Best Beers from Birmingham and the West Midlands

The resurgence of real ale and craft beer is old news by now, with everyone from bolshy Brewdog to big boy Marston's battling for the tastebuds of the new, sophisticated beer drinker.

But here in the West Midlands region, we've been brewing the stuff for centuries. And recent years have only seen an increase in the number of native breweries making a whole range of beers.

So who better to ask for guidance than David Shipman, co-founder of the annual Birmingham Beer Bash? We put him on the spot and asked him to name his top local brews.

Dave, with so much brewing going on, why aren't beers from Birmingham and the West Midlands region more famous?

It's probably not too harsh to say that Britain's second city hasn't exactly been at the forefront of the positive changes in the national beer scene.

Ironic perhaps, when some major historic brewing names have been so strongly associated with the region.

The stranglehold of a couple of big names has perhaps proven an effective deterrent to the proliferation of breweries that seems to have taken place elsewhere.

Or at least it has slowed down the spread of the wide range of breweries and beers that other UK cities seem to have enjoyed.

Are things getting better?

It's all changing now, yes. Throughout the Black Country and the remainder of those counties partially in the West Midlands, there are some good old breweries still plying their trade.

We're also seeing much more activity from new breweries in and around Birmingham than ever before.

Go on then, give us your best beers from Birmingham and the West Midlands region...

I've chosen a mixture of some old classics and some new upstarts. Here goes:

1. Best Bitter

Made by: Batham's Brewery, Brierley Hill

In three words: Solid, dependable, drinkable

In more detail

It would be churlish not to open this list with such a perennial favourite.  Practically legendary in some quarters, this straw-coloured bitter is rarely seen far afield from its local territory.

It isn't a modern, hop-led assault on the tastebuds, or a tentative dabble into exotic styles, but instead is a solid stalwart with a legion of fans, and regularly sought out by visitors to the area.

Sometimes solid and dependable is just what you want, and after one pint the next, and those that follow, slip down if anything far too easily.

It's not going to challenge the tastebuds like some of the hop beasts out there but the dry finish is a pleasant surprise that takes over after an initial sweetness that just adds to the drinkability.

Drink it with

Undoubtedly best-paired with traditional local faggots such as those served at the brewery tap, the Vine (aka the Bull and Bladder).

Find it at

As mentioned above, the Vine or any of the other Batham's pubs around the region (possibly several, sampled during one of the infamous bus tours that take in a number of these pubs.

2. Single Speed Beer

Made by: Fixed Wheel, Blackheath

In three words: Golden, vibrant, citrusy

In more detail

From one of the old guard to one of the most recent startups.  Fixed Wheel made their appearance on the scene in late 2014, and have already had a striking impact.

Single Speed is the name given to their single-hopped pale ales – Single Speed Mosaic is a golden pale ale using the vibrant Mosaic hop that packs it full of tropical fruit and citrus flavours.

Its successor Single Speed Waimea (similarly packed full of the eponymous hop) is now getting spotted out and about.

Drink it with

Pale ales like this are pretty versatile when it comes to food. Great at lunchtime alongside crusty rolls with a hearty filling maybe, or with the sweet maltiness of granary bread, rich mayonnaise and deli meats.

Nothing too overpowering mind, as the delicacies of simple golden ale can get lost much more that some of its big hoppy cousins.

Find it at

As with many smaller breweries, pinning down any of their beers to a specific pub at a specific time is challenging, let alone finding a specific beer.

But Fixed Wheel are definitely popping up more and more around the freehouses of the Black Country. One to watch out for and try when the opportunity arises!

3. Freedom Pilsner Beer

Made by: Freedom, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire

In three words: Flavoursome, full-bodied lager

[Photo courtesy of boakandbailey.com]

In more detail

Moving a little further out from Birmingham and the Black Country is well justified as we shift our attention from traditional British ales to lager.

Yes, that's right: just a few miles from the West Midlands county some of the finest lager available in this country is being produced.

Unlike many of the modern lager brands, Freedom's beers get the full slow fermentation and extended maturation that originally defined the style,

This is a great example of just how much body and flavour a proper pilsner can have.

Drink it with

Head out to the nearest curry restaurant and you'll no doubt see a good proportion of the customers washing down their food with any one of a number of relatively generic lagers.

And actually, that's really one of the best-established beer and food pairings, for a very good reason.  Spicy food, such as Indian, Chinese, or Thai, is the perfect match for the crisp, clean flavours of a cold lager.

But try swapping out those mainstream brands for a properly lagered beer such as this, and you'll find an even more perfect match.

Find it at

Increasingly, pubs in the city and beyond are swapping out or complementing more regular lager choices with something a bit fuller flavoured. Try Cherry Reds on John Bright Street for example.

4. Saddleback Beer

Made by: Purity, Warwickshire

In three words: Smoky, dark, hoppy

In more detail

We may have moved out to the surrounding counties once more, but as we head south into Warwickshire we find a brewery that has become pretty much a household name in the Birmingham area.

For a long while Purity established themselves and grew steadily on the basis of a hat-trick of well produced, traditional beer styles.

Eventually they began spreading their wings a little with more adventurous beers, starting with Warlord, an IPA that later evolved into their first keg beer, Longhorn IPA.

Saddleblack followed as their first dark beer, described in a functional manner as a hoppy dark beer – more hop flavours than a porter or stout, but too roasty to be a "Black IPA". Deeply dark, there's a hint of smoke and subdued roasted coffee, but elements of piney and citrusy hops too.

Think you don't like hoppy or dark beers? This might make you rethink whichever your preference is!

Drink it with:

This is a beer that adds an extra dimension to a luxurious chocolatey dessert. Try it with rich chocolate pudding, tart, or cake.

Find it at

Pure Bar, where Purity's beers are a permanent feature (note, however, that Saddleblack is not available all year round, appearing from autumn to spring).

5. Cocoeclipse

Made by: Sacre Brew, Wolverhampton

In three words: Tropical, adventurous, strong

In more detail

Bringing a taste of the US to the Midlands, brewer Gwen Sanchirico started out small, brewing literally a few bottles at a time in the kitchen of Wolverhampton restaurant, Hungry Bistro.

Now based in larger dedicated premises, and producing in keg and bottle, Sacre Brew are able to offer some alternative and adventurous beers.

Cocoeclipse is a perfect example of how flavour is never compromised just because these beers aren't served from a traditional cask.

This big-hitting double IPA at 8% not only contains a mouth-watering shopping list of hops, but also has an addition of toasted coconut chips into the boil

So the exotic flavours of pineapple and other tropical fruits are perfectly complemented.  Light but not thin in body, watch that you don't forget its strength!

Drink it with

Rich, intense meats and other powerful flavours would be an ideal match for the strong flavours in such a big, hoppy delight.

The crisp sharpness will cut through the richness easily keeping food and beer in perfect harmony.

Find it at

The Anchor, Digbeth, had Cocoeclipse on tap at the last time of checking, but be quick as it could be soon gone.

Keep an eye on the Anchor, and some of the other forward-thinking local pubs who are starting to introduce interesting keg beers alongside traditional cask ale and the usual suspects on the lager taps.

Or head to one of the region's excellent bottle shops for some to take home.

6. XK Dark

Made by: Byatt's Brewery, Coventry

In three words: Traditional, malty, chocolatey

In more detail

As a style, none is more synonymous with the Black Country than mild.

Unfortunately, despite trying from time to time I rarely find an example that for me is a beer I'd really want to go back and drink again.

This fairly dark beer from the relative newcomer Byatt's Brewery in Coventry stood out above competition from more establised local milds in the regional judging for CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain last autumn.

It's a good example of a traditional style without any compromise on taste – chocolate and dark fruit sit on top of a dominant malt body.

Drink it with

It would be fitting to match the West Midland's beer style with a snack equally synonymous with the region – so grab a bag of pork scratchings and settle back for a session.

Alternatively, forget the red wine with that roast beef dinner and give this dark mild a go instead.

Find it at

Byatt's makes regular appearances at several central Birmingham pubs including the Post Office Vaults, Figure of Eight and the Sack of Potatoes.

Or find it on its home turf at one of several pubs around Coventry that feature their local brew.

7. Hop Bomb

Made by: Sadler's, Lye

In three words: Pale, crisp, fruity

In more detail

Unassumingly pale, this beer makes its presence known with big extensively-hopped flavours from US Amarillo and Citra hops.

These bring oodles of citrus fruit to the palate along with a sweet malt body for balance.

It's really all about the hops in this one, but that balance with the malt is key. It keeps the beer crisp and sharp while giving the fruity flavours a chance to shine, without allowing them to dominate completely.

Drink it with

Think of big hoppy beers and you think of India Pale Ale, or IPA. But avoid the seemingly obviously link to curry: that isn't the best way to show off these hoppy delights.

Instead, go for a selection of mature, hard cheese and see how the sharp bitterness of the beers cuts through the rich creamy flavours of the cheese.

Find it at

The brewery tap, the Windsor Castle in Lye, is the obvious target for sampling this and other beers from the Sadler's range.

8. Ruby Mild

Made by: Sarah Hughes, The Beacon Hotel, Sedgeley

In three words: Caramel, aromatic, rich

In more detail

Finally we return to another Black Country classic, and another example of that traditional local mild.

As the name suggests it has a ruby-red appearance, with malty caramel aroma.

A soft malty flavour with a suggestion of rich fruit, and little bitterness. It has more than a hint of Christmas cake in a glass, and that is no bad thing.

At 6% it isn't a beer to be taken lightly, but it isn't difficult to settle down to a second or third or... well, you can guess how that ends!

Drink it with

As easy to drink as it is all year round, this is a particularly good beer for a warm fireside drink in the depths of winter, and makes a perfect accompaniment to a hearty game stew or pie.

Find it at

When the brewery is at the back of the pub, where better to pick up a pint as fresh as it comes?

And that's just what you can do at the Beacon Hotel (pictured above, photo by MainFrame/Magnus Manske) where Ruby Mild, along with other Sarah Hughes beers, can be sampled on the site at which it is made.

Thanks for those tips, Dave!

Remember you can discover a whole range of beers from Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond, at the annual Birmingham Beer Bash, which returns to The Bond in Digbeth this year from 23rd to 25th July.

Happy drinking!