What a fantastic way to spend a quick dinner-time break in Derby
The craft beer and tasting room on Friar Gate offers a diverse range of beer, ale, lambics and more
Derby wears its Real Ale City badge with pride, boasting plenty of brilliant pubs.
One that ticks all the boxes for me, is Suds & Soda on Friar Gate.
It’s a place where you can happily sip a pint for a solo session, as you mull over a busy day.
I have found one of the best times to visit this cosy watering hole is on a Monday evening for a quick dinner-time treat.
It’s the time when a cheese board is served, giving patrons the chance to enjoy nibbles, chutneys and local cheeses - all washed down with a tasty tipple of course.
To be clear, partaking in the cheese board is free - however courtesy and good manners dictates buying a drink to enjoy alongside the delicious nibbles.
I was over the moon last time when my beloved Montagnolo Affine, a triple crème soft cheese, appeared on the Suds board.
This blue veined beauty has an edible grey, chalky flavoured rind cradling a luxuriously creamy middle.
I imagine this cheese to be a lovechild of a cosy brie and punchy Roquefort.
It has a slightly spicy aftertaste - think green peppercorns on the swallow - being allowed to slowly mature by ageing at a low temperature.
The Montagnolo was just one of the top cheeses served from local deli Milk & Honey on nearby Sadler Gate.
It is a chilled out, happy space for groups of beer fans either propping up the bar, or taking a pew on the canteen-style benches.
The real star of Suds & Soda is the genius beer offering that is hard to find anywhere else in the city centre.
Diverse ales and beers on offer are showcased via several mini beer festivals held throughout the year.
It gives people the chance to broaden their (beer) horizons and try something new.
For more seasoned beer drinkers, it also serves as a real treat without having to mission out and travel the world in search of authentic lagers.
Styles of beer served range from lager and lambics to weissbier produced by some of the world’s most long-established independent breweries - some are over 300 years old.
Newer kids on the beer block are also given the same TLC as their older counterparts, to really give beer fans a proper taste of global craft beer.
I discovered my new favourite type of beer which is a Double IPA (or it is affectionately known as a DIPA by beer connoisseurs).
I did not know a DIPA existed until I tasted it at Suds & Soda.
Bar staff happily share tasting samples too, so you really enjoy your beer and not be disappointed by a new beer offering.
Location: Suds & Soda, Friary Works, 119 Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1EX