Rebecca Pate

After the recent run of sunny weather, June is looking good. There’s a solid list of craft beer events lined up around London to enhance your summer itinerary, so why not make this the month you discover a new brewery? Tap takeovers are a perfect way to sample a range of beers, while getting to meet the people behind them. Barrel Kitchen at UBREW For this month’s wildcard event, this food and beer concept will be showcasing the beers from Driptych Brew Co alongside some delicious food from Club Lola. Think supper club meets tap takeover, where a six-course menu will be perfectly paired with beers that have been meticulously chosen to complement and enhance each dish. The whole event will be in a working open brewery – where members use professional kit to make their home-brewing dreams become a reality. UBREW is also the home of Driptych and offers a friendly environment for this inaugural event (with more promised down the line). UBREW, 29 Old Jamaica Business Estate, 24 Old Jamaica Rd, SE16 4AW. Jun 14, 7-11pm. A post shared by BrewDog Shepherd's Bush (@brewdogshepbush) on May 21, 2017 at 3:47am PDT To Øl at BrewDog Shepherd’s Bush Danish brewery To Øl is globally revered for making inventive beers. It is what’s referred to as a gypsy brewery, or a brewery that doesn’t brew in a fixed location. It travels around instead, relying on other breweries’ facilities. But that doesn’t affect their ability to turn out a number of excellent beers – in fact

May – the month with not one but two long weekends – has arrived. You might be tempted to pack your weekend holdall and flee the city, but don’t be too hasty. There’s so much going on across London that staycationing might just be worth your while. With the extended breaks, it’s the perfect opportunity to try something new like, say, a brewery you haven’t been to yet. We can’t guarantee that the weather will play ball, but at least the beer will be good. A post shared by Inverurie Whisky Shop (@inveruriewhisky) on Mar 28, 2017 at 5:29am PDT Fierce Beer at Mason & Company Hailing from Aberdeen, Fierce Beer is teaming up with Hackney Wick’s Mason & Company for a meet-the-brewer and tap-takeover event. Fierce Beer has only been around a year, but it’s already pushing boundaries and was crowned Best New Scottish Brewery in 2017 by RateBeer.com. For those who want to delve right in, there are £10 tickets for a ‘tutored tasting’ with their head brewer on the night – but if you’re just there for the beer, head straight down from the office and work through the taps. Mason & Company, 25 East Bay Lane, Here East, Hackney Wick, E20 3BS. May 4, tasting begins at 6pm and entry is free from 7pm-11pm. A post shared by BoozersWithoutBorders (@boozyborders) on Apr 8, 2017 at 12:34pm PDT Durrty DIPAs with Boozers without Borders For this month’s wild card event, the Boozers without Borders team is hosting a charity night filled with

With April this year comes Easter and the unfolding of summer. This means outdoor events, flimsy disposable barbecues and beer gardens. We’ll give April showers a defiant V-sign and disregard the fact that, inevitably, the Easter weekend will bring some disappointing weather. So here’s a list of amazing tap takeovers around London to enjoy, rain or shine. Siren at the King & Co The King & Co is hosting a massive tap takeover and meet-the-brewer event with Siren Craft Brew. There will be ten beers on keg and four on cask to try in the company of the brewery team. We’re promised beer flight offers and some culinary delights from Division 194 to boot. Be sure to try the Yu Lu, a delicate loose leaf pale ale that’s just been inducted into Siren's core range – it's the perfect beer for sunshine with a low ABC (3.6 percent), infused with Earl Grey tea and lemon zest. You’ll regret it if you miss this – YOLO (or maybe YULU?). The King & Co, 100 Clapham Park Road, SW4 7BZ. Thu Apr 6, 7pm-10pm. Ubrew 2nd Birthday Tap Takeover Head to Bermondsey for Ubrew’s 2nd birthday bash. This open brewery – which lets keeners brew using professional kit – will hand over its taps to its members, showcasing the punchy and creative beers that they’ve been concocting. Given the timing, you can expect a plethora of Easter-themed beers, which might include chocolate stouts and even hot cross bun porters. Flights of beers can be purchased to ensure that you get to taste a rainbow of offerings. There’s a

March isn't the most exciting month – save for Mother’s Day, of course – but unless your mum likes a pint or two, it’s likely that you’ll have to seek out your own beer-centric fun. Thankfully, we’ve compiled some of the best tap takeovers happening in London over the next (rather long) 31 days.  Prancing Pony Brewing at Craft Beer Co Hailing from Australia, this award-winning craft brewery will be showcasing four of its beers on draft for the first time in the UK at the Craft Beer Co in Covent Garden. What should you expect from this antipodean crew? Well, they’re known as Australia’s favourite fire brewers because their kettle, which is used to boil wort in the brewing process, is heated by a flame burner. That’s both old-school and indicative of the care that goes into their flavoursome range. Their bottles have been popping up across London recently, so wrangle this pony before everyone else. The Craft Beer Co. Covent Garden, 168 High Holborn, WC1V 7AA. March 4–5, noon–1.30am. Fourpure Beer Dinner Bermondsey brewery Fourpure isn't just having a tap takeover, but an entire menu takeover. Beer and food pairings are becoming increasingly ubiquitous around London, meaning that a range of beers can be showcased in the company of some delicious food. Here, Fourpure is working with Thomas Ryalls, the head chef at Hoxton’s Beagle, to unveil five never-before-seen beers across five courses. John Driebergen, head brewer, will be on hand to guide diners through the beers and flavou

Welcome to February, where our bank accounts are barely out of the black and our friends are no longer dodging the pub. Oh, and it just so happens that Craft Beer Rising 2017 is happening at the end of the month, so we recommend that you start perfecting your drinking technique in the lead up to the main event. Here are a few tap takeovers that will help you limber up.    Brewheadz at Brewdog There’s a chance you haven’t heard of Brewheadz, but let’s rectify that. Head to Brewdog in Camden (February 5) or Brewdog Shoreditch (February 16) for a special tap takeover. The Brewheadz team is four Italian friends who hail from the Lazio region and are operating out of a unit in Tottenham Hale. They pride themselves in using the best ingredients available to produce intensely delicious and drinkable beer. Not exactly the most original of mission statements, but still – check 'em out. Brewdog Camden, 113 Bayham St, NW1 0AG, February 5 from 2pm & Brewdog Shoreditch, 51-55 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA, February 16 from 6pm.  Orbit Beers at the Sun Tavern This is more of a month-long residency and it's at The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green. Orbit Beers will be on the menu throughout February as part of the pub’s Tap Takeover Tuesdays series. Every Tuesday, a pint of Orbit will set you back a mere £3. To launch the whole affair, the Orbit team will be there on February 7 for a BYOV session (that’s Bring Your Own Vinyl) and are encouraging drinkers to contribute to that evening’s soundtrack. Mu

January is a month laden with post-Christmas detoxing initiatives, including the dreaded Dry January. While your liver may have been the victim of some boozy excesses over December, complete abstinence is an extreme prospect. And it all goes so well up until the first weekend comes around, right? But now there’s Tryanuary, a movement that encourages drinkers to buy from independent breweries, pubs and bottle shops and try something new. The aim is to drink sensibly but drink well. So this month, in addition to tap takeovers, we’ve included a Tryanuary pubcrawl around Old Street and Islington – perfect for those who'd rather practise moderation than curtail their social lives for 31 days.  The Five Points: Tryanuary pub crawl This annual event is the perfect way to get stuck into Tryanuary. Curated by the Five Points Brewing Co’s resident pub aficionado, join in to discover four pubs around Old Street and Islington that carry a superb beer selection. With an hour spent in each pub, there’s ample opportunity to order something unfamiliar and maybe discover a new favourite, a new local or just a smashing good pint. All proceeds from ticket sales go towards St Joseph’s hospice, so if being more generous was also one of your resolutions (in addition to improved drinking), then you’re doubly covered. Old Street, EC1Y 1BE with first pub TBC. January 21, 2.30pm-7pm.  Siren at Tate Modern Every month, the Tate Modern’s terrace bar invites in a British craft brewery as part of their

December is traditionally reserved for libations and merriment. In the interest of avoiding awkward booze-fueled bonding sessions with co-workers, we’ve compiled a list of five festive tap takeovers happening around London this month. These are definitely worth bunking off your office Christmas party for. Five Points Brewing Co at The Gun Hackney’s Five Points Brewing Company heads to the Gun with an ample quantity of beer in tow. They’re celebrating East End Independents’ Day and the launch of Well Street Market by commandeering the Gun's taps. In addition to keeping your glasses filled, the Five Points team will be on hand to chat about their range, the brewery’s history and what’s in the pipeline for 2017. The Gun is an East London fixture and the beer guaranteed to satisfy, so it’s worth putting your Saturday afternoon aside for a quick one (or pull up a stool and stay all day, we won’t judge). The Gun, 235 Well Street, E9 6RG. Dec 3, 1pm-5pm. Moor Beer at the EeBria Taproom Bristol’s Moor Beer Company was recently recognised by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) as the first brewery in the world to successfully can-condition real ale – that means that live yeast and natural carbonation survive the canning process. They're also responsible for some seriously delicious beers, some of which will be showcased at the EeBria taproom. If you need a break from drinking, there’s air hockey and shuffleboard tables to keep you on your game. But we reckon that after a few sips, you’l

We're eternally grateful for all the brilliant food on offer at London's best restaurants. But when it comes to ordering a beer to go with your grub, what's on offer is all too often a let-down. Here are five restaurants that are smashing it, dishing out a beer selection that’s as impressive as your dinner.    A photo posted by Nanban (@nanbanlondon) on Oct 6, 2016 at 7:22am PDT Nanban, Brixton Nanban takes its cue from Japanese food: think ramen, curries and even burgers. Brainchild of 'Masterchef' winner Tim Anderson, the concept is modern pan-Asian and it’s heavily influenced by local produce from nearby Brixton Market. The solid beer list at Nanban comes as no real surprise, as Anderson previously dabbled in home brewing. For his restaurant, he’s collaborated with several breweries to create the perfect foil to his food. Try the Pressure Drop Nanban Kanpai, a tangy wheat IPA with yuzu, orange and grapefruit. It literally goes with everything.      A photo posted by @dukesbrewandque on Sep 15, 2016 at 4:14am PDT Duke’s Brew & Que, De Beauvoir Town Admittedly, this is a no-brainer.  Duke’s has an unbeatable beer selection as it's the birthplace of Beavertown Brewery, who have slowly risen as a dominant force on London’s craft beer scene. The brewery has since left Duke’s for a bigger site in Tottenham Hale, but the food and the beer remain, with succulent ribs and burgers that scream out for a perfect beer match. Naturally, Beavertown flows from the taps. All o

The clocks have gone back and darkness has descended upon us. Is there a better excuse to hole up with a comforting pint? We’re spoilt for choice with tap takeovers in November and because the days are shorter, it’s worth packing as much quality drinking into them as possible. Here are five places to go this month.  Five Points Brewing at The Rake It’s no secret that The Rake in Borough Market knows how to host an event. They showcase both local and international breweries on a regular basis. For this tap takeover, they’re welcoming Hackney’s own Five Points Brewing Co. A selection of their beer will be on offer – and everything they do is exceptionally solid, from their luscious pale ale to their new Brick Field Brown, a traditional brown ale with some chewy, malty notes. Meet the brewer, learn more about the beers and maybe even leave with some swag. Be sure to taste the Railway Porter, which is affectionately known as ‘Hackney’s Guinness’. Or it is now, at least. The Rake, 14 Winchester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AG. Nov 2, 5pm–11pm. New Zealand Collective’s Kiwi tap takeover This is one for the Kiwis – or those who can't get enough of juicy, tropical Pacific ales. Or just anyone who loves beer. A sample of New Zealand breweries will congregate at Out of Office in Battersea to present an exciting range of the country’s beers. This is a one-off and exclusive event that will guarantee to have your tastebuds doing the tango, promising beers imported directly from New Zealand

Going sober for October? Then look away now. Here are five tempting tap takeovers happening around the capital across the month.  Burning Sky Brewery: tap takeover at The Rake, October 5 For one night, The Rake will relinquish its taps to Burning Sky, a brewery located in an old Sussex Barn in the South Downs. This is a brewery where imagination runs wild and production isn’t restricted by convention, time or cost of ingredients. They’re currently in the process of an extensive ageing programme, where beers are matured in foudres – large wooden vats usually reserved for the maturation of wines. Seeing as it will take a few more years before these are ready for the drinking, why not enjoy some of their other beers now? They’ve got some juicy pale ales and IPAs to quench your thirst. The Rake, 14 Winchester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AG. Oct 5, 5pm-11pm. 100 Craft Beer Festival at The Craft Beer Co, October 6-9 What’s better than a single brewery tap takeover? How about a tap takeover with a multitude of breweries? The Craft Beer Co Clapham brings us The 100 Craft Beer Festival, which showcases over 100 beers from an impressive list of breweries from the UK and beyond. London brewers Beavertown, Redemption and Partizan are all taking part – but that only scratches the surface of what’s on offer. You might want to clear your weekend schedule for this. Craft Beer Co, 128 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham, SW4 6ED. Noon Oct 6–11pm Oct 9. Oktoberfest at UBrew, October 8 This year has s