TheNoiseThatWeMade

      Port Street Beer House in Manchester know how to celebrate birthdays - with a week long event list! With collaborative beers brewed especially for the celebrations and merriment from Black Jack Brewery - Anniversary 3: Sup A 'SIPA' Summat Special. A liberally hopped Satsuma IPA.   Events:   Thursday 23rd - Anniversary 3 launch / 7pm Monday 27th - Meet The Brewer with Burning Sky - SOLD OUT Thursday 30th - Celt Experience launch / 7pm Great North Pies available on the Anniversary 3 launch night. Port Street Beer House 39 to 41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ tel: 0161 237 9949 www.portstreetbeerhouse.co.uk

The last eight months have been a perfect storm for this small newly formed Yorkshire brewery (Bradford way). Developing from home-brewing routes, commercially brewing in June 2013 and launching at the ace Sparrow bier cafe in July to a host of applause from peers. The monks have grown along with their newly formed brewery recently adding Bitches Brewing and The Grove (Huddersfield) employee Brian Dickson to their crew. True to their words, "Progressive, bold, British Craft Beer. From the North, with Love" I'd keep watching them in 2014 as it could well be a big year for these guys.   With three beers out in speciality beer shops - New World IPA, Strannik Imperial stout and an Allgates Brewery collab barley wine, there are brewmores of another collaboration with Bad Seed Brewery on the horizon. Hop Hideout speciality beer shop in Sheffield is hosting a Meet the Brewers evening with NMBCo on Sat 25th Jan.   http://www.northernmonkbrew.co/about

The Reader : Ian Cracknell, DJ and home brewer. Why is this ‘Your Local’?   “It’s a really great building that’s been reinvigorated with the best points of a pub in mind – architecturally and from a beer perspective (via Thornbridge Brewery). It’s a pub for the people.” Favourite tipple: Black IPAs like Thornbridge’s Raven 6.6%. Five malts and six hops used - driving this powerful and unique style with its roasted depth and well hopped nature.  The Local:  Positioned at the curved intersection as Scarsdale Road snakes round into Derbyshire Lane, the imposing Cross Scythes pub is a welcoming destination after an incline of mighty proportions. This thirties era public house has had many of its original features revitalised via a substantial investment from Punch Taverns in the lead up to Thornbridge Brewery's managed lease takeover. As you walk inside, the detached building opens into a huge main room with high ceilings; a smaller snug and

Gearing up to make a mix tape of the  best beery things  of the last year  takes me some time to prepare  for. I quite enjoy the therapeutic nature of reflecting back on where I’ve been and what I’ve drunk (and  often the  people  I've  met and time  I've  spent with friends along the way).  I put on an album  – something instrumental from  Marc Moulin  (a good one to get  you  thinking), sit down and let the  memories drift back. Next stage is to trawl through my back catalogue of photos; I seem to have a bit of an itchy trigger finger when it comes to capturing beer visually. Somehow I think it’s more to do with  my inherent drive to catalogue and collect ‘stuff’ call me a beer magpie if you like. Well here you go…….. Best UK Cask Beer Both of these beers reminded me why all hail goes to the pale side and provided me moments of clarity. Top of the pile was Fyne Ales – Freya 5.5% on cask at The Hanging Bat