Dark mood lighting, battered old-school interior and a good list of wines, Brauhaus (located in Tollcross) is the quintessential, pretentious wine bar. Small and intimate, with a shabby-chic quality that errs on the side of being an unsafe building site, it has good, quirky vibes. Despite one flatmate’s bad experience, I’ve found the staff friendly and knowledgeable when I’ve been. But I suppose aloof bar staff can sometimes be expected at hipster establishments.
Returning with a friend last week, I was impressed with their breadth of wine as well as their affordable house options (ranging from £5.50 upwards per glass). This is predominantly a drinks spot, with a wide variety of wine and beer on offer but few snack options. It’s a good catch-up-with-a-friend spot, but too small for a first-date as you can easily be perceived by those around.
As well as red and white, they had a selection of orange wines, including a very light orange one they labelled “pink”. Orange wine is made with skin contact from white grapes, leaving a colour imprint.
Despite being pretentious, they still make it easy enough to choose wine by identifying their house options by style – spicy or smoky, fruity or herbal. Their list changes regularly, and their wine wall makes for great insta photos (sorry hipsters).
Bonus: What I’ve been drinking this week
- Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Sainsbury’s; £7.75 with Nectar) – sharp, with tropical notes of pineapple and grapefruit, this is a great example of a Sauv Blanc, don’t miss whilst it’s on Nectar price.
- Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (2021; Sainsbury’s; £9) – strawberries, vanilla and spice; overly seasoned with artificial oak – you can taste the bitterness. I’d give it a skip unless you’re going to a pres.
Illustration by Rosie Warwood, @rosiewarwoodart on Instagram.