The best breweries in Manchester

Bundobust is known as much for its flavoursome food as its craft beers and lively setting. This well-known Manchester spot combines Indian street food with craft beers, including both its own brews and guest breweries. The space features communal tables, a well-stocked bar, and an industrial aesthetic. Small snacks like parathas and heartier dishes such as dhal or vada pav are available to make sure you aren't drinking on an empty stomach.

North Brewing Co., hailing from Leeds, now also boasts a taproom in central Manchester. With over 25 years of brewing expertise, this award-winning brewery offers flavourful beers, tasty snacks, and a lively atmosphere. The contemporary taproom includes both indoor and outdoor seating, a rotating selection of beers on tap, double beer fridges stocked with takeaway options, and even the house Negroni on tap.

The Cloudwater Brewery in Manchester offers a top-tier beer experience in its taproom, with 20 draft taps featuring fresh releases and barrel-aged brews. All draft lines are drawn from a cold store beneath the mezzanine, emphasising freshness. Visitors can enjoy a variety of beverages, purchase brewery merchandise, tour the facility, and sample local street food on weekends. Established in 2014, Cloudwater has rapidly grown a devoted following and has spread as far as London.

Drawing inspiration from the founder's coast-to-coast beer journey across the United States, Track Brewing Co. is situated under an archway at Piccadilly Station. Their taproom boasts 20 keg lines and three cask lines, predominantly showcasing Track's own creations, though they occasionally feature guest brews. This minimalist, industrial space is family and dog-friendly, offering pizza to accompany your drinks. Additionally, visitors can book a tour of the nearby brewery to witness the beer-making process.

Irwell Works Brewery is located in a rustic stone building in Ramsbottom, enhancing the town's quaint appeal. Inside, you'll find a cosy taproom with a pub-like atmosphere, perfect for sampling Irwell Works' locally brewed ales, which range from light session pale ales to more robust options. The brewery also offers tours and regularly hosts live music nights and other events.

Seven Bro7hers Brewery is a family enterprise operated by seven brothers who learned the craft of brewing from their father. The Salford brewery has taken its skills beyond homebrewing, offering a diverse selection of craft breweries at multiple locations around  Manchester. The Seven Bro7hers Beerhouses are welcome havens for beer fans, complete with snacks and live sports.

Runaway Brewery in Stockport is a microbrewery and taproom offering modern brews crafted with traditional techniques. Visit the industrial-style taproom to sample drinks from 10 keg lines and two cask lines or purchase some to take away. The venue features a garden and is family and dog-friendly. Guests can also enjoy brewery tours that include a tasting session.

Located on Red Bank in Manchester's Green Quarter, Green Arches combines a bar, brewery, and event space. They offer freshly brewed on-site ales, stone-baked Sicilian-style pizza, natural wines, and cocktails. The vibrant taproom, set in a lush, green environment, frequently hosts a variety of events and live sports.

Tin Head Brewery is a contemporary craft brewery managed by a father-and-son team. Situated on an industrial estate in Bolton, the nondescript unit opens up into a wood-panelled taproom where patrons can enjoy a selection of locally brewed beers. Tin Head's branding features an attractive junkyard style, reflected by its industrial surroundings. While they provide a diverse array of beers, their New England IPAs are their standout speciality.

Lark Hill Brewery is an integral component of the diverse Old Fire Station venue in Salford's cultural quarter. Partnering with the University of Salford, the brewery offers a practical learning experience for students, using premium ingredients to craft robustly flavoured beers. These can be enjoyed in the Old Fire Station's contemporary bar, which features eight keg taps and two cask ale lines.

Sureshot Brewing, which debuted its first beers in 2022, may be newer than some of Manchester's other microbreweries, but its brews certainly hold their own. Crafted in small batches by a team of innovative industry veterans, these beers can be enjoyed in the atmospheric Sureshot Taproom located in an arch beneath Piccadilly Station, making up the so-called Beermuda Triangle with Track and Cloudwater.

Balance Brewing & Blending is a boutique brewery in Manchester that focuses on mixed-culture barrel-fermented beers. They use high-quality British ingredients, blending traditional brewing methods with contemporary techniques. Their beers can be enjoyed at their first taproom, nestled in a charming archway near Piccadilly Station, adorned with barrels on the walls. Brewery tours are also offered.

Stubborn Mule is a one-man beer brewing venture located in a residential area of Altrincham. This independent neighbourhood brewery takes pride in its contemporary, handcrafted, and individually conditioned beers made with fresh ingredients. The on-site taproom offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where visitors can enjoy their latest releases and frequently hosts tastings and various events.