London experienced a kind of renewed interest in beer over the past decade.
Here are some of my favorite places to drink beer in London.
Beer in London: article summary
Beer in London: Draft House
Located in an alleyway a stone's throw from the metro Old Street, this branch of the Draft House chain is the favorite of many locals.
Unconventionally installed in what appears to be a large concrete box, the space is equipped with a combination :
- From tubes to neon
- Exposed conduits
- Wooden
- Metal cages
The beer selection is well organized, with 20 beers available on draught, as well as a fine selection of Belgian beers.
The menu complements the beer selection, with chicken wings and hamburgers with a wide range of catering options.
What are the opening hours?
You can visit us on site:
- Monday to Friday noon to 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday noon to midnight
- Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight
The Dovetail
Jerusalem Passage, a small alleyway connecting the edge of Clerkenwell Green and the north side of St. John's Square, is home to a number of restaurants and cafés. a Belgian bar called the Dovetail.
You could certainly come here for its comforting Belgian cuisine, but the flagship offering here is the exceptional beer list.
Over 100 bottles, covering a variety of Belgian beer styles, are listed in leather-clad menus.
The selection competes, and generally outperforms, any other London establishment for such a pronounced collection of beers.
The pub's interior lives up to the brand, with tiled walls giving way to wooden monastic motifs and a narrow layout of tables and chairs making the most of the economically proportioned space.
What are the opening hours?
You can visit us on site:
- Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Beer in London: The Arbitrager
For a beer stop in the middle of the Square Mile, this is a refreshing option. The friendly staff will explain the selection of 12 kegs, dispensing beer from London-based craft brewers, served in pints.
For those who don't like beer, a wide range of London-made gins line the shelves.
Elegant tiling, exposed light bulbs and a large mirror give the space an upbeat vibe, and a large historic map of London is printed on one wall, adorned with stickers pointing out notable beer locations.
What are the opening hours?
You can visit us on site:
- Tuesday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Italian Job
Despite the often highlighted excellence of the Italian craft brewing scene, good Italian beer often seems under-represented in London's craft beer pubs.
Fortunately, Italian Job, a bright café-like space just off Chiswick High Road, goes some way to redressing this imbalance.
The pub's 12 taps feature a versatile variety of beer styles from Italian brewers, with a strong emphasis on beers from Birrificio del Ducato, a brewery based in Parma.
Alongside the Italian beers are a handful of well-chosen ales mainly from London-based brewers, while a cider from Thistly Cross in Scotland also makes a regular appearance.
As befits an Italian pub, good quality food is also on the menu, with cheese, charcuterie and olives among the snack options, as well as a wide range of other dishes.a variety of well-made burgers for the hungriest.
What are the opening hours?
To enjoy a good beer at the Italian Job, you can visit:
- Sunday to Wednesday 12 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
- Thursday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Beer in London: Southampton Arms
A renovated and revitalized incarnation of an old-fashioned bar, the Southampton Arms has managed to retain a relaxed, local atmosphere, even at peak times.
A dozen hand pumps on the bar are mainly used to dispense cask ales from independent British brewers. Six other pumps behind the bar offer ciders.
There are also a few kegs serving non-keg-conditioned beers. The pub's location, between Kentish Town and Gospel Oak stations, may seem far from downtown, but once you're there, you'll be happy to stay a while and enjoy the onsite selection.
What are the opening hours?
You can visit us on site:
- Sunday to Thursday from 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 0.30 a.m.
There are plenty of places in London where you can enjoy a good beer. During your vacation, don't hesitate to visit my selection of the best breweries in London!
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