– Beers of 2017 / The Results
Way back when in the heady days of 2017 (if you can remember it you weren’t there), we posted our 2017 beers of the year survey. Below are the answers from all 28 of ye that entered. Feast on…
P.S. Happy New Year!
—
Craig
Cross Keys manager
Favourite Beers of 2017
SIREN – Kentucky Tickle Monster
NORTH BREWING – Hallertau Pale
CHAPTER – Bread and Circuses
FIRST CLASS ALES – Green Bullet
WYLAM Swipe Right
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Tiny Rebel
Beer Experience of 2017
Winning Chester bar tender of the year
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Hope to get in more exciting guests
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
I think there will be a swing back towards darker beers!
—
Phill Coleman
I shout at computers during the day and try to find good beer to drink in the day
Favourite Beers of 2017
Sippin’ Into Darkness, LERVIG x HOPPIN’ FROG
Murk du Soleil, MARBLE
Love Among the Ruins, THORNBRIDGE
I like to moob it moob it, NORTHERN MONK
Teton, TRACK
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Northern Monk (Like Wisden, cricketer of year, can’t be same as previous years, otherwise Cloudwater would win!)
Beer Experience of 2017
Volunteering at Dids Beer Festival – great fun & really enjoyed it
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Less dull trad. arr beers – there is so much scope for flavour & innovation, stop wasting my time with dull beers.
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Sadly I fear it will be big beer bringing out “craft” beer and spoiling it for the rest of us
—
William France
Brand Ambassador Stone Brewing
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
TRACK Sonoma
STONE BREWING Vengeful Spirit
FIRESTONE WALKER Luponic Distortion
TRACK x PSBH Now We Sip
BURNING SKY Cuvée
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Track Brewing
Beer Experience of 2017
Drinking 805 at Firestone Walker The Propagator after 20 hrs of travel.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
A more inclusive beer scene without the snobbery, hype & exclusivity.
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Lager.
—
Max Drakeley
Amateur master cicerone… Manchester bred, London based
Favourite Beers of 2017
Double Dry Hopped All Citra Everything – OTHER HALF
Maybe One More PSI – VERDANT
Milkshake IPA (Strawberry) – TIRED HANDS x OMNIPOLLO
Big Ass Money Stout 2 – LERVIG
Mr. Hard’s Rocks Peated Whisky Barrel Aged – PRACOWNIA PIWA
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Verdant/Northern Monk
Beer Experience of 2017
Baltic Porter bar hopping round chilly Krakow for pennies
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Attending Copenhagen Beer Celebration
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Cask resurgence (hopefully!)
—
Adam Robertson
One man at Verdant Brewing Co
Favourite Beers of 2017
Mobile Speaker – CLOUDWATER x DRY & BITTER
City of Industry Patrons Project 2.03 – NORTHERN MONK x NOMAD CLAN x TANK PETROL
Green Down to the Socks – OTHER HALF
Neal Gets Things Done IPA – VERDANT
Black Angus – LEFT HANDED GIANT BREWING
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Other Half Brewing
Beer Experience of 2017
Bristol Craft Beer Festival
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Expansions full throttle
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Hoppy German Wheat Beers
—
Ashleigh Cordery
Pilcrow Bar Staff
Favourite Beers of 2017
Black Forest Stout – CLOUDWATER x LERVIG
Tropic Thunder – DUGGES
Lets Make Apple Pie Great Again – CLOUDWATER x AGAINST THE GRAIN
Plum Porter – TITANIC
Bon Anniversour – MAD HATTER x THE PILCROW
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Mad Hatter
Beer Experience of 2017
Drinking it
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Drinking more of it
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Beer Shots
—
Becky Flockhart
AGM Pilcrow
Favourite Beers of 2017
DUGGES x OMNIPOLLO – BA Anagram
NORTHERN MONK – Dark Neapolitan
CLOUDWATER x LERVIG – Black Forest
MAD HATTER – Bon Anniver-Sour
KERNEL – London Sour Damson
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Dugges
Beer Experience of 2017
Summer Beer Thing OBV!
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Becoming the Beer Queen of Manchester
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Clear IPAs?
—
Hedley C
Professional Stopfordian
Favourite Beers of 2017
MARBLE – Sister Agnes, class in a glass from the kiwi genius
MARBLE – Black Sunshine, the new king of black IPAs that all others need to beat
FIRESTONE WALKER – Parabola, now I’ve tasted it I can see what the fuss is about
BUXTON BREWERY – Generation V. Bretted wyoming sheep ranch? Don’t mind if I do. Like Orval turned up to 11.
HITACHINO NEST – XH on cask! Absolutely belting and boozy, and a real surprise to find cask in Japan
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Marble – they’re on fire with their barrel aged old ales and impys
Beer Experience of 2017
Firestone Walker rare bottle tasting during Manchester Beer Week
Hopes and dreams for 2018
More non IPAs please
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Mixed fermentation with the charge led by the excellent Little Earth Project
—
Richard & Bryony Brownhill
Beer Slingers @ Little Leeds Beerhouse
Favourite Beers of 2017
BURNING SKY Amis Du Brassage
KERNEL Biere De Saison Apricot
FUERST WIACEK German Movies
3 FONTEINEN Hommage
NORTHERN MONK Faith
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Fuerst Wiacek
Beer Experience of 2017
Organising Hop City
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Organising Lager City
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Balance?
—
Josh
Ridgeside Brewery Manager
Favourite Beers of 2017
LEFT HANDED GIANT – Maple & Rye
MIKKELLER SD – Haze Cadet
MONKISH – Foggy Window
MILLS – Running Beer
MIKKELLER SD – Træblod
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Redchurch (Urban Farmhouse)
Beer Experience of 2017
Beer tour of California
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Success for Ridgeside and the industry as a whole
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Wild ales & low abv hoppy pales
—
Oddie
General Manager at Pilcz
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
THE VEIL – Never Know (pineapple gose)
TRACK x TAKK – Finca Coffee
NORTHERN MONK – Striding Edge
CLOUDWATER x LERVIG – Black Forest Stout
THE VEIL – Coconut Hornswoggler
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Track
Beer Experience of 2017
Watching an 80 year old DJ tearing the tent (at Pilcrow’s Summer Beer Thing) a new arse hole
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Cask is extinct
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Pink drinks for days
—
Jack Haves
Beer lover, usually found in PSBH, Barrel Store, Pilcrow or Track
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
CLOUDWATER x OTHER HALF – Tremendous Ideas
BEAVERTOWN x TRILLIUM – Beaverillium IPA
CLOUDWATER x THE VEIL – Chubbles
OTHER HALF – Green Diamonds
FINBACK – All Capps
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Cloudwater
Beer Experience of 2017
Volunteering at IMBC and pouring with Soren and co. from Dry and Bitter. Mobile Speaker!!!
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Volunteer at IMBC and meet some more nice people
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Growth in popularity of Saisons and Lambics. The guys from Tilquin and Forest & Main took me from non-plused to interested :D
—
Joe
Favourite Beers of 2017
LERVIG x EVIL TWIN – Big Ass Money Stout
BUXTON x OMNIPOLLO – Maple Truffle Ice Cream Waffle
CLOUDWATER x OTHER HALF – Imaginary Greenscapes
GARAGE – IYELA Coffee Sour
VERDANT – I Played Bass On That Tune
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Cloudwater
Beer Experience of 2017
IMBC
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Get to try some of beers by The Veil Brewery Co.
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
BA Sours
—
Josh Muldoon
Favourite Beers of 2017
Crimson Queen – DRY & BITTER
Burnt Sugar and Sea Salt Stout – OPEN GATE
Cuvée Delphine – DE STRUISE
Cherry Blackout – ELECTRIC BEAR
Abbaye dear Saint Bon-Chien – BRASSERIE DES FRANCHES-MONTAGNES
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Northern Monk
Beer Experience of 2017
Beavertown Extravaganza
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Borefts
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
If this year is a judge then probably TRIPAs.
—
Matt Gorecki
IMBC Beer Maestro, Zapato Brewery, HopCityLeeds, Beer Press Consultancy
Favourite Beers of 2017
TROIS DAMES Handle in Hand – out of nowhere producing just insanely good sour brown ale (and the rest) Jester King diaspora are gonna be popping up all over 2018 and the beers Jordan brought to IndyMan this year were amazing.
KERNEL Saison Mosaic (I think) at HopCity after all of the juice at our hop festival this just smashed it all to pieces and well done Kernel for understanding the spirit of the festival. The damson at the brewery (where I haven’t been for a good few years) was also a special moment.
TIMOTHY TAYLOR Landlord – Better than I ever remember. There was a time when it was watery rubbish and I’ve never had a particular affinity towards it but every time I’ve seen it recently I’ve had to have a pint, I live in Golden Ale country and I highly recommend a cull of 4% pales, when they’re great, like Landlord is at the moment they’re GREAT. When they’re anything less it’s fucking yawnsville.
DE DOLLE 2017 Stille Nacht – just really outstanding and infinitely complex. Belgian beer has saved me somewhat this year as beer in general has been a lot more of a monoculture in terms of IPA than I ever remember. Going back to Belgium has reignited my appreciation.
MARBLE Three Threads – Aged – strong, big, thick AND brett. Good enough for three pints (at least) round 1am. Perfect end to an intense day, perfect way to spend half the night missing your stop on the rail replacement bus…
Fave brewery of 2017
The Marble revival continues apace – I’ve had some seriously good beers from JK and team this year and there’s been such an amount of creativity over there. Dobber took me back to times passed in a big way. It’s also great to see how time and patience has seen Burning Sky come to the fore as one of the worlds best. Also well worth a mention is Other Half – one of a range of breweries brewing a NEW STYLE OF BEER (yes) that is done with utter brilliance and accessibility when tackled by these guys.
Beer experience of 2017
1 = IndyMan – just all of the brilliant vibes from the UK beer industry visibly relaxing after a really, really busy festival season. Close 2/3 is the two style led festivals we did with Northern Monk, just something that I wanted to do for a good few years and thanks to their cooperation I got to do it, and it worked and its fun – I’m very privileged to work with some really top teams and quality creative people!
Hopes and dreams for 2018
That everyone calms the fuck down on social media and beer commentary returns to beer rather than weird little threads and disputes that aren’t really about beer or the industry (that by default make us look like twats). This also goes for most social media and indeed all politics so I’m not splitting hairs here. Please remember everyone that beer is a fun and delicious drink that functions as a social lubricant, it’s primary purpose is to enhance mood through the ingestion of the drug contained within ie. it’s supposed to be fucking fun, if you’re finding that it isn’t then you need to drink less.
What will be 2018’s beer trend
Belgian beer and Belgian styles will continue to make a comeback I reckon alongside the continued growth of sours, fruited beers and LAGER. The last brewery who brings in a cool ship however will have likely made a mistake… Thirsty Games 2018 will be 100% NEIPAs done wrong.
—
Luke Broster
Pilcrow Pub
Favourite Beers of 2017
BUXTON Red Wolf
BREKERIET Purple Haze
CLOUDWATER x THE VEIL Chubbles
CLOUDWATER Mosaic IPA Exp 431
THE VEIL Yella Lambz
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Buxton
Beer Experience of 2017
Brewing in the morning with fine folk at Mad Hatter then hot footing back to the Pilcrow in time to drink way too much at The Veil TTO
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Trump’s impeachment
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Down right Liberace style excessiveness!
—
Jamie Carruthers
Favourite Beers of 2017
CLOUDWATER DIPA v11
BEAVERTOWN Lupuloid
MIKKELLER Single Hop Citra
ALMASTY Simcoe
TINY REBEL Clwb Tropicana
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Cloudwater
Beer Experience of 2017
Pilcrow’s Summer Beer Thing was a bloody delight.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
New job, more money, more nice beers
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Chicha
—
James
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
WYLAM x NORTHERN MONK – I like to moob it moob it
CLOUDWATER x LERVIG – Black Forest
BUXTON – Superluminal Raspberry
ATOM – Neutron Star
TORRSIDE – Monsters Rauchwine
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Wylam
Beer Experience of 2017
Indy Man Beer Con
Hopes and dreams for 2018
#StopBrexit, and a load of beer festivals
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
More, better, fitter, happier, more productive.
—
Noel Mellor
Writer, boozer and everyday loser.
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
BUXTON Double IPA Kingslayer
CLOUDWATER NW DIPA Citra
MAGIC ROCK Fantasma
WYLAM Jakehead IPA
WILD BEER Redwood
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Buxton
Beer Experience of 2017
Visiting the Buxton Tap
Hopes and dreams for 2018
London Craft Beer Festival won’t have gotten too big!
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Coffee sours
—
Tom
University Student
Favourite Beers of 2017 (in no particular order)
NORTHERN MONK – Mango Lassi IPA
SIREN CRAFT BREW – Project Barista: Turkish
SAMUEL SMITH’S – Organic Chocolate Stout
ARUNDEL BREWERY x BISON BEER – Desserted Plant – Strawberries & Cream IPA
VERDANT x OTHER HALF – Now We Are Here
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Verdant Brewery
Beer Experience of 2017
The Ale Collective trip to Buxton Tap and IMBC17.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
More UK brewers showing some serious love to the weissbier.
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
The year of the cask bitter.
—
James Moffat
PSBH | IMBC
Favourite Beers of 2017
DRY & BITTER – Crimson Queen
TRACK/PSBH – Now We Sip
TROIS DAMES – Sauvageonne
SQUAWK – Stout Bobek
NORTHERN MONK – Striding Edge
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Trois Dames
Beer Experience of 2017
Stone Berlin’s birthday.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Respondent skipped this question (Ed: you ok hun?)
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Small & table beers.
—
Scott Kenneth Jackson
IMBC Keymaster and Common Ass Man
Favourite Beers of 2017
TROIS DAMES / JESTER KING / CROOKED STAVE – Sin Frontera
LINES – Line BF Primary Brett Stout
DUGGES / STILLWATER ARTISANAL – Speyside Cacao
OTHER HALF – Space Diamonds (keg)
TRACK / PSBH – Birthdays Was the Worst Days
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Trois Dames
Beer Experience of 2017
That time in Copenhagen, when Jonny Heyes dropped his glass of Cantillon and I caught it without spilling a drop.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
For breweries to start making bitter bitters again
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
The return of The Pint
—
David Bailey
Events and Comms squad at PSBH / Common / The Beagle / Indy Man Beer Con
Favourite Beers of 2017
ATOM Neutron Star @ The Pilcrow’s Summer Beer Thing
OMNIPOLLO Selassie @ The Pilcrow’s Summer Beer Thing
THE KERNEL Table Beer @ Kernel
BURNING SKY Cuvee @ Beavertown Extravaganza
LERVIG Konrad Stout @ PSBH, The Beagle and IMBC
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Track
Beer Experience of 2017
Trip to Buxton with IMBC, taking a sneak peek at their taproom in the brewery, and going all in at Buxton Tap House. Plus getting to name the IMBC Six Degrees North Belgian IPA collaboration “Royal Dank of Scotland”
Hopes and dreams for 2018
To attend Magic Rock’s Sesh Fest and hope that Hop / Dark City does a Lager Town.
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Savoury beers
—
Alex O’Shea
Musician and beer blogger Stereo Surrealist
Favourite Beers of 2017
TINY REBEL – Imperial Puft
MANCHESTER BREWING COMPANY – Sippin’ On Gin ‘n’ Juice
MARBLE x HOLY CRAB – LanGOSEtine
TINY REBEL – Mojito Sour
CLOUDWATER x LERVIG – Black Forrest
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Tiny Rebel
Beer Experience of 2017
IMBC
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Lots of beer
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Beer soup
—
David Markham
Favourite Beers of 2017
NORTHERN MONK x WYLAM – I like to Moob it Moob it
CLOUDWATER – NW DIPA Citra
VERDANT – Further
DE MOLEN – Heaven & Hell
HAWKSHEAD – Tiramisu
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Northern Monk
Beer Experience of 2017
IMBC
Hopes and dreams for 2018
Less people taking it all so seriously
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Lagers
—
Seb Marinara
PSBH underling + events & comms party boi at PSBH, Common, The Beagle, IMBC
Favourite Beers of 2017
Bath Bomb – IMBC x FOURPURE
Churro Stout (that Riv had at Beavertown Extravaganza)
3 FLOYDS Cherry Brett badman thing at Beavertown Extravaganza
Now We Sip – TRACK x PSBH
TEGERNSEER Hells with LERVIG 3 Bean Stout chaser at Heaton Hops
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Veltins – consistant !!!!
Beer Experience of 2017
Buxton x Omnipollo Yellow Belly Sundae soft serve w/ toasted marshmallows + sprinkles
Hopes and dreams for 2018
no more New England IPAs – f*ck da murk!
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
LAGER!!!
—
Carl McBride
Assistant Manager of Port Street
Favourite Beers of 2017
Serenata Notturna Blueberry – CROOKED STAVE
Oops! All berries – MIKKELLER SAN DIEGO
One Trick Pony – J WAKEFIELD x OMNIPOLLO
Marshmallow Psycho Cognac BA – AMUNDSEN
Ghost Lambic Abrikoos – BOKKEREYDER
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Magic Rock
Beer Experience of 2017
Getting to meet Greg Koch in Stone Berlin Bistro with maybe the worst hangover I’ve ever had.
Hopes and dreams for 2018
World Peace
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
Mild and Best Bitter
—
Andy Baulckhame
Work at Port Street
Favourite Beers of 2017
TOCCALMATTO – Old Serenade
OLD CHIMNEYS – Good King Henry
TRACK – Single Hop Mosaic
TROIS DAMES – Sin Frontera
SQUAWK – Bobek
Favourite Brewery of 2017
Baladin
Beer Experience of 2017
Open Baladin – Turino
Hopes and dreams for 2018
OAK OAK OAK OAK
What will be 2018’s beer trend?
OAK OAK OAK OAK
– Siren 2014 Magnum Giveaway
Raffle tickets are now available at the bar for our Siren competition to win a RARE magnum of Maiden 2014. One of only five bottles in the universe. Hand-painted so technically an edition of one. On some pricelessness tip – prolly talking £500ish if you wanted to put a figure on it. Contains outstanding Barley Wine, by all accounts.
Raffle tickets available from the bar and all proceeds will go towards The Horsfall (supporting young people under stress) and Mustard Tree (preventing homelessness and poverty in Manchester). Get your ticket to aid some great causes and your chance to take home this monster magnum of rare rare loopy juice. The winner will be announced before Christmas!
– Gift Vouchers Available Now
PORT STREET BEER HOUSE GIFT VOUCHERS
Gift vouchers are now available from the bar. Available in multiples of £10, Port Street gift vouchers can be used in exchange for anything from the bar – drink in, takeout bottles/cans, growlers, snacks galore.
Terms and conditions apply. Vouchers must be used in one sitting, no change given. Vouchers valid for six months after issue date and are non-refundable.
Asides that, it’s all fun and games! Would make a fitting Christmas present for the beer lover in your life.
– 2017 End of Year Review
Finally! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – PSBH End of Year Review time! Take a moment, please oh please, to fill in the questions below. We’ll collate, as always, the responses into a bumper beer post in January. Who will be your fave brewery of 2017? What beers blew you away this term? What will be the big fuss in 2018? You tell me!
Eyes down, no cheating!
Port Street Beer House End Of Year Review 2017:::