North Taproom: Sovereign St, Leeds

A large square space in the bottom corner of a modern building as described previously. I called in at a less busy time and it wasn’t too noisy, it was very quiet with the two of us and four other punters. Too many keg taps to count, but only 11 taps in operation all were very interesting beers, that low number may have been due to the financial problems of North. High tables and chairs, and dog friendly. My half of Left Handed Giant; ‘Feels Like Heaven’ (7.1%) was an excellent beer and worth every penny of the £5.70 the half cost.

Official site of North Taproom: Sovereign St - www.northbrewing.com

Official site of North Taproom: Sovereign St - www.northbrewing.com

I certainly wouldn't make this a regular haunt, even if I lived in Leeds, but it was interesting to see this fairly ordinary room in the bottom corner of a large modern building being put to good use. Yes, the background music and chatter was a bit too loud and challenging for my ears; yes, most of the beers - in a long row of keg taps on the back wall - were not what I would ordinarily want to drink; but on the other hand, where else am I going to find a 9% smoked stout brewed in collaboration between North Brewing and Varvar Brew of Kyiv? So, an interesting experience, but if I'm going to repeat it, perhaps I should call in earlier in the day - they're open from 11 - when it is less busy and hopefully not as noisy.

This place feels more like a BrewDog than anything else. It is a single square room, with outdoor seating on the pavement at the front. There is a large selection of craft beers, but no real ales and only cider in cans. I went for the North/Good Things Brewing Co Barleywine, which surprisingly lacked flavour, despite being 10%. I much prefer the original North Bar the other side of the centre.

Many, many ales on tap, but all craft and too cold for my taste. High ceilings make this a noisy place.