Hop City 2026 review: A beer festival for craft lovers and curious newcomers alike
Ever had a curry beer before? 🍻
The Old Flax Store in Holbeck is no stranger to serving lots of beer. But this weekend, there are more taps to try than anyone could realistically work through in one sitting.
Hop City is back for its ninth year, taking over all three floors of the venue with around 35 breweries from across the UK, Europe, and North America - and there’s something here for everyone.
As an avid music festivalgoer, I must admit this is my first festival where beer takes centre stage - and where there’s far more on offer than an overpriced Carlsberg in a paper cup.
Armed with a branded tasting glass, it feels like the perfect opportunity to dive into the weird and wonderful world of craft beer.
Take Czech brewers Pivovar Matuška. Their Dvanáctka pilsner is crisp and refreshing, while a 4.9 per cent mango, curry and tomato gose opened my eyes to flavour combinations I never imagined beer could pull off.
There are fantastic beers throughout the festival, from punchy IPAs from Canada and the US to expertly brewed European pilsners.
But for someone like me - not necessarily searching for a new favourite brewery - Hop City is at its best when it leans into the fun and unexpected.
That’s certainly the case at Below Stairs, the Leeds speakeasy serving up unusual beer cocktails this weekend.
Their B.BBL mixes Northern Monk lager with banana bread and cachaca - a little too sweet for my taste - while Cherry Max blends stout with cherry, chuckleberry and cola for something genuinely unlike anything else on offer.
A four-and-a-half-hour session gives you more than enough time to work your way through a generous selection of brews without feeling rushed.
Hop City returns on Saturday for both day and evening sessions, with plenty more hoppy, weird and wonderful beers waiting to be discovered. You can find any remaining tickets here.