Manchester Union Lager

Manchester Union calls itself Manchester's first and only dedicated craft lager brewery, and everything it makes follows Central European tradition. The brewery on North Western Street in Ardwick, a short walk from Piccadilly station, uses a decoction mash and German lager malts, then leaves each batch to condition in tank for several weeks. The result is unfiltered and unpasteurised, a lager with a silky body, a touch of caramel and a dry, bitter finish from Central European hops. When the taproom was open, the house party piece was a slow pour in three stages that built a tall, fluffy head.

For now the brewery's own tap is closed while production spills into weekends, so check the website for its occasional one-off events before you head over. The easier way to drink it fresh is The Trading Route at the Goods Yard, near Aviva Studios, the bar Manchester Union runs with the teams behind Trof and Wandering Palate, where its pale and black lagers sit alongside rotisserie chicken. You will also find it on tap across Greater Manchester.