With the explosion of Manchester’s craft beer scene, a number of specialist beer shops have popped up across the city. Here’s where you should go to pick up a porter, grab a golden ale or walk off with a wheat beer to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
Beermoth
Probably Manchester’s most-well known specialist shop, this beer mecca in the heart of the NQ has a huge selection of beer from breweries from all over the globe. On Saturday afternoons, they also throw open the doors of their basement tasting room if you fancy sampling some bottles on site.
Beermoth, 70 Tib Street, Northern Quarter. Monday – Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am – 8.30pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm.
Micro Bar
The Arndale Market offers more than just food – it’s also the home of Micro Bar. Operated by Boggart Brewery, it has more than 90 English and international bottles for sale as well as a range of ciders. You can also drink on site and it has draught cider, Boggart ales and two guest beers on.
Micro Bar, Arndale Market, Arndale Market. 11am-6.30pm.
The Epicurean
West Didsbury’s The Epicurean describes itself as an ‘Aladdin’s Cave of ales, beers, lagers and cider from around the world’. International breweries from the likes of Germany, Denmark and Belgium dominate the front room, while out back you'll find a selection of the best from British breweries. The team regularly pop-up at local markets with a selection of their wares, and other services they offer include local delivery, a monthly beer club and the provision of beer for special occasions, including weddings.
The Epicurean, 226 Burton Road, West Didsbury. Monday – Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 12noon-7pm.
Carrington’s
One of the city’s longest-standing alcoholic beverage suppliers, Carrington’s mainly focuses on fine wines but also has a good selection of beers from both the UK and further afield so is always worth a visit.
Carrington’s, 322 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton. Closed Sunday and Monday, Tuesday-Thursday 12noon-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 12noon-10pm.
Tiny’s Tipple
Although this Chorlton shop focuses on wine (with more than 350 varieties available), it also has a respectable beer selection with options from the UK and Europe at reasonable prices. Don't forget to say hello to Tiny the dog!
Tiny’s Tipple, 510 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton. Closed Monday, Tuesday – Thursday 12noon-8pm, Friday 12noon-9pm, Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 12noon-8pm.
Bottle Stockport
The second venture from the team behind High Peak Beer (the beer shop within Stockport’s indoor market), local beers are well represented at Bottle with the likes of Thirst Class Ale and Stockport Brewing Co alongside international superstars such as Mikkeller and Founders Brewing. And if you fancy staying in to drink, they have seven keg beers on tap.
Bottle, 9A Shaw Road, Heaton Moor. Closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.
Heaton Hops
Another newbie to the beer scene in the Heatons, this tap house and bottle shop mainly focuses on UK beers with the likes of Beavertown, Weird Beerd and Wiper and True all on offer. They also have two cask beers, nine keg and one cider on tap and if you want to take any home, they have a flagon filler which will allow you to keep keg beer for up to six weeks.
Heaton Hops, 7 School Lane, Heaton Chapel. Closed Monday, Tuesday-Wednesday and Sunday 1.30pm-9.30pm, Thursday-Saturday 1.30pm-10.30pm.
Prairie Schooner Taphouse
Describing itself as an ‘off-licence with a drinking parlour’ and an ‘independently-minded gathering place’, Urmston’s Prairie Schooner Taphouse stocks a variety of bottles and cans from the US and Europe and hosts regular events. If you want to try before you buy, visit on a Sunday afternoon when they offer up free samples of their bottle of the week.
Prairie Schooner Taphouse, 33 Flixton Road, Urmston. Closed Monday (except Bank Holidays), Tuesday 5pm-10pm, Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday 2pm-10.30pm, Friday-Saturday 2pm-12midnight.
Browton’s Bottle Shop
Located just behind Ashton-under-Lyne indoor market, Browton’s was previously focused on selling independent food and drink before deciding to just focus on beer. With a small but perfectly formed beer selection, it focuses on options from local microbreweries as well as some international brands and UK cider. And if you’re after some new threads, they also sell a selection of beer-themed t-shirts.
Browton’s Bottle Shop, 8 Fletcher Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. Closed Monday, Tuesday-Wednesday 10am-4pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday, 10am-5pm, Closed Sunday (except last Sunday of the month 10am-2pm).
Saddleworth Real Ale
Set within the quaint village of Uppermill near Oldham, Saddleworth Real Ale opened in early 2014 and now stocks about 120 beers. Local breweries are well-represented and options from German, Belgian and US brewers are also on offer. Bottles can be drunk on site for a small surcharge and they’ve also recently put in a draught system offering two beers on keg.
Saddleworth Real Ale, 72 High Street, Uppermill. Closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 10am-9.30pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm.
Fancy a night out instead? See Time Out's guide to Manchester's best pubs.