Brewery Name: Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company
Beer Style: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
ABV: 5.6%
Brewed In: Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Tasting Notes

Today’s beer is Wicklow Wolf’s Locavore Hop Harvest 2025, a seasonal ESB brewed entirely with local ingredients — Wicklow water, barley grown and malted in Ireland, and fresh hops from Wicklow Wolf’s own hop farm. Picked on brew day and used immediately, these fresh hops bring a vibrant, earthy, herbal character to this traditional style.

Appearance: Bright deep golden to light amber with excellent clarity and a creamy off-white head. A clean, polished look that reflects both the ESB style and the freshness of the hop harvest.
Aroma: Caramel malt, biscuit, light toffee and dried fruit with fresh hop notes — herbal, earthy and lightly floral.
Flavour: Balanced and rounded with caramel sweetness, toasted malt, gentle citrus peel and a soft earthy bitterness. The fresh hops add a lively, green hop character that lifts the traditional ESB profile without overpowering it.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with smooth carbonation and a clean, balanced finish. Soft bitterness and rich malt remain after each sip.

A warm, comforting winter beer that showcases Irish-grown ingredients at their best.

About the Brewery: Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company

Wicklow Wolf is one of Ireland’s most respected independent breweries, known for sustainability, local sourcing and modern, high-quality brewing. Their Locavore series is a celebration of terroir — beers brewed using ingredients grown near the brewery, including their own hop farm in the Wicklow hills.

The Locavore Hop Harvest 2025 release is a true expression of place. Brewed with fresh hops harvested on brew day, barley from Minch Malt and yeast from WHC Lab, it reflects the brewery’s dedication to craft, community and local agriculture. Each year’s version changes slightly depending on the hop crop, making every release unique and highly anticipated.

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

Style Spotlight: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)

ESB is a traditional British style known for its balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. Despite the name, ESBs are not aggressively bitter — instead they focus on harmony, richness and drinkability.

Key Characteristics:

• Amber to copper colour
• Caramel, biscuit and toffee malt flavours
• Moderate herbal or earthy hop bitterness
• Smooth, rounded mouthfeel
• Balanced finish

Locavore takes this classic template and adds the vibrancy of fresh Irish hops, giving it extra life and a sense of place.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

Explore more malt-forward, winter-friendly beers in our
Red & Brown Ale section

Support more Irish producers via our
Irish Craft Beer collection

For balanced, easy-drinking styles with subtle hop character, browse our
Lager, Pilsner & Helles beers

All excellent choices for fans of smooth, balanced and flavourful ales.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 18?

Snap a photo of your Wicklow Wolf Locavore Hop Harvest 2025 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!