I barely go back home to Grimsby anymore. I was born and raised there, but moved out when I started uni just before I turned 21 and didn’t look back.
For good reason I might add.
I mean, apart from being beaten up on the street twice in broad daylight, when I was like 12 too, just a dumpy lonely comic nerd, how is beating that up an achievement?! Anyway, apart from that, there was just nothing there, especially for anyone in my generation to do.
The fishing industry died a death decades ago, leaving quite a few people out of jobs but unfortunately a wide variety of underachievers with no docking jobs as fall back. Hence the picking on nerds, gross unemployment rates, disgustingly high underage pregnancy rate and so on.
It also left an incredible wealth of amazing architecture, and once bustling social and industrial centres baron.
Now I know you’re thinking what the deuce does this have to do with a humble little session IPA?
For me, it’s a little glimmer of hope for the area.
Having only been told about Docks Beers a couple hours before visiting, it’s the first place in Grimsby in over 20 years that I actually got excited about when I saw it for the first time. In an old church close to the dock, the 15 barrel Grimsby brewery looks like it’s been taken straight out of Brooklyn. In fact the whole road would too if it wasn’t for the standard British retail park opposite.
Interior had a simple Scandy vibe going on but it was done perfectly, the taproom being a spot on mix of bright but cozy. And the clean barrels and tasting table shows not only that these guys have style, but the cleanliness and uncluttered room shows they’re professionals.
There was a food truck outside too which rotates on a regular basis (this time being sourdough pizza) which really took you out of feeling like you in Grimsby. It was busy too, we had to sit on the step outside, and the punters were a great and varied bunch. I imagine as it’s a bit of a walk from centre, it helps keep the yobs away which gave it even more of a great destination feel.
The actual session IPA was great too. Hard Graft reflecting Docks Beers’ ethos of graft, taking inspiration from the hard working dockers from years past. I’m no expert on beer at all, but it was crisp, citric, with a hint of pine; perfect for necking all day long. And I could have.
As the taproom is only about 9 months old they also have a good selection of other beers and bottles from other breweries to keep some variety and keep the drinkers trying new things.
They’re soon to add more weapons to their arsenal beer wise, but from what I’ve seen of my old home town this is one of the first baby steps that Grimsby needs to bring some life and soul back into it.
If I could chose to have one neighbouring business in Grimsby it would be these guys. And hopefully they’ll have started a trend of rejuvenation into the old dock area that the old food town so sorely needs.
As these guys know, it’ll take some hard graft. But it would be so worth it.
#harrisonthehand