Track is another Manchester brewery that’s earned a national reputation, and their taproom near Piccadilly station is where the beer tastes freshest. Sheffield Street isn’t glamorous — it’s an industrial pocket between the station and the Mancunian Way — but that’s part of the appeal. You’re coming here for the beer, not the postcode.
The tap list rotates regularly and covers Track’s full range: pale ales, IPAs, stouts, porters, and whatever experimental batch they’ve been working on. The Sonoma pale ale is a modern classic and if it’s on, order it. Their darker beers are underrated — the porters and stouts have depth that rewards slow drinking. Usually 10-15 taps running with the odd guest appearance from breweries they rate.
The taproom space is functional in the best way. Brewery-adjacent industrial unit, simple furniture, the hum of actual brewing happening nearby. Food is usually covered by a kitchen residency or food truck — check socials for what’s on. The standard is reliably good.
It’s a short walk from Piccadilly station which makes it a solid first or last stop if you’re passing through Manchester by train. The crowd overlaps with Cloudwater’s — beer enthusiasts, local creatives, people who’d rather drink something good than something familiar. Staff pour generous tasters and know every beer on the board. A proper brewery tap that does exactly what it should.