Yesterday was an exciting day on the Quest for My (New) Local (Q4ML) when two things happened. First, I walked with Morgan to library for an activity. While she was crafting, I started talking with another dad who was wearing a “Coffee & Beer; Beer & Coffee” shirt and he excitedly had ideas about where I should go. He started by listing the best local microbreweries, one of which I visited back in Feb when we came to check out Manchester. There were several good recommendations before he asked if I was interested in “Traditional Pubs”. When I asked for the top 5 in the city, his eyes lit up. I assumed he would start with the one that seems to be at the top of all the lists, Britons Protection. (We also visited this pub in Feb, see the last photo in Morgan’s post. If it were closer, I would already have completed my Quest). To my surprise, he said that was Top 5, but not number 1. That honor goes to Marble Arch Inn… which happens to be two blocks from our flat and high on my list of next places to try. I can’t wait!

The next exciting event in my Quest yesterday was my second run with the Ancoats Run Club. After the run, about half of us grabbed a beer from Seven Bro7hers Brewing. Although not a Traditional Pub, it has good beer and is close enough to at least consider. Even if it doesn’t become My Local, I’m certain that I’ll be returning.

Details:

After one of my hottest runs in a while, all I really wanted was something cold. Although it looks like they do have cask ale (at least occasionally), I saw a Helles lager on the board as I walked up and my mind was instantly decided. When I ordered, I was asked if it was “for here or to go”? Not the sort of question I ever got in Seattle. There is a great square where people gathered after work or after the run so I took mine to go and went back outside.

Score:

Cask: Yes (I saw the beer engines, but couldn’t tell if anything was on cask currently)
Fireplace: Not that I saw
Recorded Music: No
Seating: Good mix with at least a few comfy couches (This is a new category suggested after the Crown & Kettle review)
Community Energy: Another new category. Hard to judge for just the brewery since most people were outside, but there was huge community energy in the square
Granddad: 1, I wasn’t the oldest there and I think he would have been comfortable there, but focusing on microbrews (and many that were very hoppy) would probably make it not his top spot.
Morgan: 1, She wasn’t with me, but the couches convinced her we should go back
Overall: 6 / 10 — Still hot from the run, I spent only a little time in the actual brewery itself. As a result, several of the categories might not be judged with absolute fidelity, but as I mentioned before, it’s not really in the running. It has good beer and outdoor seating which on a hot day, wins.