A BOLTON brewery and a popular bakery have teamed up to create a unique drink set to hit the bar this week.

Northern Monkey, based in Nelson Square and Chorley Street, has teamed up with the Bolton-based bakery, Carrs Pasties, to brew their very own pale ale.

The idea for the drink has come from Northern Monkey’s love of the famous pastie barm, which they believe is truly local to Bolton.

Northern Monkey is ran by friends Ryan Bailey and Liam Convey, with this unique drop the latest collaboration over what has been a busy lockdown of brewing for the pair.

Ryan said it was great to team up with Carrs to create something different.

He said: “We hope this is the coming together of two of Bolton’s finest exports.

“We are excited to be offering this and it should be on the bar over this bank holiday weekend and we can’t wait for people to taste it.

“People don’t need to be worried, the beer itself doesn’t actually taste of a pastie you might get from Carrs, but it is most definitely best served with a pastie barm. When it does get on the bar, we’ll definitely get some pastie barms served along with them.

“We’re always looking to do quirky things with our beers, and find quirky names, and this is something we feel really reflects Bolton.

“We are always having pastie barms so this was a no brainer really, we’re quite good friends with Joe from Carrs too.

“I saw a thread on Facebook recently slating Bolton for its food. People may laugh at something like the pastie barm but we think it’s great and we are celebrating that here.

“It always sparks debate and like where is the best pastie from? Lancashire versus Yorkshire, is it called a barm or not?

“We’re really excited for people to be back in over this bank holiday weekend and try it.”

Joe Carr, managing director of Carrs Pasties, said they were very excited to be working with a Bolton brewery on this unique creation. Especially one that celebrates a ‘quirky’ Bolton tradition such as the pastie barm.

Mr Carr said: “It’s great to be working with a local brewery like Northern Monkey. We were honoured that they wanted to name one of their beers after us. The pasty barm is a quirky Bolton tradition and the beer is going to be just as good.”

Other Northern Monkey collaborations over lockdown include the popular ‘Close Quarters’ pale ale made with local breweries Rivington Brewing Co and Escape Brewery, based in Westhoughton.