Max H.
Yelp
By rights, Port Street Beer House (PSBH) should be my local. I live nearby, it has a stunning selection of beers, a huge number of which are on draught, and incredibly knowledgeable staff.
But something's off. I don't know if it's the atmosphere: it seems like it would be a fantastic place to while away an afternoon, but I've never been for more than 2 pints without escaping elsewhere. Is it too closed in? Dark (Beer garden excepted)? Loud, even? I can't quite put my finger on it. Whatever it is, it's not my local.
EDIT: A friend, Matt, upon a recent visit, described it more as an afternoon beer cafe than a drinking establishment. I think this is getting closer to the point - after all, it was gone 11PM at the time...
There's another reason why this place isn't my local, and that's the price. PSBH tends to be 10-20% more expensive than the average for craft beer in Manchester, which is frustrating, really, and not something that can easily be explained just through their admittedly massive selection.
I can, though, only echo what others have said about PSBH: if you're into your craft beer, you must at least try it. I might also point out that it was here that I had the nicest draught pint ever: Schneider Weisse Tap X: Meine Sommer Weisse.
At £7, though, I could only justify one.