Long Read: Assertive Bitterness West Coast IPAs

Sometimes I take a sip of a good one and it is enough to make me wonder if there is something fundamentally gnarled and twisted about the very essence of my being. Am I some kind of outlier snarled up in the grip of a darkness, an otherness, something not normal. But then I just

Winter of Contentment

There is nothing for it.  This truly is a winter of discontent and so drowning your sorrows is more of inevitability than a possibility. Beer can certainly help with that but I like to focus on its capacity as a release. It’s easier to see beer as a release in the summer months.  Long, balmy

Meet the Brewer: Matt Buist, Birmingham Brewing Company

In the last few years, Birmingham’s craft beer scene has exploded. The centre of the blast has been around Stirchley. Located in the heart of the Stirchley Beer Mile, Birmingham Brewing Company has massively expanded since it was founded in 2016 and now produces between 2000-3000l of beer per week.  Head Brewer, Matt Buist, joined

How you can still get your craft beer fix in lockdown

Unless your beer stash looks this, it would be advised to stock up for lockdown Updated: 9th November During the first UK-wide lockdown, many craft brewers and venues had to adapt quickly to the new environment and develop new ways of selling their products.  It is to the credit of the beer-drinking public of Birmingham

The Stirchley Beer Mile (2020)

Craft beer heaven can be found on the Pershore Road (Image supplied courtesy of The Brewery Bible) London has the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Birmingham has responded with just over a mile of pure craft beer joy to be found along the Pershore Road. The Stirchley Beer Mile boasts three tap rooms, two award-winning bottle shops,

Meet the Brewer: Alex Hill, Green Duck

Alex Hill is head brewer at Stourbridge’s flagship craft brewery, Green Duck. The brewery was founded in 2012 and Alex joined the team in three years later. Since then he has been instrumental in driving the brewery forward and developing interesting new brews which are available in many locations across Birmingham.  We sat down with

Craft Beer vs Real Ale

It is time to settle an issue that can often lead to acrimony around a pub table. No, not Brexit (thank fuck), that’s so 2019.  Let’s attempt to address a marginally-less thorny issue: the differences between craft beer and real ale.  When I first started drinking craft beer, my dad, primarily a cider drinker, would

Craft Beer in the JQ (2020)

Although situated only a short walk from the city centre, the Jewellery Quarter is very much a destination in its own right for craft beer.  Getting there:  Train: Train station Jewellery Quarter (West Midlands Railway) Bus (from City Centre ) 101/8E Metro: stops – St Pauls/ Jewellery Quarter  Otherwise its a 10-15 minute walk from

Craft Beer in Harborne (2020)

Often the best bits of Birmingham are tucked away. The affluent suburb of Harborne is no exception to this rule and is home to some of the best craft beer emporiums in Birmingham.  Getting there Bus: 11C, 23/ 24 Train: University  The Junction 212 High St, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9PT In direct contradiction to the