Cloisters summer beer festival preview

As the days lengthen in Scotland, and the rain takes on its warmer, more summery feel, it can mean only one thing – the time for festivals is upon us. We may still be a month away from the epic mid-July craziness of Edinburgh’s unofficial beer week, but following the recent Summerhall event, another cracking series of beers are set to roll out in seven day’s time; and in one of this city’s very best pubs to boot. Starting on Monday the 10th of June, the Cloisters Beer Festival will bring over 70 casks to the Edinburgh drinking public, with a further ten kegged beers, and six ciders.

The event runs until Saturday the 22nd, when it ends with a bang – a Great Heck tap takeover, featuring nine of Denzil Vallance’s finest creations on at once; [deep breath] Amish Mash, Citra, Five, Golden Bull, Porter, Powermouse, Treason Stout, Treasure IPA and Yakima IPA. I’ve had a few Great Heck beers before, and Denzil really knows his stuff, so it should be a fantastic night. The beer list for the preceding festival is below – be sure and check the Cloisters Bar Twitter feed for what will be appearing on the taps on which day.

As ever, this is a provisional list, so some of the casks may end up differing, and potentially more will be added (listed as TBC). There are certainly huge amounts to look forward to, such as new beers from Cromarty, Elixir, Marble, Tempest and Steel City. Plus, two kegs and three casks from one of the breweries of the moment – Newport’s Tiny Rebel. Speaking of keg, Adnams Innovation IPA will be there, and on cask, Loch Ness’s walloping Ness Club Seven. Last but not least, the Cloisters festival will also introduce Staple; the first ever cask from Edinburgh’s newest brewery – Top Out Brewing Company.

The festival beer list, in full:-

Abbeydale
Tramlines 4.1%
Black Mass 6.6%

Adnams
Ghost Ship 4.5%
Innovation 6.8% (keg)

Alechemy
Citra Burst (dry-hopped) 5.4%
Summit Burst 5.4%

Allendale
US Porter (TBC)
Cloisters Red Rye 4.5%

Axeholm
Temple Belwood 4.3%
Clearwater 4.3%

Ayr Brewing Co
Leezie Lundie 3.8%
Jolly Beggars 4.2%

Brown Cow
Captain Oates 4.5%
TBC

Buxton
Moor Top 3.6%

Cairngorm
Caillie 3.8%

Cromarty
Hit the Lip 3.8%
Ecstatic Chappy 4.8%

Dark Star
Revelation 5.7% (keg)

Derventio
Cleopatra 5.0%

Elixir
Benedictine Groove 5.3%
Needs More Hops 6.8%

Fyne Ales
Rune 3.5%
Bell Rock & Hop 6.5%

Great Newsome
Amy’s Aviator 4.0%
Jem’s Stout 4.3%

Hand Drawn Monkey
Pale 4.0%
What Would Jeffer’s Do? 4.5%

Highland
Staff Pint A 4.2%
Staff Pint B 4.2%

Kernel
Export India Porter 6.0% (keg)

Loch Lomond
Bravehop IPA 6.0%

Loch Ness
Ness Express 4.0%
Ness Club Seven 7.0%

Magic Rock
Curious 3.8%
Rapture 4.6%

Marble
Draft 3.9%
Bennington 4.5% (TBC)
Emancipation 7.0% (keg)

North Riding
Peasholme Pale 4.3%
IBUless Mosaic 4.8%

Oakham
Scarlet Macaw 4.4%
Sock Money 5.0%
Tranquility 6.5%

Offbeat
Blackberry Mild 3.8%

Quantum
AAA 5.3%
US Saison (TBC)

Raw
Amarillo Pale 3.9%
Hop Chocolate 4.8%

Saltaire
Raspberry Blonde 4.0%
Blackberry Cascade 4.8%

Steel City
Walpurgis Nacht 4.6%

Stewart Brewing
Zymic 3.8%
No.3 Coffee 4.3%

Summer Wine
Oregon 5.5% (keg)

Tempest
Fernentalist 3.2%
Dry Hopped Pale 4.5%

Thornbridge
Jaipur 6.0% (keg)

Tigertops
Off the Wall 4.1%
TBC

Tiny Rebel
Cwatch 4.6%
Billabong 4.6%
Full Nelson 4.8%
FUBAR 4.4% (keg)
Urban IPA 5.5% (keg)

Top Out
Staple 4.0%

Truefitt
Azure 4.5%
Zoffany IPA 5.0%

Tryst
Tryst on a Bike 4.0%
Double Chocolate Porter 4.4%
Zetland Wheat 4.5%

XT Brewing
Pi 3.1%
3 4.2%

WEST
TBC (keg)

Williams Brothers
Birds & Bees 4.3%
Caesar Augustus 4.1% (keg)