There’s never been a better time to be a beer lover, and there is no better place in the world to drink it than London. We have more than 100 breweries in our city. But it’s not just the quantity, it’s the quality of what they make. Brewers like Kernel and Beavertown are so popular they draw visitors from across the world.
Thankfully your journey needn’t be so epic. Clustered around three main hubs – Tottenham Hale, Hackney and Bermondsey – many breweries and pubs are easy to stumble between. It’s London Beer Week this week, so now’s the time to soak up the scene.
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‘The London Craft Beer Guide’, by Jonny Garrett and Brad Evans is out now, published by Penguin Books. London Beer Week runs at various venues across the city until Sun Mar 18.
Howling Hops has beautiful beer fresh from its tanks, big long social tables and a great atmosphere. As a bonus, one of the best pubs in east London, Mason & Co is just around the corner. Howling Hops, Unit 9a Queen’s Yard, White Post Lane, E9 5EN. Hackney Wick Overground. Sun-Thu.
It’s right there in the name: Beer + Burger is the one you go to for incredible burgers, banging sides and probably the best beer list in any UK restaurant. Go for the food, stay for the suds. 88 Walm Lane, NW2 4QY. Willesden Green tube.
Ubrew is an open brewery, meaning if you have a few friends who want to become members, you can head down, brew your own beer together and pick it up when it’s ready. Arches 29-30, 24 Old Jamaica Rd, SE16 4AW.Membership: £95 per month between five people.
Meet the founders of Põhjala, brewers of some of Estonia’s – and indeed the world’s – best beers at this London Beer Week event. Its unusual ingredients push the boundaries of what beer can be. Põhjala Meet the Maker. Mother Kelly’s, 86 Well St, E9 6QU. Homerton Overground. Fri Mar 16. £15.
Un-boozy booze might not sound that appealing, but Nirvana Brewery’s low-alcohol beer is tasty stuff. Feel even more virtuous by doing some yoga at Nirvana to work up a thirst. Yoga at Nirvana. Unit T6, Leyton Industrial Village, E10 7QP. Lea Bridge rail. Tue Mar 13. £20.
Malt + Pepper is an amazing street food kitchen that cooks with beer. It’s not just a novelty: it’s hearty and wholesome food, and it has the chance to take on a site in Bethnal Green. It recently set up a funder to try and make its hoppy restaurant a reality. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/MaltPepperLDN
London’s favourite brewery crawl, the Bermondsey Beer Mile, has got even better thanks to a few newbies. Affinity makes delicious session beers with unusual twists, Bristol brewery Moor has opened a taproom, and Partizan Brewing has upped its game. They are worth going the extra mile for. Do it on your own or go on a tasting walk run by UK Brewery Tours. Marquis of Wellington. Borough tube. Thu Mar 15. £25.
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