A local brewery has today announced the launch of two new brews in support of Manchester’s struggling independent music venues.
Manchester Union Brewery‘s two new brews – a black lager named After Dusk, and Pivot pale ale – have been created in its brewery in Manchester Piccadilly and feature some of the characteristics that make the original Manchester Union Lager so popular.
Both brews are available for delivery right across the UK.
After Dusk – originally brewed as a special for the UK’s biggest lager festival, We Are Lager – is a class Bohemian lager, and favourite of the brewery. As described by Manchester Union Brewery as an “often misunderstood style”, black lager is easily drinkable and massively refreshing, with a complex malt bill that delivers bready and dark fruit flavours with “a classic saaz hop bitterness” recognisable from the brewery’s original lager.
Created in collaboration with some of the city’s top independent music venues, thanks to the breweries connections to the music scene, After Dusk plans to shine a light on, and continue to drive awareness of Manchester’s favourite venues during these testing times.
ADVERTISEMENT
Each can of After Dusk will show iconic images of venues including the Albert Hall, Hidden, Band on the Wall, Matt & Phred’s and Mint Lounge, with a QR code that can be scanned on a smartphone to take drinkers to the venue’s website.
There they will be able to access live streamed events, gig tickets and radio stations whilst the venues are unable to open.
While the brewery originally planned to focus solely on brewing good lager, due to tank space and the length needed to brew (three times longer than ale), the ongoing Manchester and national lockdown has meant that the business has now needed to pivot and expand its offering.
The second new brew – Pivot – is a take on the classic Manchester Pale Ale, but using central European malt and hops, which a style that became the staple of the region thanks, in part, to the soft water the city enjoys from the Lake District.
A pale ale meets lager, the brewers add pilsner malt to the bill to help keep it crisp whilst blending aromatic, tangerine-like German hallertau mandarina hops with a citrusy British Chinook, to deliver a full flavoured ale.
ADVERTISEMENT
All the refreshment expected from a lager, jam-packed with the flavour synonymous of a pale ale.
Manchester Union Brewery
Speaking on the launch of the two new brews, Will Evans – Co-Founder of Manchester Union Brewery – said “We’ve previously made a range of kegged lagers from pilsners to red lagers, black lagers and Oktoberfest lagers, just never in cans, but the addition of the pale ale is an unorthodox step for a lager brewery.
“We always planned to eventually do a wider range of beers, and with Manchester being in lockdown virtually continuously since March, we thought it would be a prudent move to pivot into ale earlier than planned – hence the name.
“We wanted to be able to develop a wider selection of beers for people to enjoy at home over the Christmas period and beyond, now people can buy a box of twelve beers which contains four of each different beer, each with its own unique style.”
Other Co-Founder Jamie Scahill added: “As a brewery we have close connections with the music scene as many of our friends are DJs, play in bands, run club nights and I personally know how hard it’s been as I run my own club night, Funkademia, and music festival, Highest Point.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Dusk offered a perfect opportunity to support Manchester’s independent music venues during these testing times, and If just one more person clicks a link and buys a ticket then we feel we’ve helped.”
___
Each new brew will be available in cases of 12 cans for £26.58, or 24 cans for £48.67 from 6pm on 23rd November, and there will also be mixed cases containing original lager, pale ale, and black lager for the same cost.
Prices include delivery to mainland UK, and is expected within 48 hours.
You can find more information and get your hands on the two new brews via the Manchester Union Brewery website here.
Eats
Medlock Canteen confirms gutting closure after just 18 months
Danny Jones
Relative Manchester newcomer and city centre gem, Medlock Canteen, has announced that the business has now closed, sharing a lengthy statement on their social media.
The Deansgate Square favourite, which looked tipped to be one of the founding members of the emerging New Jackson foodie district, has sadly confirmed its immediate closure, with all existing bookings being unfortunately cancelled.
Medlock only opened back in March of 2024 and left a big impression on its many diners during that time, but sadly, the ever-present pressures of the hospitality industry don’t discriminate.
Writing on Instagram, the restaurant said: “With heavy hearts, we’re announcing the closure of Medlock Canteen. When we opened our doors 18 months ago, our dream was simple: to build a neighbourhood spot where everyone felt welcome, serving proper good food you know, love and can’t wait to eat.
“But the current climate has made that dream a tough one to sustain. Rising costs, increased taxes, and tighter spending have created challenges we’ve fought hard to overcome but, sadly, they’re ones we just can’t compete with.
“We’re proud to say our amazing team has been looked after, with payroll up to date and everyone offered roles elsewhere in our family of venues. If you’ve got opportunities going, drop us a message – we’d love to pass them on to anyone ready for their next chapter.”
Owned by the same group behind Belzan in Liverpool and Manchester’s Madre over in Kampus, the team led by co-owner Owain Williams has offered replacement reservations at their other venues by way of an apology to their loyal customers.
It was only back in April last year that renowned food writer Jay Rayner described it as “special” and dubbed the admittedly swankly skyscraper location a “welcome haven for all.”
Couldn’t agree more. Few could’ve seen Medlock Canteen closing barely a year on from such a glowing write-up.
They signed off by adding: “To everyone who dined, left us a rave review, shared a laugh, or came back for seconds: thank you.
“You made this little place feel truly special. And yes, we promise, one day, somehow, we’ll get that rhubarb pie back to you!”
We’ve lost another impressive little spot far too soon, but we’ll always have the unbelievable scran, and it goes without saying that while Medlock Canteen may have closed, there’ll still be plenty of continued support for the likes of Madre and its sibling down the Mersey.
Fingers crossed we get a comeback one day, but until then, let’s just stop and appreciate how stunning their food truly was.
There’s a midsummer party coming to IKEA with a live ABBA tribute act
Thomas Melia
Swedish household furniture giant and flatpack masterminds IKEA are hosting a midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute, because why the hell not?
I definitely don’t need to be soundtracked by a live ABBA tribute while shopping for new homeware, but hey, don’t threaten me with a good time…
IKEA‘s Manchester branch is hosting a party with a three-course meal, drinks and live music from none other than the Abberettes, a duo which covers classics by Swedish pop icons, ABBA.
Starters include a marinated salmon plate, salmon wrap or a small salad bowl, while one of the mains also features this fish favourite served with a bean mix.
The friendly Ikea team will be able to assist any queries on the day.
There are two more main menu options in the form of their menu highlights: meatballs, which always go down a treat, and veggies get to sample the meat-free alternative, plant balls.
In terms of a sweet treat, there are two dessert choices, both of which are equally delicious. Partygoers can choose from a Daim cake or an apple pie, and all guests are entitled to a hot or cold drink too, yum.
Kids can choose from the famed meatballs, plantballs or a tomato pasta meal, alongside a soft drink and a piece of fruit, a super meal for your little ‘Super Trouper’.
If you’re worried this special midsummer party and live ABBA tribute is going to cost you lots of ‘Money, Money, Money’, fear not as tickets are only £7.50 for Ikea family members and get this – kids eat free.
The Abberettes are doing two performances throughout the day, one from 5:30-6:15pm and a second show at 6:45-7:30pm, ‘Mamma Mia’.
Here’s a taster of the kind of crowds they pull in:
All I have left to say is I’ll have to get my tickets fast before they end up ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ or before ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
The midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute is coming to Ikea in Ashton, Greater Manchester, on Thursday, 19 June from 5pm, with tickets available now.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd November 2020 
