Top Manchester taprooms: where to get some of the best craft beer in the city

Over the past decade, the city has seen significant growth in the number of breweries and a strong community of craft beer lovers.

Breweries in Manchester have gained recognition for their innovative and diverse beer styles, often pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing. Some notable breweries in the area include Cloudwater Brew Co., Track Brewing Co., Marble Brewery, and Runaway Brewery, among others.

These breweries have developed a reputation for producing high-quality craft beers, ranging from hop-forward IPAs and pale ales to rich stouts, sours, and experimental brews.

There are already plenty of real ale pubs, old boozers and trendy bars where you can get your hands on a Manchester beer.

But for those who fancy exploring the city’s brewery scene a little further, it’s worth knowing that many breweries also have their own taprooms, giving you the chance to drink some of the freshest beer going, straight from the source.

Taproom drinking is generally a no-frills experience – think industrial settings and solid wooden benches. But it’s a worthy trade-off for a behind-the-scenes look at where your beer has come from and for the chance to taste some new, special brews.

To help you navigate Manchester’s brewery taproom scene, we’ve compiled a list just for you.

Many are part of or attached to the brewery, others are separate to it. But all have great craft beer.

Cheers!

Turing Tap

Just off Oxford Road, you’ll find Turing Tap pulling craft beer, cask pints and a concoction of cocktails. This industrial-style taproom also serves up some decent food including tasty tacos, dough balls, chicken wings, stone-baked pizzas and big crafted burgers.

Combining craft beer with afternoon delights, they offer a ‘Crafternoon Tea’ throwing out the teacups and filling up the tankards for the ultimate bottomless tea party.

421-423 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9WG

Cloudwater Brew Co

Multi-award-winning brewery Cloudwater isn’t just thought of highly here in Manchester, but worldwide.

Their previous brewery tap, The Barrel Store, used to be behind Piccadilly Station on Sheffield St, but they’ve since relocated and moved the taproom above the main brewery.

Situated on a relatively modern trading estate between Piccadilly and New Islington, don’t let the inconspicuous entrance fool you. Once inside you’ll find Scandi-inspired interiors and a beer menu that changes every weekend.

Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP

Track Brewing Co

Track Brewing Co has a gorgeous taproom on the Picadilly Trading estate, just a stone’s throw away from Sureshot and Cloudwater.

With an amazing selection of table and pale ales, IPA, Lager, DIPAS, Sours, Dark Beers, and Barrel Aged, you can’t miss.

You can find them at Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP

Check out their website here.

Runaway Brewery

Runaway Brewery offers a superb selection of beer, with 10 keg lines and two cask options available each week, plus a wide range of bottled beer to drink in or take away.

They also offer wine, independent cider and soft drinks from Steep Soda.

They only accept card-only payments, so make sure you bring your card. Well-behaved children and dogs (on a lead) are welcome in the Taproom and Beer Garden.

Their tap room is less than 10-minute walk from Stockport Station (rail) and just a stone’s throw from the bus interchange.

Stockport is easily accessible from central Manchester with regular train services from Piccadilly taking around 10 minutes.

You can find them here: Astley Street Stockport SK4 1AW

OPENING HOURS   Thurs 1 – 10 pm – Friday & Saturday 1 – 10:30 pm

Check out their website here.

Green Arches

Nestled within the vibrant Green Quarter/Red Bank community, Green Arches is heaven for beer enthusiasts.

Sam and Lee, longtime friends and former brewers at Beatnikz, have come together to bring this venture to life.

With a strong emphasis on fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, the bar exudes an inherent sense of fun and approachability, steering clear of any elitism that can often pervade craft beer establishments.

At Green Arches, brewing beer takes centre stage, as all of their delightful brews are meticulously crafted on-site.

You can choose from their Pale, Lager, East (New England IPA), Stout, House, Radler and Session beers.

The bar also offers an array of wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages, catering to a diverse clientele that includes both avid drinkers and non-drinkers.

The venue is hosting events all summer long with fresh beer brewed on-site, a new cocktail menu, live music and DJs, and a great, new, fresh BBQ by the guys at ISIT Kitchen.

The sun-trap garden is the latest addition to Green Arches which alongside their brewery offering has a variety of natural wines and new summer cocktails, including a mango habanero daiquiri, a pineapple and peach margarita and more to be announced.

The newly opened BBQ will have a rotating menu of specials such as Oaxacan chicken, apple and mint pork steaks and oyster mushroom skewers on scallion pancakes.

Open now right through the summer, there will be a number of events to get guests in the feel-good, summer spirit.

We are located less than a 10-minute walk from the northern quarter and offer a secluded sun trap for you to spend your summer days and evenings.

You can find them at 11 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4FE

Check out their Instagram here.

Sureshot

Beautiful beers and great fun. Sureshot, located in the triangle of amazing breweries nearby Piccadilly Trading Estate is a must-visit. 

Serving brewery fresh beers from their site next door. Draft cocktails, mead, spirits and wine.

You can check out the full list of what’s on the taps by clicking here.

No table bookings are necessary. Just come down and have a beer.

You can find them at 5 Sheffield St, Manchester M1 2ND

North Brewing

North Brewing, based in Leeds come with a big reputation.

Their first taproom in Manchester serves cold beers, perfectly conditioned cask, and Negroni on tap.

They have a joyful family of great bars, great beers, great drinks and great people. Brewing hazy hoppy IPAs, crisp pils, and fruity sours alongside more traditional cask beers.

Their venues are loved for their alternative approach, quirky style and excellent, friendly service. They blend modern, exciting beer lists with interesting wines and spirits, great quality food, and eclectic music and art.

Two double fridges look after all your takeaway beer needs, a merchandise shop stocks a range of sustainably sourced clothing, and street food favourites Little Bao Boy are serving their Asian steamed buns from morning till late.

You can find them at North Taproom, Vita East, Circle Square, Nobel Way, Manchester, M1 7FA

Check out their website here.

Öl Nanobrewery at Hatch

Tiny nano-brewery Öl has its own brew kit on-site and makes some fabulous concoctions.

But, as a result of the tiny set-up, their own beers usually sell out incredibly fast, so they stock a range of others too.

Find them at Hatch on Oxford Road in one of the shipping containers.

Once you’ve got your beer, there are plenty of intriguing street food traders around if you’re feeling peckish – and some cool retailers to browse too.

You can find them here: ÖL Nano Brewery & Bar, Hatch, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 7ED

Check out their website here.

Blackjack Brewing Co.

One of Manchester’s most prolific brewers, Blackjack is known for making a weird and wonderful range with flavours spanning everything from Jasmine tea to fruity peach.

As well as owning the Smithfield Tavern on Great Ancoats Street, the brewery has a pop-up bar next door at Mackie Mayor and another at the produce hall’s sister site in Altrincham.

They also open their brewery very occasionally for taproom events, so keep an eye on their socials to find out when the next one is.

Irk St, Manchester M4 4JT

Pelican

A superb addition to the Northern Quarter, Pelican opened this year to much excitement.

They have an incredible selection of 14 keg lines & 4 cask lines containing the latest Squawk & guest beers.

If you’re feeling peckish they have Pizza by the slice, hot sauce haven & Bloody Mary menu.

They are also dog & Kid friendly!

You can find them at 35 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 2HF 

Check them out on Twitter here.

Seven Brothers

Seven Brothers beer needs no introduction.

Opening hours are from Friday: 5 pm – 11 pm – Saturday: 12 pm – 8 pm

You can find them at Waybridge Enterprise Centre, 63 Daniel Adamson Road, Manchester, M50 1DS

Marble Beers

Marble beer has a huge reputation for its amazing quality beer across Greater Manchester and the UK.

They’ve also got a great pub to drink it in, the charming Marble Arch pub on Rochdale Road – where you can try their beers and other brews from further afield across 11 hand pulls and 3 keg lines.

The Brewery in Salford taproom is now open for events and private hire.

You can check out and book the space by clicking here.

Unit 7, Boston Court, Salford M502GN

Northern Monk Refectory

Yorkshire brewery Northern Monk opened their first Manchester taproom last year on Tariff Street, in the old home of Albaphet Brewery’s Kosmonaut bar.

With 16 keg lines and four casks to choose from, plus a selection of batched cocktails, there’s an ample selection on offer for curious beer lovers. See what’s currently pouring here.

BrewDog

BrewDog may be a Scottish brewery but it feels like a Manchester fixture. They’ve got three ace taprooms for you to pick from. The Peter Street unit stocks all its classic brews as well as beers from the Amplified range. The huge ‘Outpost’ venue on Oxford Road has on-site brewing producing small-batch beers exclusively for the bar.

They’ve also got the Brewdog Hotel on Fountain Street, with 18 rooms full of bespoke BrewDog touches from shower beers to in-room beer taps alongside an awesome rooftop bar serving delicious tacos, as well as an additional bar with 30 taps of craft beer.

Did we also mention their hotel is completely dog friendly?!

35 Peter St, Manchester M2 5BG

Brewdog Hotel: 18-20 Fountain St, Manchester M2 2AR

Outpost: 144 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP

The Gasworks Brew Bar

Taking the idea of an onsite brewery and flipping it on its head, The Gasworks feels like a bar first and a brewery second.

That’s no slight on the beer, but rather a comment on their super shiny fit-out.

Created by the team behind Dockyard, it sits on top of the in-house brewery which is on full display for all to see.

5 Jack Rosenthal Street, Manchester M15 4RA

The Bootleg Brewery at the Horse and Jockey, Chorlton

The Bootleg Brewing Company is a microbrewery based at the Horse & Jockey pub on Chorlton Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. They brewed their first ale on 25th September 2010 using a 4-barrel plant installed by Porter Brewing Co.

It has since been taken over by Joseph Holt Ltd, and is now brewed in Cheetham Hill. If you’re at the gorgeous Horse and Jockey pub in Chorlton, why not give some of their ace selection of beers a go?