GUINNESS IS EXPANDING into the lager market with the release of a new beer, called Hop House 13.

Guinness / Robbie Reynolds Photography Guinness / Robbie Reynolds Photography / Robbie Reynolds Photography

The name comes from an early 1900s store building at St James’ Gate, where hops are still stored to this day.

According to the publicity materials, the lager has a “fruity” aroma and is “refreshing” to the taste:

Hop House 13 is a distinctive golden lager that is brewed with Guinness yeast, Irish barley and the best of hops from both Australia (Galaxy, Topaz) and the USA (Mosaic). It has a sweet fruity aroma, with hints of apricot and peach, and subtle malt notes breaking through.

To taste, the lager is “full flavoured while still being crisp and hoppy” – Guinness says it wants to appeal to lager drinkers looking for a beer with “more taste and more character” than your average lager.

Hop House 13 is part of a bigger Brewers Project at the company that began last year, when Guinness attempted to crack the craft beer boom with Dublin Porter and West Indies Porter.

The new lager is due to go on sale in selected pubs across Ireland from today. Will you be giving it a try?

Previously: Guinness is making two new beers – and here’s what they’ll look like>