BEER AND PUBS
I HAVE mentioned various special beer shops doted around Stockport before.
As interest in beer grows so their numbers increase. Some have tables where you can sit in (such as Heaton Hops, Bottle Heaton Moor and the Beer Shop in Heaton Mersey).
Some are just specialist shops like Bottle in Stockport’s Market Hall and the long established Bottle Stop in Bramhall.
One name that I haven’t associated with particularly interesting beers is Bargain Booze. There are several of them around and about and the beers sold there tend to be at the more massproduced end of the market. Well, until now that is. I’ve heard some rumours about the Gatley branch but the one that has really pushed the boat out is on Bramhall Lane in Davenport. I dropped in recently and was pretty bowled over by what was on offer. The range is very impressive with beers to suit both the traditionalist and the most ardent craft beer drinker. There’s also a welcome emphasis on local beers too, with breweries such as Tweed, Torrside, Tatton and Thirst Class well represented. I picked up three and here they are: ●●Tatton VIPA (6.3%, 500ml)
TATTON are based in Knutsford and have been around for six years now. Their beers don’t push the ‘craft’ boundaries too much but are solid, well-made and highly enjoyable – and at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about. This is billed as a celebration ale and a ‘big, bold British hopped pale ale.’ There’s also some Cheshire honey in the mix too. It’s a golden beer with some sweet juicy malt on the nose. This leads to a hugely drinkable beer which belies its strength. Again there’s some malty sweetness but this is balanced by some tangy hops and a touch of fruit. There also fruit in the welcoming dry finish. ●●Thirst Class Cloak & Stagger (6.8%, 500ml)
RICHARD Conway has been brewing up in Reddish for less than a year but his Thirst Class Ales already have a fine reputation. I need to declare an interest in this beer though; I ran a home brew competition to find five new beers for Stockport Beer Festival and this, by Chorlton home brewer Ross McFadyen, was one of the winners. It’s described as a ‘hoppy robust porter’ and it does exactly what it says. It’s deep dark brown with a deep tan head and on the nose there’s coffee and sweet chocolate pudding. As you drink there’s more dark chocolate, espresso coffee and hints of dark treacle. All this is balanced by a hoppy bitterness which into the long and dry finish. ●●Tweed 100 (8.1%, 330ml)
WHEN Tweed Brewing fired up in late 2014 they brought brewing back to Hyde after an 80 or so year gap. They have since gone from strength-to-strength with a number of well-regarded beers. This beer was brewed to celebrate their first year of operation and also the 100th brew.
It had to be special and I’d say this ‘Double IPA’ fits the bill.
It’s a copper orange beer and on the nose there are tempting barley sugar and orange marmalade notes.
These are followed by more bitter orange as you drink, and again there are marmalade and some apricot notes. At the end there’s a long dry and bitter finish. This is a beer that drinks very well without the heaviness that can affect some of these very big IPAs. Well made and accomplished.