Fierce Bar, Manchester

Facebook page of Fierce Bar - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Fierce Bar - www.facebook.com

Fierce Beer is a small shop converted bar with a counter on the right-hand wall facing tables up the left and against the rear wall is a booth. This bar is the tap for Fierce Brewery, hence their range of lagers are available on the majority of the nine fonts that run along the bar counter. I went for half a Fierce Rhubarb which tasted like very diluted squash. Not unpleasant, but not something I would order again. The Pomona Island Cruffatin was better. On the back bar there was some KeyKeg action with up to eight ales available and the drinks board also listed some ciders and perries. The staff were friendly enough and there was a decent atmosphere so I’d revisit if passing.

Visited on Saturday, my first visit since it changed hands. No longer a Marble bar and, sadly, the cask ale has disappeared. Because of COVID it's recommended that you book, and I'm glad we did as the place was quite busy. There were a couple of people waiting to go in, but not a huge queue. Menus are presented on the tables and it's table service from there. Last orders is currently at 9:30pm with 10pm kick-out, but the eagle eyed staff were checking if anyone wanted further drinks before last orders. I can't remember if there were any guest beers, but there were plenty from the Fierce brewery to choose from. Not particularly cheap, as you would expect, but no too wallet-emptying if you're only staying for a couple. There is a toilet downstairs and another upstairs. A second bar is upstairs, but I didn't investigate on this visit. I'll probably be back at some point, but not in a mad rush.

Official site of Fierce Bar - www.fiercebeer.com

Official site of Fierce Bar - www.fiercebeer.com

A shop conversion with the bar counter on the right upon entering. Two cask ales are listed on the board beside the bar - both from Marble and both very expensive: £5.60 and £4.75 per pint. There was no sign of any hand pumps or other method of dispense, nor anything to confirm that these beers were available upstairs, and being put off by both the prices and the brewery I made my selection from among the keg fonts on the bar. There are two lots of four, and I went for Magic Rock Inhaler 4.5%. Of course, this was cold, fizzy and expensive - what did I expect? To all my critics on Camra's Discourse forum, I am trying to be open minded but all it's doing is making me poorer while I drink beers that are not really to my taste, and cold and fizzy to boot. I hope you're happy now.