Mapped: London's Breweries And Brewpubs By Borough

By Londonist Last edited 101 months ago

Last Updated 11 May 2016

Mapped: London's Breweries And Brewpubs By Borough

Our guide to every single brewery and brewpub in the capital. Email updates to [email protected]

You can now drink at the majority of these venues. However, many only open on certain days, and others aren't open to the public at all. Check the brewery's website before making the trip.

Updated May 2016

Barnet

Barnet Brewery

What is it? Edo Raimondo's humble setup located round the back of The Black Horse pub. They produce pilsners, light ales and rich bitters.

Where is it? 92 Wood Street, Barnet, EN5 4HY. The Black Horse always has a range of the brewery's beers on tap. Open daily.

London Brewing Company @ The Bohemia

What is it? North Finchley brewpub, sister of The Bull in Highgate (see our Haringey breweries). Altogether, it sells 24 draught craft beers and up to 60 bottled beers — not all their own, we hasten to add.

Where is it? 762-764 High Road, N12 9QH. Open daily.

The Bohemia in North Finchley. Photo from the website.

Bexley

Bexley Brewery

What is it? Bexley's only production brewery. It's run by husband and wife team Cliff and Jane Murphy, who make delicious session beers in golden, pale and ruby form. Their logo is of one of Bexley's famous parakeets.

Where is it? 18 Manford Industrial Estate, Manor Road, Erith, DA8 2AJ. They do guided tours and tastings once a month on a Saturday.

Bromley

Late Knights Brewery

What is it? Derelict Victorian slaughterhouse turned microbrewery. Our favourite of their concoctions is the dangerously drinkable Peckham Rye IPA.

Where is it? 21 Southey Street, Penge, SE20 7JD. Best imbibed at London Beer Dispensary in Brockley or the Beer Rebellions in Gipsy Hill and Peckham.

Camden

Kegs of Camden Town goodness. Photo by psyxjaw, in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Camden Town Brewery

What is it? Trendy Kentish Town West brewery churning out very decent kegged brews, including Unfiltered Hells — one of London's finest lagers.

Where is it? 55 Wilkin Street Mews, NW5 3NN. The Brewery Bar opens most days of the week, with street food sometimes on offer. A second Enfield brewery is imminent.

The Load of Hay Tavern

What is it? Brand new gastropub featuring 10 rotating craft draught taps (many brewed at the pub itself) and around 25 bottled beers and ciders.

Where is it? 94 Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park, NW3 2BD. It's open from 14 May 2016.

The Queens Head

What is it? This exceptional King's Cross pub doesn't exactly shout about the fact it makes its own beer. Maybe it's because it only does so in small quantities, or maybe it's because there's so much other great beer to sample here. Anyway, be a doll, and buy a homemade pint if you chance across one.

Where is it? 66 Acton Street, WC1X 9NB. The pub's open daily.

That's right, the Queens Head does its own beers

Croydon

The Cronx

What is it? Creation of alcohol wholesaler Mark Russell and former city worker Simon Dale. They do bitters, IPAs, pale ales and the odd oddity — such as a chilli beer. And why not.

Where is it? Unit 6, Vulcan Business Centre, Vulcan Way, Croydon, CR0 9UG. The brewery's bar opens on selected open days.

Inkspot Brewery

What is it? German and Czech-style beers brewed by an ex-army officer and a restaurateur. You don't see much of this stuff around London, so savour it when you find it.

Where is it? 42 Fox Hill, SE19 2XE. Although as far as we can tell, you can't visit the brewery. Instead, buy bottles from Art & Craft beer shop in Streatham.

Volden

What is it? Formerly Clarence & Fredericks, now the Antic pub chain's own brewery — currently producing a handful of sessiony English ales.

Where is it? 35A Neville Road, CR0 SDS. Don't go to the brewery though — drink the beer in one of Antic's many, many pubs.

Ealing

Dragonfly Brewery

What is it? One of the largest brewpubs in London, ensconced in the George & Dragon pub in Acton — a hybrid of 18th century boozer and art nouveau brewery. Beers include a bitter, a stout, a pale ale and a Bavarian style wheat beer.

Where is it? 183 High Street, Acton, W3 9DJ. Open daily.

Ealing Park Tavern

What is it? Tiny brewery situated in the back of the Ealing Park Tavern gastropub. Claims its heritage harks back to 1728, when it operated as the Lewis Furnell Brewhouse.

Where is it? Ealing Park Tavern, 222 South Ealing Road, Ealing W5 4RL. Book a tour of the microbrewery, where you can sample four Ealing Park Tavern ales.

Laine's Brewing @ Aeronaut

What is it? This Acton brewpub is a sister site to Laine's Brewing at The Four Thieves in Clapham (see our Lambeth breweries) and the one next to Victoria Park (see our Hackney breweries). They make IPAs, ESBs, RPAs and porters, which you can enjoy in the circus-themed beer garden.

Where is it? 264 High Street, Acton, W3 9BH. Open daily.

Someone's had a few Weird Beards...

Weird Beard Brew Co

What is it? Prize-winning setup run by self-proclaimed beer geeks Gregg and Bryan. Their brews don't stint on flavour, and are "never knowingly under hopped".

Where is it? Unit 5, Boston Business Park, Trumpers Way, Hanwell, W7 2QA. Weird Beard have occasional brewery opens days and also set up a bar in 128 Druid Street on the first Saturday of every month.

Greenwich

Hop Stuff Brewery

What is it? Brainchild of ex-City boy James Yeomans, Hop Stuff is nestled in one of the former Royal Artillery buildings in Woolwich. Brews like Fusilier and Gunners Porter reflect its historic surrounds. They do tea-infused beers too — well worth trying.

Where is it? Unit 7, Gunnery Terrace, Woolwich, SE18 6SW. Drink at the nearby Taproom.

Meantime now has a craft brewery within a craft brewery. Meta.

Meantime Brewing Company

What is it? Only one of London's most famous breweries. Their brews are usually kegged, hoppy and very much ubiquitous across London, and indeed much of the UK. (21 million pints are brewed annually.) Meantime may now be worried they're not crafty enough; as of 2016 they've opened their Pilot Brewery, crafting the likes of rye beers and a red imperial ales.

Where is it? Lawrence Trading Estate, Blackwall Lane, SE10 0AR. Nope, most of Meantime's beer is NOT brewed in Greenwich's Old Royal Naval College (although that's not a bad place to quaff it). The brewery Tasting Rooms is open daily, with a comprehensive range of Meantime beers, some of which are piped in straight from the maturation tank.

Hackney

Five Points beer, all the colours of the rainbow.

The Five Points Brewing Co

What is it? Independent brewery specialising in unfiltered, unpasteurised beer that pulls no punches flavour-wise. Their Five Points Pale and Railway Porter are both exceptional.

Where is it? 3 Institute Place, Hackney, E8 1JE. Take the Five Points tour, which happens on the first Saturday of every month.

Hackney Brewery

What is it? East End brewery specialising in no nonsense cask ales (such as Best Bitter and Golden Ale), although they've now branched into kegged beers and a craft series.

Where is it? Arch 358, Laburnum Street, Hackney, E2 8BB. Pop into the brewery on weekdays (although they don't do tours). Best to call ahead.

Laine's Brewing @ People's Park Tavern

What is it? Victoria Park based offshoot from Laine's Brewing Company — the people who brought you Aeronaut in Acton and The Four Thieves in Clapham. Eclectic beers include Old Timer Pale Ale, Red Empire and Porter.

Where is it? People's Park Tavern, 360 Victoria Park Road, E9 7BT. Open daily.

Concocting something lovely at Hackney Brewery.

London Fields Brewery

What is it? Hip east London outfit, producing a plethora of brews — most famously Hackney Hopster, "a debonair young chap of a pacific pale ale".

Where is it? 365-366 Warburton Street, E8 3RR. drink at the London Fields Brewery Taproom, open seven days a week. There are also regular brewery tours and masterclasses.

Pressure Drop Brewing

What is it? Graham, Sam and Ben, three cool blokes brewing under a Hackney railway arch. Bold, exciting beer is their game — including a dark, smoky wheat number, and hefeweizen brewed with foraged herbs.

Where is it? Unit 19, Bohemia Place, E8 1DU. They don't really open up, so check out this map of places where Pressure Drop's been sold recently.

Hammersmith and Fulham

Portobello Brewing Co

What is it? Founded in 2012 by Rob Jenkins and Farooq Khalid, Portobello Brewing Co produces a core range of brews (including London Pilsner and Market Porter) and an occasional range that features Portobello Bitter.

Where is it? Unit 6, Mitre Bridge Industrial Estate, Mitre Way, W10 6AU. Drop the brewery a line to find out which pubs currently stock their beer.

Haringey

Beavertown brews on ice.

Beavertown Brewery

What is it? Off-the-wall brewers concocting potent, taste bud-exploding brews, with zany branding to match. Gamma Ray American Pale Ale is the perfect introduction, before getting into gooseberry gose.

Where is it? Unit 17 and 18, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Road, Tottenham Hale, N17 9QP. When the weather's good, the taproom gets ludicrously busy, so you might want to head to Duke's Brew & Que in Haggerston — the brewery's original home (when it was a smaller operation — see what we thought when we visited in 2012). This place also does a lip-smacking range of ribs, pulled pork and burgers.

London Brewing Company @ The Bull

What is it? Small setup in Highgate pub The Bull, coming out with a very decent range of cask beers. Their Skyline pale ale is perhaps one of the capital's finest session beers. Sister pub of The Bohemia in Finchley (see our Barnet pubs).

Where is it? The Bull, 13 North Hill, Highgate, N6 4AB. Open daily,

Redemption Brewing

What is it? Much respected name in the industry, producing a core of six cask beers — the most ubiquitous (and safest) of which is the 3% ABV Trinity. Redemption is one of the most established of the 'new wave' of independent London brewers, having started production in early 2010, when the capital still only had a handful of operating breweries. See what we thought when we visited the brewery in its early days.

Where is it? Unit 2, Compass West Estate, West Road, Tottenham, N17 0XL. Not really open to the public though, so browse this list of stockists.

Hounslow

Ever heard of this stuff? Photo by cotoya in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Fuller's Brewery (aka Griffin Brewery)

What is it? The oldest brewery in London* (established in 1845) and the undisputed daddy of the beer scene. If you've spent five minutes in the capital, you'll have seen a pint of London Pride. But they do lots of delicious alternatives.

Where is it? The Griffin Brewery, Chiswick Lane South, W4 2QB. Tours of the vast Fuller's complex in Chiswick run from Monday-Friday, including a chance to sup a range of their brews at the below decks brewery tap.

*Although The RAM Brewery would dispute this (see our Wandsworth breweries).

Islington

Earl's Brewery

What is it? Small time brewery nestled in The Earl of Essex pub, which doubles up as a craft beer mecca, and features a beer of the day.

Where is it? 25 Danbury Street, N1 8LE. Open daily.

An open day at Hammerton Brewery. Photo from the website.

Hammerton Brewery

What is it? Small batch brewers concocting recipes inspired by both modern and traditional techniques. Beers nicely named after the immediate area: Pentonville Oyster Stout, N7 Pale Ale, Islington Steam Lager.

Where is it? Unit 8 & 9 Roman Way Industrial Estate, 149 Roman Way, N7 8XH. Sign up for a brewery tour, which happens the last weekend of each month.

Highbury Brewhouse & Kitchen

What is it? Concocters of a number of yummy, London-centric brews including Raleigh Smoked Porter, Chaplin American Style IPA and Hitchcock Southern English Ale. We adore their labels too.

Where is it? Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ. Open daily, and serving lots of food to soak the beer up with.

Islington Brewhouse & Kitchen

What is it? Concocters of a number of yummy, London-centric brews including Raleigh Smoked Porter, Chaplin American Style IPA and Hitchcock Southern English Ale. We adore their labels too. Anyone got deja vu?

Where is it? 2A Corsica Street, Highbury, N5 1JJ. Open daily, and serving lots of food to soak the beer up with.

Islington Brewhouse & Kitchen. We have no idea who this man is or what he does.

Solvay Society

What is it? Brewery in the cellar of The Hops & Glory on Essex Road, north London. Belgian styles are a speciality, so fans of saisons and lambics will be in their ruddy element.

Where is it? The Hops & Glory, 382 Essex Road, N1 3PF. Open daily.

Kensington and Chelsea

Moncada Brewery

What is it? Brewers of natural beers spanning a spectrum that covers blonde, amber, porter and ruby rye.

Where is it? Unit 1, Buspace Studios, Conlan Street, W10 5AP. Not really open to the public, so seek out this west London nectar by stockist here.

Kingston upon Thames

Big Smoke Brew Co

What is it? Microbrewery based in The Antelope, in Surbiton. The beers — including Electric Eye Pale Ale and Underworld Milk Stout — are available bottled and on tap here.

Where is it? The Antelope, 87 Maple Road, Surbiton, KT6 4AW. Open daily.

You can literally never tire of asking for a pint of Killcat. Photo from the brewery's website.

The Park Brewery

What is it? Titchy setup who adore making hoppy beers, such as their Killcat Pale, which has a fresh tropical fruit aroma with understated malt.

Where is it? The Park Brewery Ltd, 95 Elm Road, KT2 6HX. For such a small outfit, their beers are available to buy and drink in an admirable amount of venues. Here's a list.

Lambeth

Brixton Brewery

What is it? British style, internationally-inspired brews, concocted under the railway in central Brixton. Core beers include Electric IPA and Windrush Stout. Just look for the jazzy labels.

Where is it? Arch 547, Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PF. The brewery tap is small but awesome.

Bullfinch Brewery

What is it? Fairy light-draped microbrewery under the railway arches in Herne Hill. Names like Hopocalypse, Notorious and Citrageddon tell you these guys aren't messing. They've very polite too.

Where is it? Arch 886, Rosendale Road, SE24 9EH

Brixton beer: you'll know it when you see it

Canopy Beer Co

What is it? Pocket-sized under-the-arches Herne Hill brewery brewing twice a week. Ales include Brockwell IPA, Milkwood Amber and Ruskin Wheat Beer.

Where is it? Arch 1127 Bath Factory Estate, 41 Norwood Road, Herne Hill SE24 9AJ. The taproom is open Thursdays-Sundays.

Clarkshaws

What is it? Microbrewery making vegetarian beers that have flavours — and names — with attitude. Gorgon's Alive or Hellhound IPA, for example.

Where is it? Arch 283 Belinda Road, Loughborough Junction, SW9 7DT. The brewery's open to the public every Saturday afternoon.

The Florence Brewery

What is it? The Florence Brewery is based in the Herne Hill brewpub of the same name. Head brewer Peter Haydon (who we made a video with) has now left, along with his A Head In A Hat brand. Last time we were here they weren't brewing anymore, but we hope they'll pick it up again soon.

Where is it? 131-133 Dulwich Road, SE24 0NG. Open daily.

Image courtesy of Rupert Marlow Photography.

Gipsy Hill Brewing Company

What is it? Cosy south London outfit, brewing beers that come in at under 5% ABV. Lunchtime ales, if you will.

Where is it? Unit 11 Hamilton Road Industrial Estate, SE27 9SF. Visit the brewery on the first or fourth Saturday of the month.

The London Beer Factory

What is it? Craft brewery founded by Sim and Ed Cotton. They specialise in paler, hoppy beers such as Paxton Pale Ale and Chelsea Blonde ("nothing tastes as good as a Chelsea Blonde" runs the tagline).

Where is it? 160 Hamilton Road, West Norwood, SE27 9SF. The brewery bar opens on occasional Fridays and Saturdays, Otherwise use their handy beer finder.

Who fancies a tasty Chelsea Blonde?

London Beer Lab

What is it? Make your own brews under the guidance of experts. You'll probably end up making one of these recipes. Come back in two-to-four weeks to bottle your beer and take it home.

Where is it? Arch 41 Nursery Road, SW9 8BP

Lewisham

Brockley Brewery

What is it? Small, garage based outfit, producing very decent, no nonsense cask beers. The Pale Ale is a good starting point.

Where is it? 31 Harcourt Road, Brockley, SE4 2AJ. Get takeaway beer straight from the brewery on Friday evenings and Saturday daytime.

The pint-sized Brockley Brewing Company.

Zerodegrees

What is it? Upmarket, shiny Blackheath brewery producing equally sparkling beers. Kegged and cold is the mantra here.

Where is it? 29/31 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0TJ. Drink at the brewery restaurant, with one of their excellent Italian pizzas.

Newham

TapEast

What is it? Microbrewery and specialist beer pub in the unlikely setting of Westfield Stratford. Plenty of their beers are on tap, plus a stack of other bottled brews.

Where is it? 7 International Square, Montfichet Road, Westfield Stratford City, E20 1EE. Open daily.

Merton

Wimbledon Brewery

What is it? The first Wimbledon Brewery is said to have opened in the middle ages; this new incarnation has only been going since 2015, but hopes to pick up the legacy where it left off in Victiorian times. Pale ales, IPAs and smoked porters can be quaffed from the can, bottle, or by the pint.

Where is it? 8 College Fields, Prince Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 2PT. The taproom opens most days.

Richmond upon Thames

Mix your drinks with rugby at Twickenham Fine Ales.

AB Inbev UK (aka Stag)

What is it? We've excluded this until now, as the brewing behemoth makes some of the most criminal beers known to man. We also though they'd be shutting up shop in London soon, but they're still pumping the stuff out. Will be luxury flats soon though, and good riddance.

Where is it? Lower Richmond Road, SW14 7ET. You can't drink there, and you wouldn't want to either.

Kew Brewery

What is it? Producers of a toothsome range of beers, including Petersham Porter, Richmond Rye, Chocolate Milk Stout and Chilli Porter.

Where is it? 477 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 7PU. Not readily open to the public, although Botanic and Pagoda Pale are now available in bottles from Squire's, 299 Sandycombe Road and Eltham Wines, 67 Well Hall Road.

Twickenham Fine Ales

What is it? Producers of a wide range of cask ales (they've recently started kegging too) including pales, ambers and a dry hopped black IPA. Extra points for some of the names of their beers including Black Eel and Naked Ladies.

Where is it? 18 Mereway Rd, Twickenham, TW2 6RG. Take one of the occasional tours, or sup beers at the brewery's bar, which often has TVs showing live rugby.

Southwark

Anspach & Hobday

What is it? Small but perfectly formed microbrewery under the railway arches in Bermondsey. Producers of classy porters and IPAs.

Where is it? 118 Druid Street, Bermondsey, SW8 2XD. Their brewery tap is open on Saturday and Sunday, and you're welcome to bring food from nearby Maltby Street Market.

A Brew By Numbers saison next to a cup of tea. Know which one we'd prefer.

Brew By Numbers

What is it? Among the Bermondsey Beer Mile's finest purveyors, Brew By Numbers rolls out a dazzling array of brews — saisons, porters, golden ales, wheat beers, black IPAs — the lot.

Where is it? 79 Enid Street, SE16 3RA. The taproom's open every Saturday. Arrive early to score a seat.

Brick Brewery

What is it? Ian Stew­art's small scale setup under the arches of Peckham Rye station. An ambitious range includes steam ale, pilsner and black IPA.

Where is it? Arch 209, Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL. The under-canvas taproom is now open half the week, featuring some excellent peripatetic food stalls.

Fourpure Pils, fresh off the production line.

Fourpure Brewing Co

What is it? Travel inspired brewers, making the likes of German pilsners, American IPAs and English stouts.

Where is it? 22 Bermondsey Trading Estate, Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 3LL. The taproom is open every Saturday for drink-in and takeaway beers.

Gosnells London Mead

What is it? Drinker beware; this Peckham industrial estate setup makes mead, not beer. However, seeing as mead is brewed, and because Gosnells make delicious dry-hopped mead anyway, we thought you'd like to know about this place.

Where is it? Unit 2, Print Village, Chadwick Road, SE15 4PU. Only open for special events.

The Kernel Brewery

What is it? Doyennes of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, and arguably one of London's finest brewers, small scale or otherwise. Dry hopped beers are a speciality, but Kernel cover everything from export stouts to sour cherry brews.

Where is it? Arch 11, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, Dockley Road, SE16 3SF. Alas, you can no longer drink at the brewery, but you're sure to find Kernel in the fridges of brewing neighbours.

Stirring in hops at The Kernel Brewery.

Orbit Beers

What is it? The result of a journey across Scotland in a VW campervan, apparently. Although unfiltered beers such as Köln Style Lager and Altbier suggest a distinctively Teutonic influence.

Where is it? 225 & 228 Fielding Street, SE17 3HD. The brewery opens occasionally. Otherwise, here's a comprehensive list of where you can get the beer.

Old Kent Road Brewery

What is it? A later addition to the Bermondsey Beer Mile, brewing Heygate Pale (named after the local housing estate, now demolished) and Asylum Black — a beer that could be none more black.

Where is it? 24 Old Jamaica Road, SE16 4AW. But buy bottles from one of these stockists.

Partizan Brewing

What is it? Concocters extraordinaire of toothsome pale ales, and off-the-wall saisons including mango and black pepper, and iced tea flavours.

Where is it? 8 Almond Road, South Bermondsey, SE16 3LR. Sup to your heart's content at the brewery bar every Saturday.

A line-up of Partizan brews.

Southwark Brewery

What is it? Purveyors of more traditional ales than your average Southwark brewer (although many have a modern twist). Look out for their Peter's Stout, which registers a stonking 8.9% ABV.

Where is it? 46 Druid Street, SE1 2EZ. The brewery bar is open every Saturday.

UBREW

What is it? Bit of a twist with these guys, because the whole idea is that you, the punter, make the beer. They'll teach you how to 'sparge, hop and finger pop' (their words) through one of their courses, the upshot being your own unique beer to take home.

Where is it? Old Jamaica Business Estate, 24 Old Jamaica Road, SE16 4AW. The taproom opens every Saturday, selling an admirable range of craft beers. Masterclasses are ongoing.

Tower Hamlets

The brewing team at Crate.

Crate Brewery

What is it? Hip, canalside setup in Hackney, where punchy beers are matched with delicious own-baked pizzas. Watch narrowboats go by while you guzzle.

Where is it? Unit 7, Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN. Open daily.

Howling Hops

What is it? Spaceship-sized vats of uber-fresh tank beer — ranging from fruity pale ales to inky stouts — all served for one price, in one size (two-third pints).

Where is it? Unit 9A Queen's Yard, White Post Lane, E9 5EN. Drink in the beer hall-like taproom, which neighbours with Crate.

One Mile End

What is it? Former Redemption brewer Simon McCabe is behind the eclectic range of bevvies at this Whitechapel brewery based in The White Hart pub. Expect everything from double IPAs to plum and Calvados saisons.

Where is it? The White Hart, 1 Mile End Road, E1 4TP. Open daily,

Just a small sample of One Mile End's range.

Redchurch Brewery

What is it? Producers of never filtered, never pasteurised beers. Their Bethnal Pale Ale contains a blend of English malts and American hops, and is a flagship brew. However, their sours and saisons are to die for.

Where is it? 275-276 Poyser Street, E2 9RF. The brewery's taproom is open Wednesday-Saturday. Otherwise try a solid nearby boozer like The Well and Bucket.

Truman's Beer

What is it? The phoenix of London's brewery scene (even though the logo is an eagle). Originally opened in 1666, closed in 1989, reopened in 2010 (although now NOT on Brick Lane). No-nonsense ales include Swift golden ale and Runner bitter.

Where is it? The Eyrie, 2-3 Stour Road, Hackney Wick, E3 2NT. Guzzle at brewery tap The Cygnet, or take a tour.

Truman's Beer: brewing once more. Although now in a different east London location. Photo by BLTP Photo, in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Waltham Forest

Brodie's Beers

What is it? Leyton-based purveyors of an impressively wide range of beers — Leytonstone Stout, Hackney Red IPA, London Sour Cherry... the list goes on.

Where is it? King William IV pub, 816 High Road, Leyton, E10 6AE. A pint costs as little as £2.60 (yup, we're writing this in 2016).

East London Brewing Company

What is it? Husband and wife team creating traditional English ales with good old English names like ELB Pale Ale and Nightwatchman. They're also bringing back the phenomenon that is mulled beer, which they do at Christmas.

Where is it? Unit 45 Fairways Business Centre, Lammas Road, E10 7QB. Find the beer in one of these boozers. Or call ahead and arrange a visit to the brewery.

Left Bank Brewery

What is it? Tiny but exciting outfit, making a range of bottled beers that includes a smoked plum mild, a milk stout and a rhubarb wit.

Where is it? Blackhorse Workshop, 1-2 Sutherland Road Path, E17 6BX. The brewery doesn't open to the public, and there are only a couple of stockists. Very much worth knocking them up though.

Signature Brew's new bar

Signature Brew

What is it? Fast-growing setup who've recently relocated to Leyton to keep up with demand. They brew beer inspired by music, with names like Backstage IPA and Black Vinyl Stout. They collaborate with artists too, including Frank Turner and Ed Harcourt.

Where is it? Unit 25, Leyton Business Centre, Etloe Road, E10 7BT. Their sweet new bar opens on Saturdays.

Wild Card Brewery

What is it? A bunch of Midlands brewers now in east London making rubies, ambers, porters and more. The beers are all named after playing cards and quite beautifully labelled.

Where is it? Unit 7 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HQ. Go on a brewery tour, a brew day experience, or visit the brewery tap on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. While you're there, pop into neon wonderland God's Own Junkyard.

Wandsworth

Belleville Brewing Co

What is it? American style ales brewed on Wandsworth Common. Many of their beers have London/US-crossover names, such as Battersea Brownstone and Thames Surfer.

Where is it? 36 Jaggard Way, Wandsworth, SW12 8SG. Contact the brewery and tell them you'd like to pop in.

John Hatch and his beloved Ram Brewery

By The Horns

What is it? Reputed south London brewers, producing a tantalising range of drinks, including their flagship Stiff Upper Lip pale ale, and more oddball concoctions like Bobby on the Wheat.

Where is it? 25 Summerstown, Wandsworth, SW17 0BQ. There's a brewery tap and a bottle shop. Then go to the greyhounds before they bulldoze the stadium.

Laine's Brewing @ The Four Thieves

What is it? Fun-filled brewpub round the corner from Clapham Junction. Twinned with Aeronaut in Acton (see our Ealing breweries) and People's Park Tavern (see Hackney). Watch out for queues to get in on Saturday night though - -they start as early as 9pm (ridiculous, right?).

Where is it? 51 Lavender Gardens, Clapham, SW11 1DJ. Open daily.

Mondo Brewing Co

What is it? Cool beers crafted by cool guys, with brewing experience from all over the world. The core range covers pale ale, IPA and altbier, with seasonals covering everything from coffee stout to belgian brews.

Where is it? 86 Stewart's Road, Battersea, SW8 4UG. Imbibe at the tap house, open Wednesdays-Saturday.

The RAM Brewery

What is it? Something of an oddball. What was the oldest British brewery in continuous operation — belonging to beer giants Young's — closed in 2006. However, former Young’s employee John Hatch has continued to brew onsite once a week ever since, as The RAM Brewery. Which means that technically, this brewery has been going since at least 1533. Take that, Fuller's.

Where is it? The Ram Quarter, Ram Street, Wandsworth, SW18 4LB. Due to a "bit of a veto situation on the commercial brewing", you can't currently buy any of John's beer. However, you can put money in an honesty box when you visit (special events only). This setup will change soon with the opening of a new microbrewery.

The shiny Sambrook's brewery tap.

Rocky Head Brewery

What is it? Probably the most ramshackle brewery in the UK (their words), set up by friends inspired by the American craft beer scene. Pale ales crammed with hops are their speciality.

Where is it? Unit 16, Glenville Mews, Kimber Road, Southfields, SW18 4NJ. Not readily open to the public; here's a list of boozers and stockists that purvey their liquid wares.

Sambrook's Brewery

What is it? Well-known creators of typical cask beers, with Wandle and Junction their most famous. Sambrook's have recently branched into craft and kegged beers too.

Where is it? Unit 1 & 2 Yelverton Road, Battersea, SW11 3QG. The brewery bar is open for private hire. Or take a tour on the third Wednesday of the month.

Westminster

Bloomsbury Brewery

What is it? Pint-sized brewery at The Perseverance pub, which also has a smokehouse and a gin bar. The brews are no-nonsense; the likes of pale ales, best bitters and winter ales.

Where is it? The Perseverance, 63 Lamb's Conduit St, WC1N 3NB. Open daily,

Essex Street Brewing Company

What is it? Ensconced in Temple Brew House, just off Strand, you can watch head brewer Vanesa de Blas Montoya do her thing, while supping one of the beers.

Where is it? Temple Brew House, 46 Essex Street, WC2R 3JF. Open daily,

Itinerant

A hug in a bottle.

Bear Hug Brewing

What is it? Someone's always got to be different. Bear Hug Brewing are 'hobo' or 'cuckoo' brewers, which means they hop from brewery to brewery in London, making use of their facilities but very much concocting their own recipes.

Where is it? Depends what week it is. But you can drink it at one of these boozers/eateries.