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A pretty spread out day around Merseyside, starting at Hoylake for Micropub The Black Toad, Birkenhead for Glen Affric Brewery, Central Liverpool for Black Lodge Brewery and The Baltic Fleet and onto Bootle for Top Rope Brewery and North Park Tavern. Finished with Micropubs The Beer Station and The Grasshopper on the way back to Southport, finishing with a beer festival.
The Black Toad
The first journey of the day required me to change in Liverpool and board a train heading for West Kirby (getting off at Hoylake). A short 5 minute walk down the high street from the station brings me to “The Black Toad”. A micropub and bottle shop which opened in July 2019 in an abandoned shop. It extended in 2020 into the shop next door. Great indoor and outdoor seating, and a really friendly welcome!
A brilliant selection of beers including 4 on cask and a large range of keg beers to choose from. I started with a new brewery Brooks Brewhouse who are based in Hoylake. I had “West Coast Gold”, an excellent beer. I went onto “Dragonfruit Session Sour” from Vault City.
At the back of the pub are lots of fridges and shelves packed full of cans and bottles to purchase to either drink in or takeaway.
Back on the train again, this time heading towards Liverpool and getting off at Hamilton Square.
Glen Affric Brewery & Taproom
From Hamilton Square Merseyrail station, a short 10 minutes or so walk brings me to “Glen Affric Brewery & Taproom”. The brewery started brewing in November 2016. The taproom is a huge space and very welcoming.
A large selection of beers in here aswell ranging from light to dark beers. I decided to go with “Onto the Beach”, an easy drinking pale ale packed with pineapple and grapefruit flavours. Delicious!
The Baltic Fleet
Back on the train again from Hamilton Square to James Street and around a 15 minute walk down to the Albert Dock area of Liverpool. A pub with nautical themed decoration inside the pub, The cellars used to be home to Wapping Brewery which closed in late 2016.
The tunnels in the cellar suggest some dark history for the pub with smugglers and press gangs and the pub originally had lots of doors to help customers escape the press gangs (as they could only cover a couple of doors).
A choice of 5 cask and 5 keg beers, alongside other drinks and a can selection. I spotted 2 sours on here so went with both of them. First was “Detroit Sour City” from Twisted Barrel, a tasty dry hopped sour. I followed with “Brussili” from Fell Brewery (in collaboration with Northern Pasta Co). A Spelt and Samphire Gose.
Black Lodge Brewery Tap
Around the corner brings me to “Black Lodge Brewery Tap”. The brewery was founded in late 2015, and moved to larger premises around Easter 2019. A welcoming place with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, also holds other events and markets.
A choice of 10 keg beers on with others to choose from in cans. A wide range of styles including light, darks, lagers, sours and more. I went with “I Know Karate, Voodoo Too”, a tasty and refreshing Raspberry Sour.
Around a 15 minute walk back to Liverpool Central station, boarding the Northern line towards Southport, getting off at Bootle Oriel Road.
Top Rope Brewing Taproom
A quick 6/7 minute walk from Bootle Oriel Road brings me to “Top Rope Brewing”. A family run business and a brilliant warm welcome here. The taproom is open on select Saturdays so check social media before turning up. The brewery launched in November 2016, before moving to North Wales in 2018 and moving back to Liverpool in 2021.
A really great space here with the brewery setup next to you while you enjoy a drink. 8 beers on keg here all brewer on site. I started with “Ronnie Wood”, a Blackcurrant and Grape “Vimto Sour”, followed by “Hop-Pot”, a tasty English IPA.
A 15 minute walk to the next pub (or you can jump Merseyrail from Bootle Oriel Road to Bootle New Strand.
North Park Tavern
North Park Tavern is a small craft bar, less than 5 minutes walk from Bootle New Strand Merseyrail Station. A really relaxed atmosphere inside the bar, and very welcoming with some lovely cumfy seating.
8 keg lines on the bar here to choose from. I went with “Crush” from London based Drop Project Brewery. A New England IPA packed full of flavour! They usually have cask on here but an issue with the racking meant they didnt today. It should be back on again soon!
A short 5 minute walk back to Bootle New Strand to jump on a train to Freshfield.
Beer Station
Located next to Freshfield Station is “The Beer Station”, a micropub ive visited several times in the past and is always busy and full of customers (and a great beer selection on top), today was the same. The micropub opened in 2016.
A really local feel here with all 3 cask beers being from local breweries. Noticed they had a busking event on aswell on Sunday, sounded really good. I went with “Golden Sands” from Southport Brewery, enjoyed this yesterday so went with it again.
The Grasshopper
Another short jump on the train to Hillside, and a 5 minute walk from the station brings me to “The Grasshopper”, another Micropub ive visited several times in the past and have always had a warm welcome. This Micropub opened in March 2016 in what used to be a branch of Martins Bank until 1978. The logo of Martins Bank was a Grasshopper!
A choice of 6 cask beers to choose from with a few keg lines and a selection of ciders. I went for “Citra Ultra Pale” from Horwich based Blackedge Brewery. A single hopped fruity session beer.
A lovely secret garden outside at the rear of the Micropub, aswell as seating at the front.
S&BeerFest 2023
Last call of the day was a 15 minute walk to Southport & Birkdale Sports Club for their Beer Festival featuring a number of beers including ones from local breweries “Southport Brewery” and “HEX”. I had “Stoic” from Hex, and back to the “Golden Sands” from Southport Brewery.
Micropub Adventures 