Food & Drink

Seven Bro7hers teams up with rugby legend to create new ‘road runner’ charity beer

The Salford-based brewery will be donating 60% of the profits from the limited-edition lager to the MNDA.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd March 2021

Seven Bro7hers has teamed up with a rugby league legend to launch a limited-edition lager for an extremely worthy cause.

The Salford-based brewery – which was founded in 2014 by McAvoy brothers, Guy, Keith, Luke, Daniel, Nathan, Kit, and Greg, after being inspired by their dad’s home-brewing – has joined forces with former Leeds Rhinos star, Rob Burrow, for the creation of this 5% ABV “classic and crisp” craft pilsner.

Rob Burrow’s illustrious career saw him win the Grand Final eight times from 2004 to 2017.

Fans will know that Burrow famously played in the number seven position during his career – which the brew pays homage to – and was always quick on his feet, despite being one of the smaller players on the field.

But in December 2019, he was sadly diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Since then, Burrow has become a high-profile ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and was awarded an MBE in the latest new year honours.

He was also the inspiration behind his ex-teammate and close friend’s – Oldham-born former Leeds Rhinos captain, Kevin Sinfield – mammoth mission of running seven marathons in seven days, which raised over £2.7 million for research into Motor Neurone Disease.

And now, the Roadrunner lager is his latest fundraising effort.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMuJirrJj-p/

Burrow requested that the vegan pilsner be called ‘Roadrunner’ after a playful nickname he was coined on the pitch.

“I’m so proud to have a beer named after me,” Rob said.

“The name came from Rugby League commentator Michael Stephenson MBE, he would often refer to me as the ‘road runner’”.

Burrow admitted that while his condition is sadly “slowly deteriorating”, his head is in a good place, he is “feeling really good” about his future, and is most-importantly “thrilled that some of the people suffering from MND will be able to benefit from the proceeds of this beer.”

Nathan McAvoy – founder of Seven Bro7hers, who is also a former England rugby league star – added: “To us, Rob is one in seven million – an amazing player and family man, doing a fantastic job to raise awareness in the fight against this awful disease [and] it has been an honour to collaborate with Rob to bring to life his sporting legacy on the can.

“It is hard to not be incredibly moved by his story, and we hope everyone supports the beer as all proceeds will help to tackle MND and fund research for cures”.

Twitter – @SEVENBRO7HERS

Roadrunner is available to order from 22nd March exclusively via the Seven Bro7hers website, with a case of six (440ml) cans setting you back £18.

The brewery will be donating 60% of the profits from the beer to the MNDA.

You can grab yours here.

Food & Drink

Drinking around the ‘Beermuda Triangle’ of brewery taprooms in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Drinking around the Beermuda Triangle in Manchester

If you’re looking for the best pints in Manchester, turn your ass around at the door of the pub and head to the ‘Beermuda Triangle’, a corner of the city centre where taprooms are king.

Our city has a great rep for craft beer and microbreweries, and a lot of these are concentrated in one brilliant, unexpected stretch of industrial estate.

Head beyond Manchester Piccadilly and you’ll find yourself in an area nicknamed the ‘Beermuda Triangle’, where tucked among tool shops and warehouses are breweries welcoming in thirsty punters.

These are places where you can sip on the freshest lagers, ales and sours, straight from the source.

As you kick back in one of these taprooms, you can see the brewers hard at work on their next creation, and see beers being canned before your eyes.

There are, of course, plenty of other taprooms and brewery-operated bars all over Greater Manchester, but if you want to minimise your step count and maximise your drinking time, this is where to head.

So we’ve gone out exploring the current residents on the Beermuda Triangle (I know, tough job) to give you the low-down for your next pub crawl.

All the taprooms on Manchester’s Beermuda Triangle

Cloudwater

Cloudwater's Taproom on the Beermuda Triangle
Cloudwater's Taproom on the Beermuda Triangle

When you think of craft beer, you probably think of these guys.

Since being founded in 2014, Cloudwater has gone on huge things and is now listed among the largest craft beer brands in the UK.

They’ve got their own pub (The Sadler’s Cat), a taproom down in London, and a huge brewery next-door to their taproom on the Piccadilly Trading Estate.

In here, it’s a stripped-back, Scandi-style interior upstairs, with a few extra tables squeezed in amongst oak barrels downstairs, plus a decent suntrap terrace out the front.

Our order? A pint of Fuzzy pale ale.

Track

Track Taproom
Track Taproom
Track Taproom
Track Taproom

Another big player in the craft beer game, Track’s taproom is comfortably one of Manchester’s coolest bars.

It’s a huge space, split between the actual brewery and the taproom, where beers are displayed on a rainbow-hued menu board and their own merch lines the walls.

With loads of plants, a leafy little beer garden, and a small kitchen that’s home to Slice Culture pizzeria, this one is the least rough-and-ready of all the taprooms on the Beermuda Triangle.

The most logical order here has, and will always be, Sonoma, they’re easy-drinking session pale ale available on both cask and keg – but there are always tonnes of other beers beyond their core range that are worth your attention.

Sureshot

Sureshot taproom
Sureshot taproom
Sureshot taproom

Sureshot proves that you can take the art of brewing seriously but still have a laugh, with silly beer names and a giant bear mascot manically grinning at you as you sip your beer.

What’ll it be – a pint of ‘Wait… What?’, a schooner of ‘Small Man’s Wetsuit’, or a third of ‘Be Polite and Comb Your Hair?’.

They’re known for their hop-forward styles but are always dreaming up new creations and collaborations, like a recent sour with Bundobust, and collaboration with inclusive football club Manchester Lacesm with a donation of each ‘I Thought She Was A Pisces’ sold going to the club.

This one’s off the Piccadilly Trading Estate and is under the railway arches, handily with Nell’s next door who will deliver you a pizza while you’re on your taproom crawl.

Balance Brewing & Blending

Inside Balance Brewing's taproom in Manchester
Inside Balance Brewing's taproom in Manchester

The final stop on the Beermuda triangle is Balance, who specialise in barrel-fermented sours.

The taproom itself is a real looker, with fairy lights festooned overhead, a deep burgundy bar, and persian rugs thrown all over the concrete floors.

The beers here are all funky and punchy and well worth ordering a few testers of before you make your final decision.

Whatever you order, it’s going to have good British roots and a beautiful flavour.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer

A brand-new pub has opened slap bang in the middle of the Northern Quarter – take a look inside The Faraday. 

This pub is just off the bustling Stevenson Square and has bags of stuff on offer. 

Spread across two floors on the site that was previously 7Sins, you’ll find live music, games, cocktails, and of course plenty of pints. 

The Lever Street venue has been totally transformed into a cosy space inspired by traditional British boozers. 

We’re talking vintage pub mirrors, mismatched bar stools, wood paneled walls, deep burgundy leather banquette seating and a fresh lick of dark green paint. 

And this smart pub has got the space to become a live music gem for the Northern Quarter, with live music every Wednesday to Sunday.

Downstairs, there’s still a wide range of games to keep you entertained, including pool tables (which are unlimited play for your booking), electric darts, and shuffleboard. 

The Faraday’s drinks menu boasts loads of classic cocktails, including margaritas, old fashioneds (including a tequila version), and a selection of sours. 

In pictures: The Faraday pub opens in Manchester

Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub

When happy hour rolls around (6pm til 10pm every evening but Saturday) you can get £5 drinks including pints of Guinness, and a selection of spritzes.

On draft there are fan favourites like Guinness, Mahou, Corona, Lowenbrau, Jubel Peach, Camden Pale, Kopparberg, and Camden Hells.

There’s a decent amount of outside seating for when the sun has got his hat on, too, with full sunshine in the afternoons.

The Faraday is open until 1am during the week, and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. 

It’s open now at 43-45 Lever Street in the Northern Quarter. 

They’ll be giving away a free pint to the first 100 people to visit on Friday 1 August from 5pm. You just need to show you’re following The Faraday on Instagram. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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