Magic Rock Tap, Hillhouse, Huddersfield

Situated about a ten minute walk north from Huddersfield train station the Magic Rock Tap room is located behind the main brewery and despite being in an industrial unit is quite a pleasant environment in which to try their beers. It’s a fairly large internal space with glass windows on one wall through to the brewing equipment and a long serving counter along the opposite wall. Although fairly Spartan and industrial a few wall murals and the beer barrels being stored at one end do provide a bit of character The serving counter has a large chalk board behind detailing the 10 Craft keg beers and three cask ales available giving a description of the beer, the beer style , its ABV and the price for a pint, a 1/2 or a 1/3rd glass size. Takeaways are available and the price for 1litre or 2 litres is also given. The available beers are detailed in Mr Fastards November review and I decided to try a couple of the keg options. Unfortunately I was attracted by some of the more exotic descriptions which turned out not to be to my taste. At least I’ll know in future not to go for the Salty Kiss. I did however duck the High Wire Grapefruit because something that is described as 100% natural Grapefruit flavour is just alcoholic grapefruit isn’t it ? Anyway despite picking something I didn’t like I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit here and will gladly revisit when next in town. Especially as it also has probably the most decent toilets of any micro brewery tap and certainly are a long way removed from some of the dodgy portaloos I’ve experienced in start up breweries underneath railway arches in North and East London.

Around the back of The Magic Rock Brewery,this industrial shed has been fitted out with some thought.There is a lot of aluminium ducting around the high ceiling,but the solid flooring isn't just harsh concrete but a mellower finish.Along one wall is a rank of high tables ,each with 10 stools,so you can base yourself here for a while and enjoy the various beers.The soundtrack was heavy metal but at a sensible volume,while to one side there are a collection of oak barrels where ale and wine is aged in bourbon,whisky and sherry tuns. The long bar has a collection of chalk boards describing various tasting events as well as listing in quite some detail the 10 keg and three cask options.On my trip the keg choice was Cannon Ball,Rapture,Hypnotist,Salty Kiss,High Wire,Dancing Bear,House of Mirrors,Cigar City Ligero and Punchline.There were some challenging tastes among that lot and some very high ABV's,but that the modern way.On cask there was Ringmaster,Inhaler and Common Grounds the latter two in great nick.Tasters were freely given,and all beer is served in branded glasses,on sale at £3. This brewery tap wouldn't be out of place in Bermondsey or Hackney Wick,it's hip but without the hipsters and if you want to fully sample the output from this excellent brewer,this is a must visit.It's a bit of a walk from the town centre but well worth it,and there is enough here to devote more time that was allocated on our extensive town crawl.I intend to come back.