Bonjour fellow beer lovers! It's payday and a Friday so I have no doubt you're heading out for a drink tonight. And as always we are here to help, with a selection of awesome bar, pubs and even restaurants where you can get some seriously good beer!
Firstly for our friends in the west country we recommend The Gryphon.
The Gryphon, Bristol
We had a chat with John Ashby, founder of The Gryphon who told us that as a metalhead and lover of great beer, he wasn’t exactly spoilt for choice with pubs that combined the two in Bristol. This lack of choice is how the concept of The Gryphon was born, but it wasn’t until 2010 that it became a reality.
They specialise in dark beers from all over the world both canned and bottled with a whopping average ABV of 10%. If that alone isn’t tempting you, their cask and keg range definitely will! With a strict guest only policy, The Gryphon has never had the same beer on draught twice (bar the house lager). This has allowed them to serve over 2000 different cask beers and they’re not even 8 years old yet! This crazy amount of choice and variation is also probably why you’ll be able to find them in the Good Beer Guide for the last 6 years running!
As Bristol’s only heavy metal pub, the majority of patrons come for the music, but even if headbanging isn’t your thing, there’s enough great beer to make The Gryphon well worth a visit. So treat yourself to a can of Tailgate’s Peanut Butter Milk Stout whilst you chow down on one of The Gryphon’s epic homemade burgers this June! You’ll thank me later.
Find them here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
The Cambrian Tap, Cardiff
The Cambrian Tap pays homage to The Cambrian Hotel pub that occupied this wonderful part of Wales 185 years ago. With an 18-large selection of regularly rotated delicious draught beer, their offering is as enormous as their ‘whose beer’ wall - a humble nod to those who have been part of the Brains Craft Brewery since the very beginning.
When you visit The Cambrian Tap you can rest easy knowing that you’re receiving a perfect pint, no matter which corner of the world it has travelled from. This is not only because of the knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff but the Cask Marque Accreditation that signifies they constantly provide great ale; no matter the pint. They have an equally strong can game, stocking Tailgate’s finest Grapefruit IPA, Watermelon Wheat and, of course, the famous Peanut Butter Milk Stout.
With an offering this vast, The Cambrian Tap is not for the indecisive, with 6 variations of the beloved porkpie available, The Cambrian Tap adds a contemporary twist in the kitchen that aligns perfectly with their drink offering. They do their best to minimise the opportunity cost by giving you the beer flight option, where you can try a third of three different beers for the price of one. Even then it would still take you 6 rounds to get through the draft alone... best to pay The Cambrian Tap a few visits eh? Just to be on the safe side.
Find them here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Berber & Q, London
For the first time in our Where to Drink series I think the booze takes a bit of a back seat on this one… it’s more of a Where to Eat, and that place is Berber & Q. A grill house who describe themselves as “Grilled & smoked meats cooked over charcoal mezze from the East, music from the West, beer by the growler, cocktails, pickles & pita.” If that doesn’t convince you I’m not sure I can!
Bursting with character, Berber & Q is in a reconditioned railway arch just moments away from Haggerston Overground Station. The reviews for this place are insane! There's no doubt they are experts in their field and having checked out their menu and looked on Tripadvisor I can honestly say I’ve never been more excited about cauliflower in my life. It's not only a unanimous appreciation of cauliflower that is evident from the reviews but for everything they do. Buzzing atmosphere, amazing food, and seriously good beer!
Speaking of beer, Berber & Q certainly well and truly have you covered in that department! They've got an awesome collection of cocktails, and have recently taken on some of Sixpoint's range including Sweet Action and The Crisp.
Find them here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Head of Steam Birmingham
So we may be a tad premature with this one considering it isn’t even open yet; but our pals over at Head of Steam are opening another one of their fantastic bars and this time it’ll be slap bang in the middle of Birmingham!
If you haven’t been to a Head of Steam pub before you are in for a right ol’ treat when this one swings it doors open on June 7th. Live music, amazing beer and always jam packed with friendly folk every Head of Steam we’ve been to (and that’s alot) has been great and we are sure this will be no different! In terms of the Heathwick brews, you’ll be able to grab yourself cans of Sixpoint’s Resin and Bengali, as well as Tailgate’s Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Watermelon Wheat, and Grapefruit IPA.
So get yourself to 36 Temple Street next Thursday (7th), for their launch party... cask, craft, and music.
Find them here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Run a bar or restaurant and keen to learn more about stocking any products in our portfolio? Get in touch at info@heathwick.com or tweet us @HeathwickUK and one of the team will be happy to help.