Saltaire Brewery in Shipley is housed in a solid limestone edifice that in a previous life provided electricity for the local tram company. The last Friday in the month is Beer Club (no membership needed) when from 4.00 p.m. onwards customers can drink the beers and those of other micros for a bargain price of £2.00 a pint. Real cider and perry is also available.
There is no dedicated drinking area. The brewing equipment is all around.
These photos were mostly taken in the first hour of opening and gives the impression of a quite and relaxed atmosphere. However, by 6.00 p.m. the brewery was jam packed with drinkers to the extent that getting served was a monumental chore.
I was told that it was not usually so busy. It was the first beer club after Christmas and for many people the first pay day ditto so that may have something to do it with it. Anyway, it must be a very profitable venture for the brewery.
The beers on sale included South Island Pale, Blonde, Cascade IPA, Crystal Red and Triple Chocoholic. Guests beers were Dark Star M & M Special Porter Acorn Ginger. We couldn't sample them all on this occasion, it was just too difficult to get served, an opinion served by numerous other punters. So it was a short walk to the Junction in Baildon for Derwent Carlisle State Bitter and Oakham JHB!
Hahaha! I'm on that group photo of the busy beer club this past Friday. Yes it did get a bit mental and we too popped off to another few pubs on our short walk home.
ReplyDeleteSouth Island pale didn't quite fulfill it's potential, to get the most out of those hops I think it needed to be much stronger. Cascade is always a winner.
I had Dark Star's M&M Porter again after not loving it first time I had it. I'm still not in love with its heavy TCP aroma from the peat malt used.
I travelled over especially to stay at brother-in-law's and although we found a spot to perch on, getting served was a bit silly. It seems that a lot of people had the same idea because the Junction was packed as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the South Island Pale. Wasn't in the class of, say, Windermere Pale.
The brewery seems to be doing well. I've spotted their beers in a number of London pubs. I hope that they aren't discounting too much to boost sales.
Did you spot that the brewery looks a bit like Brimstage on steriods? :~) - Same brewplant manufacturers as Brimstage, but like Hawkshead 20Bbl instead of our 10Bbl.
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thanks for the info
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