The sun was shinning and we were out for Mum and Dad’s five and a half year anniversary. Wow! Considering Dad can be a massive pain in Mum’s posterior, he’d done pretty well. Well done for not being quite annoying enough Dad! Macclesfield has lots of decent places to drink. Some, like the Treacle Tap and the Snow Goose, unfortunately haven’t reopened after lockdown yet, but there are still a few great places to get your fix of craft beer.
Fiveclouds Bottle & Tap is a taproom and bottle shop ran by Fiveclouds Brewery and definitely one of those great places. In the building formerly occupied by Brewtique, the bar on Market Place is perfect for sitting outside in summer and people watching, all whilst sipping a nice pint. They have ten keg lines and one cask, as well as a selection of gins, wines and other spirits. There’s also fridge full of different bottles and cans in every style you can imagine, so there is something for everyone.
Their ten keg lines are ever-changing with different amazing beers from breweries, both local and beyond. At any one time you’ll be able to pick from pale ales, IPAs, helles style lagers and there is usually a cider and a imperial stout or porter if that takes your fancy. If you’re not sure, the staff are very knowledgeable about the beer they sell. We definitely recommend this superb bar.
And now to where is all started those five and half years ago. Red Willow is a Macclesfield based brewery that was started in late 2010. After successfully launching both bottled and keg beers, including producing a beer to be sold on Virgin Trains called Tilting Ale, the team behind the brewery also opened the first RedWillow Bar in 2013. Since then they have significantly expanded the brewery, launching their beer in cans, Wreckless and Shameless the first to be canned.
In 2015, the bar won Pub of the Season by Cheshire East CAMRA and it’s easy to see why – we love this place it has to be said. This was our first visit post lockdown and the first place we’d had to have our temperature checked on entry. Phew, all clear and we were shown to a table. It was table service only and there was a QR code on the table, “scan me to access our drinks menu with your phone”. Cool! Today we tried their limited edition passion fruit IPA, which was absolutely loaded with flavour.
We think RedWillow beer is amazing, but you don’t need to take our word for it, you can buy some yourself at their online shop. Here you can get your hands on their canned beers, mixed cases, mini kegs and merchandise such as their contactless t-shirt and also branded glassware which comes in stemmed half pint, schooner and helles pint glasses. On top of this you can get free local delivery in SK10 and SK11 postcodes and also free national shipping on orders over £50. What are you waiting for, get ordering!