London Brewers’ Market at Field Day, 11-12 June

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We are incredibly excited to be at Field Day in Victoria Park once again this year! In addition to the tent selling some of the best beer brewed in London, we’ll have ten breweries selling their beer directly to attendees on both days!

The London breweries who will be running their own stalls at Field Day are:

  • The Five Points Brewing Company
  • Howling Hops
  • One Mile End
  • Redemption Brewing Company
  • Partizan Brewing
  • Beavertown Brewery
  • Signature Brew
  • The Redchurch Brewery
  • Gipsy Hill Brewing Company
  • Hackney Brewery

With a great beer line-up as well as an incredible music line up, plus a top food line up from the likes of Street Feast and Venn Street Market, this Field Day is not one to miss. Be sure to get your tickets and come along on Saturday and Sunday, the 11th and 12th of June.

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Guest Post: London Brewers’ Market April Review

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Our latest guest posting is from Rebecca Pate, who is a fledging beer writer, craft beer enthusiast and East London dweller. You can follow her on Twitter (@rpate) or say hello at the next beer event-she’s the six foot tall Canadian.

Not even April showers could dampen spirits at the inaugural London Brewers’ Market of 2016.

Held in partnership with the Independent Label Market on the 4 April, Old Spitalfields Market was occupied by 26 independent brewers from across the capital. Attracting a steady stream of pundits for one afternoon, drinkers and breweries came together to exalt great beer. Brewers eagerly showcased a range of styles, representing the innovative spirit behind London’s growing brewing scene.

With such a dizzying selection on offer, it was a defensible act to overlook a stall. It was equally pardonable if- instead of pushing the boat out- you were tempted by an old favourite. The cold, harsh reality is that it was impossible to try everything on offer.

With that acknowledgement of our individual limitations—whether attributable to time or ABVs—I’ve compiled a list of five beers that were proffered at LBM. These are representative of the spectrum of styles currently in demand in the city.

• The Five Points Brewing Company: Vito’s Brown Ale (Now known as Brick Field Brown)
The most recent version of this brown ale was unveiled at LBM. Although it pours an opaque black, its high carbonation and dry finish made it a highly sessionable choice. It delivered warm malty notes with hints of dark chocolate. Deliciously moreish and undoubtedly one to track down again.

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• Hackney Brewery: Kiwi Thunder
A solid IPA with a clout of antipodean flavours. The New Zealand hops gave it aromas of juicy grapefruit, orange peel and other tropical notes- the taste also delivered the same citrusy punch, balanced with light sweetness from the malt. A zesty IPA that’s worth revisiting.

• Rocky Head Brewery: Pale Ale
An American pale ale from a small brewery based in Southfields, this was a flavoursome and balanced pale ale. Golden, unfiltered and using new world hops, this smooth-drinking pint had aromas of citrus and pine. A hint of sweetness from the malt and a clean finish make this a fruity and pleasant choice.

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• One Mile End: Blood Orange Wheat DIPA
With an ABV of 7.4%, this packed a punch. A complex aroma of marmalade, pepper and citrus, this dark golden beer was intensely citrusy at first sip. The bitter hops then kicked in and the alcohol lent a warming finish. It grew on me, but I didn’t dare go back for a second so early in the afternoon.

• Anspach & Hobday: The Sour Dry Hop
A sour/wild ale that was outstanding. It carried an aroma of acidic lemon and followed through with lip-puckering tartness. It finished with a dry crispness and screamed out for an afternoon session in the sun.

This is by far a non-exhaustive list, but it highlights the varied tastes catered for at LBM and across London more generally. It will be fascinating to see what styles prevail at the next LBM-yet to be confirmed-but we hopefully won’t be kept on tenterhooks for too long.

Full Line-up of Brewers Announced for Next LBM

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We have the full list of London breweries taking part in our next London Brewers’ Market at Old Spitalfields Market! Here’s the line-up for Saturday, the 2nd of April:

  1. The Five Points Brewing Company – Not only are The Five Points the brewery behind London Brewers’ Market, they also brew bold, flavourful beer in a railway arch in Hackney. They get their name from the five-way junction their brewery is based near, and have been creating their iconic selection of beers since March 2013. Keep an eye on events at their Mare Street Warehouse, as well as upcoming beer launches this year.
  2. 40FT Brewery – The Dalston-based 40FT launched last year and have been brewing a range of tasty beers in a shipping container, including their refreshing and delicious Larger. Pay a visit to their brewery tap room, which is also a shipping container and open on most Friday evenings and Saturdays. It’s a great place!
  3. Anspach & Hobday – Anspach & Hobday are making fantastic beers taking inspiration from traditional beer styles and newer influences from the craft beer movement. Part of a string of brewers and beer spots in Bermondsey, check out their taproom hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday and see where the magic happens.
  4. Beavertown Brewery – The folks at Beavertown have an incredible reputation for brewing phenomenal beer the world over, and it’s a treat to have them back again at London Brewers’ Market. Keep an eye out for their solid core range as well as exciting seasonals and one-off brews both at the Market and at their taproom, located in their impressive Tottenham brewing premises.
  5. Brick Brewery – One of a good handful of breweries joining us for the first time at the London Brewers’ Market, Brick Brewery have been going since December 2013 in the railway arches beneath Peckham Rye Station. Local Peckhamites and other Southeast Londoners make Brick’s taproom a popular stop on Saturdays for their stupendous array of fine beers.
  6. Bullfinch Brewery – Newly-nestled into their new space in Herne Hill, the folks behind Bullfinch are also newcomers to the London Brewers’ Market. Inspiration for their beers have come from travels around the globe. Their taproom is open Thursdays through Sundays and features 12 taps of Bullfinch brews and periodic guest ales.
  7. Canopy Beer Co. – Also based in Herne Hill, Canopy are creating a stellar array of beers which are perfectly suited for this spring edition of LBM. Pop into their brewery tap which is a short walk from Brockwell Park and enjoy a fine drop of their brews Wednesday through Sunday. Also, be sure to catch them around town at various pop-up events.
  8. Clarkshaws – London’s first microbrewery to produce Vegetarian Society approved brews as well as champions of the best ingredients sourced in Britain, the team at Clarkshaws create contemporary takes on classic British styles. Formerly based in East Dulwich but now located in Brixton, they are part of The Beer Hive cooperative with London Beer Lab.
  9. Earth Ale Brewery – Aspiring to create beverages using seasonal and foraged ingredients to create a fine, fresh collection of beers inspired by food, travel and natural flavours. They brew their beer in Balham with an aim for it to be paired with fine food sharing a similar ethos to their beers.
  10. Fourpure Brewing – Situated in a warehouse in Bermondsey, Fourpure is a family brewery founded in 2013, focusing on beers inspired by adventure and staying true to the four ingredients of brewing–water, malt, hops and yeast. Early adopters of the craft can movement in the UK, you can enjoy their range of seasonal brews as well as their stalwart core beers at their taproom on Saturdays.
  11. Fuller’s – Fuller’s Griffin Brewery in the neighbourhood of Chiswick dates from 1828 and has been brewing ales and lagers throughout over 160 years of London’s epic history. In the age of a brewing revival in The Big Smoke, Fuller’s remains relevant with a considered variety of beers that appeal to Londoners as well as the many people who visit the city.
  12. Gipsy Hill Brewing Company – The masterminds behind Gipsy Hill are focused on brewing “no nonsense, medium-strength beer” which is big on flavour, but not on ABV. Their sessionable beers have been a popular feature of previous London Brewers’ Markets, and their tap house is a great place to visit when you’re in Gipsy Hill.
  13. Hop Stuff Brewery – Woolwich’s Hop Stuff have recently undergone an expansion to keep up with the demand for their superb brews. Having brewed their first beer in October 2013, the brewery has grown from strength to strength on the grounds of the Royal Arsenal. Be sure to pop in for a pint at their pub, The Taproom, based not too far from where their beer is brewed.
  14. Hackney Brewery – Top folks brewing top beers, Hackney Brewery were established in 2011, making them the first registered brewery in the borough of Hackney. Creating a beloved selection of cask ales as well as a seasonal and craft range, Hackney Brewery are a hive of activity in their railway arch near Hoxton Station to supply the bars, pubs and bottle shops who stock their fine brews.
  15. Howling Hops – Originally brewing a dizzying array of beers in the basement of that lovable Hackney fixture, The Cock Tavern, Howling Hops has branched out to Hackney Wick to make their exceptional beers. Their tank bar is the UK’s first dedicated tank bar, delivering beer straight from the fermentation vessels into your glass, so if London Brewer’s Market isn’t enough to satiate your thirst, head there after!
  16. The London Beer Factory – Founded by brothers Ed and Sim Cotton, The London Beer Factory brews on a bespoke British-built kit in their brewery in South London. Check out their flavoursome brews in their taproom on Saturdays–very close to neighbours Gipsy Hill–and be sure to say hello the these friendly folks when you see them at London Brewers’ Market!
  17. London Beer Lab – Calling itself an open source brewery, London Beer Lab will be making its first foray into London Brewers’ Market during our spring session. Having started in 2012, London Beer Lab is a brewery making stellar brews as well as a resource to learn how to brew your own beer featuring courses and workshops based in Loughborough Junction and in Brixton as part of The Beer Hive.
  18. Mondo Brewing Company – Mondo are situated in Battersea and brew a flavourful mix of core and seasonal beers, including their flagship Altbier, since the launch of their first brew in May 2015. Visit their Tap House to whet your appetite before or after catching them at the next London Brewers’ Market, which will be their LBM debut.
  19. One Mile End – Brewing a dynamic range of inventive beers in The White Hart Brewpub in Whitechapel, One Mile End are fine East London fixtures on bars throughout the UK. Launched in October 2014, they are a brewery to watch as their capacity is due to grow this year when they move out from beneath the street and into a large brewery.
  20. Orbit Beers – The magnificent folks from Orbit are a welcome return to London Brewers’ Market. Brewing beer with a nod to high-fidelity tunes and tunemakers, they are based in a rail arch in Walworth, just south of Elephant & Castle and a short walk from Kennington. Keep an eye out for brews from their White Label series along with other rarities as well as their regular releases.
  21. Partizan Brewing – Distinctive beers with equally distinctive and eye-catching labels, Partizan have been brewing in a railway arch in Bermondsey since the end of 2012. Not ones to really stick to a core range, their artisan agglomeration of beers have been featured on the bar in craft beer hubs the world over, and you can go straight to the source of tastyface beers on most Saturdays–a highly recommended excursion.
  22. Rocky Head Brewery – A group of friends got together in 2012 to launch Rocky Head, who have been making small batch vegan-friendly brews on their brewkit in Southfields. Their beers, having taken inspiration from the American microbrewing scene, are stunning and full-flavoured, and not to miss during the next London Brewers’ Market!
  23. Southwark Brewing Company – Joining us at this spring edition of London Brewers’ Market is Southwark Brewing Company and their fine cask ales. Based in Bermondsey on 30 years’ worth of brewing experience, Southwark started up in 2014 and have become a friendly fixture along the popular Bermondsey Beer Mile on Saturdays, along with being open on Friday evenings for an after-work drop.
  24. Three Sods Brewery – Nestled in the cosy confines of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, Three Sods Brewery are another newcomer to the London Brewers’ Market. Made up of three friends who have been brewing lovely beers since January 2015, the gang are very much a part of the East London community–donating their spent grain to Stepney City Farm to feed their pigs and chickens.
  25. Truman’s Beer – Reviving the long-lost name of Truman’s (established in 1666!), Truman’s Black Eagle Brewery reestablished the iconic name so woven into the fabric of East London. This new chapter began in 2010, and in 2013 the brewery retrieved the original yeast strain from Truman’s as a direct link to the past while moving forward in London’s brewing future in Hackney Wick.
  26. Wild Card Brewery – Walthamstow’s Wild Card Brewery originally began as cuckoo brewers, gypsy-brewing around until it moved to its own site in January 2014. Not only is their brewery tap bar tremendous fun to be in Fridays through Sundays, their beer is spot-on delicious, so be sure to see them at their stall at London Brewers’ Market.

Be sure to join this great crowd of breweries on Saturday, the 2nd of April, from 11am until 7pm! We’ll be alongside Independent Label Market at Old Spitalfields Market as well, so let’s enjoy a great combination of music and beer!

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Tryanuary Round-up of London Brews #3

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We’ve been asking some of our favourite folks around town for their Tryanuary picks from London breweries. Here’s the final instalment of a selection of London beers they think you should try this month.

Alix Shaw, Beer Fairy of London

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A self-described “beer fairy of London,” Alix Shaw works with The Bottle Shop in Bermondsey in assisting with their website, social media and helping out at the bar on Saturdays. She also works with The Five Points Brewing Company by helping with events and playing with labelling machines in the brewery. Alix is the co-founder of Crafty Beer Girls, which started off as a small group of ladies that were happy to have found other females working in a beard-dominated industry but has started to become a little community of beer lovers. Her favourite things are baking, beer (often combined!) and Star Wars. Follow Crafty Beer Girls on Twitter at @craftybeergirls.

Smoked Cranberry Porter from Anspach & Hobday
For the most part of 2015, I was slurping on sours and saisons. It wasn’t until I came into contact with this awesome tipple from A&H, that I realised how much I loved stouts and porters! It’s the perfect balance of smoke (kind of like standing near a bonfire that you just get a whiff), and the zingy dryness of the cranberry. It’s a one time brew, however, so you need to try this while you still can!

Hook Island Red from The Five Points Brewing Company
One of the original rye based beers in London. Super fresh and deliciously bitter, there’s nothing better than finishing a day’s work with Five Points only to finish with a bottle of this. I first discovered this 2 years ago when I first stepped into the London beer scene, and I still love it as much as I did the first time I tried it.

08|03 Chocolate and Orange Stout from Brew By Numbers
When BBNo. announced they were launching this stout, I was excited from the get go. Silky smooth, undeniably chocolatey and just a sprinkle of orange, this had everything I expected and a little more.

Martyn Sharman, Sales Representative at Howling Hops

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Martyn Sharman works as a sales representative at Howling Hops. Up until recently he ran The Cock Tavern in Hackney Central. Martyn loves his beer and cider, starting out in his career in beer by selecting ale for a Kilburn pub. He quickly realised that his favourite beers were coming from the east of the city and moved there as quickly as he could with his fiancé, Hannah, and their rescue cat, Stanley.

No More Bright Ideas from Weird Beard Brew Co.
This was my favourite beer from 2015, just a stunning dark beer that was big, bitter and beautiful. With an ABV of 7.3%, Weird Beard have managed to balance the alcohol and flavour perfectly, with an amazing bitter finish that made me come back for a third, forth and fifth pint, before admitting defeat at the sixth and staggering home happily!

Blonde Pale from Maregade
On both cask and keg this beer is fantastic! The new brewer in The Cock Tavern basement has made a pint that hits all the right notes. It’s juicy, fragrant, easy drinking and murky as hell. I’m excited as to where Maregade will be this time next year, but for now, I’ll have another pint of blonde pale!

IPA No. 2 from Howling Hops
This beer from Howling Hops is exactly what I want from an IPA, it’s full to the brim with flavour and is a great example of London beer in all its glory. An updated recipe has given this IPA a nose that’s popping with fruit, and an easy finish. Coming in at just under 7% it’s not too boozy either, a great excuse to grab another one!

Kevin Karaca, Independent Film Maker & Producer/Director of Original Gravity – The Film

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Kevin Karaca is the producer of the all-new Original Gravity short documentary, a 30-minute film about London’s Brewing Scene. Based in London he’s observed the rise of London beer & bars over the years, always wanting to check out the latest places, especially if that means having a few beers! Check out where to watch the film at http://originalgravityfilm.uk and follow them @OGBeerFilm.

Sir Thomas Gardyner from Brick Brewery (on cask)
This was the first beer I tried from Brick Brewery and was blown away by this flavoursome 3.8% beer. With the hype of high alcohol and big hops being very dominant, it was a welcome reception to have such a lovely cask ale, well cared for and local. Brick Brewery have excited me since I tried this beer, if you haven’t gotten hold of one of their beers yet, you should!!

Pale Fire from Pressure Drop (on keg)
I LOVE THIS BEER!! Pressure Drop get me with this beer every time. It is a house pour in many places, and rightly so – it is a phenomenal pale ale, with a juicy body and all the hop aroma to make you feel like your dancing through America’s hop fields, with the sun gleaming over you. This is my go-to whenever I see it.

Tonic Ale from Tap East (on cask)
I stumbled upon Tap East in Stratford Westfield by accident trying to find a bookshop. It is a small piece of heaven in a large, arduous shopping centre – you can sit back on their lovely leather sofas and drink a delicious pint of Tonic Ale to revive you for the rest of your shopping, or if you fancy something darker Coffee in the Morning is a delicious smooth stout with fresh coffee beans added. I’ve built a great friendship with Tap East; their Head Brewer being one of the first people I spoke to about the Original Gravity film project. So if you’re in Stratford struggling to get through those January sales, try taking a break and enjoy a pint (or two!) of Tap East’s 6 cask & 10 keg selection.

Have you tried any of the beers above? What have been your Tryanuary standouts from London brewers?

Tryanuary Round-up of London Brews #2

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We’ve been asking some of our favourite folks around town for their Tryanuary picks from London breweries. Here’s the second instalment of a selection of London beers they think you should try this month.

Doreen Joy Barber, Communications & Events Manager at The Five Points Brewing Company

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Doreen Joy Barber is The Five Points Brewing Company‘s Communications, Marketing & Events Manager, as well as the organiser of London Brewer’s Market and the ghost in the shell for other schemes, including Tweeast London (@tweeastlondon). She likes cats and has obscene difficulty in picking just three beers from London breweries she wants people to drink.

Railway Porter from The Five Points Brewing Company
Have a pint of Railway Porter on cask during a bleak January evening, preferably next to a fireplace with either a book or some good conversation, and you’ll be winning all the days. So rich, so tasty–it’s like a roasty, bitter chocolate, beery hug for your soul. I don’t have a favourite of beers we do, but the Railway Porter is a definite comfort beer.

Imperial Brown Stout from The Kernel Brewery
The Imperial Brown Stout from The Kernel has long been a favourite since my days working in a pub in Stoke Newington around four years ago. It’s the ultimate winter warmer with its high percentage, smooth taste and obscene drinkability. There are additionally other barrel-aged versions of this beer, so seek those out for extra Tryanuary points.

Nightwatchman from East London Brewing Company
ELB produce some absolutely stunning beers on cask, so it’s hard to pick a favourite among them. Nightwatchman is a lovely pint of bitter with a nice amber-red hue to it. Slightly sweet and caramel-biscuity but with enough hops to keep it interesting. You must have in a pub that looks after its cask ale really well like The Wenlock Arms. If you can pair it with a cheese toastie, even better.

Chris Hall, Beer Writer and Sales & Media Coordinator for Brew By Numbers

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Chris Hall is a freelance beer writer and beer judge, and works for Brew By Numbers as Sales & Media Coordinator. As well day-to-day sales, Chris manages the growing brewery’s social media (@brewbynumbers), website, blog and external events. You can find him on Twitter @chrishallbeer. His photo was taken by Gavin Freeborn.

Mariana Trench from Weird Beard Brew Co.
Easily one of the most underrated and unsung beers in the UK, never mind London, Mariana Trench is a transpacific pale ale with an utterly sublime juiciness that runs the spectrum of orange, lime, passionfruit, grape and peach. I’ve been blown away by this beer in every format I’ve tasted it in, but none more so than on cask, where the silky mouthfeel seems to really let the juice loose.

London Sour Damson from The Kernel Brewery
Of the many, many beers from The Kernel that I’d recommend to friends, fellow pub patrons and passers-by in the street, Damson Sour (or DAMN, Son! Sour as I call it) is at the top of my list. For one, it’s a beautiful, radiant fuchsia-pink beer that demands to be held up to the light. It’s also a delight to drink, the plummy richness of Damson balanced sharply by its uncompromisingly mouth-popping tartness.

Nico from Orbit Beers
I’ve been hugely impressed by the output of Robbie and the guys at Orbit in 2015. Nico is their Cologne ‘kolsch’-style ale, which is a fantastic gateway beer for those who love lagers and golden ales but want to get into beers with depth and complexity. Nico is a very technically-accomplished kolsch. It’s a style defined by softness, delicacy and refreshment, which Nico has in spades.

Beer Farts, Beer Writer and Lego Legend
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Beer Farts is a “beer writer, blogger, geek or whatever the term is nowadays,” best known for pairing Lego with his beer reviews. He also happens to work in sales for a London brewery, but his enthusiasm for beer extends far and wide. Beer Farts can be found on Twitter and Instagram (@beer_farts) and will soon launch a website: beerfarts.beer.

London Alt from Mondo Brewing
Many well establish brewers have attempted and failed at this style. Even some flat capped punks didn’t get it right. An extremely tricky style of beer to master but Mondo seem to have proven it’s not just the German’s that can brew it well. Full of plum, orange, apple, berries and caramelised nuts. If you’ve never tried an Alt bier before than this is a perfect example of how great it can be.

Hepcat from Gipsy Hill Brewing Company
So many session IPAs lack a punch but not this one from Gipsy Hill. Packed full of tropical fruits throughout with a moreish biscuit body that just makes you want more. These guys never fail to impress and prove that low abv beers don’t have to have less flavour.

Treason IPA from Uprising Brewery
Kieran (head brewer) may be young but he oozes knowledge which is no doubt in part to his dad, Paddy of Windsor & Eton Brewery. For his first brew for Uprising Kieran took the west coast styled IPAs and gave it a posh Windsor accent. Combining pine, orange and mango sherbet all on a rich caramel base. Perfectly balanced with a clean finish.

What have been some of your favourite Tryanuary discoveries from London breweries? Give ’em a shout in our comments.

London Happenings for Tryanuary

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The London beer scene is fully embracing the spirit of Tryanuary – a movement to encourage people to get out and support their local, independent businesses and try something new.

This isn’t about drinking more, it’s about trying something different, tasting something new, and experiencing something interesting.

Here’s a round-up of just some of the things that are happening in the big city….

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Brewery Brawl

Jackdaw And Star – Brewery Brawl: Howling Hops ‘vs’ Big Smoke Brew Co.

Wednesday 27th January, 7-11.30pm

Two London breweries pit their best three beers against each other to see who comes out on top. The beers are matched with a food selection that will be provided in house by Sugar Shack.

The Breweries will be competing for a prize of a permanent line in the The Jackdaw And Star until the next competition, where they will face a new brewery in a ‘winner stays on’ scenario.

This is a night for the true beer heads but also casual ale lovers who want to know more about their local breweries.

£10 ticket includes;

  • Tasters of each breweries 3 beers (6 beers in total)
  • Sugar Shack food tasters to accompany the beers
  • A raffle ticket, which if the winning ticket, will give the customer free entry for two to the next event and a prize from the winning brewery

Tickets available from the pub’s website

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Clarkshaws residency at The Platform: Loughborough Junction

26th-31st January

Clarkshaws Brewery is hosting a week-long residency at the Platform Space SW9 from Tuesday 26th- Sunday 31st January where they will be running a brewery taproom and shop, as well as hosting live music, parties and even a pub quiz.

Exclusively available beers will include Clarkshaws’ Cowgirl American Pale Ale, White Out Session IPA and Archer Wheat Beer, alongside their full range of craft beers. To finish the week, Clarkshaws are bringing back their ‘Beer & Boardgames’ session on Sunday afternoon. There will be a £5 table fee that covers an unlimited number of players.

There’s lots more info about all the happenings on their Facebook events page

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Putney Tryanuary – Beer, Beer cocktails and Pizza

Thursday 28th January, 7-11.30pm

The Five Points Brewing Company is heading West to run this event with Putney partners The Beer Boutique and Dutch Courage bar. Starting at The Beer Boutique for Five Points beer tasting at 7pm, you will then move on for pizza and exclusive beer cocktail treats at Dutch Courage from 8.30pm, which is just a short walk away (less than 10 minutes).

Tryanuary is all about trying something new and supporting independent businesses….

  • Perhaps you’re not a beer drinker and are looking for the opportunity to sample the stuff in a friendly environment?
  • Maybe you’ve been meaning to pay a visit to that local venue you’ve heard about, but just not had the chance…
  • Have you even considered trying a beer cocktail before?

Your £12 (with £2 going to St Joseph’s Hospice) ticket gets you;

  • A tutored tasting of four Five Points beers + snacks
  • A slice of pizza
  • An exclusive Five Points beer cocktail

There will also be lots of opportunities to purchase yourself more delicious beverages and foody delights on the night.

Limited number of tickets left available to purchase on Eventbrite.

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Lock Tavern Pie Fest

Lock Tavern Pie and Ale Fest

29th-31st January

Camden’s Lock Tavern is not only celebrating all things beery, but homemade pies are in on the act too. All beers featured in the festival are from London breweries and all pies (there are 10 of them!) come with mash, gravy and mushy peas. What’s not to love…?

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Beer Hall Bash at By the Horns Brewery

Saturday 30th January, 12pm-late

By the Horns Brewery invites you to celebrate the opening of their brand new Beer Hall with live music, free beer and brewery tours. There will also be tasty food available from family-run Mama’s Jerk Station.

Admission is free and brewery tours are ticketed at £5 each, which you can book on their website. This will give you the opportunity to meet co-founders Chris and Alex and see the newly installed brewing kit. You’ll also get 2 pints of beer included in the price. Only 15 spaces available on each tour.

Free admission. Brewery tours £5, including two pints of beer

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And coming up in February….

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Weird Beard Brewery Tap Open Day

Sunday 7th February, 12-5pm

Weird Beard are famed for their Brewery Tap Open Days and this is their first of 2016. They’re always lots of fun with plenty offerings from the brewery and their foodie friends. We’d bet they’re the best thing to do on a Sunday in West London!

Just head on down to the brewery for:

  • Plenty of Weird Beard’s freshest and latest beers to drink on keg/bottles
  • Take-Away beer and Growler Fills available
  • Brewery exclusive bombers for sale
  • Artisan snacks (Veggie options included) and sodas
  • Merchandise Sales
  • Meet The Brewers
  • Informal Brewery Tours

Free admission and more details to be announced on their blog

Tryanuary Round-up of London Brews #1

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We’ve been asking some of our favourite folks around town for their Tryanuary picks from London breweries. Here’s the first instalment of a selection of London beers they think you should try this month.

Sharona Selby, International Beer Representative for Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing

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Sharona Selby is the international rep for Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing. She is based in London when she’s not off at events or beer festivals around the UK. She’s been a longtime supporter of London’s brewing scene. See what Left Hand events are happening in the UK by following @LeftHandUK on Twitter.

Duke of Dank from Weird Beard Brew Co.
This Pacific Northwest style red IPA was a collab between Weird Beard, The Duke’s Head in Highgate and Matt Curtis, brewed initially for London Beer City. I’m thrilled to see it again – it’s dead gorgeous on cask with a terrific balance between a sweet sweet malt body and a refreshing, resinous bitter finish. Far too drinkable at 6.7%, it doesn’t take long until you’re totally #dankedoff.

Alligator Tugboat from Pressure Drop Brewing
GET IN ME SIMCOE. This single-hopped IPA from Pressure Drop is EXACTLY what you want it to be: citrusy, piney, fruity, and smooth as silk wrapped around a cat draped over the deck of a sailboat gliding through the summer waters of Saint-Tropez. THAT SMOOTH.

01|13 Saison Mosaic from Brew By Numbers
Sweet mother of all juicy bangers. BBNo‘s Saison Mosaic is a fruity, punchy knockout. Mosaic is full of tropical fruit and berries and citrus followed by more tropical fruit and berries and citrus, and its profile shines so brilliantly in this saison that by the time you’ve finished your first bottle, you’re dressed like Carmen Miranda, doing the cha-cha and trying to order another as you dance past the bar.

Hannah Davidson, Sales and Communications Manager at East London Brewing Company

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Hannah Davidson is the Sales and Communications Manager at East London Brewing Company as well as a veteran of London’s beer scene behind the bar. She is a beer fan who talks about beer a lot and is always looking to try something new (and old). Her favourite beer styles include pretty much anything dark–milds all the way up to smokey/wicked strong/barrel aged imperial stouts–and sours.

India Rubber Ball Clementine IPA from Pressure Drop Brewing
Aroma of clementine, pineapple and tropical fruit pop, with loads of pretty orange and lemony flavours, with a dry citrusy finish. This is IPA on holiday and will shine a glorious fruity light in the depths of January. Limited Edition Bottle so get involved.

Quadrant Oatmeal Stout from East London Brewing Company
Aroma of dark chocolate mocha, silky smooth body tasting of black fruits, bitter chocolate and smooth coffee finish. This is one of my favourite beers in bottle, and on keg is like drinking liquid mocha dessert. A great intro to darker beers and amazing with a good bit of blue cheese.

Redemption Trinity from Redemption Brewing Company
This pale ale features aromas of zesty orange, sweet citrus, leading to pale biscuit flavours with a lovely hoppy finish. This is cracking pale from Redemption: big body, full flavour, teeny alcohol content. This is lovely classic cask pale, and one of those beers that if you’ve never tried it, or it’s been a while, is worth seeking out.

Tom Harrison, General Manager of The Duke’s Head, Highgate

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Tom Harrison is the general face of double Time Out Love London Award winning, The Duke’s Head, a freehouse in North London’s Highgate Village specialising in independent British cask and keg, and offers monthly street food rotations. When not propping up the bar, Tom also does creative direction and video work for bands. You can find his relatively dormant personal account on Twitter @theopenfire or follow his pub posts @DukesHighgate where he loves to GIF a bit.

Atlantic A.P.A. by Brixton Brewery (on keg)
So impressed was I with Brixton’s output in the past 12 months that I made sure we squeezed them into an ever tightening supply line, on both cask and keg. Whenever I’ve seen the Atlantic on keg, it’s been a no-brainer, straight in. I remember one sumptuous pint I had of it in Hackney’s Cock Tavern as if it were a hazy dream. I think it was by the end. At a sessionable strength (for Duke’s staff) of 5.4%, it’s a great alternative to our house favourite, Gamma Ray, bursting with tropical fruit and citrus. Really. Hard. To. Go. Wrong.

N1 Pale by Hammerton Brewery (on cask)
A SIBA Gold winning ale, and rightly so. We’ve built a great relationship and friendship with Lee, Nina and their team down in Islington. It’s a pleasure for us to support local, both London and borough. This one’s definitely for me, but also for the customers, who lap it up on keg and cask. A quick turnaround on tap/vent/pour makes the most of those dry-hop aromas, guaranteeing a perfect session quencher. It’s all about the cask version for me, a beer that turns around so quickly we decided to keep it on permanently to appease locals. We just need an N6 now…

London Beer by London Breweries (on cask and keg)
I’m going to go a little off piste* here and say from a publican point of view, if you should try anything in Tryanuary, it’s beer by independent London breweries. Sitting firmly on the customer facing side of things, whilst often leaning heavily over the fence and putting my hands in people’s pockets, be it brewing with Weird Beard or Hammerton, or celebrating birthdays with Brew By Numbers and Beavertown, all I can say is how amazing a year 2015 was for the beer scene in this fine city. Bring on 2016. (*I found it too hard to pick a third.)

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Is there a London beer you think folks should try this month? Let us know in the comments.

Guest Post from HonestBrew: London Brewer Market–A review by and for beer lovers

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Rebecca Pate from HonestBrew visited our last London Brewers’ Market at Old Spitalfields Market. Here are her thoughts of how it went down.

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On the 28th November 2015, beer lovers flocked to Old Spitalfields Market for London Brewers’ Market. Held in partnership with the Independent Label Market, this pop-up event showcased a range of beers from 26 breweries (with some winter warmers thrown in for good measure). It drew a heaving crowd of thirsty punters who came for the bevvies, but stayed for the revelry. The temporary beer garden was teeming and DJs provided an ongoing soundtrack throughout the afternoon.

The breweries in attendance ranged from the local stalwarts, such as Camden Town Brewery and Beavertown, to the freshly revived Truman’s Brewery. The presence of smaller brewers was strong, from the up-and-coming Howling Hops based in Hackney Wick to the husband and wife team behind Rocky Head Brewery. Other respected names on the London scene included: Brew by Numbers, Redemption, Fourpure and Redchurch Brewery. Brewers were happy to expound on the virtues of their core ranges and the larger enterprises had some seasonal offerings- FourPure’s Lemondrop IPA proved popular, but it was their Hoptart that stood out as an excellent dry-hopped sour beer amid the prevalent pale ales and stouts.

A recent addition to the craft beer scene was in attendance- 40ft, a microbrewery operating out of three shipping containers in Dalston, East London. Although they have only just opened their taproom to the public, their beer is already being stocked in trendy corners of East London. This isn’t a fluke–their head brewer, Ben Ott, has serious pedigree working with both London Fields and Truman’s. Their Larger (yes- Larger- that isn’t a typo) is an exciting citrusy Kölsch that is superbly drinkable.

Porters and stouts were heavily proffered and there were some good examples, such as the Quadrant from the East London Brewing Company, a silky smooth oatmeal stout with pleasant notes of chocolate, coffee and molasses. The Five Points Brewing Company was pulling their Railway Porter, a crowd-pleasing variation of the traditional London style with robust flavour and a caramel finish.

If you missed this year’s Brewer’s Market- or if you just didn’t make it past breweries beginning with the letter C – not all is lost. HonestBrew stocks a wide range of beer from many of the breweries represented at the event and a convenient way to sample different styles if you’re living outside the stomping ground of a small brewery. And if you did need more convincing, Honest Brew delivers straight to your door, removing the panic of a keg running dry or a lengthy queue.

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Try the flexible Honesty Box service for half price (grab a taster kit of 6 beers for only £9 delivered) and discover a changing selection of beers sent to your door or buy beer online here.

That will certainly keep you going until the next Brewer’s Market in 2016- see you there!

Stall Map for London Brewers’ Market & Independent Label Market Xmas 2015

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For those of you who like to plan, check out the stall map for Saturday’s markets at Old Spitalfields Market: Independent Label Market and London Brewers’ Market.

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Join us from 11am until 6pm on Saturday, the 30th, for a great day of independent beer and music at Old Spitalfields! Entry is free and all are welcome.

We’ve got 26 breweries plus snacks from Soffle’s and home brew kits from Home Brew Depot. RSVP on Facebook if you haven’t already and we’ll see you soon!