Promoting an international beer culture that recognises and celebrates beers of quality, distinctiveness and local character, brewed with care and passion.
Best beer and travel writing award 2015, 2011 -- British Guild of Beer Writers Awards
Accredited Beer Sommelier
Writer of "Probably the best book about beer in London" - Londonist
"A necessity if you're a beer geek travelling to London town" - Beer Advocate
"A joy to read" - Roger Protz
"Very authoritative" - Tim Webb.
"One of the top beer writers in the UK" - Mark Dredge.
"A beer guru" - Popbitch.
I’m a beer writer, tour guide, walk leader, tutored tasting host and Accredited Beer Sommelier based in London.
My latest book is Cask: The real story of Britain’s unique beer culture, published in August 2023. Cask beer is a unique format of fresh, live draught beer that, at its best, delivers a taste experience unmatchable in any other way. My pioneering book, aimed at the discriminating drinker, explains what makes it special, and explores its past, present and future.
I’ve published three editions of London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars, the award-winning definitive guide to drinking beer in London. “Probably the best book about beer in London” — Londonist. For more see the London page.
Why not join me on one of my regular brewery heritage walks or tutored tastings. Or I can provide an informal private London heitage pub walk and tasting for your group, or a tasting for your event, alongside various other beer-related services. For more see the Beer Tours page.
I’m a contributor to numerous other books, magazines and websites, including providing the UK listings for The Pocket Beer Book and editing the 2020 edition of Beer in the Netherlands.
Elsewhere on the site are numerous blog posts and beer reviews, many of them archiving material that’s already appeared elsewhere but with some exclusive pieces. Scroll down to see the latest posts, or try these:
Beer firm tartbeer.com Active since: November 2023
This North London sour beer specialist originated as a side project of Muswell Hillbilly brewer Barney De Banzie Lampard. Also a homebrewer, he experimented during the Covid lockdowns with recipes that use acidity to balance the beer rather than hop bitterness, aiming to create a drink that could be enjoyed by those who dislike bitter flavours.
In late 2023, Barney launched Tart as a commercial brand, initiallly cuckoo-brewed at Muswell Hillbilly.
Beers are in can and keg and sold through local outlets.
For the company that revived the brand in 2010 and sold it on in 2022, see Big Penny.
Beer firm 91 Brick Lane E1 6AL trumanbrewery.com Active since: May 2020
In 2020, the Zeloof family, owners of the defunct but repurposed historic Truman brewery in Brick Lane, began commissioning Brockley Brewery to produce beers for sale at bars on the site, including a new beer venue, the Brick Lane Taproom.
The beers were originally branded Brick Lane, as the Truman beer brand was then owned by a separate company that had revived brewing under the name in 2010. In 2022, that company experienced financial difficulties after losing its brewing site, and in September that year sold the brand to the Zeloofs. It subsequently renamed itself Big Penny.
The first Truman-branded beers under the new ownership arrangements began to appear in May 2024, still produced at Brockley.
Beers are in bottle, with some keg, mainly available at the Brick Lane Taproom and other outlets on the site.
Beer importer and distributor Marcin Clos initially opened Craft Beer Junction as a bar in a Bermondsey arch in May 2021, selling rare US imports as well as beers from the UK and elsewhere. The location is on Enid Street, only a few steps from Bianca Road and Mash Paddle.
In summer 2024 the bar became a brewpub with the addition of a small but high-tech 120 l automated brewing kit on the upstairs mezzanine.
Beers are initially in keg only, for sale in the bar.
By the end of 1999, there were 16 commercial breweries operating in London, including 7 brewpubs. 4 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish Courage M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
Firkin Brewery and all its pubs are acquired from Allied Domecq (N) by Punch Taverns in a hostile takeover, and the breweries promptly closed. Officially, all brewing ceased by October 1999, though may have continued unofficially at certain venues into early 2000.
Freedom Brewery takes over Soho Brewing Co, renaming it Freedom Covent Garden.
For definitions of a London brewery, see the current London breweries page.
By the end of 1998, there were 31 commercial breweries operating in London, including 23 brewpubs. 21 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish Courage M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
By the end of 1997, there were 31 commercial breweries operating in London, including 23 brewpubs. 20 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish Courage M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
By the end of 1996, there were 28 commercial breweries operating in London, including 19 brewpubs. 16 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish Courage M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
By the end of 1995, there were 25 commercial breweries operating in London, including 18 brewpubs. 16 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish Courage M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
4 revivals or opening, no closures, net change +4.
By the end of 1993, there were 24 commercial breweries operating in London, including 17 brewpubs. 17 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish & Newcastle M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
By the end of 1993, there were 20 commercial breweries operating in London, including 15 brewpubs. 15 were part of national groups (N), 2 part of multinationals (M). These breweries were:
Anheuser-Busch UK (Stag, Anheuser-Busch, leased from Scottish & Newcastle M) SW14, Richmond upon Thames
This pioneering new book explains what makes cask beer so special, and explores its past, present and future. Order now from CAMRA Books. Read more here.
London’s Best Beer
The fully updated 3rd edition of my essential award-winning guide to London’s vibrant beer scene is available now from CAMRA Books. Read more here.
