– Your Beers of the Year 2020
Here are all the responses to our 2020 beers of the year survey. Enjoy! Thanks to everybody for taking the time to enter.
John-Paul Murphy
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Deya Steady Rolling Man
Deya Saturated in Citra
Verdant Fruit Car Sight Exhibition
Cloudwater Just the right shape
Verdant The windows accusing the door of abusing the door
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Deya
Beer experience of 2020
Friends & Family 2020
Hopes and dreams for 2021
That Fynefest & Indyman happen.
—
Joe Dick
Edinburgh based account manager for James Clay
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Thornbridge/Firestone Walker Pondera
Boon Geuze
Cloudwater Heller Bock
Newbarns Plain Dark Beer
Burning Sky Tail Crush
Favourite brewery of 2020
Burning Sky
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Thornbridge
Beer experience of 2020
Friends visiting became a special moment, which in turn led to more and more opportunities to dip into the cellar. Sharing became more valuable, and was such a pleasure.
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Getting back to travelling the world for beer. Brexit not destroying everything in my life.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
A rationalisation of the industry. Those that chased the trends over the past few years will fall away, and those with a solid foundation will prosper.
—
Rich Higgins
Semi-retired skateboarder
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Squawk Pavo
Shindigger Festiva
Cloudwater Helles
Anspach & Hobday Ordinary Bitter
Pomona Island Pale
Favourite brewery of 2020
ShinDigger
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
ShinDigger
Beer experience of 2020
First take out jug of keg pale from the Hillary Step post lockdown
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Less virus dictated living.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Classic bitters!
—
James
Assistant Manager, ÖL Bar
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Muscle Memory, Track
MCI#4 Chocolate Orange, Cloudwater
The Accomplice, The Veil
BA Times 8, Lervig
Coco, Three Chiefs
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
The House of Trembling Madness
Beer experience of 2020
Friends and Family and Beer – incredible lineup and festival went off without a hitch
Hopes and dreams for 2021
A return to normal – pints in the pub with pals
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Smoothie seltzers lol
—
Alex Esposito
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Northern monk – gamma vortex / tank petrol/ equilibrium/other half
Polly’s brew co – DDH Rosa
Verdant – Putty
Alpha Delta – achlys
Cloudwater – night on the files
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Craft brewtique
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Beer festivals 🙌🏻🙌🏻
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
More beer festivals make up for the loss this year
—
Richard Brownhill
Plate Spinner at Little Leeds Beerhouse
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Newbarns Extra Pilsner
De Dolle Brouwers XL Pale
Beak Locals
Kernel Dunkel
Burning Sky Apricot Rustique
Favourite brewery of 2020
Newbarns Brewery
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
TEAM DEYA
Beer experience of 2020
Changing our business model approximately 4274 times, while drinking loads of Lager
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Giving a customer some beer in a glass x
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Brexit. Lol
—
E Finch
Eclectic beer padawan
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Track: Breathing Conversations – DIPA
Cloudwater: Be Well Friends – TIPA
Finback: Bird God – DIPA
Cloudwater: Speyside Persistence is Utile – Impy
Brouwerij Hof ten Dormaal: Kriek Zure van Tildonk – Fruited sour
Favourite brewery of 2020
Track
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Twisted Wheel
Beer experience of 2020
25th Anniversary evening out in Manchester. Enjoying Zwanze beers still on at Cafe Beermoth. (Fou Foune!!!)
Hopes and dreams for 2021
1) To wake up and find Brexit was a bad dream!?!
2) The spontaneous decombustion of the cabinet.
3) The ability to frequent Manchester’s finest beer haunts and not be limited to one venue for eating/drinking.
4) Beer festivals
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
DBIPAs & TBIPAs? Getting anything decent over form mainland Europe :-(
—
Hedley C
Science won’t direct itself
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Valour – Torrside. Luscious, chocolatey, smooth imperial stout without any adjuncts. Speaking of adjuncts…
My Continuous Improvement – Cloudwater. It’s like a bottle of Frijj in beer form.
Three-Sided Peach – Cloudwater. The peachiest beer I’ve ever had. Dreamy stuff…
Overture – Wild Beer and Cascade. The plummiest and damsoniest beer I’ve ever had.
Filigree and Shadow – Pomona Island
Favourite brewery of 2020
Torrside
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Bargain Booze Davenport – seriously, they’re really good.
Beer experience of 2020
Central Manchester CAMRA beer festival, by default.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
A return to normality with the option for random pints.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
No idea! Surprise me! As long as it isn’t milk shake IPAs.
—
Joe Cleverley
Teacher, runner, beer lover.
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Deya Steady Rolling Man
Wilderness Haro BA
Track Eye to Eye
Cloudwater Night on the Flies
Buxton Yellow Belly
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Thirst Class Brewery
Beer experience of 2020
Predictable but first pint of cask beer after lockdown at my brilliant local The Stalybridge Buffet Bar.
PSBH taster days involving Pomona, Track and Deya were amazing also! (Ed: Awh, thanks chick!)
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Be able to socialise more with friends and loved ones in our most favourite place aka the pub!
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Pubs and breweries receiving the support they need to stay afloat and flourish as businesses that give so much to many.
—
Mark Terry
Human Being
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Wylam – I’m not Mary
Cloudwater – Goods Things for Everyone
Cloudwater – That’s Not Me
Track – Language Barrier
Northern Monk – PP25.01 Everyday Abstract
Favourite brewery of 2020
Track
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Track
Beer experience of 2020
Track pulling out all the stops to keep us in beer, despite us needing to bale out to the Midlands.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Traditional, regional beers
—
Avi Steinberg
Avid ale and craft beer drinker on two wheel powered by pedals! (not in a straight line)
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Einstock Icelandic porter
Cantillon Rosé De Gambrinus
7Brothers Thorw away IPA
Byker Brown Ale
Track Uzon Sour
Favourite brewery of 2020
Track
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Guys at Flok Manchester and port st beer house
Beer experience of 2020
Probably the most sober I have been in years!! But lads at port St have put me on my ass a few times in 2020. Followed by the micro bar Arndale. Always listen to the bar staff of they it’s going to put you on your ass! It is going to!!
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Back to Friday drinks at port St and Microbar
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
It all depends on ones taste!! Micro brewery’s are on the rise so surprise us!!!
—
Adam
Architect In Edinburgh
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Box Car blushing tone
Deya – steady rolling man
Newbarns oat lager
Siren – suspended in cans
Donzoko fest bier
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Premier hop
Beer experience of 2020
Getting too drunk at home by myself listening to system of a down
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Getting too drunk with my friends listening to system of a down
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Really good Lager!
—
Connal Orton
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Northern Monk Patrons Project 21.03
Cloudwater The Seed Which Cannot Be Sown
Polly’s DDH Spur
Garage Jumpsuit
Zagovor Soulmate
Favourite brewery of 2020
Polly’s
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Premierhop
Beer experience of 2020
Discovering DIPAs and TIPAs and that strong beers don’t have to be overwhelming.
Hopes and dreams for 2021
A pint in the pub rather than at home.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Pints rather than cans!
—
Damian O’Shea
Heaton Hops – I take cans from boxes put it into our fridges and turn it into profit
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Lervig BA Times 8
Cantillon fou foune
Deya saturated in Citra
St Mars Babalu
Elusive Oregon Trail
Favourite brewery of 2020
Newbarns / St.Mars
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Nils Lindberg – Deya a lockdown legend
Beer experience of 2020
Serving actual pints
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Being able to serve pints again
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Cans that don’t dent in a canning machine
—
Neil Condron
Punter
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
RedWillow – Ruby Mild
Bellwoods Brewery – Jelly King
Schneider Weisse – Festweisse
Pohjala x Bagby x Boneyard – Bag of Bones
Thirst Class x Beermoth – Unfined Elpenor
Favourite brewery of 2020
The Kernel
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Damian at Heaton Hops
Beer experience of 2020
Friends and Family Fringe
Hopes and dreams for 2021
IMBC
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Bitter and ESB
—
James Dickinson
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Other Half – DDH Double Mosaic Dream
Left Handed Giant – King of the Woodland
The Veil – STARVE: Exhibit C
Green Cheek – Immaculate Confection
Wander Beyond – Storm in a Teacup
Favourite brewery of 2020
Vocation
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
House of Trembling Madness
Beer experience of 2020
Cloudwater Friends and Family
Hopes and dreams for 2021
No more Covid restrictions.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Tax
—
Adam N
Beer fan
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
A Gentle Nod To Welcome Visitors – Cloudwater
CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) – Founders
Grand Cru – Rodenbach
Fossil and Fern – Left Handed Giant
Imperial Mocha – Vocation
Favourite brewery of 2020
Verdant
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beer Merchants
Beer experience of 2020
Manchester Beer and Cider Festival
Hopes and dreams for 2021
The return of beer festivals and pub crawls
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Quadruple IPAs
—
Sophie
I miss table 8. (Ed: I don’t)
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Track – Sonoma Cask (always)
Track – Listening Wind
Deya – Your Bad Luck Has Saved You
Kernel – Biere de Saison Apricot
Burning Sky – Saison Provision
Favourite brewery of 2020
The Kernel
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Track
Beer experience of 2020
A slightly apocalyptic-feeling farewell tour of my fave NQ pubs the afternoon before the first lockdown.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
To sit indoors in a proper good pub with a group of friends. Not a substantial meal in sight.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Trendy bitters.
—
Scott Kenneth Jackson
Indy Man Beer Guy
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Track Sonoma
Squawk Corvus
Flensburger Pilsner
Schöfferhofer Grapefruit
Früh Radler
Favourite brewery of 2020
Between New Barns and St. Mars of the Desert
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Track and Pomona Island
Beer experience of 2020
Sonoma in 10L bag in box
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Cask beer, please.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
More beer served in boxes aka beer cubes.
—
Rob McGowan
Yes mate
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Long way short step – Track
Saturated in Mosaic- Deya
Saturated in Nelson- Deya
Random Rules – verdant
Torque wrench – industrial arts
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Northern Type
Beer experience of 2020
Other Half tap room in Brooklyn. End of February, just before it went tits up
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
No micros or indies go under and come out thriving. Back to indie man, salford and summer beer thing. Enjoying good beer with good people again
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
British hops! More unity amongst indies against the tax and big breweries!
—
HuishHugh
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
BABS III, Wild Beer
Oude Geuze Cuvee Armand & Gaston 17/18 #26, 3 Fonteinen
Maiden 2019, Siren
Old Ale Amontillado BA, Marble
Eiche-Doppelbock, Aecht Schenkerla
Favourite brewery of 2020
De La Senne
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Hop Burns & Black
Beer experience of 2020
Visit to Brasserie De La Senne just before The Great Lockdown.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Vaccine rolled out and the pubs back open (with no need for substantial meals).
—
Kevin Fenton
Internet gobshite
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Pomona – Same Thing We Do Every Night
Cloudwater – MCI 5
Cisk
Fix
Dig Brew – Oh No It’s A Lazer
Favourite brewery of 2020
Pomona
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Gaz at Pomona
Beer experience of 2020
Drinking shit lager on a deserted beach in Greece with my wonderful girlfriend as the sun set over the mountains
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Pubs
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Pubs
—
Adam
25, Writer and amateur baker
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Loch Lomond Different Class 4%
Hilden hopended IPA 5.3%
First Chop USA 4%
Captain Lawrence Citra Dreams 7%
Tempest Catch Sun 5.4%
Favourite brewery of 2020
FirstChop
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Flavourly
Beer experience of 2020
Beer 52’s Christmas-saving advent calendar
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
The return of pubs and the continuing success of independent breweries
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
A bigger interest in craft due to the pandemic and drinking at home – more range in pubs and more festivals
—
Duncan
He/him PA
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Track Sonoma
Neptune Brewery Azuli
Pomona Island Factotum
Mallinsons Nelson Sauvin
Overtone Pale Azacca
Favourite brewery of 2020
Mallinsons
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Craftbrewtique
Beer experience of 2020
Little did l know it, but my final pub based pint of cask beer (Mallinsons Nelson Sauvin) in Font MCR
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Friends and family sat round a pub table
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Mini-casks at home (for me at least)
—
Mark Gamble
Forever skint craft beer fan
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Sonoma – Track
Beech House – Rivington
Nelson Sauvin – Brewsmith
Restless – Redwillow
Raspberry Gose – Yonder
Favourite brewery of 2020
Redwillow
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Redwillow/Casked Alehouse
Beer experience of 2020
Discovering a syringe worked to create a head on BIB cask.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
To spend time in a good pub and peoplewatch
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Mild 😊
—
Elana
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
The Light Grey one – Cloudwater
Written in the Dust – Deya
If Not Now – Track
Meet Me in the Middle – Track
Apple Maple Pecan sour – Vault City
Favourite brewery of 2020
Track
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Trembling Madness
Beer experience of 2020
The event packs by Cloudwater
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Beer fests
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Hop City!
—
Callum
Man from earth
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Crystallography Cloudwater
Track if not now
Cloudwater NZ TIPA
Five Points Railway Porter
Pomona island monkberry moon delight
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Milk carton slingers of NQ
Beer experience of 2020
First cask pint (mallinsons Nelson sauvin I think) back after first lock down in PSBH.
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Hugs
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Innovation and core range instead of chasing hype (hypocritical here considering the beers I’ve drank this year)
–
Patrick Cavanagh
Mancunian ale schlurper
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Ego tripping at the gates of hell – Pomona
Schofferhofer (paired with a slice o’ Nells)
Please be lovely to each other – Cloudwater x Finback
Persistence is Utile: Bitter Chocolate – Cloudwater
Steady Rolling Man – DEYA
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Cloudwater’s local shipping team
Beer experience of 2020
F&F&B in February before shit hit the fan.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
To drink sweet sweet ale in the company of hundreds of others on the hallowed ground of Victoria Baths. Few pints of bitter down the local would also be nice.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
PINTS (pls)
—
Joshua Muldoon
Grrrr Aargh
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Redwillow, Foeder Lager
Scherlenkerla, Krausen
Pomona Island, Style Control Damage & Aggression
Pomona Island, Sploice
Cloudwater + Finback, FFB 02
Favourite brewery of 2020
Pomona Island
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beermoth
Beer experience of 2020
VISBF 2020
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Beer in a pub with mates
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Another hot take on DIPAs
—
George
Pomona Islander
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Newbarns Oat Lager
Beak Oopla
Donzoko Big Foam
Blackjack Helles
Newbarns Plain Dark Beer
Favourite brewery of 2020
Newbarns
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Reasons to be Cheerful, the Epicurean and Stretford Food Hall
Beer experience of 2020
Park bench cans in a summer sun beam
Hopes and dreams for 2021
More beers from taps, less substantial meals
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Nitro DIPA, the return of red ale and people doing weird thing lager (I give it four months until there’s a 440ml of a sour pilsner)
—
Ruari McGlone
@RuariMcGlone / ThisIsmybeeraccount
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Deya SRM
Track Sonoma (cask that time you were open for a bit)
Cloudwater Be Well, Friends
The Veil Cherry Razz tastee
Deya I Got You!
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Tap Select in Oswaldtwistle!
Beer experience of 2020
Friends and Family 2020,
Or just coming to your gaff for a nice pint mid lockdown! (Ed: Yes come on!)
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
RIP COVID
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
lagers. More lagers.
—
deadmanjones
Drinker 7 miles out, in Blackjack’s Tuesday range
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Blackjack Stroopwafel Expert Stout
Beer Nouveau Cherry Sour
Manchester Hop Project
Manchester Union Black Lager
Wild IPA
Favourite brewery of 2020
Beer Nouveau
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Blackjack
Beer experience of 2020
Infrequent visits to the Ancoats Off Licence that Beer Nouveau conjured up, dropping off cherries for the cherry sour or hops for the Manchester Hop project, and getting great beer back in return. Steve kept the supply chain in business and the community in good spirits.
And beer arriving at my house – where I know unexpectedly spend the majority of my time – from Blackjack, Shindigger, and Manchester Union.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Brewery Taps and pubs reopening across Manchester.
—
Nick
I like beer (Ed: I’ll drink to that!)
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Cloudwater – Only a dream can kill a dream
Hackney Brewery – Banshee
Cloudwater – Be Well, Friends
Temporal Artisan Ales – Vastahan
Finback – Oscillation 020
Favourite brewery of 2020
Hackney Brewery
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beermoth
Beer experience of 2020
Brisbane Beer Festival
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
More beer
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Salted Caramel Mushroom IPA
—
Caroline
Cask fan
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Firebrand Citra Mosaic small batch
Bronkhorster ijeselbock
Vocation Divide & Conquer
Cromarty Red Rocker
Thornbridge Jaipur
Favourite brewery of 2020
Firebrand
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Blackjack
Beer experience of 2020
Wigan beer festival just before the first lockdown – still can’t believe that it went ahead!
Hopes and dreams for 2021
That my fave pubs/bars make it through this pandemic
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Double dry hopped IPA
—
Luke
Graphic Designer based in Otley, Leeds
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Donzoko – Big Foam
Burning Sky – Easy answers IPA
Magic Rock – Magic 8 Ball
Fyne Ales Origins – Expedition 2
Kirkstall – Black band porter
Favourite brewery of 2020
Burning Sky
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
The Curious Hop, Otley
Beer experience of 2020
Drinking Easy answers IPA and Kernel table beer on my Wedding day with family and friends at the end of February, all before COVID took over.
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Sitting in one of my locals with friends, drinking cask beer. Maybe a beer festival if we are lucky? That would be ace.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Older beer styles making a resurgence. More examples of great Bitter, Scotch ale and Red ales would be nice.
—
Phill Coleman
In between drinking (hopefully good beer) and trying to convince my two kids that sleep is a good thing, I yell at computers
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Black is Beautiful – Track
My Continuous Improvement #4 – Cloudwater
Thank Your Lucky Stars – Wylam
Blackberry & Nettle Sour – Little Earth Project
Birthdays in Isolation – Pentrich
Favourite brewery of 2020
Pentrich
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Pomona
Beer experience of 2020
Propping up the corner of the bar on my own in Reasons To Be Cheerful in the very small window of opportunity to have a proper cask beer again…
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Buying a round of drinks again… any pub or bar… for anybody!
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Serving it again
—
Barry Shaw
Beer buyer and general assistant
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Abbeydale Deception cask
Arbor C Bomb cask
Neptune Mosaic Cask
Rat Cricket Rat Cask
North Riding Mosaic Cask
Favourite brewery of 2020
North Riding
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Mallinsons
Beer experience of 2020
Collab brewing with Rat brewery
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Pubs open restriction free
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Adjunct free beer
—
Curly Turner
Lived in Manchester for 10 years and then moved to North Wales during the first lockdown. It was an enjoyable experience. My hobbies are staring out of the window and going for occasional runs in the hills. Oh and drinking beer/cwrw
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
DIPA – Cloudwater
Day of the Death – Northern Monk
Fallow Plans – Polly’s
Foeder Kviek Pale ale (citra) – The Kernel
Heathen – Northern Monk
Favourite brewery of 2020
Overtone – I don’t recall having a beer by them I didn’t enjoy
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Wild Horse Brew Co. in Llandudno. They do a cracking free delivery to North Wales. They are always releasing new beer that has been consistently pretty great.
Beer experience of 2020
Me and my bro went on the brewery tour at Cloudwater back in February just before the world turn upside down. Really interesting experience having a 10% porter handed to you before 12pm. The tour itself was very engaging and fun. At least I think it was, I was swaying a little on my way out.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Hoping I’ll actually be able to visit my local pub, get to know the locals and practice my Cymraeg. I don’t even mind what the beer is like, just be nice to be in a pub again.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
I think there might be a move to more traditional British styles (bitters, milds etc.) I’ve noticed more bitters from more trendy brewers recently. Plus this Brexit nonsense may make it more expensive to source certain hops. So this may cause a move to less hop forward styles. Or maybe Tiny Rebel will do a collaboration with Greggs and make a Steak-bake Stay Puft. Who knows!?
—
David Bailey
Spod
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Runaway Brown Ale 5.7% bottles from Heaton Hops
Runaway Viennese Waltz lager 5% pints from Port Street Beer House
The Beak Pencil porter 6% cans from Heaton Hops
Deya Saturated in Nelson DIPA 8% can from Heaton Hops
RedWillow Everything is Pointless smoked banana and chocolate imperial stout 10% from RedWillow delivery
Favourite brewery of 2020
Newbarns / The Beak
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Breweries were all on it and it was easier and more tantalising to order beer online than ever before. Ultimately though, Heaton Hops, for being insanely on it in terms of sourcing the new hype and putting it all in one place with daily local deliveries and collection.
Beer experience of 2020
Drinking 5 litres of Five Points Railway Porter bag in box cask, courtesy of BlackJack’s delivery service, at home. Amazing beer and the ultimate dispense method of 2020 – BAG IN BOX.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Less hectic, less pivoting, less virus
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
A mini keg that will fit in my small fridge. Maybe using the Muji t-shirt cube technology to fit 5 litres into a vessel the size of a jar of mayonnaise.
—
Susan Babons
Daily nightly and ever so rightly
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Stars for days – Green Cheek
Be well friends – Cloudwater
Babalú – Smod
DDH Nelson Daydream – Other Half
Wild sinister kid (cherries) – Trillium
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
The Epicurean (new Chorlton one)
Beer experience of 2020
Friends and family and beer 2020
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Hopes – Indyman and SBT mega fest and Dreams – pubs re-opening for good, free chips and the dissolution of the Conservative party for the rest of time
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Vaccinated juice juice
—
Mike Nixon
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Cloudwater – Subbles
Cloudwater – My Continuous Improvement #1
Northern Monk – OFS 024
Left Handed Giant – King of the woodland
Track – long way, short step
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beermoth
Beer experience of 2020
One weekend in the summer where I was finally allowed to go drink beer with friends. A rare occurrence.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Pubs surviving, craft breweries flourishing, nights out with friends
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Being able to drink it in a pub!!
—
Simon
Manc-based cask obsessive
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Pomona Island – FACTOTUM Pale
Beatnikz Republic – I SMaSH EKUANOT
Marlow Rebellion Beer Co. – Overthrow
Tilquin Oude Gueuze
Seven bro7hers – SALTY TIERS
Favourite brewery of 2020
pomona island
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
blackjack brewery
Beer experience of 2020
a mournful pre-covid geuze in port st
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
port st beer house
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
venues where you can order beer from a tap to enjoy at a table indoors with your mates (Ed: It’ll never catch on)
—
Mr X
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Kernel Foeder Kviek Citra Pale
St Mars of the desert various experimental hop IPA’s
Cloudwater Sabro Triple IPA
Redwillow Black IPA
Vocation Heart & Soul Session
Favourite brewery of 2020
Vocation because 4 for 6 in Asda
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beermoth a.k.a only shop in town
Beer experience of 2020
Jaded by the irresponsible alcoholic-tinderbox scenarios and glutinous end-of-year bank statements of bar owner’s and tax collectors around the globe, the gods endowed with powers over alcohol legislation have chosen to plague earth’s population until they see evidence of the 10 basic commandments being followed to a T
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Come-uppance for the guilty heathens
Hefty Tax on ALkopops OR phasing out of NHS but not both please
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
The nail in the coffin : all bars and pubs close down forever because Gen Z don’t think its cool to drink.
Talking about cask will become a thing done in museums and people won’t barely believe we used to sip tepid booze through an old bit of tube poked thru a mouldy-looking ceiling
—
Tim Roberts
Craft Beer hun
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Deya – Saturated in Motueka
Polly’s Brew – Pines
Track – If you lose me
Deya – Written in the dust
Track – Weight of the planets
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Shindigger/Track
Beer experience of 2020
Becoming a fully fledged DIPA Fangirl
Hopes and dreams for 2021
Glastonbury, theatre, gigs, pub, friends and more beer
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
More hop diversity and experimentation
—
Ben
Jedi
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Braybrooke – Pils (gravity keg)
Fullers – ESB (cask)
Donzoko / Braybrooke – Vienna lager
Favourite brewery of 2020
Braybrooke
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Deya (50% nhs staff)
Beer experience of 2020
You’re kidding right?
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
More maturing beer scene in the uk
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Neipa like every year
—
Daniel Simson
“I like booze and screwing alright Terry?” – George Best
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
If only I had a heart 2020 : Pomona Island
Thank you for continuous support : Cloudwater
Strawberry woo woo : Vault city
You Do : Cloudwater
What could go wrong : Track
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Beermoth
Beer experience of 2020
Sharing a sharing bottle of impy stout with friends (albeit socially distanced) on the last night before lockdown 2 in Öl bar.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Being able to drink in Port St again with Friends and for Cloudwater to make a single hop dipa with fuggle hops.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Nitro DIPAs and clear West Coast IPAs
—
Lewis
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Pomona Island If Only I Had A Hammer
Verdant Maybe One More PSI?
Northern Monk Patrons Project 7.07
Cloudwater Speyside Persistence Is Utile
Pentrich Dead Earth
Favourite brewery of 2020
Pomona Island
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Trembling Madness
Beer experience of 2020
Lockdown Night March 20th 2020
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Just for the pubs to open.
—
John Shenton
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Cloudwater Thanks again for your support
Polly’s big spur
Pentrich Christmas in isolation
Cloudwater Night on the files
Verdant Pavement licker
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
The hopwater cellar
Beer experience of 2020
Friends and family event in Manchester
—
Elliot Hines
Beer is yum
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Track – Sonoma forever and always
Cloudwater – Chubbles
Polly’s – DDH Patternist
Deya – Saturated in Nelson
Kernel – Export India Porter Mosaic Amarillo
Favourite brewery of 2020
Deya
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Epicurean Didsbury
Beer experience of 2020
Exploring Glasgow’s beer scene pre pandemic. Grunting Growler in particular was a highlight
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Pub. Cask. People.
Otherwise, less overly sweet sours and stouts.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Quad IPAs?
—
Josh Waldock
Sales & Events at Turning Point Brew Co
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Omnipollo – Mads
Five Points – Stout Porter
Donzoko x Braybrooke – Vienna Lager
Evil Twin – Oh My God, He’s A Bozo!
Turning Point – Gravedigger’s Biscuits
Favourite brewery of 2020
Siren Craft
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Raynville Superstore
Beer experience of 2020
Augustiner Biergarten
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
Beer Festivals
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Types of barrels becoming more varied, and barrel aging becoming more accessible/commonplace/mainstream
—
Jane
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Twelve Yellow Legs, Cloudwater
Thanks Again For Your Support, Cloudwater
Bianca Blackberry Maple Gose, Omnipollo
Fruit car sight exhibition, Verdant
My continuous improvement bitter chocolate v1, Cloudwater
Favourite brewery of 2020
Cloudwater
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Cloudwater
Beer experience of 2020
Barbecue & lots of different beers in the garden 😂
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
To feel safe in a bar / pub
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
UK brewers going from strength to strength
—
Stuart P
Favourite beers of 2020 (in no particular order)
Donzoko Select Pils Tettnang
Cloudwater Ponderosa Pines On Rainier
Deya Back To Earth
Bray Brooke x Donzoko Vienna Lager
Track Sonoma
Favourite brewery of 2020
Donzoko Brewing Co.
Who was your beer supplying hero of 2020?
Heaton Hops
Beer experience of 2020
I… I don’t think I had one.
Hopes and dreams for 2021?
A pint of cask. Just one.
What’s the next big thing for beer in 2021?
Who knows? Smoked sour beers?
– North Brewing Co Tap Takeover
Thursday 28th July 2016 / 5pm – late
We are honoured to welcome Leeds’ North Brewing Co across the pennines for a special tap takeover at Port Street.
Set up by the pioneering Leeds-based bar group North Bar Ltd and the successful team behind Belgrave Music Hall and Headrow House, North Brewing Co (and taproom) opened in November 2015 at Taverner’s Walk Industrial Estate on the fringe of Leeds City Centre and initially serviced the eight bars currently operated by the two bar groups. Brewers Seb Brink (formerly of Golden Owl) and Darius Darwell (of Bristol Beer Factory) are behind the recipes of the beers, which vary from classic British styles to exciting and interesting flavour combinations.
The team have collaborated with a number of breweries in recent months, including Drygate Brewery in Glasgow and most recently brewing a Yorkshire rhubarb sour beer with Lervig Brewery from Norway. North have got a collaboration lined up with BrewDog and the Port Street team recently took a trip to Leeds to make a beer with North that you’ll be able to taste for the first time at this tap takeover.
Here’s the beer list…
KEG
Sputnik – 5% pale ale
Transmission – 6.9% west coast IPA
Full Fathom 5 – 6.5% coffee porter
Herzog – 5% kolsch style
Kettle Sour – Lervig collaboration 3.2% sour
Red IPA – Port Street Beer House collaboration (!) 6.2%
CASK
Red IPA – Port Street Beer House collaboration 6.2%
Transmission – 6.9% west coast IPA
Prototype – 3.8% session pale ale
—
Facebook event page HERE
NORTH BREWING CO
– Beers of the Year 2015
Does anybody remember 2015? The beer drinkers below do! Here’s some highlights from our End of the Year 2015 survey…
RICHARD BROWNHILL
Little Leeds Beer House
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Buxton/Omnipollo Ice Cream Pale
Tilquin/Rulles ‘Rullquin Stout’
Wild Beer Co Redwood 2015
Quantum Stock Ale
Moor So’Hop (cans
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Gueuzerie Tilquin
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015?
Five amazing days in Copenhagen – nowhere near long enough. Also another amazing year of festivals – Leeds International and IMBC topping the bill as usual!
—
JAMES MOFFAT
Port Street Beer House / IMBC
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Logsdon Peche N Brett
Boon / Mikkeller Oude Geuze
Buxton Red Raspberry Rye
Lervig / Way 3 Bean Stout
Track Sonoma
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
I can’t choose…Far too many to choose from this year.
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Working on IMBC was great. Brewing Dark Mass with Quantum.
—
DAVE HARRISON-WARD
Macclesfield Brewing Company
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Yellow Belly Sundae – Buxton/Omnipollo
Flat White – Alphabet Brewing Company
Yeastus Christus – To Øl
Airforce Gator – Quantum
Ahtanum Sour – Chorlton Brewing Company
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Buxton
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Opening a brewery (Macclesfield Brewing Company)! After that IMBC 2015 of course!
—
ARLO
Port Street Beer House
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Logsdon Peche N’ Brett
Quantum Air Force Gator
Burning Sky Cuveé
Siren/Mikkeller BA Daydream
Track Sonoma
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Siren established / Track new
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
When the American Pallet came to Port Street with Westbrook and Jacks Abbey stuff!
—
CARL MCBRIDE
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Other Half – All Green Everything
Deschutes – Freshly Squeezed IPA
Omnipollo – Noa Pecan Mud Cake
Toccalomato – Zona Cesarini
Epic – Hop Zombie
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Omnipollo
—
LEONA NORBURY
Port Street Beer House
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Logsdon ‘Pech ‘n’ Brett’
Alesmith ‘Vietnamese Speedway Stout’
Siren BA ‘Nacken’
8 Wired ‘Feijoa Sour 2013
Lervig & Way Beers ‘3 Bean Stout’
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Pohjala (Estonia)
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Borefts Bier Festival 2015 – The Netherlands
—
MYSTERY DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Mikkeller/BrewDog Pale Ale Swindle
Beavertown Bloody ‘Ell
Cloudwater IPA
Okologisk Herslev Bryghus IPA
Jakehead IPA
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Cloudwater
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
IMBC
—
LIAM HOWARD
Port Street Beer House Abandonee
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Logsdon – Peche ‘n Brett
The Bruery – Tart of Darkness
Lervig & Way – 3 Bean Stout
Buxton & Arizona Wilderness – Deep Rainbow Valley
Brew By Numbers – 11/03 Session IPA Mosaic
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Track
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Brewing at Quantum
—
MYSTERY GLUTEN INTOLERANT DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Green’s Gutsy Dark Ale
Green’s Discovery
Mikkeller American Dream Gluten Free
To Øl Reparationsbajer Gluten Free
Brunehaut Bio Ambrée
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Green’s
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015?
Brunehaut Bio Ambrée
—
SCOTT KENNETH JACKSON
The Beagle
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Lervig / Way’s 3 Bean Stout (actual favourite)
Brouwerij Alvinne’s Cuvée de Mortagne Pedro Ximenez
Buxton’s Two Ton IPA
Burning Sky’s Cuvée 2015
Hawkshead / Crooked Stave’s Key Lime Tau (UK Version)
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Buxton (honourable mention: Track)
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Discussing Game of Thrones and sharing that bottle of Pedro Ximenez barrel-aged Cuvée de Mortagne with the best people in the world following my last ever shift at Port Street.
—
MYSTERY DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Beavertown Bloody ‘Ell
Omnipollo Bianca Mango Lassie Gose
Mikkeller / Lindemann Spontanbasil
The Kernel Table Beer
Pressure Drop Pale Fire
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Beavertown Brewery
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
What’s Brewing, Stavanger, Norway
—
ANDREW BAUCKHAM
Port Street Beer House
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Jack’s Abbey – Hoponious Union
Lervig/Way – Three Bean Stout
Wild Beer Co – The Blend 2015
Logsdon – Peche ‘n Brett
Marble – 125 Imperial Russian Stout, Burgundy
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
The Bruery
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Supervising at IMBC
—
MYSTERY DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
To Øl Black Malts & Body Salts
Evil Twin Citra Sunshine Slacker
Dieu Du Ciel Disco Soleil
Cloudwater IPA
Rule of Thirds IPA
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
To Øl
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Weekend trip to Copenhagen
—
MYSTERY DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Yellow Belly (Buxton / Omnipollo)
Nebuchadnezzar (Omnipollo)
Two Ton (Buxton)
Fuck Art Let’s Dance (To Øl)
Molotov Cocktail (Evil Twin)
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Buxton Brewery
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Indy Man Beer Convention
—
MYSTERY DRINKER
FAVOURITE BEERS OF 2015
Black Jack Dragon’s Tears
Weird Beard – Double Pearl (MacCallan barrel)
Wild Beer – BrettBrett
Cloudwater – Autumn NZ Hopfenweiss
Wild Beer – Redwood
FAVOURITE BREWERY OF 2015
Wild Beer
BEST BEER EXPERIENCE OF 2015
Any trip to Cloudwater Tap
– IMBC 15 Review by Cameron Steward
It’s safe to say that the Independent Manchester Beer Convention (now in its fourth year) has outgrown it’s humble, hush-hush beginnings, if it ever were that…The hallowed Saturday evening session sold out in something like 6 seconds, or hours, whatever. It’s now become the UK beer festival to go to for many reasons: the fantastic array of the best of the best British breweries (and a handful of European and US); stunning street food and snacks (good to see the cheese boards return); the gorgeous grade II listed Victoria Swimming Baths. Go on, pick one? Oh you need more…
Well, how about the one-off collaboration brews that the Indy Man team participated in with a handful of British beer barons, concocted especially for the event? I opt for IMBC’s pairing with Weird Beard and Norway’s Lervig which yielded The Frog is Fired (5%). It’s a delightfully sharp and florally refreshing start to the proceedings – though not as spectacular as last years Hacienda. I gallivant through the elegant rooms of the baths with childish glee, attempting to locate my favourites, finding Beavertown (St. Clement Sour – 4.5%), Cloudwater (BA Sour Cherries – 6.5%) and Brew By Numbers (16|04 Red Ale – 6.5%) along the way. BBNo. inch it with their Red Ale with Chocolate and Coffee tasting as velvety soft and delicious as I’d hoped.
The live online beer list doesn’t seem to be fully functioning, which is a shame. There was pleasure to be had in scouting the rooms for ones next tipple but I definitely would take the tried-and-tested paper list any day. The bright and airy Pineapple room is hosted by Manchester newbies Cloudwater and they’ve brewed up a storm for the weekend. Their Sour White and Yellow Peach (5.8%) aged in Sherry barrels shows a depth and experience which belies their youth, having only served their first beer in March of this very year. They also provided this years stunning glassware, so three cheers for those beauties!
Time for another collaboration but this time in snack form and Worksop-based Karkli have teamed with those Weird Beard dudes (get around a bit don’t they?) for a beer meets Lemon and Ginger twist on their traditional Indian snack. It’s milder than their usual produce and teams really well with Space Phantom (3.7%); Beavertown‘s Berliner Weisse, hopped to the end of the universe and back with Galaxy.
My following beers take me back to a more simple time with Burning Sky’s Flanders Red (6%) and Buxton’s Old World Saison (5.8%). Before I’m fully submerged in the past and donning robes, sandals and yielding a pitchfork (yes, a farming monk) I take a trip to the dark side with Left Handed Giant & Beavertown’s Sour Belgian Porter (6.8%), which tastes something along the lines of a boozy Black Forest Gateau stuffed with Haribo Tangfastics – damn, I love this festival!
It’s at this point where food is needed and to bring me back into a very British reality I select the Mince and Onion Pie by Great North Pie and a traditional Fish and Chips by Fish&. The pie is succulent and rich, the battered cod is light and crispy, and I am one satisfied gentleman.
My next wander takes me to Room 1 where I unearth Celt brewery’s Bleddyn AP Brett (5.9%), which tastes like Orval’s little brethren. It’s pretty decent even in Orval’s shadow but then Atom Brewing get all unstable and unleash bottles of their porter Dark Alchemy (4.9%), delivering free splashes to your nearest receptacle. I collide mine with a drop of Bleddyn Brett and fuse a superheavy, rich and funky delight. I’m like some sort-a genius…
I sampled plenty of other great beers including Beavertown’s BA Moosefang (9%), which was initially too cold and would have benefitted from being served on cask, as when it warmed up the magic truly began. But my favourite of the proceedings was recommended to me by a representative from the NZ Collective bar whose tantalising tip-off of Cromarty Brewing‘s Udder Madness (1.6%) was too intriguing to resist. A vanilla milk sour which tasted like a cream soda. Or more like a dream soda! I could have drunk it all night but instead I went home. Because I was drunk.
Of course the party didn’t end there, I took full advantage of the ingenious take away canning service provided by WeCan. This proved a great way to either take home your favourite find from the event or grab something that you didn’t get round to nursing. I boosted my beer count with Elgood‘s lip-smacking Lambic, Coolship Fruit (5%), Tuatara‘s juicy IPA, Hapi Nui (7%) and Magic Rock‘s succulent hop-bomb, High Wire Grapefruit (5.5%).
And just like that it’s all over and we have to wait another year for what feels like the most significant annual event in my calendar. We’re talking better than Easter and Christmas rolled into one. Yep. See you in 2016 then…
—
Check out Cameron Steward’s excellent blog, All You Need Is Beer. Thanks for the write up, Cameron!