Rating:
In a Word:
Rowdy
Cuisine:
Hearty
Appeals to:
Stags, hens, beer-drinkers and burger-lovers who like a lively surrounding for casual meal and a few drinks.
Atmosphere:
Head to The Printworks in the heart of Manchester and you’d be forgiven for walking straight past Bierkeller without realising it was there. However, venture down into the depths of this complex and you’ll hardly believe its size. With four enormous bars, each boasting their own theme, you really can design your night and lose track of time in this venue.
Around the World in 80 Beers
This is the perfect start for your Bierkeller experience. Aptly named Around the World in 80 Beers, here you can sample draughts and ales from all over the globe, from Germany to Brazil. But if hops aren’t your thing, don’t worry – their cocktail menu also pays tribute to the international theme.
We arrived to live music, although by 8.30pm the DJ took over and the disco lights were warming up, a sign that Bierkeller is well prepared for its Friday night fun-seekers.
If you dig games over dancing, there are several pool tables, whilst booths and bar stools provide plenty of space to catch up over a few drinks. And despite the loud and lively vibe, it’s a laid back spot for a bite to eat – more on the food later!
Coors Light Ice Bar
After its hugely successful debut in Manchester this spring, the Coors Light Ice Bar has returned to the city for the summer. Tucked away in the Shooters Sports Bar, we couldn’t resist embracing some ice-cold refreshment. For just £5, you can don some rather dashing silver coats and head into the ice bar for a half-hour slot – this also buys you a drink inside, making it pretty ‘damn’ good value for money. Look out for the quotes inscribed into the ice, and the Jager luge!
Manchester Bierkeller is hosting The Coors Light Ice Bar every weekend throughout the summer, until the last weekend in August. So when the temperatures soar, it’s the perfect way to cool off.
Bierkeller Bavarian Bar
We recommend you save the Bavarian bar until last, and time your visit to coincide with the truly hilarious Bavarian Stompers. If you’ve never visited the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, this is perhaps the next best thing. With long tables lining the room like a traditional German beer house, you can buy yourself a litre of beer and learn some of the many bawdy songs (and dance routines). You’ll soon identify the slightly more squiffy members of the group.
Be prepared for dancing on tables, magic tricks, and plenty of chanting and spilled beer. It’s certainly a memorable way to spend a Friday night in Manchester – especially if you’re having an all-boy or all-girl night out!
The Food:
Of course, it wouldn’t be a well-rounded Tasting Britain experience without sampling some of the menu, so we settled in to Around the World in 80 Beers for a meal. Despite Bierkeller being more renowned for its drinking scene, we were actually pretty impressed with the food.
The no-fuss menu offers good value food and a hearty selection of international favourites, from burgers to paella and everything in between. Not to mention carb-alicious sides to soak up the beer.
Full Rack of Pork Ribs – £9.95
What goes better with a big glass of beer than a full rack of sticky, succulent ribs? Coated in a generous layer of sauce, there was more than enough meat on the bone to get your teeth into. After my partner and I chomped our way through the ribs, the skin-on skinny fries soaked up the remaining juices wonderfully. Served us with salad, onion rings and ‘slaw, this rack certainly hit the spot – and then some.
Gourmet Wild Boar and Apple Burger – £7.95
With The Yankee topping – £2.50
The great thing about the Bierkeller menu is that you can essentially build your own burger, choosing the meat (anything from beef to kangaroo) and the toppings to match. You can even swap your chips for curly fries or sweet potato wedges for an extra pound. So we experimented with the wild boar and apple burger, with The Yankee topping (bacon, onion rings and BBQ sauce).
You really had to deconstruct this burger to stand any chance of getting it in your mouth – not that we were complaining. A mighty burger with a really juicy, meaty texture, the wild boar and apple made it stand out from your standard burger. With just-the-right-amount-of-crispy onion rings and a colourful salad to make you feel slightly less guilty about your menu selection, we somehow managed to polish off this moreish meal.
Macaroni Cheese – £2.50
Whoever decided that macaroni cheese should become a side dish rather than a stand-alone main really deserves a pat on the back. This trend seems to be catching on at restaurants throughout Manchester, and it really makes a heavenly combo with any American-themed meal. After all, those final few chips are just asking to be dipped into the cheese sauce.
The mac had a lovely melted cheese crust, well-seasoned with herbs and deliciously gooey underneath. And in fairness, it was big enough to be eaten as a main itself, making it great value for money!
The Verdict:
Bierkeller is a one-of-a-kind venue right in the city centre, which has all the right ingredients for a fun night with friends. Start with a game of pool and a few drinks (or a stint in the ice bar!), before lining the stomach with a shamelessly indulgent meal. Then, make your way into the beer hall to burn off the carbs, by dancing on the tables with the hilarious Bavarian Stompers.
A casual setting for whatever night you want to make of it, we couldn’t help but fall in love with Manchester Bierkeller. The perfect place to let your hair down when life gets too serious!
The Details:
Manchester Bierkeller
The Printworks
Withy Grove
Manchester
M4 2BS
Tel: 0845 533 3000
http://thebierkeller.com/manchester-bar/