01/04/23 - The Stirchley Beer Mile

 Linking the varied drinking dens of South West Birmingham

I'm not sure who invented the Stirchley Beer Mile. The "art work" - and the only document that suggests it is an actual thing - was created for a series of short lived books called the "Brewery Bible". I say short lived, as it looks like they set off to document the country but stopped after just two region specific editions. Maybe keeping on top of breweries in printed form was too volatile a pursuit to commit to hard copy.   

A simple concept, it joins together micro-pubs, brewery tap-rooms, bottle shops and (hold onto your hats) an actual proper pub into an Oven Ready Pub Crawl. Start at either Bournville or Kings Norton train station, walk a mile and hopefully have enough wits about you to be able to navigate New Street Station on completion. Both directions have advantages - start at Bournville and you have less distance to carry your bottle purchases. Start at Kings Norton and is downhill all the way, with some fine views of the City.  

King's Norton's Redbeer'd provides my first of three Good Beer Guide Ticks of the day. 

A barrel barrier against the outside world

A simple micro following the classic forms. Mismatched furniture, bar constructed from scaffold, seating for 12, a toilet somewhere on the premises. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and unlike some places on the tour, not troubled by the health and safety consequences of dispense quantity. Delirium Tremens Red for £6.70 a pint.

Mortality reminding art work.  Barrels.  Nan's old kitchen chair.

Two bottle shops are next along the Pershore Road. Pre-covid, it was possible to drink in at least one of them.  No longer, which is beneficial for my ambitions of getting through the afternoon. Superb collection and a single purchase was made from both Cotteridge Wines and Strichley Wines. This year's Xmas big hitting Belgians are sorted, and its only April.

In between the two offies is the first fail of the day. Annoying, as its rather embarrassing to walk 200m through an industrial estate of proper grafters to find Glasshouse Tap Room closed, and then retrace your steps. Reopening in Spring. Whenever that it is.

April 1 is not spring

Not too long till the next Tap Room. Birmingham Brewing Company - manufacturers of any style of beer you like, usually pre-fixed with the word "Brummie" - is accessed through a blue door from the public footpath on the River Rea. Street food available from a van outside.

All it needed to make it worthwhile was punters. Two solo drinkers (me included) and a family whose dad's idea of a day out was inspired. Give the two kids a colouring book and spend the afternoon in a factory drinking beer at source. 

Wacky Warehouse next week kids.  I promise.

If I am honest, it all felt a bit "end of days". The three staff of the street food van were malingering on benches shouting "who will buy my dirty chips?" through the fencing at passing ramblers. The ceiling mounted industrial heater was both raising temperatures to that of a furnace and making more noise than a jet fighter. It must have been spinning the 'lecky meter faster than any profits that a 6.8% strong mild could generate. Especially when sold at a maximum volume of 2/3rds for a bargain £3.

Maybe I was too early. Maybe I needed a sunnier afternoon.

The booze venues start to cluster together, nearer the end. Two micros and one real pub. I balance them out.

Cork and Cage must have started out with the modus operandi of "lets not bother with internal decoration".  With its bare white tiled walls, it had the feel of an eviscerated butchers. Its not soft furnishings but the beer menu that brings all the boys to the yard. The table next to me had four freedom fighters against the teetotal Taliban pretending to enjoy green beer. Coloured like Kermit had been put in a blender.

Vault City are in Town

In contrast, the Wild Tap next door was all a bit British Legion does city centre cafe. Matching furniture, battleship grey walls, comfy bench seating. Oakham Citra bringing some normality back to the equation.

My stash of 750ml Belgian Super Brews

Across the road is the British Oak. A grade II listed pub, built by Mitchells and Butlers back in 1926. Huge on the outside, you need to explore the inside. A smaller than expected front bar leads to many side rooms, dining areas and an outside patios. After all this beer choice, an absolutely perfect Timothy Taylor Landlord was my pint of the day :-)

A fine traditional pub

This leaves Attic Brew Co, handily placed at opposite Bournville Station.  A former munitions factory, this had the ambiance to make it location of the day. Enter through a narrow gap in fencing that looks more at home in Winston Green and navigate to a drinking space on one side of the production area.

Long benches packed solid. Dog ownership appeared compulsory, as everyone seemed to have one. Street food where the vendors were busy. It reminded me very much of an earthier version of Deya's Cheltenham brewery.

Untapp'd confirms that I've never purchased their beers before but a very enjoyable Eye Know West Coast IPA means that I will be looking for them in the future.

The time of day when this was my only photograph

After a fine days drinking and exploring, I head back for Kidderminster with the confidence to finally challenge the New Street Station staff as to why there is no visible signage for Moor Street Station.

The response - "There is - look it says this way for the Bull Ring".