With beers of this oomph and complexity the Bro7hers are on a roll.
IF you trusted brewing to be a straightforward case of malt, hops and water, result golden or dark, bitter or sweet, think again. Serendipity rules if the brewers let it have its head. That’s certainly the case at Seven Bro7hers
Treasured for their approachable ales such as the summer perfect Water Melon Wheat (4.5%ABV), the appropriately named Session (3.8%), all citrus on the nose and tropical treats on the tongue, and their standard, citrus-tinged and surprisingly bitter 5.6% IPA. Refreshing models of consistency all.
Yet, as you’d expect from a brewery founded and run by the McAvoys, seven like-minded siblings from Salford with a gift for branding that matches their brewing prowess, there’s a quest for something just a little leftfield, too.
Sometimes that results in a beer destined to be a sour beer turning into the malty Red IPA on their list so be it; they have settled on a ‘Cherry Kettle Sour’ that is a fruity introduction to what can be a challenging style.
That’s an obvious homage to the Belgian Kriek beers. We can see no precedent for the Bro7hers cheeky New England style IPA Corn Shake, a collab with BrewDog (who have got form). It’s a corn flake milkshake New England-style using IPA Vermont yeast an lactose, which was dry-hopped with oodles of Citra and Amarillo. It’s strangely hoppy yet sweetish. Grab a pint at the Beerhouse and make your own mind up. And remember this – the original plan was for Cocoa Pops!
We head back to New England beerwise for another collab, this time with neighbours Pomona Island, who took over the Bro7hers’ original site and equipment. Maybe that’s why this peachy, Vermont IPA brewed with Ekuanot, Mosaic and Simcoe hops is called ‘A Stone’s Throw’. For a real slice of peach don’t ignore the three cask pumps (among all the keg taps) at the Beerhouse, where the Peach Session Pale is smoothly sumptuous.
Certainly that epiphet applies to Do A Lipa. Beerhouse assistant manager (and a fount of beer knowledge) Toni Griffith was asked by a customer if this is a cunning nod to the rising singer/model. Whatever, at 10%, this juicy, tropical Double IPA (£4.50 a half) delivers a smash hit on the palate. Ditto the dangerously drinkable Imperial 8% Russian Stout (£3.95 a half). An upcoming Dunkel Weiss dark wheat beer also sounds like a tipple to savour. With beers of this oomph and complexity the Bro7hers are on a roll.
Seven Brothers, Beerhouse, The Ice Plant, 39 Blossom Street, Manchester M4 5AF. 0161 2282404. Open 10am-11pm daily. Brewery, 63, Waybridge Enterprise Centre, Daniel Adamson Roadd, Manchester M50 1DS. Taproom winter opening hours, Fri 2pm-8pm and Sat 12pm-6pm. Most of their beers are now vegan-friendly (Free Fall Pale Ale is gluten-free), while both venues are decidedly dog-friendly.
