Beer Guide London Visits – 13/04/2024

King’s Arms SE1 (1 / 59)

Amongst the rows of Victorian terraced houses a few minutes from Waterloo station is this friendly corner pub. Up to 8 cask ales available alongside a dozen taps. This gets busy in the early evening with workers grabbing a quick beer before their train home. Cosy at the front with a larger room to the rear that also has a Thai kitchen.

Butcombe – Tall Tales Pale Ale – 4.5% (Draft) – £3.50 1/2 pint

Hop Locker (2 / 60)

Located at the rear of the South Bank Food Market is this excellent beer stall. 9 beers on tap and a quality selection of packaged beers to take away. The joy of its location is that you can pair beers with whichever world food happens to take your fancy. 1/3 pint measures are available.

Nothing Bound – From The Hills – 6.0% (Draft) – £2.60 1/3 pint

Waterloo Tap (3 / 61)

Another member of the “Tap” family, with this one located in a railway arch close to Waterloo station. Up to 20 beers available, including 2 or 3 cask ales, with something interesting usually available. On the main drag between the station and the river this place can get very busy, but the increased amount of seating outside has improved things no end.

Lees – Nitro Stout – 4.2% (Draft) – £3.00 1/2 pint

The Harp (4 / 62)

One of the London greats. An institution. Beer lovers held their breath when it was announced, a few years ago, that it had been sold to Fuller’s. Thankfully the only change they made was to add a couple of their beers to the extensive range. Cask is definitely king here with 10 hand pulls serving a wide variety of breweries and styles. Very small, and consequently often packed, this place is a must visit for beer lovers visiting London.

Saltaire – Harlequin – 4.1% (Cask) – £3.25 1/2 pint

The Porterhouse (5 / 63)

On the edge of Covent Garden this cavernous bar is the London home of the Dublin based brewery. Always have their full range on plus a number of guests, including 3 on cask. This place is a real labyrinth with small rooms and alcoves sited over multiple levels. It can get very busy, and seating a premium. The extensive food menu is excellent and recommended.

North Brewing – Atlantis – 4.1% (Draft) – £3.40 1/2 pint

Temple Brew House (6 / 64)

Cellar bar with a small brewing kit at street level. They did all of their brewing in Cambridge for a while post covid but they are now back up and running here with only test brews in Cambridge. 6 hand pumps dispense their beers on cask with a wall of 20 taps offering guest beers. Big screen shows sporting events and their is a comprehensive food menu.

Temple Brew House – Best Bitter – 3.8% (Cask) – £2.70 1/2 pint

Lowlander (7 / 65)

Belgian Grand Café in London. One of the first, and best, specialist Belgian bars in the city. 20 on tap and an extensive packaged list. They also do authentic bar snacks, the bitterballen are great. Always worth asking if any new bottles are available that haven’t made it to the printed menu yet.

Verhaeghe – Duchesse Cherry – 6.8% (Bottle) – £8.95

Craft Beer Co (Covent Garden) (8 / 66)

The most central of the branches of this group of bars. The usual excellent range on both cask and keg, expect to find something unusual. Limited seating upstairs with a larger area downstairs. Limited drinking outside also possible.

903 Beers – Black Forest Stout – 10.0% (Draft) – £7.70 1/3 pint

De Hems (9 / 67)

The original Dutch bar in London it now supplies both Dutch & Belgian beers. Taps are split between lowland beers and UK guests, with a very strong packaged selection. Sited on the edge of Chinatown this bar took a real downturn for a few years but is is great to see it back up to its excellent best.

Huyghe – Paranoia – 5.6% (Can) – £7.60

Lyric (10 / 68)

A Big Smoke pub in the heart of theatre land. With a dozen cask ales and 20 on tap there is something for everybody. Seating both downstairs in the bar and upstairs, plus standing room in the street outside. Good range of beers from both Big Smoke and guests. Food menu available.

Brew York – Mini Keggs – 4.0% (Cask) – £2.70 1/2 pint

Wigmore (11 / 69)

Smart hotel bar, attached to the Langham Hotel. Better than average beer list including their own beer from Yonder. Three cask beers and 10 on draft. Smart, but no problem with people just coming in for a beer – including me!

Siren – Lumina – 4.2% (Draft) – £3.70 1/2 pint

German Kraft @ Mercato Mayfair (12 / 70)

Spectacular location in a a deconsecrated church. Food market by the same guys as Elephant & Castle. Bar is to the rear and has 6 beers available. There is an on-site brewery but it is used infrequently as a pilot kit. Plenty of food options in the market.

German Kraft – Jutta – 4.5% (Draft) – £3.95 1/2 pint

Dovetail (13 / 71)

Down a small alley in Farringdon is this long standing specialist Belgian bar. With 14 beers on tap, a mix of regular lines and rotating guests, plus dozens of packaged beers this a truly authentic Belgian experience. The owner is affable and knowledgeable. Food is available.

Vanhonsebrouck – Kasteel Rubus – 7.0% (Bottle) – £5.65

Sutton Arms (14 / 72)

Back street pub in Farringdon that belies it’s exterior. This is a pub with quality beers on tap, both cask and keg, Regular beer events highlight their passion. Recently had a refurb to increase the number of taps to 14 plus 4 on cask. This is a serious beer venue worth visiting.

Two Flints – DDH Centennial – 6.0% (Draft) – £3.50 1/2 pint