June 11, 2025
Bellfield Brewery have created a special craft beer – Future Relic – especially for Hidden Door 2025.
Two American grown hops, Sabro (tangerine, coconut, tropical fruits with hints of mint and cream) and Ekuanot (Lime, Green Pepper, Papaya, Tropical, Berry), combine for a hop-forward fresh fruit character and a solid bitterness. Clean and dry on the finish, this should be a cracking beer to enjoy during the event.
With the brew inspired by the festival’s themes, we caught up with Bellfield for a chat…
Keith Robertson, Head Brewer at Bellfield, organised a brew day for the Hidden Door team to create something special for our audience.
Reflecting on the four sub-themes of this year’s festival, Keith was drawn to the idea of “Time and Memory: Layers of past, present, and future”, and he told us:
Brewing has a long history; beginning as we moved from a hunter-gatherer to an agricultural society as an act of preservation of surplus raw materials. There is archaeological evidence of brewing occurring in (what is now) Iran over 5000 years ago, with the oldest surviving beer recipe from what is now Iraq dating back around 4000 years. Brewing has continued alongside our social development, with its biggest changes occurring during the industrialisation of the 18th and 19th centuries. The process moved from small-scale, local production usually done in the home, to mass factory-based production and global distribution. The rise of ‘craft beer’ is a recent development – appearing on the scene in the early 1990s and establishing itself in the last 25 years.
To me, what is of interest is the blending of the old and new to create a product which captures this long history, but also embraces new processes and materials. Therefore, I propose we brew a beer which I feel reflects this merging of old and new – an India Pale Lager (IPL).
A hop-forward lager; an IPL is the inevitable conclusion of the last 25 years of ‘craft’ brewing. The combination of the refreshing, crisp-ness of a lager, and the fruity, fresh and bitter bite of an IPA – the IPL is a style which should appeal to a wide range of beer drinkers. We will combine the old and the new by using modern Scottish grown pale malts with a heritage variety, modern American hops and a traditional German lager yeast strain which is favoured by many traditional Bavarian breweries.
At its core, it is still a premium lager and the recipe is designed as such. Malt base of Scottish grown and malted pale malt, combined with a heritage malt called Hana. Hana was used to produce the very first Pilsner beers back in the 1840s in Bohemia and became the progenitor for the vast majority of successful lager barley varieties to this day. It brings that perfect bready, crisp continental flavour with a honey/fruity sweetness. A good proportion of maize will provide gluten free fermentables and a light, dry finish.
While I have focused on just one of the themes, there are obvious connections we can draw to the others. Especially the ‘reimagining of industrial processes’, and ‘the feminization of hyper-masculine environments’. Historically, there are few industries which have been more male-dominted than beer and brewing, so it would be good to talk through these themes and see how we can incorporate these into the design and production of the beer.”
Partnering with Hidden Door is a natural fit for Bellfield. As an independent brewery rooted in creativity and community, we see craft beer as more than just a product – it’s an experience, a conversation starter, and a cultural connector. Hidden Door’s commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and transforming unexpected spaces aligns with our own passion for innovation and inclusion.
When we found our site in Abbeyhill, we set out to create a space that was warm, welcoming, and accessible—to both locals and visitors. From the start, we envisioned more than just a taproom; we wanted to build a hub that could serve the local community and offer a platform for Edinburgh’s vibrant creative and artistic scene.
Over the years, we’ve collaborated with a range of local artists and community groups, including Neu! Reekie!, The Colony of Artists, Pianodrome, Soundhouse, Abbeymount Studios, Edinburgh Art Festival, and Edinburgh Science Festival, to name a few.
We’re also proud to have supported a number of local organisations whose work we admire, such as Scotland: The Big Picture (a rewilding charity), Scottish Women’s Aid, Waverley Care, Edinburgh Cat & Dog Home, and Edinburgh North East Foodbank.
At Bellfield, community has always been at the heart of what we do—our space is a reflection of that commitment.
Craft beer and creative communities share a similar DNA: both thrive on experimentation, authenticity, and bringing people together. Whether it’s through a new beer style or a bold performance, both worlds are driven by a desire to challenge norms and develop connections.
Working with Hidden Door lets us celebrate that shared spirit. It’s a chance to support local artists, contribute to a vibrant cultural scene, and offer festival-goers something unexpected in their glass—something that complements the energy and creativity around them. We’re proud to be pouring our beers alongside such inspiring talent.
At Bellfield, we’ve created a space that’s welcoming, inclusive, and built around community.
Tucked just off the beaten track, our taproom feels like one of Edinburgh’s best-kept secrets- open, relaxed, and full of character. With the brewery being right next to the taproom and beer garden, there’s a real sense of connection to where the beer is made.
What sets us apart is the atmosphere: unpretentious, friendly, and buzzing with life. Whether you’re a craft beer aficionado or just looking for a cosy spot to meet up with friends, our space is designed to make everyone feel at home. Post Covid we offered up our kitchen to support local independent street food pop-ups and the success of the ever changing food offering means this continues to this day. We host everything from live music, whisky tastings, quiz nights and art events creating a hub where beer, creativity, and good company come together.
When people walk through our door, we want them to feel a sense of belonging —a place where they can unwind, explore new flavours, and feel part of something local, independent, and proudly different.
Bellfield began ten years ago with a clear and personal mission. When our founder, Alistair, was diagnosed with coeliac disease, he quickly discovered that the gluten-free beers available at the time were, frankly, disappointing. Given Scotland’s deep brewing heritage and world-class expertise, the idea took root: to create a brewery dedicated to producing exceptional, great-tasting beers that just happened to be gluten-free and vegan. From day one, our goal was to make beers that could stand proudly alongside any craft beer—gluten-free or not. We worked closely with the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling in Edinburgh to develop our first recipes, laying a solid foundation for quality and innovation.
Our first two beers—Lawless Village IPA and Bohemian Pilsner—set the tone, and over the years, we’ve built on that momentum. Bellfield beers are now served in pubs and restaurants across the UK, available in major Scottish supermarkets, and have been exported to countries as far afield as Sweden, Malta, Italy, France, Singapore, and Costa Rica. Along the way, we’ve picked up numerous awards, and in 2023, we were incredibly proud to be named Scottish Brewery of the Year—with judges calling it an easy decision thanks to the performance of our beers across all blind-tasted categories.
The market has changed dramatically since we launched the UK’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery. Today, many breweries offer a gluten-free option —but we’re proud to have helped lead that change, challenging outdated perceptions and showing that gluten-free and vegan beers can be every bit as
bold, complex, and satisfying as their traditional counterparts.
A decade in, our vision hasn’t changed—it’s only grown stronger. We’re still driven by that same passion: to brew brilliant beer for everyone to enjoy.
From the very beginning, Bellfield was founded on a simple but powerful idea: that everyone should be able to enjoy great-tasting beer. That belief has shaped every part of our identity. Our mission from day one was to create Craft Beer for All—and we’ve stayed true to that, while never compromising on flavour, quality, or inclusivity.
Being independent has given us the freedom to fully commit to that philosophy. We’re not chasing trends or cutting corners; we’re focused on making beer that’s accessible without sacrificing character. Over time, that mission has grown into something bigger—a kind of quiet campaign. Our message, For the
Free, now runs through everything we do, from the beer itself to the way we communicate and connect with our community.
It’s more than a tagline—it’s a reflection of our belief in freedom of choice, in breaking down barriers, and in creating beer that brings people together, no matter their dietary needs or preferences.
The next 10 years are full of possibility for Bellfield. We’ve always believed in doing things differently—from being the UK’s first dedicated gluten-free and vegan brewery to championing small-batch, flavour-forward beers—so the future is all about building on that spirit of innovation.
We’re excited to keep pushing boundaries with new styles and brewing techniques, experimenting with ingredients, and exploring collaborations that bring fresh perspectives into the brewery. Sustainability is also a big focus—we’re looking at ways to reduce our environmental impact, both in how we brew
and how we operate as a business.
Beyond the beer, we dream of growing our community—expanding our taproom experience, hosting more cultural events, and opening new spaces that bring people together over great beer and great conversation.
At our core, we’re still that small, independent brewery with big ideas. The next decade is about staying true to our values while continuing to surprise and delight.
Bellfield Brewery are an official sponsor of Hidden Door Festival 2025. Check out Future Relic at one of several pop-up bars found round out site from Wednesday 11 – Sunday 15 June.