The Hopwater Cellar, Newcastle Under Lyme Central, Newcastle under Lyme

Hopwater Cellar is a small bar and bottle shop that had ten craft beers on during a recent midweek afternoon visit. There is some seating at the entrance and the bar is found to the right where the serving counter faces rearwards towards shelving full of beer along the rear wall. The craft is served through small contraptions on the bar, my pint of Track Brewing’s Sonoma took an age to pour. There is also a large whisky collection, and there was a guess the whisky challenge. I’m not a fan so I didn’t partake. It’s OK in here, but the lack of cask means that I’ll probably not revisit.

Called in here twice during our two days in Newcastle. Two different bar staff on during our visits, both chatty and knowledgeable. Loads of bottles and cans available to drink in or take out. One solitary handpump on the bar serving Firebrand West Coast IPA, but despite there only being one beer it's in the GBG2018. The beer was in good nick as well. A couple of stools near the bar, a couple of tables to the left as you enter and 3 or 4 more tables to the right. We both liked it in here, hence two visits.

A rather disappointing place due to the draught beer selection. The single handpulls served Dark Star Hophead, though there are two taps for crafty nonsense and a load of bottled beers. The place itself is OK and is split into 2 rooms. Sadly due to the draught beer selection it just didn't do it for me.

With its unremarkable brick exterior and small signage this place stands out about as much as Donald Trump at a clown convention, however, I was with people who knew where they were going so find it we did. An irregular shaped room inside, with plenty of brick and green, it has a large bottle display/selling area and a couple of bar areas - one with tables (on entry) and an area with bench seating. Beer ephemera adorns the walls. The service was good and a few people were in at our visit. There was a single pull with a decent enough Firebrand West Coast IPA. I don't really buy bottles and other places have a better choice of ale but, saying that, I enjoyed my visit and would happily go back.

For me this one has more the feel of a bottle shop, due to the domineering bottle wall as you first enter. But the fact that it has a couple of beers on tap and comfortable enough seating areas to the left and right of the small serving area I guess it does qualify as a micropub. Yes, the Firebrand West Coast IPA was a decent drop and I would also concur when on a crawl of NuL I would include this one in a double with the Bridge Street Ale House. But I much preferred the premises opposite for more of a pub experience.

This is one of those places that is half micropub and half bottle shop. The solitary hand pump and surprisingly large seating area are good enough for me to call it a muicropub. It's a long narrow (or wide shallow) room with the bar at the front and the seating area to the rear. The owner was keen to show me his collection of spirit strength beers which had been created by freezing rather than distillation. I wasn't at all surprised to find they were being sold at really silly prices so I didn't try any! I did try the solitary cask offering which was Firebrand West Coast IPA which was pleasant enough and in good nick. For me it wasn't as good as it's near neighbour but is still well worth a visit especially if unusual bottles are your interest.

Opposite the Bridge Street Ale House,so a great double header.It's a modest sized bottle shop but with comfortable bench seating at one end past the small bar.The bottle selection is impressive ,incorporating an alcove with shelving all around and the choice will include beers from many leading brewers.There is also a single handpump dispensing a very decent Firebrand Brewing West Coast IPA on my trip,while two pokey craft keg beers were also available on tap.A good addition to the local drinking scene,and a pleasant spot for a pint.