Although this independent brewery has only been producing pints for a year and a half, it has already established itself as a craft beer fixture in Deptford. Brothers Archie and Louis Village set it up at the end of 2016 in one of Resolution Way’s railway arches, where they make a core range alongside small batches of experimental and seasonal brews.
Its taproom is open Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday, following plenty of pressure from regulars. It has the kind of sleek Scandi stylings that seem popular among London microbreweries, with concrete floors, woodchip furniture, naked light bulbs and potted succulents peppered about. Cosy communal tables surrounded by huge beer vats and a cute bar with one of the brewery’s trademark illustrations hanging above (these appear in pastel colours on Villages cans) endow the space with a welcoming quirkiness.
When we visited on a warm Saturday night, the place was filled with friendly chatter and soft flurries of background jazz. A bubbly barmaid humoured our rowdy group, especially when we got overexcited at the sight of a prosecco tap. As well as glasses of fizz, we ordered (cheap) pints of Whistle – Villages’ tasty, citrusy pilsner – and Rodeo pale ale, a smooth, sweet drink with floral flavours. We nursed them on the wooden benches outside and revelled in the buzz of Resolution Way which, partly thanks to Villages, has become a hotspot for eating and drinking in Deptford.
Nearly every area of London boasts its own microbrewery, but with delicious beers and fizz on tap, brilliant staff and a fun-loving vibe, this one’s worth crossing the river for. And if it’s in your village? Time to get glugging.