This post is mostly about tap rooms as the title indicates but there will be a couple of diversions along the way…I can’t leave out the occasion of my five thousandth unique beer check in on the Untappd app. I’ve been logging beers since 2012 so it’s been a big part of my journey. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is mentioned in London – A Guide for Curious Wanderers by Jack Chester so I decided to go there. I chose Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Bitter which was the only cask option. The pub claims to be the oldest in London but has been rebuilt and remodeled a few times. That said, the cellars did feel properly old.
I paid a visit to Battersea Power Station, there’s a good view from the top of the chimney and a brew pub conveniently located nearby. I enjoyed their I Really Dig Those Styles, an IPA and Heavy Wes, a Belgian IPA or Tripel depending on where you look – it had elements of both with some fruity esters and a dry finish. I spotted Pernicious Weed from Garage Project in the fridge and finished with that as I don’t see their beers much. It’s a very good Double IPA.
Hanbaagaasuuteeki had been recommended by Alex (as had Saint Monday but we’ll be there in a little while). They do really tasty burgers and the chips were very crisp too. I had the Thai Okla Bāgā, does the slaw make it a salad?
The lads in Mo Chara rated The Auld Shillelagh highly, unfortunately the inside bar was closed so I wasn’t able to try the Mackintosh Pale Ale they’d mentioned to me. The reason for the closure was the installation of loads of Guinness taps, I think they’re going to have ten in total. I don’t understand it myself but what do I know? The pint was grand.
Saint Monday was next on my list. It’s very much a rock tap room heavy on the metal imagery. I received a warm welcome and had a great chat with Tom the manager. He told me about the London Craft Beer Festival that I’d just missed but you can’t win them all. Their American Pale Ale was excellent and had just won an award as being one of the top ten beers in the UK. They also had a few guest beers pouring from other well regarded breweries such as Beak. Definitely a place worth checking out, just don’t swing out of the chains, they don’t like that!
Tom advised me to take a stroll through London Fields and visit The Cock Tavern which has a massive selection of cask ale. I plumped for Peasants Revolt American Red from Elephant School. It was a lovely rich malty ale and felt appropriate for the left leaning vibe of the place.
A short train ride later I was at Great Beyond which Lisa Grimm had recommended recently for the beer and tacos. Sadly there are no tacos on a Tuesday. I consoled myself with a pint of their Hoxton Best Bitter.
And I thought that was me finished with tap rooms for the trip but there was a surprise waiting for me at Gatwick! (I don’t think I’ve ever flown from it before, having mostly gone through Stanstead and Heathrow) Big Smoke Tap House was waiting for me at the top of the escalator. Their Runway Pilsner was very refreshing and I had a half of the Medicine Man West Coast before making my way to the gate. It’s definitely an improvement on the usual Wetherspoons for me anyway. Hopefully you can visit some of these spots the next time you are in London. Sláinte!
