Stonehouse Brewery, Oswestry

Located on the edge of an industrial/commercial zone just outside Oswestry, this is a working brewery incorporating a bar and restaurant. I stopped off here at 2 pm on a Friday on a long drive into Wales. There is a large gravel carpark that runs alongside a heritage railway platform on one side and a garden area with numerous tables and a shelter on the other. They advertise as a BBQ place so this makes sense. The main building is grey/green metal clad. Inside there are two unconnected dining areas to the right and a smallish stone floored public bar in front. The bar had a few tables and large windows displaying the working parts of the brewery. It has a retro industrial feel and hops in sacks hang above the windows. I chose a half of their Flipside, a fresh hoppy pale ale (£2.30). Very moorish and I could have drunk it all day if I wasn’t driving (NBSS 4.5). Other ales on hand pump were Devil’s Chair and Station Bitter. For lunch I ordered a plate of the Texas loaded fries; chips topped with BBQ brisket (£12.95). Very filling with an excellent peppery flavour. Highly recommended. The only downside was an automatic service charge which was pointed out almost apologetically. Other than that the staff were professional and welcoming. They were happy for me to run up a tab but I preferred to pay up front. Presentation boxes of their beer were displayed, for sale, behind the bar. Recommended for a stopover or if you can find someone to drive.

Official site of Stonehouse Brewery - www.stonehousebrewery.co.uk

Official site of Stonehouse Brewery - www.stonehousebrewery.co.uk