Popular Newcastle cafe Super Natural has pulled off a first by introducing vegan beer on draft.

The vegetarian favourite is leading the way in serving up the hard-to-get beer and not just any old beer: top brands Stella Artois and Boddingtons will be on sale to customers from Friday.

Already the pumps are installed and, following a brief closure on Thursday, the Grainger Street eatery will re-open this Friday with a new-look bar area set to be the first vegan bar in the country.

Fresh branding will be seen soon too on the exterior of the cafe which has become a favourite with customers since its move to a more central location around eight months ago from its previous home in upper Princess Square.

The vegetarian and vegan food it serves - such as spicy Mexican Burrito; chicken and mushroom-style pie and sandwiches with inspired salads - is a far cry from the old days of nut roast and is clearly winning over non-veggie customers too.

Many would be hard-pressed to taste any difference in, for instance, its dairy-free cakes or meat-free curries. And co-owner Andrew Bloomfield, who runs the business with Mark Rogers and cooks a lot of its dishes himself, reckons its the same with the beer.

If you dont know its vegan, you wont know the difference, he said.

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The vegan Stella Artois and Boddingtons taste like the real deal and if, as expected, they prove popular then more additions could be on the cards.

Already, Super Natural offers a range of vegan wines, ciders and bottled beers - as well as soft drinks - but it took Andrew quite some time to source a draft beer that met the exacting standards.

Alcoholic drinks dont, obviously, contain animal products but what many people dont realise is that the same cant be said for its filtering or clarification processes which tend to make use of a substance obtained from fish bladders.

Andrew said: There are vegan beers out there; you just have to source them carefully.

These beers weve found are popular and very big brands: its just so happens they dont use the that manufacturing process.

Andrew has been in catering for years, running his first cafe in the city when he was 27.

Now the joint business reflects both his and Marks lifestyle choice, born from a concern for animal welfare.

Its our passion, he pointed out.

He himself followed what he says is a common process - being vegetarian before turning vegan - and Super Natural caters for people at each stage.

But its also proving a hit with non-veggies and enjoys plenty trade from passers-by who are keen to enjoy a meal or a snack in comfy surroundings, with relaxing music and art as a backdrop.

An exception is made for them with the option of cows milk for their coffee - as not having it might prove a step too far! for those willing to try something completely new.

Andrew said: Our concept is to try to take vegetarian food and vegan food to a wider audience.

Were trying to make it more mainstream and to get people just to come in and try it.

Super Naturals new-look bar will coincide with the introduction of late opening on Friday and Saturday nights which will also see a range of bar snacks, such as loaded nachos, on the menu.

We believe there isnt another vegan bar in the whole country, added Andrew.

Its unique and, hopefully, it will be good for the city.

Excerpt from:

Vegan beer in Newcastle: Three cheers for Super Natural as the city's eatery serves up a first - ChronicleLive