Beer Of The Week: A Big Trip To Manchester

All My Friends is a lovely hazy pale from Ancoats. Although it hurts me to say it, the north-west's second city really does produce good ale

YOU KNOW HOW hard it is for a Scouser to praise Manchester. But there’s one thing you can’t deny. The city produces great beer.

There’s been a thriving scene across the region for as long as the so-called ‘craft revolution' has been in existence. Marble’s beers are wonderful. Cloudwater has had its ups and downs but the brewery creates drinks that make the tastebuds sing. Salford’s Pomona Island hits equally exquisite heights. And these are just three of the better known producers.

Even Joseph Holt, which has been in operation since 1860 and is hardly a hipster venture, pumps out lovely ale.

There are so many great pubs and impressive taprooms in the area. And new breweries seem to be cropping up all the time, despite the economic climate.

Last week I came across Big Trip brewery. The beer in question was All My Friends, a hazy single hop pale. That hop is Jester, which is one of my favourites. Cloudy beers less so.

The trend for New England pales leaves me a little cold. Some of them, especially those with added lactose or maltodextrin, feel a bit cloying in the mouth. I prefer the resinous taste of West Coast pales.

So, I approached All My Friends with double scepticism, even though it's not a New Englander. Hazy. Mancunian. Does it come with a chaser of rain?

I needn’t have worried. The haze was light and the taste marvellous. The bitterness is impressive from the start and lingers in a satisfying manner. At 4.3% it goes down quickly and won’t cause any pain if you’re sensible around it. This – and the other Big Trip efforts I’ve tasted so far – are a fine addition to the Manchester's canon of ales.

The Ancoats-based brewery is three years old and, according to a quick look, is in the process of building a new website. Hopefully you’ll be able to order online soon.

Until then, it’s definitely worth a little trip to the north west’s second city to sample their wares.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Some of the beers I drink can be hard to find. Not everyone has a pub like Cask on their doorstep or a dedicated craft shop in their vicinity.

So, I’ve been snooping around supermarkets to see what’s on offer. The big chains roll out some excellent beers in their stores across the country and make these products more widely available.

When I stumbled upon Utopian Bohemian Lager in Sainsbury’s, it was definitely worth a try. I love a good lager.

Utopian in a Chimay schooner that’s almost as old as me. A superb drinking experience

Utopian make a big deal of their Britishness and use domestic ingredients. This 4.2% effort went down a treat. It was a bit sweet up front and then the hops kicked in. It’s crisp and has just the right level of effervescence.

The brewery is based in Devon and majors in lager. I’m on the lookout for their collaboration with Eddie Gadd’s Ramsgate Brewery, a green-hopped pilsner called Utopian X Gadds’.

My advice: Get some Utopian in your trolley.