UnBarred Brewery & Taproom, Brighton

I visited Unbarred Brewery & Tap Room early afternoon on a recent Saturday afternoon when it was comfortably busy with people ranging from beer tickers to young lads playing the Toad in the Hole game. Out the front behind a metal fence topped brick wall are some picnic benches. The entrance leads to the bar counter that faces tiled flooring that supports seating across the front window to the right and the brewery equipment which runs up the left to the rear. I think there were 13 of their keg products available which ranged from Pebble, a 2.8% ‘table beer’, to Stoutzilla 23’, which is a 10% ‘Titan Stout’. A couple of cask products were also available, Pale Ale: Chinook & Mosaic alongside Long Black. I went for the latter that was a decent porter, however the measure was very short. It seemed like the barman didn’t really know how to serve it, treating it like a Guinness. I found this very surprising in a brewery tap where the counter is literally feet from the stuff brewing. A pizza menu is available, they start at £10 for the Margherita. This is a decent place, even with the short measure, so I’ll probably return at some point.

This is a smart little brewery tap, not too far from Brighton station, albeit in the wrong direction for the town’s main attractions. The building has the usual industrial feel of such modern day taprooms, but has a distinct style that also helps set it apart, including funky hexagonal floor tiles, floor to ceiling windows along the front wall, and the brewing kit mostly out of the way in a larger space to the rear left. The servery is located on the back wall and has a metal fronted counter and dark painted bar back with a row of taps along it and all beers listed by sticking enlarged posters of the keg font artwork along the wall. Merch and other bits of brewery artwork also adorn the bar area and help add a splash of colour to the otherwise utilitarian space. Seating comes exclusively in the form of backless benches and low stools, all arranged in the space opposite the bar. Beer menus are helpfully provided on each table and there are a few potted plants and brewery posters to be found around the room, again adding a bit of extra colour. Out the front is a good size patio seating area with limited shelter and lots of high metal stool and wooden bench seating, plus a couple of upturned barrels to stand around. Tunes were playing quietly in the background, but they quickly got lost under the chatter from a decent lunchtime crowd. They had fourteen unbarred beers available on keg, plus a rare sighting for such a bar, of a cask option - The Long Black Porter. I only noticed this after I’d ordered a keg brew - Casual Pale - which turned out to be a very tasty drop. The barman was very friendly and offered me a taster of their 11% abv Stoutzilla Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, pointing out the old whiskey barrels in the front corner of the room which the beer had been aged in. This was a cracking brew, but not really conducive to a long crawl, so I sadly had to make do with just the taster. I really warmed to this place, which I thought was doing a lot of the basics well, from a good selection of tasty beers catering for all styles and strengths, interesting contemporary design with a focus on the drinking space rather than the brew kit, friendly and informative service and a good buzz from appreciative customers, it hit all the right notes with me and I’ll definitely be back one day.

Facebook page of UnBarred Brewery & Taproom - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of UnBarred Brewery & Taproom - www.facebook.com

The Unbarred Brewery is still operating table service only - there's 8 inside where you're very much in the brewery and a few more in the yard outside. It's regular craft beer pricing, though with 4 different sizes from 1/3 to the full pint, which helps with affordability. The beer is obviously brewery fresh, though keg-only if that matters to you. A couple of hand pumps do see occasional use, I was told. Nevertheless the beer was in great condition and slipped down very easily. If you fancy food other than crisps or chilli flavoured rice crackers, a local Greek place will bring round a Pitta Bread, but only if you are able to master the bar-code technology. All in all, it's a cool place to visit with knowledgeable and friendly service.