Category Archives: Craft beer

Vegan Twisted Barrel Ale on the move and Summer Beer festival .

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Beer festivals, Coventry, Craft beer, Craftbeer, Festivals, Independent, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Vegan and Veggie friendly Twisted Barrel Ale are moving from their current premises in Coventry city centre FarGo Village. The new premises will be in nearby Far Gosford Street. Just a few doors down.

The new site is much larger with a brand new 24 keg bar. Producing roughly three times more beer than currently.

The entire bar and Brewery will be moved shortly and the Summer Beer Fest is the last opportunity in the current site to enjoy a fine list of beers.

Included are 16 keg lines and over 15 cask beers. Along with cans and bottles that can be taken home.

Gluten free beer is also available.

The Indian Lunchbox will be also offering their tantalising Vegan Indian

street food on the Saturday 26th August.

The Beer festival is running from the 25th until the 28th August from 12.00 until 20.00.

Find them at Unit 5 FarGo Village, Far Gosford Street, CV 1 5ED, Coventry.

Full beer list below:

If anyone’s trying to plan their weekend, this is the keg order for the weekend.

When each keg is gone they’ll move onto the next round for that tap. Expect most of round 1 to be gone tonight / early tomorrow afternoon.

What this list proves is there’s a tremendous amount of Vegan friendly beer locally and in the U.K, and that the move towards this is becoming more popular.

For full details of the Beer festival see the Facebook link below.

http://www.facebook.com/events/273820209730422

Thanks for reading,

Andy😊

Photos are not my own and from Twisted Barrel Ale and The Indian Lunchbox with thanks.

Apologies for the lists but the amount of Vegan friendly drinks available is testimony to a changing industry and I wanted to show how many choices are out there.

Please note the list of beers is correct at time of going to press and maybe subject to change. Thanks to the Brewery for the lists via face book.

AH

Advertisement

Brum Vegan Beer fest returns, 20th-22nd July.

Posted in beer, Beer festivals, Birmingham, City Centre, Craft beer, Independent, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie by

The Brum Vegan Beer and food festival returns this week from the 20th until the 22nd July at The Gunmakers Arms in the city centre.

This year it is one of the events of The Birmingham Beer week.

I've never understood the point in not making all beers, ciders etc vegan and Veggie friendly, after all in an economy that's sales driven surely by doing so you'll sell more beer and everyone will be happy. Of course others will disagree, but I'm a vegetarian so this is important to me. After all it makes perfect sense.

There are many vegan and veggie friendly beers on the market. The range gets bigger and bigger and breweries are now seeing the sense in this.

The Gunmakers Arms will host the festival. There house beer is brewed by Two Towers Brewery, who provide only vegan friendly beers.

The Gunmakers Arms has its own self contained Brewery-Two Towers Brewery.

For this it's third year it will be free entry.

However they are now offering beer tickets for £11.00 for 4 drinks. That means each pint is £2.75. Paid for in beer tokens.

Each ticket can be used on any of the festival dates.

These tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite: see below link.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brum-vegan-beer-fest-ticket-tickets-35862425480

The tickets can be brought on the day from the bar too.

There will be vegan beer in cask, keg, bottle and can formats.

Vegan food will be available on Friday from the superb Real Junk Food Project B'ham, and Saturday from Ubuntu Bakery and foods as well as Some of the food from the Gunmakers Arms.

https://www.facebook.com/TRJFPBrum/

https://www.facebook.com/ubuntubakery/

Brewery's and Beers on offer include are mostly local but include a few from further afield.

You'll find, Two Towers Brewery, Rock N Roll Brewhouse, Birmingham Brewing Company, Art Brewery and Boudicca Brewing Company Amongst others.

The full list of beers are listed below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/435382006794577??ti=ia

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brum-vegan-beer-fest-ticket-tickets-35862425480

The festival runs from 20th July to 22nd and is from noon until 11.pm.

See below link for full details and events of Birmingham beer week.

https://www.birminghambeerweek.uk/

https://twitter.com/birmbeerweek?lang=en

It should be a fantastic festival.

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

The Gunmakers Arms, 93 Bath Street, Birmingham, B4 6HG. (0121-236-8486)

For more information on why some beer isn't vegan and veggie friendly see here:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/37350233

Stirchley Summer Vegan Fair line up. Sunday 7th May

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Catering, Craft beer, Drinks, Independent, Stirchley, Talks and discussions, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by


This is the full line up for the Stirchley Summer Vegan Fair tomorrow. 

All these fantastic stalls will be at the Stirchley Summer Vegan Fair this Sunday:

Caterers

ChangeKitchen CIC 
Mex It Up 

Greens Vegan Catering 

Up Raw Catering 

De Fruit Bar 

Raw Organic Kay 

Global Fusion Vegan Creole Bakery 

** Cakes & Confectionery **
The May Bakery 
Debs’ Pantry 

Trishul Raw Chocolate 

Vegan Cake Fairy 

Cakes & ish 

Lakeside Ethical Treats 

Flo’s Kitchen 

The Vegan Food Pod 

Deliciously Honest 

Other Food and Drink:

Go With The Fro 
Annie Mae Cheezy Spreadz 

Nature’s Kitchen 

Butterbelle 

Badgers Dairy & Egg Free 

The Naturally Vegan Food Company 

Jethros Marinades and Sauces 

The Happy Gut Hut 

Besos UK 

Vork pie 

Purely Vegan Store

Clothing and Accessories 

WEAR YOUR VOICE 
Follow The River 

Viva La Vegan 

RogueGypsy 

** Cosmetics & Toiletries ** 
Bohemian Chic Minerals Vegan Cosmetics 
Organik Orangutan 

Clean&Natural 

Eden Perfumes 

Manns Eco Garden 

Bien-être 

** Rescues & Campaigns ** 
Grace’s Rest 
Kozy Katz

Sea Shepherd Supporters UK 

Rudi’s Rescue 

Cats Protection 

Birmingham Animal Action 

Other Stalls:

V Active Cookbooks
Green Badger Arts

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

Birmingham Viva Vegan festival: Beer Festival 15th April, Gunmakers Arms, Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Beer festivals, Birmingham, City Centre, Craft beer, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie by


Beer, Beer, Beer, if you can’t get enough of it then this is for you. If you are a vegan or veggie then even better. 

As part of The Viva Vegan Festival on the 15th April, The Gunmakers Arms in Birmingham is holding a festival of the most excellent quality with a number of local breweries represented. 

The Beer list for the beer fest at Gunmakers Arms on 15th April includes:

Bottle and Can List

Cider list

Two Towers Bottle list 


Cask List 

The beer fest is part of the Birmingham Viva Vegan Festival which is been held at three separate venues: 

The Macdonalds Burlington Hotel at 126 New Street Burlington Arcade, B2 4JQ.

The Studio, 7 Canon Street, B1 5 EP which is off Corporation Street.

The Gunmakers Arms for the beer festival from Noon to midnight and is located at 93 Bath Street, Birmingham, B4 6HJ.

Festival highlights for Saturday 15th April 2017 and not to be missed are:

2 stall venues

150 amazing stalls

15 caterers

Children’s activities in The Studio. 

Cookery demos

Talks 

Vegan beer, wine and cider festival at the Gunmakers Arms

Films

Free Samples

Nutritional advice

Workshops

Yoga

And 10 world food caterers.

Including The Indian Lunchbox for tasty Indian snacks and treats,  The Vegan Society and Almond nut specialists Butterbelle. 

Plus Third Eye in The Studio with Oreo cake. 

The excellent Mex it up are also at The Studio serving their wonderful Burritos. Not to be missed as they are excellent.



The festival will showcase some of the best vegan food in Birmingham and Midlands and not to be missed.

Saturday 15th April 2017, Macdonald Burlington Hotel and The Studio across the road. 10am – 6pm. £3 entry on the door (under 16’s free)

https://www.facebook.com/events/649818158500141/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

https://www.viva.org.uk/festivals/birmingham-2017

@BirminghamVivaVeganFestival 

Indian Brewery opens for craft beer and street food in Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Craftbeer, Independent, Indian restaurants, Street Food by


So many marvellous independent beer places have opened up over the last year in Birmingham, that now beer lovers are truly spoiled for choice.

The newest addition to the Jewellery quarter, Indian Brewery Snowhill, is set to spice things up a little which is great news for beer fans as well as street food lovers and artisan coffee folk.

The Indian Brewery has resurrected the old coffee shop, Brewsmiths under Snow Hill’s railway arches, and turned it as if by magic into a bar selling craft beer as well as artisan coffee.

Obviously being Indian you have to throw a bit of masala into the mix, so during the morning it dishes out an innovative breakfast menu and mouth watering street food from midday till late.

 Jaspal Purewal, who owns Indian Brewery which supplies Birmingham lager, Indian Summer, Bombay Honey, Peacock and IPA to Birmingham venues including Harvey Nichols, Connolly’s wine merchants and Indico, has taken over the lease of the cafe and had added an impressive bar. The old worn out exterior has been replaced by something altogether more slick and modern and the interior has a more industrial feel. 

It’s casual and relaxed with benches for drinkers to enjoy an artisan beverage whether it be coffee or Indian sodas as well as their beers, whilst admiring the classic Bollywood posters on the walls. A place of social gathering and good times.

 Jaspal told the Birmingham Mail: “We’ve wanted to set up a bar for our brewery for a long time and the Jewellery Quarter is the perfect location. There is so many exciting things happening here. This will be our flagship store – for all to consume our beers along with in-house artisan coffee and street food.”

The site on Livery Street opened on Friday 13th.

Beer is served in craft cans, bottle cask and on draught these include Indian Brewery beers and also an impressive range of guests.; The Indian Brewery beer is brewed at their Great Barr base.

The food has good options for Vegetarians and is a bright light in a gloomy slate grey January. Split into two areas Streetfood and Breakfast, 

For Streetfood veggies try: 

Chaat Bomb: veggie Gilles triangles, chickpeas, yoghurt, chutney and onion.

Delhi Paneer: Paneer cheese with spices, peppers, lettuce and yoghurt.

Fat Naans: veggie delight of potato, cauliflower, onions, chutney, mint, yoghurt and Bombay sprinkle.

For the Breakfast menu: 

Amritsari Kulcha: stuffed flatbread, accompanied by a side of seasoned yoghurt, chutney, onions, chickpeas and fresh lime pickle. 

Egg Naan

Posh Avocado: Brown bloomer with avocado and poached egg. 

For vegans I’m sure the menu can be adapted if it isn’t already vegan friendly. Check before. 


 The food menu has a distinct street flavour but there is a difference! Jaspal revealed: “We’re not your typical Balti house or Indian pub, we’re truly different and being innovative was key, the public has spoken.”

For the drinks all bottles (Indian Brewery beer) and Birmingham Lager in a can and keg are veggie and vegan friendly. 

However, the cask ale isn’t  but other guest ales are. 

The Indian sodas are also ok.


Enough to brighten even the dullest of days. 

Indian Brewery Snow Hill, Livery Street, Birmingham B3 1EU

Officially open from Monday 15th January 2017.

Breakfast is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 12pm midday, Saturday from 8:00am to 12pm midday, and Sundays from 8.30pm to 12midday.

Street Food is available Monday to Thursday from 12pm midday to 9pm, Friday & Saturday from 12pm midday to 9:30pm and Sunday from 12pm midday to 8pm.

TO BOOK : 0121 296 9000 WEBSITE: http://www.indianbrewery.com

FOLLOW : Twitter @IndianBrewery Instagram: @IndianBrewery

LIKE : Facebook.com/indianbrewery

Looking forward to trying it out soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

All photos and information courtesy of Indian Brewery and Delicious PR. 

6/8 Kafe Craft Beer festival 10/11/12th November, plus discount.

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Coffee, Coffee Time, Craft beer, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian by

Scaffolding is a necessary pest, a bit like slugs eating my veg or wasps in the summer. 

I once went to Florence and the great cathedral was covered in the stuff. How annoyed was I. The same happened in Rome with The Trevi Fountain. I was not amused. 

But then it comes off, as if by magic the structure below appears, more beautiful, brighter and and all is well. 

This is what 6/8 Kafe hope now their monstrous outdoor cover has been taken down and to celebrate they are having a craft beer festival. Well why not, they deserve it. Let’s toast progress! 

Sitting at the back of House of Fraser on Temple Row 6/8 Kafe is an independent coffee shop of some repute in the city and a innovator of the fine art of the Barista.

Festival organiser and proprietor Dav said:

”Our festival is about enjoying local beer with the amazing people that make them.

”It’s about tasting, learning and enjoying everything about craft beer. 

The line up includes: 

On Thursday ‘meet the brewers’. 

Burning Soul Brewing:

Bringing OCT IPA 6.7%

Mount Olympus Pale Ale 5.2%

Insert [Blanc] Single Hop Ale 5.2%

On Friday there is a ‘meet the brewer’ session with Twisted Barrel Ale who are launching their annual winter special ”Dark Knight Rises” and a Belgian Dubbel at Six Eight.

http://www.twistedbarrelale.co.uk/


On Saturday two Black Country brewers Sacre Brew at 6pm and Fixed Wheel are at the festival. 

Fixed Wheel will bring ‘Carbon Black IPA 6.8%, ‘Coffee Fix ‘6.1% and ‘Single Speed Equinox’ 4.5%.

Sacre Brew will bring  3 beers: Sloe Loris, Wendigo, & Donkey’s Years! 

Throughout the festival they will have live acoustic musicians appearing and playing to their hearts content. 

Tracks like down with the scaffolding should be popular on the playlist. 

Sacre Brew Microbrewery

http://www.fixedwheelbrewery.co.uk/

Tickets are £3.66 or £2.66 using my discount   ANDY_H at the checkout which will get you your first pint and access at the event. Enter the promotional code at the link. Andy_H.

Here: 

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=JuO6H&m=gcE2TaB8ITvENEE&b=VsnXDFvrrJivKpZnMQMmMQ

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Also present will be Digbeth Dining Club favourites Stufo providing the food. 
http://www.stufo.co.uk/

http://www.sixeightkafe.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊


Vegetarian street food traders The Indian Lunch Box are at 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter this week. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Craft beer, Craftbeer, curry, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter, Pop up's, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian by


Make sure you get down to 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter this week as vegetarian Indian street food company The Indian Lunchbox are taking over the kitchen for one week only. 

Street food trader Reena Mistry has a mission to open minds and mouths to tasty, homemade Vegetarian street food. The Indian Lunchbox is all about fresh ingredients and many of the dishes are served traditionally on the streets in India, and have been passed down the family.

Their signature dish is the Double Roti burger- a soft bread bun filled with potato curry, Chevdo (like Bombay mix), chopped onions, peanuts, and a chilli coriander chutney.

Other highlights include Bhel, a dish made with puffed rice, potato, chickpea, and a tangy tamarind sauce, and Pav Bhaji, a mixed vegetable curry. There are also Onion Bhaji’s. 

All these dishes are suitable for Vegans. 

The food will be complimented by the delicious and local Indian Brewery, one of the most recent additions to The Birmingham evolving craft beer scene. 

They will be laying on a selection of their crisp and refreshing craft ales. As well as the highly new Birmingham Lager. If it’s ready in time on draught. 

Established in May 2016 The Indian Lunchbox is a Veggie Foodie rising star and one to watch in 2017. 

The menu’s below: 



1000 Trades can be found at 16 Frederick Street in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.
The Indian Lunchbox will be at 1000 Trades from Monday 31st October to Saturday 5th November, serving from 5-10pm Monday- Friday and 1-10pm on Saturday. 

Should be a fantastic week of vegetarian food. 

Thanks for reading, 
Andy 😊

All photos courtesy of Indian Lunchbox and 1000 Trades. 

Look out for The Indian Lunchbox at Streetfood events around the Midlands. Including the new Hawker Yard in the city centre. 

The Warehouse Cafe, now with added Vegan friendly beer and wine. 

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Wine by

  

  
The Warehouse Cafe has always had a special place in my heart. For many years not long after I first became Vegetarian (27 years ago) I used to frequent it often with veggie friends. The veggie burger was a huge favourite as was the potato wedges and desserts which were back then vegan friendly. There weren’t many places to go, in the city centre it was the one and only! Over the years it’s changed hands a few times but has always stayed similar and offered deliciosly good value vegetarian and vegan food. Now things have changed, but for the better. 

Vegan friendly beers and wine are now more popular than ever. Look in the supermarket or good wine shop and you’ll see more available than ever before. 

This summer marks three years since The Warehouse Cafe reopened the doors to Birmingham’s original Vegetarian restaurant and cafe. 

After a successful application for an alcohol license a new drinks menu will be introduced over the next few weeks. 

In order to stick to a completely Vegan friendly range and keep the environmental impact to a minimum the real ale and craft beer will be supplied by local Birmingham brewers Two Towers. 

The beers on offer at The Warehouse are Complete Muppetry, Electric Ale, Hockley Gold, Bhacker Adams, and a special craft beer Come on Feel the Noize- in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham band Slade. 

The wines will be supplied from independent merchants Underwood Wines who are based in nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Try the drinks with dishes such as Digbeth Daal, The Warehouse Burger, Refried Bean Quesadilla, Halloumi Fish and Chips or ancient grain risotto. 

I’m looking forward to giving the beers a run for their money and walking down memory lane again as i always do when I visit. 

   
   
   
    
    
   
 http://www.thewarehousecafe.com

http://www.underwoodwines.co.uk

http://twotowersbrewery.co.uk/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy😊

Thanks to Darren at Two Towers for the beer images and info re beers. 

What is Vegan Friendly? 

It is during the filtering process of wine or beer that the non-vegan and vegetarian part usually occurs. For beer this part of the process is usually only reserved for cask ales, where Brewers use finings to clear away excess yeast suspended in the beer. Finings are also used in the production of wine. Animal derived products include most commonly islinglass. A form of collagen obtained from raw fish bladders. Finings don’t remain in the finished product, but by using finings that are not animal derived, such as Irish miss it adheres to the core principles of veganism and vegetarianism. 

Veggie dish of the day: Kitchen Garden Flatbread, Fletchers, Kings Heath.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian by

  

A veggie flatbread is a blank canvas and you can cover it with almost anything and make a meal very quickly. In restaurants the plain variety (as in tapas) is popular. In many ways for me, the message is keep it simple: 

Take the seasonal butternut squash at Fletchers, set it off with a touch of crumbly gentle feta and wilting spinach, a rich tomato sauce base (crucial) that provides that slightly spicy chilli kick. 

Then you have probably the best Topped Flatbread in Birmingham. Simples! 

Fletchers in Kings Heath, is the venue. The Kitchen Garden Flatbread is the dish. Beautiful. 

Fletchers Bar and Eatery’s Kitchen Garden Flatbread was listed as one of the best cheese dishes by myself in Birmingham for Wow Brum (Birmingham Mail) in a recent article I was asked to do by them. 

See post here: 

https://t.co/MTEMGG2kbb 

  
  Fletchers Bar. 

  Topped Flatbread, Kitchen Garden: feta, butternut with chilli and spinach flat bread. Rich Tomato sauce. £9.95.

  
  

Order with sweet potato fries.

  Greek style fries also served. 

  

One of the best beers in the world? Wainwright from Thwaites. 

  

Craft beer from O’Hara’s. 

 

Yamazaki 12 year old Whisky from Japan. 

  Gin Martini at Fletchers.

  
  
Fletchers Bar and eatery is in the south Birmingham suburb of Kings Heath. Located on York Road, it’s friendly service and serious beers, Whiskies and cocktails make it a relaxed and veggie friendly choice in the area. Offering seasonal dishes and a varied tapas menu, Fletchers has an intimate and bustling vibe with a peaceful floral beer garden. 

It also offers independent Birmingham card holders 10% off the menu. 

Fletchers Bar: 7 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7SA.

http://www.fletchersbarandeatery.co.uk/#!menu/c24tf

http://www.fletchersbarandeatery.co.uk/

http://independent-birmingham.co.uk/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

I paid for my own food at Fletchers Bar and Eatery. All opinions are my own and honest as always. 

Previous post on Fletchers veggie Halloumi burger: 

https://vegiefoodie.com/2014/09/19/fletchers-bar-king-heath-birmingham/

   
    
 Fletchers Beer Garden.

  

Good Food guide 2016 announces Cafe Opus as a Birmingham’s ‘local gem’. 

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Bars, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

  
Cafe Opus at Ikon has been named Birmingham’s ‘local gem’ by The Good Food Guide 2016 a superb achievement for the Ikon Gallery based cafe. 

The contemporary cafe was given the seal of approval by The Good Food Guide 2016 earlier this month (Friday 4th September), stating that the food was “fabulous and excellent value for money” whilst the setting was “the ideal opportunity to watch the world go by”. 

The Good Food Guide, which was set up in 1951, reviews restaurants, pubs and cafes across the UK, to highlight the best eating establishments in Britain. Reviews are compiled by feedback sent in from readers, as well as anonymous inspections to ensure every entry is assessed afresh. It does not accept advertising so readers can be rest assured that every review is authentic and honest. 

Irene Allan, director at Cafe Opus, said: “We opened our local gem two years ago on the ground floor of the magnificent Ikon gallery and to have this accolade from the UK’s best food guide is fantastic news. The fact that these entries are based on anonymous inspections is an even greater achievement, and is proof of the commitment and passion of our manager Greg, chef Zack and the team to provide quality and value to our customers. We are very proud.”

The entry is not the first time Cafe Opus has received attention from top food guides, as it was recently described as “one of the country’s top 18 venues for al fresco dining” by Stylist magazine and one of the “top 10 inspirational indies to eat for well under £10” by The Guardian Travel Guide 2015. 

   
    
 
Opus at Cornwall Street, the flagship restaurant of the Opus family, was also entered into the food guide and received high praise for its “vibrant modern British dishes based on fresh, seasonal produce, delivered by confident staff”. 

I’ve enjoyed numerous good meals and drinks at Cafe Opus, and the terrace is certainly one of the best outdoor eating and drinking areas in Birmingham. 

For my most recent review, see here: http://t.co/he503QGrWu

For more information on Cafe Opus at Ikon, please visit:
http://www.cafeopus.co.uk/

  
Manager Gregg and chef Zac. 

Photo courtesy of Clive James PR. 

   
   
   
 
Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

All other photos are my own.