Revolutionary Beer Brewing

London is getting Craftier. Well, its beer is at least. Over the last few years there’s been a boom of independent breweries and craft beer pubs popping up all over the capital making it easier to get a lemon meringue pie beer than it is to get a Fosters. For those of you who don’t know what Craft Beer is, it’s essentially an un-industrialised and commercialised beer made by small brewers therefore giving you an authentic taste of the area it was brewed in. Here are 5 of the craftiest pubs to try on your visit to London and a few words from some craft beer specialists.

1. Stormbird, Camberwell.

Stormbird is a real hipster hangout spot. Located in Camberwell, it draws a large crowd of artsy folk due to the prestigious arts school nearby. Elliott Brown, a regular visitor and home brewer says that the rise of craft beer in places such as Stormbird is due to ‘People of our generation enjoying the story behind locally sourced and independent goods, this has transcended into the beer market too’ - this ideology certainly seems to resonate with the crowd at Stormbird. Featuring plenty of beers from local breweries, it’s the perfect place to go to if you’re looking for some great beers with a more vibrant and younger atmosphere than a regular pub. Camberwell is nestled in-between Brixton and Peckham (two of London’s best nightlife locations), which makes Stormbird the ideal pre-drink location should you be planning to carry on your night into the early hours.

2. The Rake, London Bridge.

Some say The Rake is the smallest pub in London, however they have confirmed this isn’t true. That said, from the outside it is hard to notice The Rake, such is its size. Situated on the back of the world famous Borough Market with its incredible selection of foods - as well as being within walking distance of the Southbank, The Rake is in a fantastic area of London. Once inside this tiny little bar you will find a beer lovers heaven. With 7 taps available as well as hundreds of different beers within the fridges ranging from all kinds of different locations, you really are spoilt for choice. If you’re a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what to go for, ask the beer connoisseurs behind the counter and they will be glad to help.

3. Mother Kelly's, Bethnal green

Located in the old stomping ground of the notorious ‘Krays twins’, Mother Kelly’s is a shining example of just how trendy the ‘real’ East End is becoming. Set out under the railway arches in Bethnal Green, the pub offers an incredible range locally brewed beers in a fantastic environment. With a large patio for sitting outside on a summer’s day and a decent selection of nibbles and snacks available, it’s the perfect place to whittle away the evening with a hip and friendly crowd drinking the flavours of the east end. Shoreditch, and its array of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs is only a 15 minute walk down the road making Mother Kelly’s and absolute essential pit stop on your tour of London’s hippest district.

4. The Euston, Tap

The most quirky location out of the list, The Euston Tap is located within a Victorian Gatehouse outside of Euston station and is a very cosy and friendly craft beer pub. Whilst it may be small, the pub is very clever in making the most of the limited space they have. Split across 2 floors with seating upstairs, The Euston Tap offers an exceptional range of beers at reasonable prices. If you’re feeling peckish whilst visiting, make sure you get yourself one of their runny yolk scotch eggs – they’re to die for. The likelihood is you’ll pass through Euston at some point during you visit to London and with Camden and London Zoo nearby, The Euston Tap is a great place to stop off and take a breather.

5. The Old red Cow, Barbican

A world recognised craft beer venue, The Old Red Cow is a superb little pub offering a variety of exceptional beers and food. With a constantly rotating menu on offer and some very clued up bar staff, The Cow is the perfect place to spend a few boozy hours in the city. The pub’s manager, Alex Muncie said that craft beer has the power of unification amongst his punters, stating ‘People still come into my pub looking for it (cheap beers) and can be shocked by the price… but most people like the variety, they can chat amongst friends, colleagues and strangers about the beers’. The Barbican Centre and St Pauls are close by making the Cow a great place to enjoy a London beer after a busy day sight-seeing and checking out cultural hotspots. Head on down on a Sunday afternoon for a brilliant roast and a pretty challenging pub quiz.

So there you have it. If you’re heading to London and want to try out some of its finest beers, the above list contains some of the best places to sample them. If you’re wanting to try something local to the area in order to get a really taste of the city, ask the staff and they will be happy to help. Elliott recommends ‘Brew By Numbers 01/01 Citra Saison’ and ‘In Bloom, which is a new Session IPA and tastes like Liquid Gold’ whilst Alex suggests you drink ‘Anything and everything, the weirder the better’. Enjoy!