Vibrant Forest Tap Room, Southampton

It wasn't too much effort to get here, less than I thought, a fifteen minute ride on the Hythe Ferry from Southampton's Town Quay, a ten minute nos 9 bus ride from Hythe pier to Hardley roundabout then a six or seven minute stroll to the industrial park where the brewery and taproom are. It's a decent sized unit with plenty of bench seating inside and out, most of the outside seating was full on a warm afternoon, sharing the courtyard was a pizza food stall offering five or six variants and doing a roaring trade.Beer-wise as Paul mentions there are two handpulls on the bar with one in action serving up Vibrant Forest Inaudible with ten plus keg options all from Vibrant and a good range of styles, if you like Vibrant Forest Beers as I do this makes for a relaxing day out combined with a few pubs back in Hythe.

We're back on the taproom trail and today it's variant B, which as you all know, means "light industrial estate", this one tucked away at the far end beyond the building supplies store, with the estate itself tucked away beyond the Hythe by-pass. Having finally made our way here, we find a modern unit in a fenced-off compound. There's tables and benches outside and similar, though less weather-proof, examples inside. Stairs lead to a mezzanine area, though this is often given over to functions (as on this occasion). The bar features a couple of handpumps, though just one in use and serving up a very acceptable session Pale. The keg taps on the back wall are mostly where it's at here, with 12 or so pouring a variety of styles, though principally New-World hopped Pales, as you would expect. Prices are very reasonable, with pints mostly coming in at less than £6 (well, yes, I know, but....). The soundtrack was the regular 'Brewers indie", playing at an acceptable background volume. Most of us would have to make a bit of an effort to come here, (and it seems that more than a few regulars do), but its worth a few hours of your time.

Facebook page of Vibrant Forest Tap Room - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Vibrant Forest Tap Room - www.facebook.com

Official site of Vibrant Forest Tap Room - www.vibrantforest.co.uk