Any Breweries To Visit In The Uk?

[WilBier]

Morning gents,

Found out a few weeks ago that my lovely wife and myself have won a 3 week trip to the UK. We are off to London on Sat and basically have our airfare and accomodation paid for. We are also taking our 4mth old bubsie wubsy.

One thing I am definately going to check out is the Heinekin brewery in Amsterdam. I checked on EasyJet and flights to Amsterdam from London are from 15 pounds each way, that's cheaper than Melbourne to Adelaide!

Just wondering if anyone has visited the UK, especially around the London region and if there are any breweries that one can visit. If so I would appreciate the heads up, as I am keen to visit that sort of stuff.

I mean Big Ben, really, if you've seen it on it, you've seen it if you ask me.

Would love some tips, and any other travel advice is priceless I think.

Regards,

WilBier,

Sorry, no budding beer samplers can come as extra luggage java script:emoticon('', 'smid_20')

 

[bconnery]

Morning gents,

Found out a few weeks ago that my lovely wife and myself have won a 3 week trip to the UK. We are off to London on Sat and basically have our airfare and accomodation paid for. We are also taking our 4mth old bubsie wubsy.

One thing I am definately going to check out is the Heinekin brewery in Amsterdam. I checked on EasyJet and flights to Amsterdam from London are from 15 pounds each way, that's cheaper than Melbourne to Adelaide!

Just wondering if anyone has visited the UK, especially around the London region and if there are any breweries that one can visit. If so I would appreciate the heads up, as I am keen to visit that sort of stuff.

I mean Big Ben, really, if you've seen it on it, you've seen it if you ask me.

Would love some tips, and any other travel advice is priceless I think.

Regards,

WilBier,

Sorry, no budding beer samplers can come as extra luggage java script:emoticon('', 'smid_20')

You can check out the Youngs Brewery in Wandsworth if that is still going. (It was due to close at some point)

Fuller's possibly, I'm not sure exactly where the brewery is.

I would check the beerfly guide on Beer Advocate to see breweries and good beer pubs in London...

The CAMRA website might also have some info or links.

 

[bconnery]

Morning gents,


Would love some tips, and any other travel advice is priceless I think.

Regards,

WilBier,

Sorry, no budding beer samplers can come as extra luggage java script:emoticon('', 'smid_20')

Try not to spend too much time converting the price you just paid for things into Aussie dollars, especially in London...

It can do your head in.

You might want to look at lot at pubs with outdoor areas, especially in summer when the weather might be alright for it, unless the UK has caught up a little with regards to smoking laws.

With a 4 month old bub some of the pubs would probably be way too smoky. Everything use to smell of smoke when you came out.

If you do go to Amsterdam check out a pub called de Bierard (spelling?) which has a good range. It is on the way from the cetnre to the Amsterdam brewery anyway.

 

[jayse]

If your in london from the 1st through 5th of august than your gunna be in your ellement :chug:
The Great British Beer Festival
Go over that site throughly and you'll find a few must see places.

Oh and when in amsterdam i'd be visisting some places for *cough* coffee *cough cough*


Winning a three week holiday in london man that is unreal you very lucky bugger.
Jayse

 

[kook]

Book a tour at Youngs while you still can!

It's a great tour, and the brewery is due to close within the next year.

 

[normell]

Book a tour at Youngs while you still can!

It's a great tour, and the brewery is due to close within the next year.

C'mon Kook, ya bugger , offer him a meet-up, and down a few pints together :beer:

 

[WilBier]

Book a tour at Youngs while you still can!

It's a great tour, and the brewery is due to close within the next year.

sweet thanks for the heads up - I am onto it.

WilBier

 

[WilBier]

If your in london from the 1st through 5th of august than your gunna be in your ellement :chug:
The Great British Beer Festival
Go over that site throughly and you'll find a few must see places.

Oh and when in amsterdam i'd be visisting some places for *cough* coffee *cough cough*


Winning a three week holiday in london man that is unreal you very lucky bugger.
Jayse

Dam - am going to miss this thing by 1 week.

They just serve regular slice and cookies in Amsterdam right?....

Pretty excited about the trip - just wish had longer to plan, and had more money to take....

Wife out of work, new baby.....

But no bitterness from me, as they say - don't knock what's for free

WilBier.

 

[kook]

Well you won't be around for GBBF, but if you're leaving this Saturday I'm guessing you'd be here for Chelmsford? It's from 11th - 15th July.

http://www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk/festival/index.html

Chelmsford is about a half hour train trip from Liverpool Street station. I'm pretty sure theres busses from the station to the festival (I hope so anyway!).

I'll be there on the Friday afternoon/evening, and would be happy to catch up for a beer

Other recommendations while you're here:

Market Porter - Great pub across from Borough Market near London Bridge. I work about 15 mins walk from here so I could pop over for a pint. Usually about 7 different guest cask beers.

Utobeer - A market stall right nearby (20 sec walk?) with at least 300 or so beers to choose from to take away. The stall is only open Thursday - Saturday though. If your mrs likes cheese, meats, chocolate etc theres heaps of stalls to pick up some gourmet tasties

George Inn - About 3 min walk from the Market Porter, a classic old coaching inn. Not a great beer selection but a great place to visit regardless.

Royal Oak - About 10-15 mins walk south of the others. Great Harveys pub, wonderful ales usually in tip top condition. Closed on weekends though.

Counting House - Not exactly typical on a London pub tour, but an absolutely grand old Fullers pub. Used to be a banking hall, really nice interior. They've always got London Porter in bottles, and sometimes on cask. Near Bank station, and about 5 min walk from my work. I'm always happy to catch up for a pint here.

Lowlander - Dutch pub in Covent Garden. Great if you're in the area and want something a bit different. Might not be worth it if you're headed to Amsterdam though

The Cove - Quirky little pub ontop of a pastie shop in Covent Garden. Great to sit outside on the balcony in summer though as it looks over the square opposite the market. Sells Skinners cask beers. I'd go during a weekday though, as it's quite small and gets packed in the evening and weekends. The pasties downstairs are pretty tasty too.

Princess Louise - If you're near Oxford street shopping, pop in here for a quick one. The beer is pretty crap on tap as it's Sam Smiths, but a few of the bottles are quite good. The interior is just amazing though, stained glass windows and strange ornate settings.

The Blackfriars - A really quirky pub opposite Blackfriars station. Cool murals on the interior, and usually some good solid cask ales too.

Beer Circus - If you're really seeking out Belgian, German and Dutch brews though, theres pretty much only one great place to visit, Beer Circus. It's a bit out of the way for visitors (and most Londoners) as it's in Croydon. A ****** area, and pretty average looking pub, but the beer selection is just insane. About 250 different bottled beers. I heard a rumor that they could be selling up though, which would be a huge shame. It's about a 15-20 min walk from East Croydon station.

If you want the addresses etc for these just let me know

 

[Insight]

Kook ya bastard, now have the taste for London again! Bring him to the Greenwich Union and get that red or chocolate beer in him! Only vaguely remember walking back up to Kensinton Olympia last year from GBBF with those bottles of Kriek De Ranke, what a day. Speaking of which those twats at IBS don't seem interested in customer service at all - left my name and order in with them AGAIN a month ago and haven't heard from them. Still have those bottles of Hahn Milleniums 1999, though they have been under threat a number of times

errm..back on topic - Greenwich Union in (of all places) Greenwich...

 

[Insight]

Oh - and "Bangers" near Liverpool St station. They serve a home brewed mild (3.8%ish) and a Davey's wallop (5.5%ish). Its a really nice underground pub with sawdust on the floor, and all your beers come in a metal stein. Nice touch.

 

[bradmcm]

Don't forget the White Horse in Parson's Green.

White Horse

It is the traditional meeting place for Brewers and beer afficianados.


As for breweries, as said before, there are two breweries in London, Youngs and Fullers. Both do tours.

 

[kook]

Two other good suggestions there (Greenwich Union and White Horse).

White Horse can be a little bit out of the way unless you're staying in West London, as it's not really near any touristy stuff. It's a great pub, but a bit overpriced and it gets very crowded now. Although the selection is pretty good, it's not up to the standard of places like Beer Circus. It is very close to Parsons Green station though, only a 2-3 min walk. I must admit, when I first walked into this place back in October 04, I thought it was amazing as I hadn't really been to any bars outside of Perth / Sydney. Now I can't find a new beer to try in the place!

Greenwich Union is great to drop into if you're in well, Greenwich I'd also check out the Lord Nelson if you're over that way, not so much for the beer, but more for the awesome views along the Thames (expecially at night). I'd skip the tour of the Cutty Sark though, better to view it outside and spend the entry money on beer

 

[WilBier]

Thanks very much Gents,

That sure has given me a few places to check out. Just emailed the link of the Chelmsford Beer Festival over to a friend I hope to catch up with, maybe Friday will be a good day to check it out - will let you know Kook.

Better get to work.

Thanks heaps boys, and I have just booked a tour at Youngs on Thurdsday, pretty well priced I think, it was only 5.5 pounds, and comes with a free pint and and hour and a hal.

Thanks for your help too. This is a great Forum. (brown-nosing again)

WilBier

 

[Ross]

Only vaguely remember walking back up to Kensinton Olympia last year from GBBF with those bottles of Kriek De Ranke, what a day. ...

Insight, I was staying at the same hotel - Did we meet up at all, the week is still a blur
looks like i might miss this years event - not happy

Cheers Ross

 

[warrenlw63]

If you get a chance make sure you pop into the Lamb in Conduit St. for a top notch pint of Youngs or six and probably one of the nicest looking pubs you'll see. One of my faves. Not too far from Holborn Station. :beerbang:

92 Lamb's Conduit St., Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 3LZ

Warren -

 

[Insight]

Only vaguely remember walking back up to Kensinton Olympia last year from GBBF with those bottles of Kriek De Ranke, what a day. ...

Insight, I was staying at the same hotel - Did we meet up at all, the week is still a blur
looks like i might miss this years event - not happy

Cheers Ross

Hi Ross, I was there with kook - so if you were one of the guys at the table right near the International beer stands then I'd have met you. There were some Danish fellas over for the weekend if I remember correctly. I was living in West London at the time, so I think I walked from Kensington Olympia back up to Shepherds Bush for the central line tube.

Back on topic - if you're interested in Belgian beer and mussels there's a pretty famous place in Covent Garden called Belgo. But it gets full of city types most evenings, so lunch might be the way to go.

 

[bradmcm]

If you come across a pub under the J.D. Wetherspoons franchise, that is also a nice safe bet. They have a good range of real ales, often some at a decent price or on special, cheap food, non-smoking areas and no music.

There's heaps of them, check their website for your nearest one.

 

[tdh]

I'm tempted to recommend to you that you let Heineken Industrial Brewing slide and go for a brewery with charm and ale.

Any chance of visiting Schaapskoi Trappist Brewery in the Netherlands (if that's where you definitely need to land) and then go to Brugge for a great variety of Belgian beer and Belgian beer culture. It's near Oostende in Belgium, catch the ferry there to Dover and then take the train through the hopfields of Kent enroute to London.

A day in Belgium beats a month at Heineken.

tdh

 

[bconnery]

Another Amsterdam must, if you do go, is the 't Ij Brewery, in the last windmill in Amsterdam.

It is a little bit out of way from the centre, just a tram and a walk, and is only open certain times each day (can't remember exact details for some reason ), but it has good beers.

Definitely get a plate of the cheese in salt spicy stuff for snacks!