Craft Beers at The Dog & Partridge

If you’re looking for a good craft beer pub in Stoke-on-Trent, head to Packmoor. It’s there that The Dog & Partridge has quietly become one of the region’s best-kept secrets.

We caught up with landlord, Darren, the day after the pub’s 10th anniversary. We chatted about all things craft beer — a sector he and his wife, Nicki, have built a local reputation for championing.

It’s mid morning, and Darren’s already busy taking stock and prepping for opening time. Between tasks, he talks passionately about the decision to start stocking craft beer.

“Nobody else around here was really doing it,” he says. “You’d have to travel into Newcastle-under-Lyme or further afield to find a decent selection. We saw a gap and we went for it.”

Darren and Nicki have turned the Dog & Partridge into a haunt for craft beer lovers who are tired of the same old mainstream offerings. From the start, their aim was simple: offer something different.

“We stock beers that people haven’t seen before when we can,” Darren explains. “Of course, we use the mainstream stuff as fillers now and again if it’s quiet on the market, but our main goal is to offer variety.”

The selection at The Dog rotates frequently. “We can go through three different kegs in two or three days. If a beer goes on, on a Friday, it can be gone by Saturday. Someone will come in and say, ‘Can’t believe I missed that one!’”

Sourcing the beers isn’t always easy, as few wholesalers offer unique options. But Darren and Nicki make the effort to find stand-out brews.

“It can take hours to find the right ones,” he admits. “But it’s worth it.”

Where possible, the Dog & Partridge supports local and regional breweries. Beartown, Titanic, and Salopian are firm favourites, especially when they release collaborations.

“Those collabs are getting trendy,” Darren says. “Titanic and Ossett have one at the moment called Pipeline. Good IPA’s like that tend to fly out.”

He’s also keen on showcasing breweries like Salt, Brew York, Tiny Rebel, and Vocation.

“Salt stuff always goes well. But in general, people have faith in what Nicki and I put on. If it’s on the wall, they trust it’s going to be a good pint.”

Part of what makes the Dog such a great pub for craft beer is consistency. Darren believes in getting the basics right. Clean lines, fresh stock, fair pricing, and good communication with customers.

“We’ve built a name for quality,” he says. “If someone has a bad pint — which is rare — it gets replaced, no questions asked. We make sure people are happy with what they’re drinking.”

It’s also about value.

“You’d pay a quid or quid-fifty more in Congleton or Alsager for a decent pint. We keep prices fair without compromising on quality.”

The beers are always rotating, but there’s a formula Darren tends to stick to:

• One rotating cask ale
• Two IPAs
• One sour
• One dark beer (typically a porter or stout)

So there are five different options at any one time. And that’s enough to satisfy the craft curious and the seasoned enthusiasts.

“In the colder months, people go for dark beers, stouts and porters. Come summer, the lighter ones come into play – like session IPAs. Sours seem to be taking off at the moment as well.”

The Dog & Partridge doesn’t just serve craft beer — they celebrate it! Recent years have seen tap takeovers from Beartown, Tiny Rebel and Vocation.

“Every now and then, we do a full takeover,” Darren explains. “Every line, every tap — all from the same brewery. They go down really well.”

While regular deals aren’t on offer, customers know they’re paying the right price for a quality product.

Most pints hover around the £5 mark, with stronger brews priced accordingly.

Above all else, Darren and Nicki take pride in what they serve to their customers.

“Clean lines, well-kept beer, good cellar management — makes a big difference,” Darren maintains.

And it’s certainly a formula that’s working. The Dog & Partridge may not be in the middle of the city, but it’s become a go-to for anyone searching for a good craft beer pub in Stoke-on-Trent.

“We’re in Packmoor — there’s nothing else like this around here,” Darren continues. “But people come back because they know we’ll always have something a bit more interesting. Something quality—something different.”

So, if you haven’t paid them a visit yet, now’s the time.

Whether you’re pale, sour, or stout, there’s a seat — and a pint — waiting for you at the Dog & Partridge.