Route 38 Craft Beer Pub Crawl Pt 2

Welcome to part two of this epic bus journey, covering some of London's best beer pubs. So far in Part One I have been to five pubs. Starting in Clapton and working my way down to the Islington border. Part Two of the journey will take us from Islington to Holborn, featuring six pubs. 

As before I have listed the closest bus stops and I have added Google walking maps links to make things easier. 

So now it's time to jump back on board and head to the first pub!

The North Pole

Bus Stop: Essex Road Station

The North Pole is located about five minutes walk from the Essex Road Station bus stop, directly down New North Road. Click here for directions. As soon as you walk in to The North Pole, you immediately feel at home. The bar is situated within the main area, which also allows you to see the open kitchen. I have not eaten here yet but, the food I did see, looked delicious.

Sticking to the rules of this crawl, I am again drinking no more than two half pints per pub. My first beer was Dark Star - Carafa Jade. This beer has a beautiful red colour, thanks to the Carafa malt. The Jade hops give it a berry aroma, with a slight citrus finish. A great beer to start any crawl with. 

My next offering from the impressive line up at the bar was Buxton Brewery - Axe Edge IPA. Buxton is a brewery that I am getting in to more and more. Every beer by Buxton is full of flavour and this is no exception. Pale in colour and loaded with hops. Axe Edge may be 6.8% but, goes down smooth with a dry finish. 

The North Pole is a fantastic pub and I could of stayed for many hours. All the employees are very friendly. So do not be afraid to ask for their advice on which beer to drink.

I have been back since I originally wrote this and I tried the pulled pork burger. All I can say is wow! If you are hungry than you have to eat here. The burgers are awesome.

Tip: Ask for a loyalty card. It's free and you can earn yourself a free pint.

The Earl of Essex

Bus Stop: Islington Green

There are two ways of getting to the Earl of Essex. You can jump on the 38 and get off at Islington Green bus stop. Click here for directions. Or you can walk directly from The North Pole, though the back streets. Walking between the pubs takes, up to ten minutes. Click here for directions.

The Earl of Essex has an amazing range of beer. I counted 14 keg and six cask taps on the bar. The first thing you will notice, is that none of the taps have pump clips. To find out which beers are on, you have to take a look at the enormous wall mounted board. Every beer is clearly labelled as keg or cask and has the price per half / pint. If you head towards the back of the bar, you will find a micro brewery. The new Earl's Brewery is now operational. The first beer was not ready during my visit, but will be available soon.

My favourite beer was the Cantillon - Gueze. Cantillon has to be one of the best Begian breweries. Brewing spontaneous fermentation lambic beers, in Brussels since 1900. I have not had a Gueze before on draught. The beer pours a cloudy yellow colour, with slight vinegar aromas. It has a very sharp / sour taste, with a dry as a desert finish. It may not be to everyones palate, so you have been warned.

Tip: Opens at 3pm on Mondays and from 12pm the rest of the week.

The Charles Lamb

Bus Stop: Angel Station

The Charles Lamb is a short walk though the back streets from The Earl of Essex. Click here  for directions.

The Charles Lamb has to be one of Islington's hidden gems. Like The Earl of Essex, this pub is situated away from all the hustle and bustle of the town centre. As soon as I entered the pub, I felt welcome. The Charles Lamb has a good selection of beer but, it's the food that really stands out. The French inspired menu looked superb. I can almost guarantee that the pub gets very busy with hungry diners in the evening. 

My choice of beer was the rarely seen on draught, Schremser - Roggen Bio Bier. This Austrian beer normally found in bottles, is a top fermented organic rye beer. The beer is naturally cloudy, burnt orange colour. It looks similar to a wheat beer and is slightly sweet. A charming beer which, I found a pleasure to drink.

To get back to the bus stop, click here for directions.

Tip: Opens at 4pm Monday - Tuesday, 12pm the rest of the week.

The Exmouth Arms

Bus Stop: Tysoe Street

The Exmouth Arms is a pub I have reviewed before. Exmouth market is a great place to stop. Not only have you got a great range of beer and food available at the pub but, the market is also home to various food stalls. I could not visit The Exmouth Arms without having some sliders. Possibly some of the best sliders in London. 

To accompany my meal, I had a glass of Toccalmatto - Tabula Rasa Saison. Try saying that a few times over. This saison is straw coloured with a slight haze. Loads of fresh citrus flavours, that complimented my meal. Toccalmatto has an exciting range of beers. Well worth spending your money on. 

For more information on The Exmouth Arms, click here for my last review.

Tip: Avoid at lunch times as it can get very busy with office workers. Opens at 11am everyday.

The Craft Beer Co.

Bus Stop: Clerkenwell Road

The Craft is a short walk though the back streets from The Exmouth Arms. Click here for directions.

This is a pub that needs no introduction. This is the original Craft Beer Company pub and still the best. The range of keg and cask taps is mind boggling. To have just a couple of beers here is virtually impossible. The Craft is a pub that is worthy of spending the whole day in. I however did not have that luxury.

With so many beers to choose from, I opted for Tempest - A Face With No Name. The last time I had a beer from Tempest was in Newcastle. Just located North of the border in Scotland, Tempest brew some excellent beers. I am unsure why we do not see them more in London, as I believe their beers will sell very well down here. 

Tempest couldn't find the malt they were looking for, so they decided to roast their own to use in this beer. The result is a malty ruby coloured beer, with sweet caramel tones.

The bus stop to the next pub is called Clerkenwell Road but, the bus stop is on Rosebery Avenue. Click here for directions.

Tip: Opens at 12pm everyday.

If you are feeling hungry and pork pies / scotch eggs are not your thing, I recommend Pieminister on Leather Lane. Open everyday with a range of pies, to suit everyones tastes.

Holborn Whippet

Bus Stop: Bloomsbury Way

This is the final pub in what has been an amazing adventure in beer. The bus stop is almost right outside. So you cannot get lost.

The Whippet has established itself as firm favourite with London's beer drinkers. The pub does get very busy and customers will often overflow in to the pedestrianised area outside. All the beers are dispensed from a central brick column, which the bar is built around. All the beer names and pricing are written above each tap.

I have to admit I could only face one more beer, which was Buxton Brewery - Wild Boar. My beer was naturally hazy and poured a straw yellow colour. It looked more like a white wheat beer, than an IPA. Appearance aside, I did really love this beer. Lots of hops and bags of grapefruit citrus flavour. A very refreshing IPA, that was perfect to end the day with.

Tip: Opens at 12pm every day. Closed Sunday.

So that concludes the route 38 pub crawl. I really hope that I have inspired others to try out this pub crawl for themselves.

My tips for a good pub crawl.

1. Start early, so you do not have to rush.

2. Be realistic about how much you will drink in each pub.

3. Check the opening hours of the pubs before you set off.

4. Make sure you have cash on you, not all pubs accept cards.

5. Drinking beer is a pleasurable experience, so enjoy yourself!

Don't forget to share this pub crawl with your friends.

@SW6BeerBager

Route 38 Craft Beer Pub Crawl Part 1

Route 38 in London is one of London's oldest bus routes. It has been carrying passengers from Victoria Station to Clapton and back since 1912. It also happen to pass very close to some of London's best pubs. So many in fact, I have had to break down this crawl in to two parts. I am sure you could do the lot in one day but, I would not recommend it.

As most pubs are located in the Eastern end of the route, that was where I began the crawl. Unlike some buses, the 38 is very regular. I did not have to wait more than five minutes for a bus all day. 

As well as listing the pubs on the route, I have listed the closest bus stops and I have added Google walking maps links to make things easier. 

So Oyster cards at the ready, lets jump on board for our first pub.

The Clapton Hart

Bus Stop: Clapton Pond

The Clapton Hart used to be a hotel in a former life but, is now part of the Antic London group of pubs. This pub may not look the smartest from the outside but, looks are deceiving. Once though the front doors, you enter an enormous pub. The inside is just what I expected from an Antic pub. Everywhere you gaze, there is something to look at. Whether its quirky furniture or knickknacks that are hanging on the wall. By far the most interesting items for me, was the beer selection at the bar.

Being on a pub crawl, I had decided I would drink no more than two half pints per pub. Choosing just two beers was never going to be easy. At the Hart I choose Anarchy - Quiet Riot South Pacific IPA & Bexar County - Chocolate Covered Banana.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Anarchy Brew Co. I have yet to have a beer by them I have not liked and the Quiet Riot is another hit. Made entirely with South Pacific hops, this 6.6% IPA is what is says on the label, a tropical hop riot for your tastebuds. 

The Bexar beer is a strong mild, about as opposite from the IPA as it gets. I do not always take to milds but on this occasion I loved it. You get a big banana hit of aroma, followed by the sweet taste of chocolate. If all milds tasted this good, it may encourage me to drink them more often.

Tip: Show a valid Camra card to receive a discount on real ale. Opens at 4pm on weekdays.

The Cock Tavern
Bus Stop: Hackney Central Station

The Cock Tavern is fast becoming one of the best real ales pubs in London. This pub has a simple no nonsense layout, a real East London boozer. Not only does this pub offer multiple beers on tap, it's also home to the Howling Hops Brewery. Based in the cellar of the pub, Howling Hops are producing some mighty fine stuff. People love their beers so much, hardly any gets sold to other pubs. So with that in mind, I choose the Howling Hops - IPA Export No'1 & Kernel - Sour.

Both beers were on keg. The Howling Hops IPA comes up a very hazy, orange - brown colour. It almost looks like a German wheat beer. This IPA is full of the bold flavours you expect from using U.S hops. I also like the slight carbonation and cooler temperature, that you get from keg. Overall a well balanced IPA that is not to in your face with hops.

The Kernel - Sour is a completely different animal. This beer pours a hazy pale yellow colour, almost like cloudy lemonade. The aroma is of yeast with a hint of lemon. It has a tart taste and a wonderful dry finish. A real sipping beer. If you like sour beers, you will love it. If you have not drunk a sour before, I recommend you try a sample first.

Tip: The Cock Tavern is a cash only pub. Opens at 12pm everyday.

The Fox
Bus Stop: Dalston Junction

The Fox is located about five minutes walk South from Dalston Junction, on the Kingsland Road. Click here for directions. I like The Fox a lot. To have a pub serving so many quality beers so close to Dalston, is simply amazing. Inside, the pub is modern yet feels very welcoming.

As this was my third pub, I saw it as a good opportunity to grab some lunch. I ordered the beef burger with cheese, bacon and chunky chips! Big enough to satisfy any appetite. A big lunch calls for some big beers. First off,  Ska Brewing - Modus Hoperandi. A big American IPA all the way from Colorado. A golden beer full of powerful citrus flavours, with a smooth finish.

My second beer, Darkstar - Six Hop Ale. An ale that needs no introduction. Containing six hops, this is a beer for the hop extremist! It's like bungee jumping in to a river of hops, for your tastebuds. Every mouthful makes you want to slap your face, to bring you back down to earth for more!

Tip: Opens at 4pm on weekdays.

The Duke of Wellington
Bus Stop: Southgate Road

I would recommend walking from The Fox as it is a short walk. Click here for directions. The Duke of Wellington was very busy by the time I arrived. Which is always a sign of a good pub. The bar is located in the front of the pub, with extra seating located in the back room. 

I did have a look around but only one beer grabbed my attention. It was another locally brewed beer, Five Points Brewing Co - Red Rye. After a taster from the bar man, I went for a whole pint of this excellent new beer. As you would expect the beer has rich red colour and sweet caramel tones. As first beers go by a new brewery, this one is very impressive. I can see Five Points is keeping up the high standard of Hackney produced beers.

Tip: Opens at 3pm on weekdays.

The Hops & Glory

Bus Stop: Essex Road - Marquess Road

You can hop on the bus from The Duke of Wellington, or you can also walk it. Click here for directions. The Hops & Glory is the newest of all the pubs I have listed so far. This corner pub has the one of the smartest bars I have seen. The bar has a huge centrepiece mirror, surrounded by beautiful red tiles all the way to the ceiling. The cask and keg selection is very impressive. Looking at the line up, there were a couple of beers I have seen in here before. Namely from Black Isle & Chimay, which are great names to have on permanently.

I first went for an old favourite, Chimay Red. As most of you will know, Chimay is a Trappist beer from Belgium. Chimay is wildly available in bottles but, on draught is normally harder to find. Chimay Red pours a deep red with its trade mark rich foam head. The beer is pure perfection, as you would expect from a monastery, that has been brewing since 1862.

My final beer of my crawl was, Ska Brewing - Pinstripe. Maybe not as hoppy as some other beers from Ska but, it is still a very good beer. Mellow fruit tones with a carmel edge, made this a perfect beer to end to a long afternoon drinking.

Tip: Opens at 4pm on weekdays.

So that ends part one of my pub crawl.

Click Here For Part Two

My tips for a good pub crawl.

1. Start early, so you do not have to rush.

2. Be realistic about how much you will drink in each pub.

3. Check the opening hours of the pubs before you set off.

4. Make sure you have cash on you, not all pubs accept cards.

5. Drinking beer is a pleasurable experience, so enjoy yourself!

Don't forget to share this pub crawl with your friends.

@SW6BeerBager

Dartford Working Mens Club

When you think of Dartford, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I am guessing the famous Dartford tunnel, on Britain's biggest car park the M25. I am sure it would not be a private members club that has a beer selection, most pubs would be envious of. Well I am here to inform you all that Dartford has a hidden gem, within its city limits. That place is the Camra multi award winning, Dartford Working Mens Club.

The club is situated in Essex Road, which is a five minute walk from Dartford train station. To gain entry you must be a member or have a valid affiliate club membership / Camra card. Once inside the club I was amazed how big the place is. I have been in a few clubs in my time but, this is one of the best I have been to.

On my visit I was lucky enough to meet up with Nick, who runs the club. He has been running the club for many years now. He is very proud of the beers they have to offer the members. Having 15 beers on hand pump has not been an overnight process. It took many years to get up to this level of beers on offer. Looking at the line up, I felt like a child in a sweet shop.

My first beers were the Buxton Brewery - Moor Top 3.6% and Brodie's - London Pale Ale 5.0%. Both beers were in excellent condition. The Moor Top is very pale and packed full of Chinook hops, to give you a very refreshing beer. The Brodie's London Pale Ale was made with Nelson Sauvin hops, pours a dark amber colour with a rich fruity taste and smells very similar to its grape namesake.

My next beer was from one of my favourite breweries. Moor Beer Co - Hoppiness 6.5%. This is one hell of an IPA. Packed full of various malts and hops, this IPA leaves others trembling in its shadow. A beer not to be missed, if you see it on tap. I had just finished my half when Nick invited me to see the cellar. He told me he was about to tap a new beer that he thought I would like. I am always amazed by pub cellars. They are organised chaos. The beer he tapped is one that is in very short supply. Moor Beer Co - Sloe Walker 8.0%. This was a lively one and took a couple of minutes to calm down. Once it was poured, the smell alone was heavenly. This beer smells of coffee and dark fruit. I think it is based on the Moor's Old Freddy Walker but, the added use of sloe berries, gives this beer a more balanced flavour.

Some of you may also of heard of a new brewery that has started near Dartford.

Caveman Brewery is the brain child of the club landlord Nick and his business partner James. This new brewery has been brewing at the Kent Brewery in Birling but, will soon be moving to their own premisses in Swanscombe. If you ever go to the George & Dragon pub in Swanscombe, you will be drinking right above an active brewery. I have tried the Chinook and the Citra beers. Both are very good beers and are receiving great reviews. Having seen what beers are going to be produced this year, I am very excited about this new brewery. I am sure Caveman will soon be a firm favourite with drinkers everywhere.

Did I mention the price of the beer? All real ales are priced at £2.50 per pint. The only exception was the Mikkeler - Baltic Porter 8.0%, which was £2.00 per half. I do not think I have had a Mikkeler beer that cheap, ever! The Baltic Porter is a fine beer and should be left until last. It is black, malty and very syrupy. Smells of coffee and chocolate, a perfect sipping beer to end an evening.

Not everyone would think of a working mens club as somewhere they would drink. Granted not all of them are going to be as adventurous as Dartford. Other clubs like the Egham USC have shown along with Dartford WMC, how good some clubs can be. I was very impressed with my trip to Dartford and I am looking forward to visits in the future. A big thank you to Nick for showing me around and allowing me to drink some Sloe Walker before it went on sale.

If you would like to follow Dartford WMC or Caveman Brewery on Twitter, their links are @Dartfordwmc & @Cavemanbrewery

A full list of all the beers for sale during my visit.

Alton - Submission 5.0%
Bristol Beer Factory - Seven 4.2%
Brodie's - London Pale Ale (Nelson Sauvin) 5.0%
Buxton - Moor Top 3.6%
Caveman - Citra 4.1%
Courage - Best 4.0%
Dark Star - Hophead 3.8%
Deeply Vale - DV8 4.8%
Hartshorns - Brooklyn Knights 5.4%
Just a Minute - Deja Brew 4.3%
Maldon - Gold 3.8%
Mikkeler - Baltic Porter 8.0%
Moor Beer - Hoppiness 6.5%
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire 4.2%
Tap House - Malt Teaser 4.6%

All pictures taken by me expect the Caveman logo, which is linked from their website.

Craft Beer Rising 2013

Craft Beer Rising, is a beer festival that I have been looking forward to for a long time. The concept is very different to a regular beer festival. Instead of the organisers buying in beer and selling it direct to festival attendees, here the organisers have got the brewers themselves to sell the beer direct. As well as beer, independent street food stalls and a great selection of music were also put on by the organisers.

The venue was perfect for this event. Set inside the original Truman Brewery site, off Brick Lane in London's East End. The local area is rapidly building a reputation for chic bars and independent shops, as well as its famous curry restaurants.

I arrived just after midday for the Friday trade session. As I first took in the venue, I knew this was going to be a great day. The first bar I came across was operated by BrewDog.

I started with some Jackhammer West Coast IPA, which I had just received some bottles off earlier in the week. This beer lives up to its name and is an explosion of hops and extremely bitter. I followed this with a darker offering, Libertine Black Ale. Just as hoppy as the previous beer but without the bitterness, Libertine was very easy to drink for a black beer. The guys from BrewDog are very informative about how things are going at the new brewery in Ellon. Plus they advised me they are not finished with just having two bars in London. Watch out South & West London, BrewDog is sniffing out new future locations in your area.

I next got talking to Byron from Brewers & Union. He told me they are a brewers union working out of Bavaria and Belgium. I tried the Berne Amber Lager, which is unfiltered and very smooth. I followed this with some Steph Weiss, which is a traditional Bavarian wheat beer. Both of my beers were excellent and I hope to try others in the future.

Moving on to the main room, I came across the Batemans Brewery bar. They were featuring their signature beer range.

The signature range has four beers at present. The Mocha is the current Sainsbury's Great British Beer Hunt winner and is also available co branded at M&S. All four beers looked excellent. My favourite was the Hazelnut Brownie, which really does taste like a brownie in liquid form. It would make a perfect end to an evening meal. Coming a close second is the Orange Barley, which if chilled more would make a superb alternative to wheat beer on a summers afternoon. What made all the beers even more innovative, is they are all available on Key Cask. Which like its sister product Key Keg, there is no need to return the barrel once empty and is recyclable. The shelf life is also longer while sealed, which means more of our cask beer can now head overseas in perfect condition.

When I came across Signature Brew they were almost alone in the music room. I am sure later on, once the music started it must of got very busy in there. I was greeted by Steve from my local brewery Late Knights, who was helping out for the day. He first offered me Remedy, which is a pale ale sourced with locally produced malt and hops. My next beer was the appropriately named Mammoth. It does what it says on the label, filled with a mammoth amount of hops. Every mouthful is an extreme hoppy joyride for the tastebuds, leaving you wanting more.

The real find of the day and in my opinion and my beer of the festival was Rebel Brewing Co. Mexi-Cocoa.

Mexi-Cocoa is a Chocolate Vanilla Stout that is simply to die for. Do not let the 8.5% abv put you off. Unlike some chocolate stouts, this really does taste of chocolate. The rich vanilla and chocolate complement each other so well and combine to make this a heavenly stout that is as smooth as silk. My biggest regret is that I did not buy a bottle to take home. I believe that Rebel Brewing Co, is going to be a name on everyones lips in 2013. I think this little Cornish brewery has gained a lot of fans at Craft Beer Rising.

Another new addition to the London brewing scene is Wild Card Brewery. Based in Walthamstow in East London and run by a young man called William. His first beer is name Jack of Clubs. The beer its self a ruby style bitter with and American edge. What makes his beer so unique is the style of the bottles. Each bottle has a beautiful illustrated Jack of Clubs playing card hanging down from the bottle neck. The bottle is not only stylish but, the beer inside also tastes great too.

Time seemed to pass so quickly on Friday. Before I knew it six o'clock was on us. This festival has been like no other I have been to. To allow brewers to represent themselves to the public is such a simple but effective idea. It gives them a chance to talk about their beer and us the consumer to ask any questions we may have about the product.

I love real ale but I also love craft keg and bottles beers. I think we the drinking public need to be free to drink quality beer in all formats. Just allowing UK producers to simply supply just cask beer to a festival, is not a true reflection of their brewing talent. Craft Beer Rising has reinvented the beer festival and has laid down the gauntlet to other UK festivals. UK cask, keg and bottles can all play together. Long live the beer uprising!

If you would like to follow Craft Beer Rising on Twitter, their link in @craftbeerriseuk

My top three beers of the festival.

1st - Rebel Brewing Co. - Mexi-Cocoa Chocolate Vanilla Stout 8.5% (C)

2nd - Signature Brew - Mammoth Double IPA 7.0% (B)

3rd - BrewDog - Libertine Black Ale - 7.2% (K)

The full list of beers I tried.

Bath Ales - Superweizen  5.4% (C)

Batemans - Orange Barley 6.0% (KC), Hazelnut Brownie 6.0% (KC)

Brentwood Brewing Co. - BBC 2 2.5% (C), Boston Brown Ale 4.4% (C)

BrewDog - Jackhammer 7.4% (K), Libertine Black Ale 7.2% (K)

Brewers & Union - Berne Amber Lager 5.0% (B), Steph Weiss 5.0% (K)

Fordham & Dominion Beers - Dominion Hop Mountain 6.7% (B)

Fuller's - Bengal Lancer 5.0% (K)

Harviestoun Brewery - Old Engine Oil 6.0% (B)

Meantime Brewing Co. - Nelson Sauvin Saison 6.0% (K)

Old Cannon Brewery - Gunner's Daughter 5.5% (C)

Raw Brewing Company - Pacific Gem 3.8% (C)

Rebel Brewing Co. - Mexi-Cocoa 8.5% (C), Nightshade Hefweissen 5.5% (C)

Red Squirrel Brewery - Jack Black IPA 4.8% (C)

Sharp's Brewery -  ICE Ale 4.2% (C), Spiced Red 9.0% (B)

Signature Brew - Mammoth 7.0% (B), Remedy 4.5% (B)

St Austell Brewery - Korev Lager 4.8% (K), Proper Job 4.5% (C)

Two Cocks Brewery - 1643 Cavalier 3.8% (C), 1643 Puritan 4.5% (C)

Thwaites - Thirteen Guns 5.5% (C)

Wildcard Brewery - Jack of Clubs 4.5% (B)

Key: (B) = Bottle (C) = Cask (K) = Keg (KC) = Key Cask

New South London Breweries

For months I have looked at other parts of London with envy. All across this great city, breweries are popping up. The nearest breweries to me used to be Kernel or Meantime. Now, out of nowhere I have four breweries virtually on my door step.

Clarence & Fredericks

The first time I came across C&F was at last years Wallington beer festival. As well as featuring their first two beers, they were also part sponsors of the event. The two beers available were Golden Ale and Smoked Red, of which the latter won beer of the festival. Not bad for a brand new entrant into the world of beer. Since the festival a third beer has been released called, Best Bitter.

I have been very fortunate to be able to visit the brewery in Croydon. I was very surprised how close they are to the town centre. C&F is run by a couple called Duncan & Vicky and the brewery is partially named after their son Fred. Before starting on his own, Duncan used to be a brewer at WJ King in Sussex. This experience certainly shows in the consistent quality of C&F beers. Knowing the hurdles Duncan went though to get more stocks of smoked malt for his Smoked Red, shows his passion for obtaining the right ingredients for his beers. One thing I know as a drinker, no sooner does the Golden Ale go on at my local, it runs out within hours! That in my opinion is the sign of a good beer.

If you have seen the C&F pump clips and wandered about the budgie, his name is Barry. He is the fictional pet of C&F, created by Vicky. I like Barry as he is a bold icon and easily recognisable. Maybe one day he will be as well known as the Courage cockerel or Guinness toucan? Only time will tell.

The Cronx Brewery

The Cronx is named after the slang name for Croydon. Started by Simon and Mark who met though their shared passion for local football team Crystal Palace. They both at the time saw the potential for starting a brewery in Croydon. After months of planning and investing their own money, the new brewery was formed. I think also being local to the area has helped tailored their image to appeal to the surrounding market.

I tried my first two Cronx beers not in Croydon but, in Egham. If you have seen my write up about the Egham Beer Festival, you will know they have a habit of getting new beers in first. The two beers are called Standard Bitter and Entire Porter, which have been joined by Kotchin Blonde. All three beers are regularly available in pubs across South London. My favourite is the porter. I think it is well balanced and is a satisfying winter beer. 

The Cronx and Clarence & Fredericks beer are both being showcased as part of the Wetherspoon London Ale Festival.

Late Knights

Late Knights are my closest brewery. When I heard that a brewery was setting up in Penge, I was so excited. Who are they, what will they be brewing? So many questions! Late Knights may be new to South London but, they are not new to regular beer drinkers. Until recently, they have been a cuckoo brewery. Mainly brewing their beer in Northern breweries. This is due to Late Knights owner Stephen, who is originally from Middlesborough.

When I met Stephen, I was so impressed by his knowledge of the industry. Being a former pub landlord, he is well aware of what type of beers sell best. Starting as a cuckoo brewery meant having to produce beer when the brewing equipment was not being used, hence the name Late Knights. 

So far all their beers have carried on this up all night theme. Worm Catcher IPA, Crack of Dawn Pale Ale, Old Red Eyes Red Ale, Hairy Dog Black IPA and my favourite Hop O' The Morning Stout. I can honestly say that every beer I have tried has been top quality. You would never know that they came from such a young brewery.

What I also like is the clearly written pump clips. Everyone tells you the style of beer and abv. Making those ten seconds deciding what to drink at the bar, a whole lot easier.

A new beer is also being added to the line up. Named in honour of the local dialect in Middlesborough. Yer Don't Get Owt Fer Nowt - Milk Stout. I am sure us Cockneys will Turtle Dove this new Pigsear when it goes on sale in a Rub-a-Dub!

Shamblemoose

Shamblemoose will be sharing a premises with Late Knights in Penge. I have to confess I have only tried Shamblemoose beer once. I have to say it was very good. I just wish the beer was in keg, as I believe the cooler temperature would of suited the beer better. Shamblemoose is the brainchild of Lera and Matthew who are based in Surrey. I know that prior to moving in with Late Knights, they have also been a cuckoo brewery. Their current beer #4 American Brown Ale was brewed at Sunny Republic in Dorset.

It looks like their beer range will be U.S style beers. Which I think is a very interesting concept. I love U.S beers and can not wait to see what these guys come up with. Considering Lera is from the States, I am sure we are in for some real treats.

I would like to wish all four breweries the best for their future success. I know that drinkers from all over London will do their very best to support you all.

If you would like to follow these breweries on twitter, their links are: @cfbrewing, @thecronxbrewery, @late_knights, @shamblemoose

All images are linked images from the brewery websites.