When I first heard that the dive formerly known as Bash Bar on New Street, Birmingham, was to reopen as a craft beer establishment I wondered if the people involved would be brave enough to make it a venue the city centre has been crying out for. A place that not only had great British real ales but also has the bottle, quite literally, to scour the world for foreign excellence too. Hindered by its semi-underground, windowless, petite interior, I can understand why the venue won't have enticed all but the most daring entrepreneurs. Step forward Nigel Barker and Mike Perkins...
Post Office Vaults, as it's now rechristened, opened just before Christmas, its 8 real ale hand pumps are complimented by its large draught cider range and... wait for it... 250 different beers from around the globe. A number that has been increasing each and every week its been open to meet demand. A delightful selection of American, Belgian, German and others are ready to seduce you from the pages of the satisfyingly weighty beer menus available at the bar.
There isn't much you can do with such a small space but what has been done has been done well. Post Office Vaults feels cosy, it feels welcoming, it's a smart place, unlike its garish predecessor. There's beer paraphernalia from around the world on the walls, a few towering jeroboams and other impressively sized bottles of great beers in a corner here and there and even a bar billiard table, though I have absolutely no idea how to play the thing. It's the beer selection doing all the talking here though, along with the, importantly, knowledgeable and friendly staff.
So when you're next in the second city remember you can now sample everything from a Abbaye de Rocs to a Westmalle via a De Molen and a Nøgne. Sounds great doesn't it? The full list is here in all its glory: http://www.postofficevaults.co.uk/foreignbeer.php
Post Office Vaults can be accessed either by its smaller entrance on New Street near the historic Victoria Square or its other more visible entrance round the corner on Pinfold Street.
