Post Office Vaults, Birmingham

Really enjoyed opening day here and sampled our way along the guest beers from Whittlebury, Beer Geek, Oakham, Abbeydale, Nethergate, and Saltaire breweries. The regular beers are the Hobsons Mild and Salopian Oracle. They have a massive range of Belgian beers too, and we couldn't resist trying the Het Anker Gouden Carolus Tripel and Hopsinjoor. At 9% and 8% they went down very well, and the website will provide a full listing of the beers available shortly. The pictures around the wall were of old Birmingham prints and the decor complemented by the foreign beer signs. Not overdone, so looks neat and tidy. The bar billiard table should prove popular as it is something not often seem around the pubs these days. The doorway from New Street is at the top end next to Greggs and opposite the Halifax. Stairs are pretty steep here, but there is another easier entrance at the rear of the building. No food served but you can bring your own in. Staff are friendly and know their beers so you get any assistance needed to help you choose. A selection of real ciders also available.

I popped in at lunchtime, on opening day. I had never been in the premises before when it was open under its previous guises and I was surprised how compact it is. The refurb is smart and they have put in a lot of work to sand the wooden floors. Handpulls include the 2 permanent ales of Salopian Oracle and Hobson's MILD plus 6 guest ales. The MILD was spot on. There is also a choice of continental lagers and 50 bottled beers. The entrance on New Street (next to Sandhu News) leads down some stairs or there is another entrance around the corner. There are no windows but it has a good feel to the place and no doubt it will be on my list of regular lunchtime haunts.

Official site of the Post Offiice Vaults - www.postofficevaults.co.uk