On the London Brewers’ Market blog, we are featuring a monthly round-up of upcoming and unmissable events for London’s beer drinkers introduced by Rebecca Pate of Brewing East. Here are her picks for what’s happening in Londontown.

Incomprehensibly, we find ourselves already into December, a month brimming with festive joy and a raft of opportunities to get jolly. You’ve probably already marked off dates for drinks with friends, office Christmas parties and are even thinking towards NYE, but don’t forget to raise a glass with those London breweries that have been so good to you in 2017.

This year saw London breweries surpass the 100 mark, a figure that will continue to grow in 2018. Now that’s something to celebrate.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT ANSPACH & HOBDAY: Friday, December 1, 5pm-10.30pm. Is there a better way to kick-start December than a rousing singalong? Probably not (and if there is, please let us know). Set underneath their Bermondsey arch, Anspach & Hobday invite you to join a choir and celebrate the launch of this year’s vintage of their Christmas beer, Pfeffernusse Saison. Proceeds on the night will go to the Kings College Hospital Critical Care Unit too, so you can feel like a bona fide Kris Kringle. Anspach & Hobday, 118 Druid Street, SE1 2HH. Free, more information here.

FOREST ROAD X SANDOWS HIGH PITCH LAUNCH: Friday, December 1, 5pm-11pm. Not strictly Christmassy, but the raucous gang at Forest Road Brewing Co have collaborated on a nitro blend of their Pitch beer with Sandows, purveyors of cold brew. High Pitch is a smooth coffee beer with a 3% ABV, so perfect to keep you buzzing through Christmas dinner prep. Forest Road Brewing Company, 355 Westgate Street, E8 3RL. Free, more information here. 

SOLVAY SOCIETY OPEN DAY AND SPECULAETIVE LAUNCH: Saturday, December 2, 10am-2pm. If you’re still on the hunt for something to pair with your cheeseboard, Solvay Society have you covered. They’re opening up their Aldborough Hall Farm brewery to the public and launching their Speculative Belgian barley wine. Only 250 bottles will be available on the day, so get down early – especially if you’d like to get your hands on some of the biscuits being handed out to complement the beer. Solvay Society, Aldborough Hall Farm, IG2 7TD. Free, more information here.

UBREW BREWERS’ MARKET: Saturday, December 2, 12pm-8pm. A long list of London breweries started at UBREW, the open brewery based in Bermondsey. UBREW is celebrating some of their current residents for one afternoon, including Old Kent Road, Brewage à Trois, River Widow, Burner Bash and Tidal. UBREW have their own range of beers that will also be pouring on the day. Head down to try beer from some of London’s smallest operations (some with large ambitions). UBREW, Old Jamaica Business Estate #29, SE16 4AW. Free, more information here.

ANTHOLOGY IMPERIAL STOUT LAUNCH: Sunday, December 3, 4pm-9pm. Signature Brew welcome all to the launch of their limited edition imperial stout, Anthology. Held at The Kings Arms in Bethnal Green, come along to try this 10% beer that boasts six different malts, an abundance of Chinook hops and cocoa nibs. This is the inaugural brew, but Anthology will become an annual affair. Why not try it before everyone else catches on? Kings Arms, 11A Buckfast Street, E2 6EY. Free, more information here.

THE 34TH PIGS EAR BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL: Tuesday, December 5 12pm- Saturday, December 9, 11pm. The Pigs Ear Festival returns to the Round Chapel in Hackney for 2017, boasting a line-up of world-class ales and ciders. Many London breweries will be represented across the billing of over 230 beers over the five days, including some rare offerings. The full listing is available on their website and is worth a gander, but prepare for a proper knees-up. Round Chapel, 1D Glenarm Road, E5 0LY. Admission is £3 for CAMRA members an £5 for non members. More information here.

LONDON BREWERS’ MARKET AT HORNIMAN MUSEUM CHRISTMAS MARKET: Thursday, December 7, 5.30pm-7.30pm. This is the London Brewers’ Market’s museum market debut! We’re getting jolly at the Horniman Museum Christmas Market, an annual event open to craftmakers and local designers. Expect some Christmas music and decked halls to get you in the mood for shopping. We’ll have ten London breweries present pouring their wares and tempting you with cans, bottles and gift packs for the beer lover in your life (and yourself). Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. Free, more information here.

THE FIVE POINTS CHRISTMAS BEER PARTY: Saturday, December 9, 12pm-11pm. It’s officially getting close to the big day and we just can’t wait any longer, so enter The Five Points Brewing Company with festive cheer. They’re hosting a pop-up beer festival at The Lock Tavern in Camden that promises a massive billing of all of their tasty beer. If you’re in the area doing a spot of window (or stall) shopping, this is a great excuse to get out of the cold. The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AJ. Free, more information here.

BRICK BREWERY’S 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY: Saturday, December 9, 12pm-12am. Can you believe that Brick Brewery has been supplying Peckham with beer for four whole years? It’s a cause worthy of celebration, so head down to enjoy some freshly brewed beer and the launch of their cranberry and clementine sour. No birthday would be complete without DJs and street food vendors, so expect those too. Brick Brewery, Arch 209, Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL. Free, more information here.

VILLAGES FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY: Saturday, December 9, 12pm-11pm. Opening a brewery right before Christmas night not be for everyone, but Villages did just that in 2016. To honour this act of madness, they’re inviting you to help them to celebrate with their full range of beers on tap, some tasty wood fired pizzas and a soundtrack curated my friends. Villages, 21-22 Resolution Way, Deptford, SE8 4NT. Free, more information here.

*new* ZILLA NIGHTS: FESTIVE TAP TAKEOVER WITH THE KERNEL: Saturday, December 9, 7.30pm-12am. The Kernel Brewery is teaming up with their Bermondsey neighbours at The Understudy bar at the National Theatre with this tap takeover. Zilla Nights DJs will be providing a soundtrack of afrobeat, highlife, and other assorted musics of the African diaspora. Beers to pair with such tunes will include The Kernel’s Biere de Saison Apricot, The Raspberry Stout and The Damson Sour. The Understudy, National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PX. Free, more information here.

FESTIVE SEASON OPEN BREWERY DAY AT WEIRD BEARD: Sunday, December 10, 12pm-8pm. The Weird Beard Brew Co team like to pull out all of the big stops when they host an open day. For their last one of 2017, they’re promising a host of fun: special releases – including Black Christmas, a cranberry stout, and rare barrel-aged beers – mulled beer and tasty sodas from Square Root, free brewery tours and a head banging Christmas playlist. Food will be available on site, so you should probably make a day of it. Weird Beard Brew Co., Unit 5 Boston Business Park, W7 2QA. Free, more information here.

AFFINITY BREW CO VERSUS CHRISTMAS: Saturday, December 16, 1pm-11pm. Desperate to ensure that you clear your diaries for this now, Affinity Brew Co is officially taking on Christmas. It’s a pretty solid effort to trump the holidays too, including the launch of three new beers and a mulled saison. Smokey Chef will be doing his own take on Christmas dinner (not sure that they traditionally involved a smoker, but we’re down) and a team from Five Miles in Tottenham will be curating the tunes to keep ears happy. Who will be victorious? Will Christmas ever be the same again? Affinity Brew Co, 7 Almond Road, Bermondsey, SE16 3LR. Free, more information here.

BIKINI BEACH BAND AT WILD CARD: Friday, December 29, 8.30pm-11pm. It’s not too early to start planning for the ‘other side’ of the holidays, when even the sight of a mince pie will make your skin crawl. Head to Wild Card Brewery for an evening of fun-filled tunes and leis courtesy of the genius Bikini Beach Band. Wild Card Brewery, Unit 7, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, E17 9HQ. Free, more information here.  

Have we missed something? We’re not perfect, so feel free to post any upcoming events featuring London breweries in London in the comments below.