Partizan passion for beer

I HAVE always had a passion for beer. That love extends to the pub and how I feel it’s the centre of a community.

My aim in writing this new weekly column about Nottingham’s pubs and bars is to give people an insight into what places our wonderful city has to offer, and hopefully encourage you to try a new venue.

We are very lucky with the diversity, history and quality of pubs, beer and breweries on our doorstep.

The Partizan Tavern, is a cask, craft and real cider bar a moment’s walk from the Arena on Manvers Street. Its name comes from the owners’ love of the Serbian football club FK Partizan with the very clever Partizan Tavern bar mats resembling the club’s badge.

A new addition to Nottingham’s pub scene, opening only at the end of July, the Partizan offers four cask lines, five keg, three real ciders and one Perry.

They have no permanent cask line so the line-up is constantly changing. On my visit, I opted to have a ‘Hop Shed’ brewery’s Phoenix Porter and ‘Don Valley’ brewery’s Our House an English bitter. Both happen to be two of my favourite styles to have on cask.

Of the keg lines, four of them are craft beer and one permanent being an ABK German pilsner - a well balanced 4.2% German Pilsner. I decided to try a craft beer from a highly rated Edinburgh brewery - Vault City Brewing. Their 10% Double Maple Triple Chocolate Blueberry S’mores pastry sour. A beer that truly fits the season’s flavours.

The Partizan also has three guest real ciders and a Perry available.

Unusually, the Partizan doesn’t serve any spirits. They want to be a bar that concentrates on Beer and Cider. That is their passion and what their focus wants to be.

That passion for good beer is extended to ensuring each beer is the best it can be before it is served. Before opening, they pull a third pint from each line and personally taste test. If the beer isn’t up to standard, it comes off. The condition of the cask I had definitely proved to me that each beer is looked after.

The Partizan has a very well stocked craft can beer fridge, accompanied by menus around the bar detailing each beer in the fridges. I take great pleasure sipping a pint and perusing the list for my next drink.

However, if you do feel a little overwhelmed in what to have, the barman was incredibly knowledgeable. He’d be more than happy to talk to you about beer.

■ Danielle Jeffery is a pub, craft beer and real ale lover and enthusiast.