A number of entries below mention taprooms. Most will probably still be open for off-sales but for now, you may not be able to drink there. Please check the brewery’s website before visiting.
Anspach & Hobday: the Bermondsey Beer Mile brewers are introducing a range of 440ml canned beers. The launch date was scheduled for 21 March. The beers involved will be three of their core range (Pale Ale, Sour Dry Hop and Ordinary Bitter) plus a special, Sea Salt & Chilli Stout. They will be available in their tap rooms in Bermondsey and Croydon, as well as the Pigeon, their bar in Camberwell. The installation of the canning line was funded by their crowdfunding exercise in January 2019.
Beerblefish Brewery: Beerblefish have opened a taproom for both on and off sales. The intention is that it will be open from 11am to 5pm on the last Saturday of each month (25 April, 30 May, 27 June, 25 July, 29 August, 26 September and 31 October). Christmas and New Year opening will be confirmed in due course. The address is Unit 6, Georgiou Business Park, Second Avenue, Edmonton N18 2PG. More details available on their website.
Brockley Brewing Co: in March, Brockley celebrated Lovers Rock, Britain’s first home-grown reggae style music. It started at Dennis Harris’s Eve Records studio in Upper Brockley Road which was the base for the Lovers Rock label and was where much of it was recorded. This is close to the brewery in Harcourt Road, SE4. Two special limited edition beers were produced: One Drop Pale Ale (4.6% ABV) and Steppers Extra Stout (5.5% ABV). Both are named after reggae drum beats; the one drop and the steppers beat.
Fullers: ESB is proving its continued popularity and consistency, having recently won two CAMRA awards. It won the Strong Bitter category at the Champion Beer of London awards and was a finalist in the Champion Bottled Beer of Britain competition.
Park Brewery: Park now have their on-sales licence and, for a trial period, their tap room will be open from 5pm to 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The most recent experimental beer produced was Yomp! (4.7% ABV), a naturally hazy amber rye beer, brewed with Excelsior hops. The address is Unit 7 Hampden Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT1 3LG.
Gill Morgan
Vale Brewery: Vale’s line up of beers for the spring is as follows: Three Barrels Under (3.9% ABV) – an American style pale gold ale; Not Now Cato! (4.0% ABV) a deep amber beer with fruit notes, brewed with French hops, and Triggers Broom (4.3% ABV), a golden ale brewed with English hops.
Wimbledon Brewery: Gareth Larkin has joined Wimbledon from Meantime as head brewer, replacing Charlie Long who has moved to Fuller’s. We wish both of them every success in their new jobs.
Windsor & Eton: Congratulations to Windsor & Eton Brewery, one of the founding members of the London Brewers’ Alliance, who have recently celebrated their tenth anniversary. Their continued success is demonstrated by their being the second best ‘thing to do” in Windsor, according to TripAdvisor.
Number one is the castle!
Christine Cryne
Love Beer London: in February, the Love Beer London festival was held in Tottenham Hale. Albeit keg only, it was a welcome addition to an area not known for its beer. The festival was supported by SIBA South East, the London Brewers’ Alliance and Craft Beer Cares, with profits going to The Benevolent, a trade charity that provides help and support to employees of the drinks industry and their families. Some CAMRA volunteers helped out.
The Festival hosted the SIBA London & South East keg beer competition, with beers covering a whole spectrum of beer styles from the more usual pale ales and lagers to wood aged beers and sours. The top honours went to Gipsy Hill for Outlooker, a triple berry sour. It had a great blend of fruit and tartness, balanced by a little sweetness with honey notes in a clean finish where the fruitiness continues to linger. A full list of the winners can be found from SIBA.
Christine Cryne
Compiled by Tony Hedger