I went on my 1st brewery tour since moving back to Manchesterⁱ in 2008.   Initiated by a subcontractor from my job, I went with a group of work colleagues & friends - not necessarily my usual drinking crowd.   David Sweeney owns the brewery & pulled the 1st pints whilst we arrived, then we went downstairs into the actual brewery & he gave a talk on making the beer.   We were offered the choice of the brewery tour or just to stay in the bar drinking, which some people took.

The brewery is inside an old pavillion & had 3 handpumps serving Gold Digger at 4% - a golden ale with a citrussy hop flavour ( I could swear there were Cascadeⁱ hops in there but Dave Sweeney said there wasn't), Dark Mild 4.0% - a malty, sweetish, smooth mild & Bad To The Bone - a good hoppy, pale ale that appealed to the lager drinkers amongst the group.   Once the Gold Digger was finished, Volunteer at 4.2% took its place on the bar - another pale beer with a good hoppy character & a little sweetish.

Bank Top supply beer out as far as The Wirral & up to Ulverston.   Their best seller (50% of brewery output according to David) is Flat Cap which he says has won no awards yet is the most popular by a long way.

A new beer fact - well not strictly a fact - was learnt during the tour: Isinglass finings may have been discovered by people carrying wine in leather flasks previously used to carry caviar.   The wine was clearer after the journey than before.   David did say that nobody knows how the action of isinglass was discovered for sure, but it is a story he has heard.

A no-nonsense brewery tour with a knowledgeable host & most importantly - good beer.   Recommended.