In this edition: we visit the new home of Beer Nouveau and find out about their plans.
Greater Manchester is home to a growing number of breweries and is rapidly becoming the best place to get great local beer in the UK. Until recently, the city was also home to one of the smallest commercial breweries in the country – Beer Nouveau.
But as a result of a rise in demand, the Prestwich brewery has made the leap to larger premises close to Piccadilly Station – an area with no shortage of brewers with the likes of Chorlton, Track and Alphabet already set up in the railway arches.
The move to the former Privateer Brewery on Temperance Street has allowed Beer Nouveau, owned by Steve Dunkley, to significantly increase the volume of beer they can brew. In their previous home, they could make 42 litres from a single brew – now it’s 1,000 litres.
The new equipment also means they can make stronger beers – a 9.6% imperial stout is planned in the coming weeks – and distribute their beers further afield.
But it’s not all just about the brewing capacity increase – Steve has big plans for the new site. Inspired by a trip around New Zealand, he’s keen to set it up as a brew tap. A bar with four handpumps has been built and he’s aiming to set up long tables with chairs and a leather sofa inside the new site. Some of the brewery’s more innovative brews (such as their recent Totes Craft Amazeballs – a mosaic and Citra hop-forward, oak-aged, soured lager and definitely unique!) will only be available at the brewtap.
And if you want to try your hand at making beer, Beer Nouveau will also offer their kit up for use by groups and homebrewers. One idea Steve likes in particular is a brew day for a stag do or hen party – with the resulting beer then available to be served at the wedding.
At first, the bar will be looking to be open on Saturdays with further days depending on demand, and they're also looking at the potential of using the space for events such as film nights. A big step-up for Britain’s smallest commercial brewery!
In other news:
It’s Cask Ale Week until October 4 and events taking place include a Manchester trail visiting the likes of Gullivers and the Lower Turks Head. It also coincides with Stockport Beer Week which has a variety of events including a festival of Stockport beers at The Hope Inn and a showcase of beers brewed by female brewers at The Magnet.
Hazel Grove is soon to get its very own micro-pub. The Grove Alehouse is set to open its doors on London Road and the team behind the venture, Tina and Kevin Clarke, are the former landlady and landlord of the nearby Bird in the Hand. They plan to focus on real ale and will also offer a craft lager, cider and one rotating beer from Outstanding Beers, along with bottled beers which will be available to take away. Tina says as the space is limited, they're having to be creative with their plans and they hope to get together with other local real ale outlets and set up real ale trails in the area.
In Manchester city centre, another micro-pub is a step closer to opening its doors. The Brink, as featured in a previous edition of Beer Here Now, has now secured planning permission for their site on Bridge Street.
See Time Out's guide to Manchester's best craft beer bars.