Cask, Manchester

Cask is a large open plan bar found at the base of a block of, what I assume to be, flats that overlook the passing canal. It was fairly quiet during a recent Saturday evening visit, but the students that were in were making quite a noise. High tables are found throughout and up a side wall are some booths. A dartboard is hidden around to the side. The L-shaped bar counter supports premium and craft keg and I counted seven hand pumps that were drawing Squawk Brewing’s Otis and their Electric Bear Aliada, First hop Brewing’s DDH Idaho 7, Pictish Brewing’s Vista, Big Trip Brewery’s Jilted Generation alongside Gwatkin’s Yarlington Mill Cider and a second cider offering from Lilley’s. I had a decent pint of Jilted Generation, but the service was mardy so I didn’t feel very welcome, and the location means that I’ll probably never walk past by chance so I doubt I’ll revisit.

Visited on 11.8.22 while visiting Manchester to explore the beer scene for a few days. Lovely setting near the canal, and choice of cask and craft ales. We were sticking with cask where possible, and enjoyed Yarn from Salt brewery, and Ever Given from Thirst Class Ale.

Official site of Cask - cask.business.site

Official site of Cask - cask.business.site

Modern bar next to the canal, that is within easy walk of the city centre and can also be a convenient stopping off point if walking to/from the City of Manchester stadium. In fact, we did attempt to visit here after a match this season only to find it far too busy to get served. We'd also mistakenly thought that there were no cask ales. In fact, the handpulls are hidden away at the far end of the bar. Returning on a much quieter Friday lunchtime, I almost had the bar to myself, save for 1 or 2 other customers coming and going. When crowded, it had felt quite cramped. When quiet, it seems quite airy and spacious, with large windows overlooking the pathways along the canal and street, which were busy with a mainly student throughflow. 3 real ales were on - Squawk Corvus, Pictish Magnum & Abbeydale Deception. The cider was Lilley's Mango Cider. Craft beers were White Hag The Black Pig, Lindeman's Kriek, Abbeydale Heathen, Deya Shadows of Conversation, Polly's A Passion for Fashion & Oaty, Squawk Rico, The Kernel Pale Ale, Wander Beyond Wolfsbane, Lervig House Party, Beavertown Gamma Ray & Tiny Rebel Flower Power. My Corvus was a very enjoyable stout. Although at 7.4%, it perhaps wasn't the wisest selection to start an 11-pub crawl. It's been over 8 years since I've been in the Cask's sister pub on Liverpool Road and I can't really remember my visit there, but I'll rate this branch slightly higher - 7/10.

Real Ale Ray has summed the place up perfectly and I can only echo his opening comment that it is very different to the original Cask in Castlefield. Visited for the first time on Saturday and found six hand pulls for real ale at the narrow end of the bar, a further hand pull for cider on the main section of the bar, along with various keg, mainly craft offerings and some Belgian stuff too. I had a cask beer by Squawk which was excellent and my drinking accomplice had something by Pictish which was just as good. The place was busy but not uncomfortably so, there is plenty of seating but it feels like a nice airy open space. Definitely one in the area that's worth coming back to.

Good sized pub under a small block of apartments on Cottonfield Wharf. We've called in here twice recently and on both occasions there have been plenty of people in the bar and also outside on several tables next to the canal. The 5 handpumps for ale are on the left hand side of the bar, there's also a real cider pump on the front of the bar. There's a jukebox, pinball, dartboard and a stack of board games. It's also air conditioned which was a blessing on our second visit as it was roasting outside. I've tried 5 beers in here and all have been in excellent nick as you would expect with their reputation at their Liverpool Road outlet. Ms CAMRA thought the Rose wine was excellent as well. We'll be coming here again and again.

Cannot add much more to Real Ale Ray's review and must say i quite liked this one and found the hosts very friendly.It is a one roomed bar of adequate size and as mentioned, plenty of ale on show with the cask beer hidden round the corner of the bar on the left which i almost missed.