Bristol has quietly become one of the best beer cities in the UK over the last decade, partly because breweries like Left Handed Giant arrived and decided consistency mattered just as much as hype.

Founded in 2015, Left Handed Giant started as a nomadic brewing project before opening its own brewery and brewpub by the floating harbour. The name itself comes from a mythological ape from an old children’s story, which somehow feels appropriately Bristol. Slightly odd, slightly arty, probably discussed over very good coffee somewhere nearby.

The beers cover a fairly broad modern craft range without chasing every trend that appears on social media for six weeks. Pale ales and IPAs remain central, often soft, juicy and heavily hopped without tipping fully into fruit smoothie territory. There’s also a steady run of lagers, stouts, saisons and mixed fermentation beers that show the brewery understands balance as well as hop saturation.

What separates Left Handed Giant from plenty of modern breweries is polish. Even the bigger, hazier beers usually retain structure and drinkability underneath all the tropical fruit and aroma hops. The lagers especially tend to surprise people. Crisp, clean and brewed with actual patience, which feels increasingly rebellious in craft beer.

Their brewpub has become one of those places people accidentally stay in for six hours. Good beer, good food, lots of light, dogs wandering about and somebody inevitably explaining a niche jazz record at the next table. Bristol in pint form, basically.