Beer Guide London Visits – 09/04/2024

Craft Beer Co. (St Mary Axe) (1 / 50)

Branch of Craft Beer Co in the heart city a stones throw from the Gherkin. As with many bars in the City it only opens during the week. Typical of this family of bars with the usual excellent range available on both draft and cask. Seating is split across two levels and it can get busy in the evenings. Make sure to look up at the ceiling.

Indie Rabble – Pierre – 5.6% (Draft) – £3.70 1/3 pint

Counting House (2 / 51)

Large Fuller’s pub in the city, and an oddity in that it opens at weekends, albeit it is usually very quiet then. This is an old bank that has been sympathetically converted and looks fantastic, with lots of original features. The regular Fuller’s range, plus some guests, are served from the large island bar. Gets very busy at lunchtimes and in the evenings. The cask beer is kept on really good form here, the sign of a good cellarman.

Fuller’s – London Pride – 4.1% (Cask) – £3.20 1/2 pint

The Arbitrager (3 / 52)

Small bar in a side street near to the Bank of England. They specialise in serving beers from London breweries with a mix of regular beers, such as core Signature Brewery, and rotating guests. Only open 4 days a week it is, nevertheless, worth seeking out. Take a look at the large London map on the wall for a snapshot of the brewing scene a few years ago!

Hammerton – Small Packages – 3.4% (Draft) – £3.04 1/2 pint

Pelt Trader (4 / 53)

One of the growing “Tap” group. A bar housed in an arch underneath Cannon Street station it offers a mixture of keg and cask with the usual great range you associate with this family of bars. Large space with plenty of seating. I am assured that the pizzas are excellent!

Iron Pier – Cast Iron Stout – 4.7% (Cask) – £2.60 1/2 pint

Farringdon Tap (5 / 54)

Cosy bar situated underneath Holborn Viaduct. Seating available on three levels plus the pavement outside. Beer range mirrors that in the other “Tap” venues and always offers something interesting. It has a spiral staircase a la Euston Tap. Gyozas are the food offering here.

Stone – Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager – 4.7% (Draft) – £3.25 1/2 pint

The Bolter (6 / 55)

One of the latest additions to the ‘Tap’ family. Corner pub close to St Pauls with an island bar serving the expected great range of beers. Not as many taps here as some of the others, but still enough for you to find something good. Like a lot of these venues they offer a pizza menu from a local supplier. And they smell good!

Anspach & Hobday – London Black – 4.4% (Draft) – £3.00 1/2 pint