UNTIL around 10,000 years ago we homo-sapiens were nomads, the hunter-gatherer sort. We roamed around, ate stuff, then wandered off again. Eventually we stopped roaming and began to settle in one place. We discovered farming and grew barley, which historians assumed was to make bread.
In the half-an-hour spent in the store not one customer that came in looked over 30, backpacks and hi-tops abounded.
However, experts have since discovered evidence that suggest beer was being produced thousands of years before bread. The wheel, the plough, irrigation, all means by which to facilitate the production of beer. Thus, the beginning of the world as we know it, the advance of mankind as a species, the progression of technology and the development of (a seemingly intoxicated) civilization itself can be attributed to… beer.
So I suppose that we should appreciate it. And nobody appreciates beer quite as much as Scott Davies and Jeremy Stull of the newly opened Beermoth on Tib Street (wedged between Matt and Phreds and Tib St Tavern).
Scott cultivated his substantial knowledge of craft beer whilst managing various pubs including the Castlefield ale-haven The Knott (at the bottom end of Deansgate, next to the Locks), achieving recognition from that society of propa’ beer guzzlers, CAMRA. Jeremy, on the other hand, hails from Kansas City (birthplace of Burt Bacharach) which supposedly possesses quite a lively beer scene - Budweiser be gone.
He then popped on over to Utrecht in Holland (as you do) to refine his knowledge and quench his thirst for European beer. Finally, he moseyed on over here to Manchester in 2011, where you may recognise him as the friendly Yank fella from NQ’s Port Street Beer House (a cracking drinker – see our Best of Manchester Bars). Needless to say, you’d be hard pressed to find two guys in Manchester that know more about the suds than these transatlantic beardos.
Beer'd
Of course Northern Quarter carries a plethora of hipster bars, trendy eateries and bohemian coffee shops. It’s got the record stores, comic shops, galleries, giggeries, creative spaces and addiction treatment centres. But one thing the area has been lacking is a seriously quality offy.
We’re not talking a crate of Fozzies, a deck of PallMall and a packet of Wotsits offies. No, no you philistine. We’re talking specially selected, refined and hand-picked beers from quality independent breweries around the world. More a luxury beer bazaar if you will.
A 21st century girl prowls for ale
Until Beermoth reared its frothy head on 1 Feb, there only seemed to be the miniscule Microbar in the Arndale Food Markets (with very limited shelving space) that was attempting to achieve that which Beermoth endeavours to offer, quality bottled craft beer from folks that know the Barley Pop inside-out. Whether it will tap in to the taste buds of the masses and establish itself is yet to be seen.
The key market for real-beer drinkers has always stereotypically been seen as the sock and sandal brigade, 40 plus blokey blokes with strained shirt buttons and a penchant for pork pies. However, in recent years there has been a massive shift in the demographic of real ale drinkers.
Although lager sales are down, sales of cask ales have risen. This is coupled with a noticeable surge in the popularity of ales between 25 to 34-year-old drinkers, including women. In which case, Beermoth is certainly well placed to give it a stab. Indeed, in the half-an-hour spent in the store not one customer that came in looked over 30, backpacks and hi-tops abounded.
Beermoth
Scott and Jeremy are currently looking to set up ticketed beer-tasting sessions in the basement of the store and to expand upon the range, with an emphasis on craft beers ‘based on quality, made independently with decent ingredients and care.’
The current stock is nothing short of expansive, with beers from British, Belgian, Dutch, American, Norwegian, Italian and German breweries from the likes of Buxton (a house fave), Marble, Red Willow, Brooklyn, Orval (Jeremy’s favoured tipple), Brewfist and way more. The braver drinkers could even give the Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout (seriously, it’s brewed with oysters) a go, alternatively, go for a beer not made with molluscs.
The prices range from £2.90 for the Orval to craft beers well over a tenner for the more devoted beer aficionados.
The classical Greek philosopher Plato reportedly once declared, ‘He was a wise man who invented beer.’ So there you have it, beer can be credited with the beginning of civilization and ole’ Plato himself was a fan. No excuse needed.
And the name of the shop wins Confidential’s pun of the month award. Beermoth, so like behemoth, a monster from the Bible which now just means something enormous - such as the fashion for craft beers at present. Or are we just being too clever here?
Beermoth, 70 Tib St, Northern Quarter, M4 1LG
Open everyday from 12pm - 8pm
Twitter: @thebeermoth
Odd lagers
Beer upon beer
