Home brewers contest in the Hop Bomb Challenge, organised by Copenhagen’s “gypsy brewer”, the winner each year getting his hop-driven creation “published” in bottle form. Oud Beersel is a 19th century brewery restored to life by enthusiasts a decade ago. After spontaneous fermentation in wooden barrels (no yeast or sugar added), young and old Lambic are blended which results in a dry, tart and fruity wine like taste and a tight sparkle. Geuze is a classic among the Belgian Ales. The palate’s all orange peel and toffee and mild hoppiness with the pepper only asserting itself (but pleasantly) in the long aftertaste. Norwegian craft brewer sprinkles the black pepper in this take on a Belgian Saison beer. It was lavishly enjoyable, revealing the rainbow palate and cross-fertilisation of beer making today. The guys kindly set up a tasting for us in their dark little premises on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter. The latter’s from Kansas City, Missouri (remember that, he gets miffed when you assume he’s from Kansas). What they’ve all got in common is a commitment to the finest beers from across the globe and the magnificent new brewers operating much closer to home.įirst Beermoth, a very special specialist beer shop with its own T-shirts, created by Scott Davies, once of Knott Bar and Jeremy Stull – ex Port Street Beer House. and a Jack Russell/chihuahua cross called Tiny who boasts his own bottle shop in Chorlton. Just look at these three logos (and a cute pet pic) that log my week’s ale adventures: representing Beermoth, The Beagle, wacky Jackalope Bar. I LOVE the increasingly surreal side of a quest for craft beer.

Sparkle 2 beerhouse