Moved on from Beck’s and bored of Brewdog from Morrisons? These are where you need to be 🍺
My drinking tastes have evolved a lot even in the last year or so, and now it’s gotta be unfiltered, triple dry-hopped, and less common than a a blogger paying for their meal. At some point you’ve gotta realise that life’s just too short for bad beer.
It’s not always been so easy to stumble on the best lambic sour in Newcastle, never mind stay on trend of what’s hot, so here’s my pick of the very best beer shops in Newcastle where not only can you buy something in a different league from a warm tin of Fosters, but also laugh with the owners about your new vice of spending £30 on three bottles of beer every week.
Block & Bottle
ℹ️ 88 Heaton Rd, NE6 5HP / website
Block & Bottle was the result of a successful crowdfunder from which combines two of life’s greats – meat and beer.
I’m sure the crossover in people who love meat and people who love beer is fairly large, so you’ve got a destination shop here which is worth the trip to Heaton. Bigger and more successful than ever following their stint over in Gateshead, the guys have been on the Hairy Bikers, and have become both a restaurant supplier and local mainstay since I first published this.
Block & Bottle’s beer selection is spot on in terms of range, rotation, and price, and there’s four great value taps for something fresh. Kicker for me here is a couple of benches to enjoy a couple of slurps inside and watch the world go by – be it from the taps or straight outta the fridge. You’ll find all your Box Social beers alongside Westmalle cosied up to heavy hitting stouts in a mix that’s always got something new and interesting. Join ’em on Untappd too for handy stock updates.
Also a fully-fledged butchers, they’ll have most of your meaty needs covered. Speaking of which, meat is of higher-welfare, and it’s priced in most cases cheaper than supermarkets, which is impressive. I had my eye on a nice looking bavette last time, but check out the coffee jerky, house sausages, and whatever other hunks of animal look inviting on the day.
STOCK: 4/5 (excellent range and rotation)
VALUE: 4/5 (pretty bang on)
BEER GEEKERY: 5/5 (know their stuff)
Rehills
ℹ️ 245-249 Jesmond Rd, NE2 1LB / website
For the discerning/upmarket student that doesn’t just smash in 24 tins of Red Stripe, Rehills has long been an unusual but well-stocked beer house. You might have been past and not noticed it, just down from Peace & Loaf, and across the road from Dene’s Deli. Don’t blame ya – what might appear to be a corner shop actually houses a den of beers from around the world.
It’s a small section of a general convenience store, but what’s there is incredibly varied good stuff. There’s local, national and international beers, and they’re reasonably priced. There’s a shelf of rare ones too, where prices can go North of £20/bottle, and a plethora of spirits too.
What lets it down? You’re just not gonna get that beer-geekery chat and advice like you will in many of the others – it’s a corner shop which somewhere along the lines, has swallowed a beer cave. That’s not to discredit though, as the selection is huge, and there’s some solid beer snacking bits too. Pro tip? Grab a sarnie from across the road on the way back, and that’s your night sorted.
STOCK: 5/5 (improved a lot over the last 12 months, and have most things you could want)
VALUE: 4/5 (pretty good, with some missteps)
BEER GEEKERY: 2/5 (bring your own…though there is a plan for a taproom space)
Elder Beer Cafe
ℹ️ 290 Chillingham Rd, NE6 5LQ / website
Well this one came outta nowhere…
Elder Beer Cafe joins the other great things that have been happening on Chili Road over the last couple of years, and provides what I think is the best beer selection, anywhere in the NE.
It’s a cafe-cum-bottle-shop so there’s a good amount of tables both for a couple of snifters of the newest Beak IPA, or even unlimited filter coffee for £3. Incredible.
Dozens of beers of the highest quality, as well as this sharing bottle/cider/belgian fridge which always carries something that feels like a treat (and costs like it too).
It’s just a lovely little space to rest for a half of whatever’s on tap, or stay and make a night of it and crack open a few big ones. There’s an outside space/back yard for the summer, where Flint Pizza can be ordered, or stay in and enjoy a Pink Lane pretzel which for me, is the greatest drinking snack available. Superb!
STOCK: 5/5 (best in the NE?)
VALUE: 4/5 (as to be expected)
BEER GEEKERY: 4/5 (nerds!)
Coppers
ℹ️ 17A Princes Rd, NE3 5TT / website
Up in Brunton Park, just along from worth-a-visit George Payne’s butchers is another curious Rehills-a-like in as much as Coppers is a beer shed attached to the back of a general convenience shop.
Coppers has possibly less of the locals than some of the other guys here, not necessarily the worst thing if you’ve already completed all of Wylam’s barrel-aged series. But what you’ll find is of high quality, with minimal duds. Maybe they’re just more closely aligned to my tastes, but hopefully part of what this post does is just gets you out there to try some new beers from some new haunts.
The stock is on a par with anything you’ll find on this list, albeit there’s probably less of it given space constraints. But where Coppers excels itself is in it’s outside “Hop Secret” round the back which complements their six or seven taps with an outside boozing area – something only Coppers can brag about. I haven’t yet made it down in the summer, but if you’re near the area, I can’t think of a sneakier place to sit for a few high-end scoops. See also: snacks from Pete’s Puddin’ and sounds-like-a-waste-of-a-good-beer Jakehead Geordie Bangers among other munchies available for purchase.
STOCK: 4/5 (latest Wylam sits alongside less obvious Beerbliotek)
VALUE: 4/5 (generally better than average)
BEER GEEKERY: 4/5 (love beer and it shows)
Fenwick
ℹ️ 39 Northumberland Street, NE1 7AS / website
A large part of the Fenwick revamp, the old shop was good but they’ve gone super-size in the 2016 refresh of the food hall.
It must be Newcastle’s prettiest selection of alcohol – more liquor library than pokey beer shop, but there’s a solid selection of particularly local beers, which dominate the stock. Sure, there might be a slight premium – it is Fenwicks, not the pound shop – but they’ve got spirits, and wines by the bucket load – accessible ones and the (slightly) more recherché too.
There are regular tastings and meet the brewer events – again with a local focus, and the staff are genuinely friendly but not really the beer nerd you’ll get elsewhere. They’re never gonna be able to keep up with the cutting edge of beer releases, but what’s there is reliable, mostly of quality, and hyper-convenient, if nothing else.
STOCK: 2/5 (really just the classics/established core beers)
VALUE: 3/5 (it’s Fenwick’s…)
BEER GEEKERY: 1/5 (though staff try, it’s more of a wine destination)
The Rare Drop
ℹ️ 6 Beaconsfield Rd, Gateshead, NE9 5EU / facebook
One for those South of the River, The Rare Drop sits just off Durham Road in Low Fell. I think it’s started life as a wine & spirits shop – it’s ran by the team who produce Steampunk Gin. However, what started as a couple of beers on the side is now a couple of fridges stocked with what’s new and just whatever the guys like (which is kinda cute). Lots of tasters available, and also a stockist of the great Laneberg Wines (made in Gateshead), it’s another great place to pick up the latest Wylam releases, or whatever tickles your fancy. Bonus – obvious attempt to undercut the other bottle shops works wonders with me, and owner Julie is a hoot. Cheers!
STOCK: 3/5 (small but growing, and what’s there is quality)
VALUE: 5/5 (cheapest in the NE?)
BEER GEEKERY: 3/5 (not beer nerds, but beer lovers)
Hazy Days
ℹ️ Spanish City, NE26 1BG / website
Another one on the coast, Hazy Days is Whitley Bay’s access to dozens of quality beers in the Spanish City of all places, right on the coast!
It’s a little unit at the front of the new development, with all styles represented, lots of merchandise, wine, and other tidbits, like spirits, as well as being a dog friendly place. The owners are lovely and happy to chat through your latest helles obsession, as well as guide the tourists of Whitley Bay towards some better beers.
Hopefully getting some more fridges soon, though there is one it’s tied up mostly with wines (of which there are some corkers), but the range is plentiful with lots of big hitters like the latest Wylam or Full Circle as well as some oddities. Two choices on the coast, you can’t complain!
STOCK: 4/5 (very large range, could be more exciting)
VALUE: 4/5 (on the money)
BEER GEEKERY: 4/5 (happy to chat!)
Centrale
ℹ️ Inside Central Station, West Side near high-numbered platforms
Beer & trains just go hand in hand, so when Centrale opened to cater to those boozy Saturday afternoon train journeys, I had to check it out. It’s actually fantastically stocked with traditional/English ‘noble’ beers as well as your latest Cloudwater DIPA. The bonus is just that some of them are in the fridge so if you’re on the train, you needn’t put up with Strongbow Dark Fruits from the neighbouring Sainsbury’s. Prices are a bit hit and miss for me, but there’s a shop Bulldog, as well as snacks, and a small selection of wines and spirits, so your next trip is sorted! Huge points for convenience in being so central in Newcastle as well, though this is of course affected by funky opening times.
STOCK: 4/5 (lots of beers, new and old)
VALUE: 2/5 (sometimes on the money, sometimes way off – like £2-3)
BEER GEEKERY: 3/5 (got a lot of time for older-style beers)
Nord
ℹ️ 167 Park View, Whitley Bay NE26 3RF
Part of the cringingly-named Beer-Muda Traingle of Whitley Bay, Nord is a quality bottle shop that was part taproom, but has abandoned that (for now). They’re at the cutting edge of what’s out, hosting events with Cloudwater themselves recently, as well as being in the know for beers literally on the day of their release, from both regional breweries, as well as those nationally. One to keep an eye on, as they’ve always got something either happening, or about to happen.
STOCK: 4/5 (quality vs. quantity – absolutely no shit here)
VALUE: 3/5 (just on the wrong side of pricing a few times, though usually OK)
BEER GEEKERY: 5/5 (get a beer, you might be here for a while)
Yardhouse Tynemouth
ℹ️ 27-29 Percy Park, Tynemouth, North Shields NE30 4LT
If you didn’t know Centrale above existed, good luck finding this one! Yardhouse is at the back of a Post Office in Tynemouth, like some sort of doorway to Narnia. Once inside though, you’ve got a quality selection of beers, never really the very latest releases, but always something to whet your lips for the weekend.
Bonus – There’s always four or five taps of the region’s greatest beers from the likes of Wylam, Almasty, and Anarchy available to have in or growler out – at a very reasonable price. Occasional events, and a friendly vibe make this a go-to if you’re nearer the coast. Priced well, too.
STOCK: 4/5 (lots, but also lots of older/less glam beers, and only a small portion in the fridge)
VALUE: 5/5 (some of the most keenly priced beers on this list)
BEER GEEKERY: 4/5 (now feat. the home brewing legend who ‘shaked Nigel Farage)
Domesqtique
ℹ️ Collingwood Buildings, Quality Row Rd, Swalwell, NE16 3AQ
Keeping the folk just across the river well stocked is Pedalling Squares neighbour/spinoff business Domestique. Also a deli serving coffee and sandwiches, it’s got a couple of fridges with beers representing near and far, across IPA, stout, sours, and a better-than-average AF section as well. Mostly refrigerated, and mostly local, so whether you’re cycling past and in need of refreshment, or live on the South side, 100% worth a visit to Swalwell.
Pro tip: quite often has summertime food vendors outside on a Thursday — check social media for details but expect Fat Hippo, Acropolis, etc.
STOCK: 4/5 (limited range, but what’s there is generally a mix of good old ‘uni and new locals)
VALUE: 4/5 (always fair)
BEER GEEKERY: 2/5 (it really depends who is serving at the time)
Champion Bottle and Tap
Update: Champion has been sold and opened in 2019 as Heaton Tap, a micro pub . I’m leaving it in here as a fan.
Only launched a short few months ago but already making a huge splash, the tiny, tiny space just off Chili Road houses a fantastic mix of beers from all owa, and with a deft curation in terms of quality. Threre’s classics – you’ll for sure find Jakehead if that’s all your after – but they’re at the forefront of getting those rarities and new releases. They’ve even launched an online reservation system for those in-demand beers like all the silly limited Cloudwater‘s DIPA releases, which is sensible, genuinely useful, and a godsend for those of us not in Heaton. A regularly updated blog & bottle list keeps you in the know without having so make a special trip, too.
There’s a rotation of four taps as well, only available to take-out (for now?), which means you can fill a growler with your favourite at a very reasonable rate. For the beer nerd, it’s one of the absolute best places to pick up what’s hot, what’s new, and what you should be drinking now. The guys are super helpful too, obviously loving beer so much they’re making trips out to the Mikkeller mecca itself so that punters can pick up something special. Bonus: also have some natural wines, and just look at the house derg.
STOCK: 4/5 (makes the best of a small space)
VALUE: 3/5 (hit and miss but mostly palatable)
BEER GEEKERY: 5/5 (even have a beer blog)
…Glug
Update: Both mmm.. and…glug closed late in 2019 after moving to a standalone shop on Grainger Street.
Offshoot of the successful mmmm… in the Grainger Market, glug… is the boozy brother next door.
Given the relatively large size of the unit (compared to the rest here!) they don’t often have everything, and the stock is often less=more when it comes to variety. There’s a few breweries who are well represented, particularly the locals, but not always a representation of the cutting edge beers, never mind a huge stock of them.
What you have got is tried and tested, so expect your local brews from Wylam, Errant et al next to some bigger hitting Belgians and Sam Smiths. There’s a handful of ciders and wines, too.
Owners Ian and Simone are always helpful though, especially for the clueless gift-buyer, and of course the huge bonus here is that you can get whatever you need for tea at the same time. Mmm… next door houses all the ingredients and spices you’re looking for. There’s a few in the chiller too, for those summer days. Mmm… actually announced today that they’re moving into a bigger premises, and I hope that means more space for more beers (and better opening hours)!
STOCK: 3/5 (shelf space doesn’t reflect # of beers offered)
VALUE: 4/5 (mostly good value)
BEER GEEKERY: 3/5 (frequent meet the brewer events, and guidance for beer noobs)
Are there any hidden hems I might have missed? Give me a shout and let me know where you get your beer fix from in Newcastle. In the meantime, try some new beers, I promise you’ll never go back, and make mine a Wylam Lush. Cheers!
Info correct Feb 2022.
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