Brew York Expands Signature Cask Range with New Pale Ale: Hop Cat

Brew York is proud to announce the launch of Hop Cat, a brand-new pale ale joining its much-loved Signature cask range, available from Monday 9th February.

Always looking to evolve and refine its core offering, Brew York identified an opportunity to introduce a fresh, hop-forward pale ale designed specifically for cask — something modern, expressive, and effortlessly drinkable.

Meet Hop Cat.​

A lively pale ale with a very subtle haze and a whole lot of attitude, Hop Cat is brewed exclusively with Citra hops. It bursts from the glass with bright aromas of grapefruit zest, ripe mango, and hints of passion fruit. On the palate, juicy citrus and tropical fruit lead the way, balanced by a clean, refreshing bitterness that keeps each sip crisp and inviting. 

A soft malt backbone and smooth mouthfeel allow the hops to take centre stage withoutoverwhelming the palate. The gentle haze enhances the plush texture, while a dry, refreshing finish makes Hop Cat dangerously drinkable — perfect for long afternoons or a well-earned post-adventure pint. 

The inspiration for Hop Cat was shaped last year when Brew York founders Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham travelled to the USA as part of the 2025 Yakima Hop Harvest Tour, coordinated by BarthHaas. During the trip, they worked directly with growers in Yakima to personally select hop lots, ensuring only the highest-quality Citra hops made their way into this beer. That hands-on approach to sourcing is central to Hop Cat, bringing a direct connection from hop field to cask.

Hop Cat joins Brew York’s established Signature Cask range, sitting proudly alongside long-standing favourites Tonkoko, Calmer Chameleon, and Maris the Otter. Together, the range showcases Brew York’s approach to cask beer — balancing modern flavour, quality ingredients, and carefully crafted recipes that appeal to both traditional cask drinkers and those looking for something a little more contemporary.

Speaking about the new release, Yousef Doubooni, Director of Sales & Marketing at Brew York, said:

“Hop Cat represents exactly what we want from our Signature cask range — beers that feel familiar and approachable but still deliver plenty of character. Citra is a hop our drinkers know and love, and Hop Cat lets it shine beautifully on cask. It’s modern, balanced, and incredibly easy to enjoy — we’re really excited to see it pouring across our venues and beyond.” 

Hop Cat will be available from all Brew York venues and all good pub retailers from Monday 9th February.

Keep an eye out and be sure to check it out on cask — this cat’s got claws.

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About

Brew York was founded in 2016 by friends Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham. Starting in 2016, as many other craft breweries were beginning their journey, creating Brew York was the realisation of a long-lived dream to build a brewery in York’s bustling centre with a popular on-site Tap Room, creating a destination where it felt welcoming and inviting to enjoy the beer (and other drinks) right next to the tanks they were brewed in.

All Brew York’s beer is brewed in York, some in their original city centre brewhouse, and now a lot of the beer is brewed 10 minutes up the road in their state-of-the-art production facility in Osbaldwick. 

www.brewyork.co.uk

For further information, in the first instance please contact;

Andrew Stark, Head of Marketing; andrewstark@brewyork.co.ukPete English, Marketing and Social Media Manager; pete@brewyork.co.uk