This is a beer blog, so occasionally I talk about beer rather than pubs and beer, or beer politics - yes my friends such a thing does exist, as evidenced by recent twitter outpourings. But no mention here. This post is all sweetness and light.
On Tuesday I popped into the award winning Baum in Rochdale to say hello to Alex Brodie owner of Hawkshead Brewery, who was there to do a "Meet the Brewer" session. Regretfully I couldn't stay long due to a prior engagement, but it was good to see him as always and to have a pint. Knowing I'm an unashamed fan of his beers, Alex was surprised I hadn't tried my chosen beer before. Iti is Maori for "small" and is described by the brewery as New Zealand Pale Ale's little brother. A souped down version of NZPA? Will that work? The answer is an unequivocal "Yes." At 3.5% it is a belter, full of luscious New Zealand hops and surprisingly full bodied from the low colour Maris Otter barley used. Seek it out. In fact, seek out any Hawkshead beer.On Thursday, I encountered the legendary Hawkshead Windermere Pale once again in the Angel when out discussing Manchester Beer and Cider Festival business. It is not that though to which I wish to draw your attention. A couple of us finished off with a pint of Se7en Brothers Brewing Stout. Dark, full bodied, touch of roast, some resinous hops and sheer drinkability that belied its 5.2% strength, made this another to recommend to you. Se7en Brothers (see what they did there) Brewing is a newish Salford brewery run by, er, seven brothers. On this evidence I'd watch out for them. My colleague has had their IPA and he thought highly of it.
There you are. Two recommendations you know you can trust, just in time for the weekend's boozing. That's good isn't it?
Alex, who is actually a Rochdale lad (he left when he was five though) was very favourably impressed by the Baum. That's also good as is the fact his event was a sell-out.
Sorry, but the Se7en Brothers Website has no useable, relevant images to regale you with.
Yeah, good, sweetness and light....but, is it craft?
ReplyDelete*Two* 3.5% hoppy treats - I would trade 265 of the 270 Franconian lager breweries for Hawkshead.
I went to Se7en Brothers as part of a North Manchester CAMRA brewery tour a few weeks back and like your colleague was impressed with their bottle-conditioned IPA.
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