Hop House 13 is Guinness’s foray into craft-influenced lager — a product that acknowledges the craft beer movement’s impact on mainstream brewing while staying firmly within the Guinness brand family. It’s named after the hop store at St James’s Gate brewery, and the three hop varieties used — Topaz, Mosaic, and Galaxy — are all associated with the modern craft hop-forward movement. It’s a smart response to the changing market and, more importantly, it’s actually a decent beer.
Tasting Notes
Hop House 13 pours a clear, golden colour with a white head. The nose is noticeably hoppier than a standard lager — fruity and floral, with tropical and citrus notes from the Mosaic and Galaxy hops. On the palate it’s crisp and refreshing with a more pronounced hop character than you’d expect from a mainstream lager: fruity bitterness upfront, clean malt base, and a dry, hop-forward finish. It’s a genuine step up from standard Guinness lager offerings in terms of flavour complexity.
Verdict
Serve cold in a tall glass. Hop House 13 is an excellent choice for lager drinkers who want to try something with more hop character without committing to a full craft pale ale. It’s also a great pub option when the craft beer selection is limited — reliably available, reliably good. Guinness have done this right.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.