– Old & Dark Week 2014 / Round up
To kick off our Old & Dark week we celebrated National Stout Day on the 6th November. Naturally, we unleashed some of the biggest and best stouts we could lay our hands on from the depths of our cellar. These included To Øl‘s ‘Jule Maelk’ – A hefty 15% sweet milk stout, Evil Twin‘s ‘Imperial Doughnut Break’ – An Imperial doughnut porter, Buxton & Arizona Wilderness‘ ‘Dragon Tips’ – A maple, bacon and chipotle stout amongst others.
My personal favourite of the night was Mad Hatter‘s ‘Fattest Stout’ on cask. Heaps of dark fruit, roasted coffee and filling you with an alcohol warmth that makes you forget summer ever existed. There is also something that makes me feel quite rebellious about drinking an 11% beer from the old hand-pull.
Throughout the course of the week we saw some of our favourite styles turn to the dark side. The IMBC and Weird Beard collaboration ‘Hacienda’ was one of them, a strong black Saison brewed with Orange peel. Pretty mind boggling at first, the aroma was cocoa nibs and roasted malts, but to taste, the orange zest and funk come through straight away, leaving you with a earthy spiced after taste.
Drinking 10% imperial stouts all night is all well and good, but what about when your cat needs feeding? What about when you need to count your change getting on to the 192? What about when you need to walk? Well, our pals at Quantum have got you covered. Still on the taps now, they’ve brewed a super fresh, super sharp black berliner weisse. ‘Berliner Schwarz’ is 2.5% and it makes you feel really great.
Over all, Old and Dark week was a great success. We welcomed back some firm favourites and discovered same darn good newbies. Some of the beers mentioned and more are still available on the bar but generally, the pale ale drinkers of Manchester can breathe a sigh of relief and sleep easy tonight. It’s all over.. Until next year.
Next up: Buxton Tap Takeover Tuesday 9th December / 6pm
Words by Leona Norbury
– Up and Coming / Squawk Brewing Co
We like to celebrate all things shiny and new, especially when it comes to beer and ESPECIALLY when the brewery is just around the corner from us. In out latest edition of ‘Up and Coming’ we focus up Squawk Brewing Co from Manchester, here are a few words direct from the birds mouth (…as it in what a bird says, get it?! SQUAWK?!? Perhaps not.. I’ll get my coat)
Who we are : “A fresh new Manchester-based brewery with a passion for craft beer. SQUAWK brew Pale Ales, Stouts, Porters and IPAs of various descriptions and strengths. No two brews are ever the same, because we’re always refining and improving our core recipes. The SQUAWK mission statement: Using techniques old and new to create complex tastes and powerful sensations. Committed to craft beer. Not afraid to mix it up and experiment with far out flavours. Selective about rules, because great beer can come from strange beginnings. For intrepid beer hunters on the lookout for bold flavours and brave brews.”
Past, present and future : Although the brewery launched in late 2013, SQUAWK is already established as a regular fixture on the Manchester beer scene. 2014 (and beyond) will be spent mixing and matching traditional ingredients and influences from around the globe. Keep your eyes peeled for an ever-changing procession of intriguing and, most importantly, downright lovely beers popping up at selected ale shops and beer fests across the north. There is plenty more still to come from this feisty new brewery.
– American Beer Festival 2014 / round up
The opening day saw us welcome Jeremy Stull of Beermoth who presented a number of his favourite bottles along side a talk on his first hand experiences of the American beer scene. There were bottles from Jacks Abby, Heretic and Pipeworks to name just a few, alongside a rare treat in Perennial’s Saison de Lis from Stull’s personal collection.
As well as some of our regulars like Brooklyn, Anchor, Flying Dog and staff favourite Victory Prima Pils, we’ve had some new favourites on the bar courtesy of Heretic, Ruhstaller, Stillwater and North Coast. At the time of writing this North Coast’s Old Rasputin was still available, if you haven’t yet tried it we recommend you do, it’s rich and complex and hits all the right notes for an imperial stout. If you missed out on all these great kegs then don’t worry because we also stocked up our fridges with some great state side bottles and cans, just don’t wait too long or we’ll have drunk all the Westbrook One Claw Rye.
Next up, IPA Day!
Words by James Moffat
– Up and Coming / Atom Beers
We’ve been waiting a while but finally they’re here! Atom Beers are on the bar and we couldn’t be more pleased about it! Atom is a much anticipated new brewery with a difference. Yes they make great beers incorporating both traditional, and more innovative styles and flavours, what more do you need you ask? Well nothing I suppose but co founders Allan Rice and Sarah Thackray also have other aims, as well as providing us with some tasty beverages they are using them to educate! This is not just for beer geeks but anyone with an interest, Atom are using the science of beer to educate people about the beers they drink and the complexity of brewing as a whole. If that sounds like your kind of thing they encourage people to visit and tour the brewery, always a fun outing!
What you have with Atom is people who’re genuinely super interested in all aspects of beer and brewing who want to share the wealth both of the liquid and information variety. Everyone knows a key part of science is experimentation, we can’t wait to see what other great beers they come up with!