The Stirchley Beer Mile: A Stagger through Birmingham’s Local Trail!
What is the Stirchley Beer Mile?
Stirchley is a suburb in the south of Birmingham, and has had a resurgence in popularity over the past 5 or 6 years due to the organic growth of independent bars, breweries, restaurants and cafes. (as well as other independent shops and services) The Stirchley beer mile has grown out of that resurgence.
Stirchley has caught the eye of various travel websites, and keeps being mentioned as one of the best places to live in the UK. I’m not sure about that, but it is pretty exciting and has been for a while now.
I’ve not heard many people call it the Stirchley Beer Mile Birmingham for a while locally (but I think they still do nationally), and with more great places along the way, it’s definitely worth collating.
I’ve lived in Birmingham (UK), around Stirchley, Cotteridge, and Bournville for most of my adult life, so I know a thing or two about the pubs around here.
So, if you are interested in having a go at the Stirchley beer mile, grab a pint and start reading my list of the recommended pubs, bars, and brew taps along the route!
The Stirchley Beer Mile Route
You don’t have to do all of these Stirchley pubs and breweries, but if you think you can, then this is probably the best route. There are 9 beer venues I have chosen for this list.
Start at Kings Norton train station (or even get off the number 11 bus at Cotteridge) and work your way down into Stirchley. If you don’t know any of these places I mention, then look them up and give them a follow on the socials!
The Stirchley Beer Mile Pubs, Bars, and Brew Taps
RedBeerd.
RedBeered is a great place to meet at the start of the route and sits at the top of the hill. Technically it’s Cotteridge, but it spearheads the Stirchley Beer Mile as a micropub. They usually have a couple of great cask ales on, and a rig full of 5 or 6 keg craft beers. They also have cobs (or filled bread rolls for those of you non-locals) on at the bar if you fancy one. A friendly and regular crowd, you’ll find worse places to start a beer crawl. When you come out, turn left, and down the hill to our next place!
Glasshouse Brewery and Tap.
The Glasshouse is situated facing the canal on Waterside Business Park. You can either skirt through the trading estate on foot, keeping tight to the fence on your right, or go down the canal towpath and pop in through the gates. It has hop forward beers, with different street food vendors each weekend. Great music, a great crowd and some of the best beer in the area. When you are done here, pop out onto the canal towpath and turn left again. About 7 mins down this way, pop up the ramp at Bournville train station and you’ll pop out right by the next top spot!
Attic Brew Tap Room.
This is a large industrial warehouse brew tap, with lots of styles of onsite made craft beer on sale, as well as the occasional guest beer. Another brewery with a weekend street food vendor. Perfect for lining your stomach, mid-session. The huge brew kit is on display for all to see, and there is a choice of inside seating, outside seating, or you can sit under a large gazebo out the front. Once you have completed this mini game, come out, and turn right, down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, turn right. Soon after, you’ll get to the next place.
Deadbeat.
From the same gang behind the notorious Bonehead in Birmingham town, Deadbeat is a local dive bar, with good craft beer, picklebacks and wine. There is also monthly fun food going on, with pop-ups and resident chef made food for good measure. Low-lit, with rock tunes on, this may be what you were looking for all along! With 5 or 6 taps on, and a fridge full of cans for sale, there’s certainly a good choice. Come out of here and cross over to get to the next place. Head to Hazlewood Road, and onto the business park where you’ll find a great brewery!
Birmingham Brewing Company (Brum Brew Co)
Starting in 2016, this brewery and tap room just over the river, offers brewery tours, great beer, and that old friend of ours…street food! It’s a big venue, with a friendly bar area, and numerous styles of Brummy-referenced beer on sale. When done here, come out and trace your steps back to the main road. Turn right and walk to the next set of lights, crossing over to our next stop.
Birmingham Brewing Co. Website
Wildcat Tap
One of the Stirchley originals. Liam (the owner) will say it isn’t, but don’t believe him! Without Artefact, Wildcat, and Loaf, I don’t think the Stirchley renaissance would have taken place. A range of both cask and keg beers offer great sessionable choice for the discerning real ale or craft beer drinker. There’s a can and bottle fridge too if you fancy something special. Tea and coffee are also available (soz). Out of here and turn left. A couple of doors down, and you’ll get to stop 7 on the Stirchley Beer Mile.
Cork and Cage
This place started life as a Lambic specialist bar. You’ll still find the odd Lambic beer on, but aside from that, you’ll find a superb range of interesting craft ales on keg. Fun bar staff and regulars alike, Cork and Cage is one of a handful of bars in Stirchley that has become a beating heart for the community of beer fans. The occasional food pop-up or food menu provides further sustenance here. Once you’ve finished what’s on offer, come out and turn left again. Just a couple of minutes on to the next place!
The Bournbrook
The first actual Stirchley Pub on the route (yes really!), and the first of my favourite pubs here. It has a lineup of 3 or 4 craft beers on keg, as well as a kitchen! So if you are peckish by this point on your way round, it’s great. It also has a hotel to the rear, so if you are in the area for the crawl, it’s a reasonable place to stay too. From here, it’s a short stumble to the second of the two best pubs in Stirchley.
The British Oak
In quick succession, this is the last pub on the route. It is a Stirchley pub with a huge beer garden to the rear, and a kitchen off the garden run by the legendary Original Patty Men. There’s also a DJ out the back on a weekend, and plenty of outside space with covered and open seating. A couple of different rooms inside the pub, and multiple bars and hatches make this place a perfect end to a pub crawl.
Final thoughts on the Stirchley Beer Mile
Stirchley is a lovely community, and the people you will meet on the way around are great. Whether you go to all of the places on the Stirchley Beer Mile list, stay in one or two places, or even divert into one of the other non-beer bars, you’ll certainly have a great time.
Check socials for the opening times of each. GlassHouse, for example, only opens on weekends, and mainly through summer/autumn(selected weekends at other times).
Be careful out there. Be nice to each other and all the bar staff. Be safe crossing the road. Don’t fall in the canal. And most of all, have fun in Stirchley!
If you enjoyed reading this post check out my website with a map of all my favourite independent places in Birmingham. Click below to delve into the world of b town social!
b town social
written by:
category:
Drop me a comment