Think of South Shields, and you may be picturing a stroll along the beach with a packet of chips from Colmans, queuing for a Minchella’s ice cream, a late-night curry on Ocean Road, or thousands of knackered runners reaching the finish line of the Great North Run and claiming their well-earned medals.

Ponder where to have a pint, and The Steamboat and Alum Ale House may spring to mind. But what you might not know is that there’s a new craft beer scene gaining traction in South Tyneside. So, in a world full of doomscrolling, we thought we’d bring happier news and introduce you to the latest additions to the South Shields beer world.

Craftwork Social

Craftwork Social is a monthly beer event showcasing local and national independent breweries.  A passion project for longtime friends Andrew Forster, Shaun Goldsworthy, and Andrew Richardson, their mission is to offer beer fans in South Tyneside a place to enjoy indie craft beer responsibly, whether that be in Sea Change Café (the host venue on the legendary Ocean Road) or from the comfort of your own home.

Craftwork Social’s mission is to bring people together to enjoy a range of craft beers not usually found in supermarkets or the majority of pubs in South Tyneside. Whilst the ‘bring people together’ aspect may be on hold for the time being, they believe that an ambitious project like this will bring hope, in the form of beer, to South Shields during these difficult times.

A change of pace

Due to current circumstances, the first event had to be more low-key, but was a great opportunity for people to enjoy a quiet pint or two before or after their fish and chips. The team launched Craftwork Social with an Almasty Brewing Co. showcase on 31st October, just before the new restrictions came into force. And the guys hope to be able to announce a calendar of events for 2021 and beyond, including ‘Meet the Brewer’ sessions, kitchen takeovers, and (if and when it is safe and responsible to do so) live music. 

Craftwork Social hopes to be a source of pride and inspiration for South Shields. The plan is to follow in the footsteps of the host venue, Sea Change Café, in offering employment to adults with autism. They’re also looking forward to meeting more like-minded beer fans and encouraging serious hobbyists by hosting a homebrewers’ evening. As well as being a business, the co-owners see Craftwork Social as a hub for the community and a safe space for anyone to enjoy good beer.

A new style of social club may have landed…

Follow Craftwork Social on social media for more updates:
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Harton Hop House

Launched in August 2020, Harton Hop House is a micro bar located in Harton Village. The three owners have been best friends for over 25 years, and have hired a wonderful manager, Jayne, who runs the bar side of things, to bring a great new space for South Shields beer drinkers to enjoy.

Harton Hop House stocks a range of cask ale and craft beers, with local options from breweries such as Two by Two Brewing and Wylam Brewery. They also serve a great range of gins and wines, plus carefully prepared meat and cheese platters to complement the drinks range.

With the closure of pubs this November, the team is working on a brand new click & collect service. Think of a bottle shop/off-licence hybrid, with drinks, snacks, and gift packs (sign up here for updates).

Follow Harton Hop House on social media for more updates:
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Hydrology – Hops at Home

Hydrology – Hops at Home is an online bottle shop based in South Shields. Delivering craft beer across South Tyneside, Sunderland, and Gateshead twice a week, the aim is to bring the freshest and tastiest beers to your doorstep.

The business was set up during the COVID-19 crisis, but the roots run deep in the local beer scene, having spent many hours (and lots of cash!) in bottle shops and pubs over the last 10 years or so. Owner Andy thought ‘why don’t we do this from home and deliver direct?’, and with that thought, Hydrology – Hops at Home was born, with a mantra of ‘They Brew – We Stock – You Buy – We Deliver’.

Local beers and more

Hydrology supports as many North East independent breweries as possible. Expect to see beers from the likes of Wylam Brewery, Full Circle Brew Co., and McColl’s Brewery. They also stock the best beers from across the UK, with recent can additions from Overtone Brewing Co., Left Handed Giant, and Duration Brewing.

If you’re looking to try some different beers, or struggle choosing what to buy, check out their brand new Mystery Bags, which are £30 for 10 beers. Or if you’d like to gift some beers to a mate you can’t have a pint with at the moment, why not order a 3 Can Gift Box for you both and crack open the cans over a Zoom call one night?

Order online here
Free delivery on orders over £25 – check the website for the list of postcodes covered.

Follow Hydrology on social media for more updates:
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One More Than Two Brewing Co.

One More Than Two Brew began after a conversation on the way back from a street festival in Germany. The van ride home was 17 hours so the guys had plenty of time to think about what they wanted it to be. Opting to call the brewery ‘3 Brew’ (to represent the two owners and the community), they hit a snag when they realised that that brewery name was already taken. So they decided to opt for the alternative title of ‘One More Than Two Brew’ instead.

The importance of community isn’t just referenced in the business name; it’s a community brewery, with the idea being that anyone can go and brew, name the beers, and design the artwork. To date, they’ve had 10 volunteers join the team to work in the brewery and taproom.

The beers

The OMTTB team has kept things traditional with cask ale, but in the taproom and bottle shop you’ll find a range of craft beers from other local breweries, to help support the North East economy.

‘I don’t care if your grandmother is dead, what’s the bratwurst situation’ is the name of their first IPA. With it came a decision that all subsequent beers would have to be named after something the team had heard that made them think or laugh.

So, what does the future hold for this South Shields beer business? Whilst the taproom and bottle shop establishes itself in the local area, the guys are looking ahead. They have plans to work with local charities, setting up a community project team to help the most vulnerable members of society.

Buy online here
Follow One More Than Two Brewing Co. on social media for more updates:
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Looking to support local businesses at this difficult time? Check out our Buy Local pages, which are regularly updated with info on North East businesses you can buy online from.