citrus soft haze.
Brewer’s website: Floc Brewing Ltd
Seal Eggs by Baron (UK): West Coast IPA 6.5%
Time for a Westie from Hertfordshire-based Baron.
Brewer’s note: The baby brother of Sea Legs. A bitter and sappy West Coast IPA at 6.5%, with huge malt and hop character to remind you of the IPAs from the 2010s. Simcoe, Columbus and Citra working hard! Expect a slight haze, no filtration or finings. Gluten Free too!
Brewer’s website: Baron Brewing
Caprese Tomato Gose by Pivovar Matuska (Czechia): Gose 5.9%
We were ready for something a little different and this one sounded intriguing. As well as having tomato in the beer, a tomato foam was added after the pour.
The aroma and flavour of tomato and basil really came through, balanced nicely by the saltiness of a gose. It was delicious - a highlight of the day and the perfect palate cleanser.
Brewer’s website: Pivovar Matuška
Secrets in the Spirits by Rivington (UK): Mezcal BA Dunkel 5.5%
We’re not huge Mezcal/Tequila fans, but we couldn’t resist trying this barrel aged dunkel. It smelt like bonfire toffee and had a lovely sweetness. The Mezcal flavours came through but weren’t as harsh or boozy as Mezcal. It was very complex and interesting - not sure I’d want a pint though.
Brewer’s note: A Dunkel barrel aged in Mezcal Barrels for 15 months, then conditioned on orange peel.
Brewer’s website: Rivington Brewing Co
Abundance (Gold Top) by Track (UK): DIPA 8.4%
We wanted to try one of Track’s famous Gold Tops at the last Hop City, but we didn’t get chance, so we made sure we got one this time. And worth the wait as it was our favourite IPA of the day (up until that point).
Brewer’s note: Try all you might against the ineluctable allure of this Gold Top DIPA. Citra, Nectaron, Luminosa and Riwaka weave a tapestry of temptation, embroidered with hop extravagance and the style's signature unctuousness. A tropical punch of papaya, pineapple, passionfruit, mango and guava is followed by some welcome acidity from grapefruit, kumquat and tangy peach fizz. Lactose elevates the sweetness, decorates your palate with creaminess and smoothes out all the edges.
Brewer’s website: Track Brewing Co.
Soup Dolcita by Garage (Barcelona): IPA 7%
Soup is Garage’s core beer and they make various iterations of it including this 7% Dolcita version, which was a lovely IPA.
Brewer’s website: Garage Beer Co
With You by Floc. (UK): Fruited Sour 8%
We were ready for a break from the hoppy IPAs so went in search of a fruited sour. This one from Floc. was like drinking mango and passionfruit juice. Lovely.
Brewer’s note: A vibrant sour ale bursting with tropical flavours, featuring juicy mango and tangy passionfruit. Crisp, refreshing, with a perfect balance of tartness and fruity sweetness for a tropical escape.
Brewer’s website: Floc Brewing Ltd
Cosmos by Rivington (UK): Smoothie Sour 5%
People were queuing for this smoothie sour, so we decided to get in on the act. It was so thick, you could tip the glass without it pouring our. It was like drinking an extremely thick yoghurt!
Brewer’s note: A Smoothie Sour brewed with over 1,000kg of Banana, Mango & Coconut.
Brewer’s website: Rivington Brewing Co
Big Bird by Trillium (USA): DIPA 8.5%
Back to the hoppy IPAs now, and upping the ABV slightly with this 8.5% DIPA.
Brewer’s note: Our "small birds" are a series of pale ales experimenting with combinations of adjunct grains and hop varieties to create seasonal, sessionable pale ales. Big Bird is a continuation of some of these experiments in an amped-up Double IPA form. One of the hoppiest beers we've made to date, Big Bird is featuring a new signature hop. This new hop gives Big Bird an intense nose that zaps the senses with aromas of lime, overripe papaya, and pithy citrus. Flavors of pineapple and tangy grapefruit are balanced by a light body and dank, resinous finish. Pumped up with hop forward flavor... there's a new bird in town, and this clucker is big!
Brewer’s website: Trillium Brewing
Off Piste Campfire Smores Deya (UK): Stout 11%
We managed to get in on the Deya bottle pour, which was a delicious 11% stout. Very tasty - shame the pours were so small but not surprising given how many people wanted a taste.
Brewer’s note: Off Piste is a pastry stout series exploring all things rich, decadent and luxurious.
Off Piste Smores is a delicious imperial stout with aromas of campfire, fluffy burnt marshmallows and dark chocolate biccies. These heady aromas follow through to the flavour, creating a nostalgic, evocative and suitably delicious drinking experience.
Brewer’s website: DEYA Brewery & Taproom
Triple We Are Each Other by Third Moon (Canada): Triple IPA 10.5%
Another strong IPA, this time from a Canadian brewer. Thick and hoppy and our tasting notes start to wane from here on out!
Brewer’s note: Triple We Are Each Other is a 10.5% Hazy Triple IPA brewed with oats and absolutely jammed with the inclusive combination of Nectaron, Superdelic, Citra and Mosaic. It is the first time we've made a Triple version of our We Are Each Other DIPA recipe. We taste stone fruit, mixed berries and Juicy Fruit gum leaping out of the glass!
Brewer’s website: Third Moon Brewing
Mega Nelson by Salama (Finland): NEIPA 7.8%
Brewer’s note: Ride the Mega Nelson. This wave is a single hop double strength haze bomb. A full blast of Sauvignon Blanc grape aromas. Nelson Sauvin hop wipeout.
Brewer’s website: Salama Brewing
Fast Talking by Root + Branch (USA): Triple IPA 9.5%
Brewer’s note: Multi-oat/Wheat triple IPA brewed and dry hopped with Citra, Comet, Simcoe and Riwaka hops. Brewed in collaboration with North Park Beer Company.
Brewer’s website: ROOT + BRANCH
Big Pink by Gravity Well (UK): Double NEIPA 8%
Brewer’s note: Super smooth and juciy DIPA featuring Citra and Simcoe.
Brewer’s website: Gravity Well
Burning by P.I.G.S (Greece): Triple Dry-Hopped NEIPA 8.5%
Brewer’s note: Triple Dry-Hopped Double New England India Pale Ale, with Citra, Citra Cryo, El Dora
Changing the Possible by Everywhere (USA): NEIPA 7%
Brewer’s note: "changing the possible" is a double dry-hopped hazy india pale ale made with oats and premium pilsner malt, and hopped with citra, motueka, nelson cryo, krush, and krush hyperboost.
Brewer’s website: everywhere
Sicilian Lemon Radler by Left Handed Giant (UK): Radler 2.5%
This award-winning radler was the perfect low-abv spacer after a couple of strong IPAs.
Brewer’s note: A light and fragrant pale ale base, delicately hopped and blended with our in-house Sicilian lemonade. Expect a sweet, juicy dose of lemon, mellow bitterness and a thirst-quenching hit of zest to finish.
A taste-of-summer smasher, perfect for the park, pub or patio.
Brewer’s website: Left Handed Giant
Let’s Order a Pizza by Sudden Death (Germany): Triple NEIPA 9.5%
Finishing the day with a 9.5% NEIPA from a German-based brewer because we were pretty peckish so the name of the beer felt quite apt.
Brewer’s note: Our most famous beer, once a year. Candied sweet citrus galore with that New Zealand ‘je-ne-sais-quoi.’ Extra hoppings by the pint, served for you, for me, for all!
Brewer’s website: Sudden Death Brewing
Standout beers of the day
There were some incredible beers (as always at this event). Even if you’re not a fan of the very hoppy brews, there was plenty to choose from.
There were so many high-scoring IPAs, including Track’s Gold Top, the West Coast IPA from Baron, the Soup Dolcita from Garage and then some of the higher-ABV brews, such as Big Bird from Trillium and the Triple IPA from Third Moon.
Other highlights included the Radler, which held it’s own surprisingly well even after so many strong, hoppy brews.
The Mezcal barrel-aged Dunkel was one of the most complex. The fruited sour from Floc. offered a refreshing break from the hoppy brews. And the smoothie sour from Rivington was just crazy.
But the highlight of the day was the Caprese Tomato Gose. It was so well-balanced and such an interesting beer.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event…
Next year’s event
Next year’s event marks the 10th birthday, and is being held at a larger venue (Project House) to accommodate even more breweries. Tickets are on sale already, but get in quick, because they are already flying out (we got ours before we even attended this year’s event).
