THE LOWDOWN

Thought industrial estates were only good for parking practice and MOTs? Think again! The Siren Tap Yard is a cool bar and brewery you’ll want to have on your radar. Located in leafy Finchampstead (there are some lovely walks), it occupies a large corner plot of a typically bland business park, with a bar, shop, outdoor seating, street food offering, and, during the summer months, a bouncy castle.

Like a hipster mullet, the building is all business at the front and a party at the back (or inside, in this case) where you’ll find a small bar with five canteen-style tables and benches, 10 rotating super-fresh beers direct from Siren’s brewery featuring classics like Lumina and Soundwave, as well as some funky limited edition brews and collaborations.

Far from being a new kid on the craft brew block, the multi-award-winning Siren Brewery was born in 2013 with a mission to create exciting, full-flavoured, forward-thinking beers. They source the best ingredients – regardless of price – and maintain incredibly high standards. Eleven years on and business is booming, a cool new bar in Reading, a country pub, and you’ll find their beers all over the world (we spotted Lumina on tap at a five star hotel in Jersey recently).

THE VIBE

On paper, a brewery sounds like a blokey proposition with lots of beard stroking admiration for ales. However, park those clichés, there’s actually more couples, groups of friends and families (more so in the summer months) than there are CAMRA beer snobs.

The industrial vibe ticks a lot of boxes for me – the Corten steel signage sets the tone, with an abundance of reclaimed wood panelling, blackboards and polished cement floors. It’s not big, but there are four long tables and benches inside and plenty of outdoor seating if the weather’s paying ball.

It’s very much a community hub and the locals flock here in the name of good, honest beer – kept at less than 4°C until it hits your glass. Siren hosts loads of events throughout the year: twice monthly Quiz Night, beer festivals, beer tasting nights, Bank Holiday bashes and Dog Walking Club. It’s surprisingly family-friendly and inclusive to ensure your kids are not the ones having all the fun.

The bar is also a shop where you can buy Siren merch (craft beer nuts love to wear their favourites like a badge of honour) and there’s a bottle shop to keep the party going at home. Judging by the number of boxes being loaded into car boots during our visit, it’s the local go-to when stocking the beer fridge.

The Siren Tap Yard won’t be to everyone’s taste. But if you think it’s a bit too rustic, head straight to its stylish new bar in Reading or the George & Dragon pub in Swallowfield.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Siren Craft Brew is an award-winning Berkshire brewery with a diverse range of beers to suit every taste. At their tap yard, there’s a range of cans to select from including flagship IPAs, one-off brews, and collabs. When the time calls for a stomach-liner (and it will), there’s a selection of seriously tasty burgers to line the stomach. There’s a rotation of street food on offer, and during our visit we had a choice of dirty burgers done well – and much like the beer, you’ll find simple, quality ingredients.

We ordered the Hot Dip Chicken with hot sauce, pickled slaw with Sriracha mayo and the Classic Siren with beef patty, cheese and burger sauce and a cholesterol-busting Loaded Fries with three cheese sauce. All the dishes are cooked to order and were cooked to perfection. It’s not fancy, but it’s also not slapped together.

The Hot Dip Chicken was serving food heaven to me – the pickled slaw and spicy mayo elevating this humble chicken burger to the next level. The same can be said for the classic burger. Confession: I’ve never had cheesy fires, but the cheese sauce was so good you’d almost consider bathing in it. ALMOST.

As for the drinks, I love a cold beer, but I have pretty basic tastes and stuck with the Pastel Pils – a delicious and very drinkable lager that is crisp and well balanced. My other half would consider himself a craft beer super fan (btw he rates Siren very highly). He tried the GOAT of Siren’s IPAs Lumina – an easy to drink session ale that’s hoppy, but not too hoppy (this is important, apparently) and has a tropical fruit flavour. Soundwave was also sampled, it’s got a similar flavour but is a bit punchier on the alcohol. Let’s just say, he was happy drinking both.

BREWERY TOUR

If you’re visiting Siren Tap Yard and you’ve never done the brewery tour, I’d definitely recommend it. It’s not Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but it gives you an insight into the processes, progress, and passion for top notch beer. It’s industrial. Expect to see massive stainless steel containers and pipes running on the floor, but I loved the collaborators wall, artwork and the techy canning room.

You get to hear the story of how and why Siren started and their creative approach to making new beers. The tour ends in the Barrel Room where the Barrel Aged Blended Barley Wine, Maiden, is brewed. It was the first beer Siren ever brewed and is always the first beer on the brew plan every year. Siren Craft Brewery is a modern beer maker, but its love for tradition and its roots is a joy to behold. While you can’t dive head first into the barrels of Barley wine, you can head downstairs and sample 5 fresh beers straight from the source. Brewery tours are thirsty work, so don’t be the designated driver. Taxiiiiiii!

OUT & ABOUT

Finchampstead is on the outskirts of Wokingham and Crowthorne. If you’re in the area, work up an appetite with a stroll around Finchampstead Ridges. It’s been in the National Trust family for over 100 years. Head to Simon’s Wood and walk the avenue of redwood Sequoia trees (also known as Wellingtonia trees), planted in 1863. See if you can spot the second century Roman Road, nicknamed the Devil’s Highway, and Heat’s Pond is a pretty spot at this time of the year. Wokingham is 10 mins down the road for a little retail therapy – Oliver Bonas, Sweaty Betty, Fiona Parry Boutique, Rococo Jewellery, to name a few.

KID-FRIENDLY?

Despite the emphasis on beer, it’s pretty good. The food is crowd pleasing, but I’d probably head there for the events when there’s more to entertain them while you enjoy a glass of the good stuff.

DOG FRIENDLY?

Absolutely. There’s always a furry friend with a waggy tail to fuss and there’s loads of outdoor seating too so pretty darn perfect for woofers to tag along with their owners.

ACCESSIBILITY 

Not bad. If you’re sitting outside no problem at all. The bar’s on one level but it’s not big. If it’s busy, you might struggle a bit.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: craft beer fans, super-casual meals out, after-work drinks, large casual get-togethers. It’s a funky hangout that’s particularly lovely in the sunshine – brings sunnies and hat, there’s not a lot of shade.

Not for: refined types who can’t live without a wine list, crisp linens and a more diverse menu.

The damage: Craft beers are from £6.30 per pint – which is on the upper end, but you get what you’re paying for with quality and freshness. A classic burger will set you back £8.50, the chicken burger, £11.50 and loaded fries £6.50.

Siren Tap Yard, Marino Way, 18, Alberto House, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4RF

Words by Rachel Jane