The Top 5 Craft Breweries in London

Brits love a good pint and their thirst for artisanal, local, and bespoke beers mean there’s never been a better time for quality ales. Microbreweries are popping up all over the country and Something Curated has jumped on the beer trail to discover the top taps in London.

Empire State of Mind: Mother Kelly’s
Breweries popping up all over the city are trying to retain some sense of Englishness but Mother Kelly’s bustling taproom takes its inspirations from New York. This East London gem is the brainchild of Nigel Owen, who also owns two other pubs around the city. Tucked beneath the railway arches in Bethnal Green, Mother Kelly’s feels more like a bar than a pub. The impeccable range of ales and ciders are well curated and if you want to bring the party home, you can take away the beers. We love that drinks come out of unbranded taps with only a sparse menu as your guide. Staff is friendly and really know their stuff but if you’re still not convinced, grab something from one of the super-stocked fridges full of wonderful elixirs such as Norwegian sour beers and oatmeal stout brewed with coffee.
@mother_kellys, motherkellys.co.uk

Rustic Refinery: Howling Hops
The Howling Hops started as a microbrewery in the basement of the Cock Tavern in 2012 before moving into its current space in Hackney Wick to open a bar alongside its production facilities. Owner Peter Holt, who owns The Cock and sister pub Southampton Arms, launched Howling Hops this summer and it was touted as ‘UK’s first dedicated tank bar’. While the warehouse space feels a bit raw, what it lacks in interior refinement, it makes up for in deliciously fresh beer, served unfiltered directly from one of ten ginormous steel tanks that line the back wall. The selection is eclectic but the quality is high and we would never turn down a pint of Howling Hops’ fruity Pale XX. Traditional casks, kegs, cans and bottles seems like a distant memory.
@HowlingHop, howlinghops.co.uk

 

Victorian Time Capsule: Euston Tap
This Victorian Grade II-listed building outside of Euston station began its life as an old station lodge and now houses the Euston Tap, a small pub with an impressive list of cask ales. The bijoux pub is part of the Bloomsbury Leisure Group, who also owns the Holborn Whippett. Space is precious here, with minimal seating up a spiral staircase, but there’s a ton of standing-only space outside the pub. Ales here are from international indie breweries but there’s also a strong lean towards trailblazing northern English variety including Magic Rock and Summer Wine from Yorkshire. Unusually, beer is stealthily dispensed from a series of taps, rather than the traditional pump. For those who are really serious about their ales, Euston Tap’s current beer list is regularly updated.
@eustontap, eustontap.com

Bloomsbury Fix: Holborn Whippett
This pub’s laid-back aesthetic is the complete opposite to the area’s hustle and bustle. It’s one of the best watering holes in Central for craft beers sold on draught. The space is intimate: snug quarters dimly lit with a hand-written menu on a chalkboard behind the bar. You’ll find an unusual selection of beers here, both international and local, but the menu is forever changing so when in doubt, ask one of the knowledgeable barmen (or maids) who will cleverly ask you a few questions to gain an understanding of your palette then recommend accordingly. In our experience, they’ve always been on point and have often surprised us with summer-tasting beers we never thought we’d order. Try  the refreshing, zesty Salopian’s Lemon Dream on a winter’s day.
@holbornwhippet, holbornwhippet.com

Beer By The Canal: Crate Brewery
Crate Brewery launched in 2012 by siblings Tom and Jess Seaton, who owned the Counter Café around the corner, and former BBC radio producer Neil Hinchley. The trio met through mutual friends and within three days of meeting, they signed the lease for the space and Crate has since become one of the coolest places for a tipple in Hackney Wick. Housed in a former sweet factory, Crate has create a roster of top quality beers that are brewed on-site including a robust IPA and the popular Crate Golden Ale, a smooth, caramel beer with a lemony twist. Crate sits along the Lee canal and on a balmy summer’s night, there’s nothing more refreshing having a pint along the water. For cooler nights, the brewpub has a creative loft-like vibe with eclectic upcycled furniture. Soak up the booze with a one of Crate’s amazing pizzas, hand-made and stone baked to order. Crate is part of a new cultural enclave called The White Building, one of the area’s most exciting centres for art, technology, and sustainability.
@cratebrewery, cratebrewery.com

Text by: Samantha Tse