Beer tourism in London
The capital of the United Kingdom brings together a vast brewing tradition interwoven with the craft beer movement. On the more classic side, you can find at least one pub on every street. These beautifully designed bars offer a good handful of taps to choose from. We should point out right away that there are two types of taps: those counter-pressured by gas (like in Spain) and hand pumps.
It is with these hand pumps that we find the typical “cask ale” and “real ale”. These are lightly carbonated beers, with a flat body and hardly any foam. According to English tradition, they still contain live yeast in the cask and are pushed through with air, which gives them particular flavors that would be considered flaws in other cultures. In this format we can find typical British ales, and especially one brand: Fuller’s. The Chiswick brewery is present in most pubs.
If you get lost, here are a few pubs you’ll enjoy: Mayflower, The Haarp, Churchill Arms, Prospect of Whitby, Ye Olde Cheshire, Captain Kidd, The Blackfriars, Old Bank of England and Jerusalem Tavern, among others. Special mention for the Thameside Inn by Nicholson’s, with a terrace and views of the River Thames. It’s on the south bank, next to Borough Market, and there’s an old ship moored right beside it.
When it comes to breweries to visit, you can’t miss the facilities of Fuller’s (The Griffin Brewery, Chiswick Lane South, London W4 2QB). It has a restaurant where you can enjoy their beers fresher than anywhere else and also savor the local cuisine. Don’t leave without visiting their shop, where you’ll find limited editions, barrel-aged beers and collaborations with other brands.
As for the more craft-focused side of things, you can do the “beer mile”. This is a very special beer route because in a straight line you’ll find around ten breweries and craft beer pubs in just a single mile. You can also visit one of the BrewDog locations, where you can drink and buy their extravagant creations. If you’re short on time, you can visit The Kernel and Brew by Numbers, as they’re right next to each other. In a similar situation of proximity you’ll find the taprooms of Beavertown and Pressure Drop.
Whether you prefer to enjoy the hoppiest double dry-hopped beers or traditional real ales, London is your city. You won’t run out of places to drink beer, but be careful—pubs close early!
