not at all T
Phoenix are definitely one of the top breweries from round here, some beers so deliciously dry and hoppy it's unbelievable.
Arizona is an old stalwart. they make an absurd amount of beers, they seem to be a festival favourite.
the local CAMRA recently had a bit of a (polite) go at the four main brewers, our family brewers, Robinson's; Hydes; Lees; and Holts (ie the Manc Fuller's and Youngs as it were).
the virtue of these four, respectively, is
they do great milds and bitters, some decent seasonals, and the legendary Old Tom come winter (Robinson's allow about 20-odd approved pubs to take it on gravity each winter, all in the Stockport proper area, otherwise it's bottles or normal dispense i believe);
some good milds, bitters, and some decent seasonals;
some good bitters, a splendid mild, some decent seasonals, the potent Moonraker (at 7.5 one percent weaker than Old Tom), and the wonderful Harvest Ale (an 11.5% barleywine, aged in calvados, port and single malt casks IIRC - i was in a beer bar in the States once and the menu had loads of different years listed like wine vintages, which i have to say is far more reverential treatment than i've ever seen in its home town);
and decent and cheap bitters and milds, and some good bottles.
but none of them are anywhere near as inventive as the smaller micros, generally, (of which there's about 20 odd in Greater Mcr, nipping at heels), but obviously easier to take risks when you're smaller, i guess.
whilst i'm banging the Manc drum:
Dunham Massey are getting great notices at beer festivals up and down the land at the minute: their Milk Stout is amazing. the Big Tree bitter is very good at what it does.
Leyden, one of the Bury area micros, do a black pudding mild which is supposed to be revelatory, but i've yet to sample it.
the Stockport micro 3 Rivers have a powerful Old Disreputable, 5.2, good winter beer, if you see it on pumps in coming months. their Manchester IPA is very good.
finally, if you ever visit Mcr city centre and by mistake end up in the Arndale centre, then the food court and market section at the northern, Northern Quarter side (by far the most interesting part about what is otherwise largely another identikit mall), boasts, among other things, a charming little bar run by local micro Boggart Hole Clough, w their own beers and some fine guests.
very nice to have a livener by the windows as you watch the trams and people carry by on the high street outside.
brief review
here (pretty sure it's expanded its pump range since this review, but ain't been myself for about a year so not sure).
