Brewery Name: Heaney Farmhouse Brewery
Beer Style: Session IPA
ABV: 3.4%
Brewed In: Bellaghy, Co. Derry, Northern Ireland

Tasting Notes

Today’s beer is a light, bright and refreshing Session IPA – all the hop character you want, but with a super easy 3.4% ABV.

• Appearance: Pale gold with a soft haze and a fluffy white head. Light, bright and inviting.
• Aroma: Citrus zest, light tropical fruit and soft stone fruit. Expect lemon, mango and a little peach, with a clean hoppy freshness.
• Flavour: Zesty citrus and tropical notes upfront, followed by gentle pine and a clean, refreshing bitterness. Light malt keeps it balanced without weighing it down.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, crisp and refreshing with smooth carbonation. Very drinkable, very sessionable.

A perfect mid-Advent palate cleanser that still gives you plenty of hop character.

About the Brewery: Heaney Farmhouse Brewery

Heaney Farmhouse Brewery is based on the Heaney family farm in Bellaghy, Co. Derry — the same land where Ireland’s Nobel Prize–winning poet Seamus Heaney grew up. The farm has been in the family for generations, and in 2019 the Heaney relatives founded the brewery as a way to bring new life and purpose to the land while keeping its heritage at the heart of the project.

The brewery sits among the fields, lanes and old farm buildings that inspired so much of Seamus Heaney’s writing. That sense of place is central to their brewing philosophy too. Heaney Farmhouse Brewery focuses on small-batch beers that are clean, balanced and quietly expressive — subtle, thoughtful recipes brewed with care rather than big showy styles.

Their range includes crisp lagers, red ales, modern pale ales and IPAs, all brewed with a gentle, farmhouse touch and an eye for drinkability. The Session IPA is a perfect example: bright hops, soft malt and a refreshing low ABV that still delivers proper flavour. It feels rooted in the landscape and the family story behind it.

If you’d like to explore more independent Irish breweries, browse our
Irish Craft Beer collection.

Style Spotlight: Session IPA

Session IPA is a hop-forward style designed to deliver all the bright citrus and tropical flavours of an IPA but with a lower ABV.

Origins: As IPAs became stronger and fuller, brewers created Session IPA to offer the same hop expression in a lighter, more drinkable format.

Key Characteristics:

• Citrus and tropical fruit hops
• Light, soft malt backbone
• Crisp, refreshing bitterness
• Smooth carbonation
• ABV typically below 4.5%

Modern Takes: Some are hazier and juicier; others are cleaner and more West Coast in character. Heaney’s sits in the middle: citrusy, lightly tropical and crisp, with a refreshing dryness.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

If this Session IPA hits the spot, here are great next steps on TheCru.ie:

• More hop-forward gems in our
  IPA & Pale Ale section
• For softer, fruitier styles, explore our
  Hazy Pale Ales
• Support more independent Irish breweries via our
  Irish Craft Beer collection
• If you prefer crisp, clean beers with a gentle hop snap, browse
  Lager & Pilsner

These are great choices if you enjoy bright hops without the big alcohol hit.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 10?

Snap a photo of your Heaney Session IPA and share it with us — tag @TheCru.ie and use #TheCruIE on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.
We love seeing where everyone is enjoying their Advent beers throughout December!