Top 10 craft beer pubs in Bristol

26/05/2014
The heartland of cider and scrumpy is witnessing a boom in microbreweries as Bristol makes a name for itself on the craft beer scene with a raft of new bars
The Tobacco Factory
This huge industrial, redbrick building is home not only to the Mayor (property developer George Ferguson, the one with the red trousers), but to a fine selection of local beers, too. The "Baccy Factory" encapsulates everything great about Bristol's creative, community-based culture – hosting, among other things, a theatre, life-drawing classes, a popular Sunday market, and the annual Upfest graffiti festival. And then there's the beer. Locally grown malt and hops, brewed in the Bristol Beer Factory (situated over the road), can be drunk from both bottle and cask - ranging from the dark spiced Bristletoe Christmas ale to the creamy Milk Stout (a recent Society of Independent Brewers gold award winner). Bristol Beer Factory's third pub, the Barley Mow, near Bristol Temple Meads railway station, is also well worth a visit.
• Raleigh Rd, tobaccofactory.com

The Beer Emporium
The unassuming frontage of this bar, opened in early 2013, masks an underground gem in the stone-walled caverns beneath. As you might expect from the name, the Beer Emporium bar and bottle shop is home to a vast array of craft beers sourced from across the globe – from Phnom Penh (try the refreshing Cambodian Kingdom Pilsner) to Penryn (Cornish Rebel Brewery's Mexi-Cocoa chocolate vanilla stout is a bestseller). With 32 beers on tap, and hundreds more in bottles, selecting which one to try can be a daunting prospect, but the self-confessed "beer geeks" behind the bar are happy to guide you through the extensive and, in some cases, expensive, ever-changing list of options.
• 15 King St, thebeeremporium.net

Small Bar
Across the road from the Emporium, Small Bar is so called not because of its size but for its ambition to showcase the best small, independent breweries from the south-west (Cornwall's Harbour Brewing, Somerset's Moor Beer, and Wild Beer to name but a few) and beyond. Each of the 25 beers on tap is poured according to the measurement deemed appropriate, whether that be a half (Wild Beer's raspberry-flavoured Rubus Maximus sour beer is £3.95 a half) or a two-thirds (the keg of ultra-pale Moor Nor'Hop golden ale is a cheaper option at £2.90). Small Bar manages to walk the line between being unique and pretentious - its website has a list of "things you won't find" here, including pint glasses, TVs and Stella Artois - because of its passion for quality beer and sociable atmosphere (you can unwind with a book in the cosy sofa area upstairs). The emergence of three quality craft beer pubs in this area (Small Bar, the Beer Emporium and the recently refurbished Famous Royal Navy Volunteer) has led to this end of King Street being dubbed Bristol's "Beermuda Triangle".
• 31 King St, smallbarbristol.com

The Three Tuns
Away from the more contemporary craft beer pubs in the city centre, the Three Tuns in Hotwells – with its stunted bar, decorative dried hops, rickety chairs, impromptu musical jams, and steamed-up sash windows – is refreshingly old-fashioned. Beneath the chalkboard declaration that "good people drink good beer" above the bar, are the half-dozen Arbor Ales pumps that make the Tuns such a welcoming drinking hole for a true lover of craft brews. From the golden hues and citrus hints of the Arbor Single Hop Motueka, to the dark, nutty character of the Arbor Mild West, this pub has a beer for everyone and the timeworn charm to match.
• 78 St George's Rd, threetunsbristol.co.uk

Grain Barge
Moored in the historic and picturesque Bristol Harbour, the Grain Barge is a lively converted barge, once used to transport wheat across the Severn river. Exceptionally popular in the summer months and owned and supplied by the award-winning Bristol Beer Factory brewery, the Grain Barge serves an impressive variety of reasonably priced, local craft beers as well as a selection from Devon and Cornwall (enjoy the Beer Factory's own Sunrise golden ale at £3.20 a pint), not to mention a healthy dose of the staple Somerset cider. With panoramic views stretching from the nearby SS Great Britain right down to Ashton Court, there aren't many better locations for a well-deserved drink than the top deck of this vessel. Sunshine preferable.
• Hotwell Rd, grainbarge.co.uk

The Steam Crane
Situated at the eastern end of vibrant North Street in Bedminster, the Steam Crane (named after the renowned Fairbairn crane in Bristol Docks) is a newly opened alehouse and kitchen which offers more than just beer. The pub currently has around eight craft beers (including Greene King's hoppy Noble craft lager at £3.70 a pint), six real ales, and a range of ciders and cocktails in addition to a well thought-out food menu with lots of light bites and some more hearty main dishes - the tasty house ale-battered haddock and chips is available as a small or large portion for £5 or £9. The Steam Crane is a great addition to an area that already boasts a sterling traditional tavern (The Hare) and the trendiest local in Bristol (The Old Bookshop). Look out for the upcoming independent beer events planned by the three pubs.
• 4-6 North St, thesteamcrane.co.uk

Copper Jacks Crafthouse
An evening in the city centre's club-heavy Corn Street area would not usually be an opportunity to appreciate anything other than drunken dancing in the company of stag and hen parties. But the recently opened Copper Jacks Crafthouse – in a building once occupied by a bank, and later a strip club - may offer a classier alternative. With a great selection of local beers including Hefe (from the Bristol Beer Factory), Copper Jacks has a warm and lively atmosphere where you can relax on the leather sofas under dim lighting or get toe-tapping, or even dancing, on the live jazz music nights.
• 30 Clare St

Zerodegrees
Visible from the outside as well as in, the mechanical construction of Zerodegrees' microbrewery is perfect for any visitor with a yearning for a drink out in the sun. The microbrewery/restaurant's central location and futuristic appearance aren't its only appeal. The selection of beer offers a satisfying deviation in taste from your traditional bitter. Particularly palatable are the Zerodegrees Pilsner, with its fresh lime flavour, and the American Wheat with Mango, both £3.95. A commitment to seasonal and speciality ales, consistent with innovation and authentic rarities, increases Zerodegrees' allure and places it among Bristol's uppermost craft breweries.
• 53 Colston St, zerodegrees.co.uk

Aviator Bar, Redland
As you enter the newly opened Aviator Bar, you're struck by the stylish decor - the place is adorned with plane memorabilia and, though petite, it has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The array of craft ales on offer protrude from the tiled wall behind the counter, with a brief description of the beers scrawled around the taps. They offer an eclectic choice of cask ales, craft lagers and bottled beauties from around the world. A favourite of the staff here is Marston's citrus-infused Revisionist Craft Lager (£3.50 a pint). If you're winging it around Bristol, it's a great place to stop for a pint and to cool your jets.
• 2B Chandos Rd, aviatorbar.co.uk

The Urban Standard
The stripped-back, raw and industrial design of The Urban Standard would provide an intriguing backdrop to any social occasion. Tiles that have survived from a 1930s convenience store sit alongside graffiti, a hallmark of Bristolian culture, in a complementary blend of old and new. Despite this chic design however, there is great warmth to the bar, with a friendly and informal atmosphere. The draught beers are from across the UK, Europe and North America, including some traditional crowd-pleasers - Chimay Gold Belgian pale ale-style beer at £4 a pint - and a few "outside the box" selections such as Wisteria Wheat, a Hefeweizen-style beer brewed by Fordham Brewing Company in the US, at £4.20 a pint. The array of reasonably priced craft drinks (and great-quality food) makes this the best independent bar on Gloucester Road.
• 35 Gloucester Rd, theurbanstandard.co.uk
• Bristol Monday Night Club is a group of residents that rate local pubs based on atmosphere, appearance and price. Follow them on Twitter @BristolMNC. Contributors: James Proyer, Anna Wooles, Danny Graham, Sam Brown, Claudia Collins, Ben Brooks, Jake Graham, David Hastings, Tim Richardson, Alex Thomas

By: theguardian.com

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