The best craft beer bars & breweries in Hackney Central

Hackney Central has a large concentration of craft breweries, especially on Bohemia Place.

The Experiment: Pressure Drop x Verdant

What do you get when two of the best breweries in England join forces? The Experiment: a joint venture from London’s Pressure Drop & Cornwall’s Verdant Brewing Co. The Experiment is one of several great breweries & beer bars near Hackney Central along Bohemia Place, underneath a railway line.

This collab spot & event space has 5 taps from each brewery, plus tons of cans.

Address: Unit 19, Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central

Hackney Church Brew Co.

Hackney Church Brew Co. is the next stop along Bohemia Place. The brewery is named after the nearby Hackney Church, which they actually partner with. It’s as nice of a spot as you’ll find under a railway arch. While most archway breweries have a pop-up, DIY aesthetic, Hackney Church Brew Co’s spot is filled with nice wood, stone, and metal.

The community-focused brewery has 12 taps of Craft Beer made from as many nearby ingredients as possible. There are also plenty of tables out front, as well as a back garden. They also host pub quizzes and Sunday roasts.

Address: 17 Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central

Brew Club

Brew Club is a combination craft beer bar & brewing space on Bohemia Place. There are tons of local beers here, including 10 taps, plus dozens of cans.

Inspired by what you’ve tasted at Brew Club? You can also brew your own beer on-site, whether you’re an expert or doing it for the first time. They’ll help with everything you need.

Brew Club is a space that’s clearly run by people who are knowledgable & passionate about beer. While I was there, the bartender pulled a beer that he noticed was tasting just a bit off after having previously been just fine. How many places still would have had no problem still selling it?

Address: Arches 7-8 Hackney Walk, Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central

Deviant & Dandy Brewery

Right around the corner from Bohemia Place is Deviant & Dandy Brewery. Behind their archway, they have a nice beer garden space with 10 or so taps.

Deviant & Dandy’s beers are music-themed, including collabs with Run the Jewels.

Address: Arch 184 Nursery Rd, London E9 6PB, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central

Hackney Tap

Hackney Tap has 22 taps of craft beer & cask ales, plus gyoza.

The pub, which is located in the former Hackney Town Hall & also has a nice outside patio, is owned by the same people who run the excellent Euston Tap.

Address: 354 Mare St, London E8 1HR, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central

The Five Points Brewery & Taproom

Founded in 2013, The Five Points Brewery & Taproom is one of the largest places for craft beer in Hackney. They opened a new spot with huge indoor space and an outdoor beer garden in 2021, both of which can get crowded on weekends (especially during DJ sets). During those times it can skew towards people who care less about the beer.

The taproom has 18 lines, including six tanks for the freshest Five Points beer. There is also wood-fired pizza from ACE Pizza.

The Five Points Brewing Company also owns The Pembury Tavern, which has 22 taps & is located at the junction from which the brewery gets its name.

Address: 61 Mare St, London E8 4RG, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: London Fields or Cambridge Heath

Forest Road Brewing Company 

Forest Road Brewing Company’s brewery is located near the Bermondsey Beer Mile, but they also have a taproom in Hackney underneath a railway arch.

The taproom is bigger & more lively than the brewery (which has limited hours), serving as a community space.

There are several nearby food spots that have popped up, including the stellar Bread & Truffle.

Address: 8 Netil Ln, London E8 3RL, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: London Fields

Three Sods Brewery

Three Sods Brewery has a new archway spot in London Fields, but they’ve been brewing in East London for a while, having started out in Bethnal Green. The brewery has 6 taps and 3 casks.

Address: 399 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: London Fields

The best craft beer bars & breweries in Hackney Wick

Hackney Wick is another area that makes for a nice pub crawl, with several great breweries & beer bars located within a few minutes of the station.

Beer Merchants Tap

Hackney Wick’s Beer Merchants Tap just might have the best craft beer selection in all of London. They’ve got 20 taps plus 2 casks, but the fridges are where their offering becomes mindblowing, with over 500 different cans & bottles on offer, available both for drinking in and for takeaway from the bottle shop.

If you can name it, you’ll find it at Beer Merchants Tap. While the selection may spotlight British & Belgian beers, there are also plenty of German, American, and other imports as well. Every beer has a helpful sign displaying the name and price, so you don’t have to open the fridges to read labels. It’s a nice little touch.

There’s also plenty of room to drink, with a large indoor space inside Hackney Wick Warehouse, plus a huge outdoor beer garden.

With this much excellent beer, you need hearty food. Beer Merchants Tap has that covered as well, with a food menu featuring scotch eggs, pies, and meat & cheese boards.

Address: 99 Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Wick

Old Street Brewery & Taproom

Hackney Wick’s Queen’s Yard is lined with bars & restaurants, including several breweries. They’re accessed down a graffiti & street art-covered alleyway.

The self-described “band of drunken misfits” at Old Street Brewery & Taproom continue this vibe, with more street art outside, a comic book theme, plus an inside space with wood panels & fake fireplaces. Great indie music plays throughout.

The bar has is a 10-tap beer selection, including a couple of guests. There is also a food stand out front selling BBQ & Mexican food, including tacos & quesadillas.

Address: Unit 1 Queen’s Yard, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Wick

Howling Hops Brewery & Tank Bar

Howling Hops Brewery & Tank Bar is also located on Queen’s Yard. The industrial space includes 10 tanks, with all of the often-hoppy beers served straight out of them.

In addition to the inside shared tables, there’s an outside patio, DJs on weekends, plus Sri Lankan food from Kottu House.

Address: Unit 9A Queen’s Yard, White Post Ln, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Wick

CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria

The third craft brewery at Queen’s Yard is CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria. The atmosphere here at CRATE is completely different from the other two breweries, with much more of a polished interior and with it, a bustling crowd that skews more upscale hipster.

CRATE is especially popular thanks to its expansive canalside beer garden, which is understandably crowded on nice days.

The brewery is highlighted by several guest taps (plus about 20 or so guest cans), in addition their own offerings. For food, there are thin, crispy pizzas available. If cocktails are more your thing, step onto their canal boat, the Alfred Le Roy.

Address: Unit 7 Queen’s Yard, London E9 5EN, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Wick

The best craft beer bars & breweries in Shoreditch & Hoxton

Howl at the Moon

Hoxton’s Howl at the Moon is a classic Victorian pub that happens to have lots of craft beer.

The pub has been updated to the modern era while retaining its historic charm. Inside, you’ll find about 20 taps of craft beer, plus live music & live sports on the big screen.

Address: 178 Hoxton St, London N1 5LH, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hoxton

Signature Brew Haggerston

Signature Brew‘s main brewery is located in the big cluster of breweries in Walthamstow, but they also have a taproom underneath a railway arch in Hackney/Hoxton.

The brewery is closely affiliated with the music industry, which shows in everything they do. 12 taps of music-themed beers barely scratch the surface. Amongst these taps, you’ll even find beers made by well-known artists. There is also a stage for live music & comedy inside, as well as music photography exhibitions. Outside, there’s a canal-side patio.

Address: Railway Arches, 340 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Haggerston

Brewhouse & Kitchen – Hoxton

Brewhouse & Kitchen – Hoxton is part of a chain of brewpubs with locations all around the country. In addition to their own beers, there are guest taps, cans, and bottles. The brewpub also hosts tasting sessions & has a full food menu.

Address: 397-400 Geffrye St, London E2 8HZ, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hoxton

Fountain Tap

Fountain Tap is a cozy new craft beer bar in Shoreditch.

It has 14 taps from some of the best British breweries, plus more in the fridge (including ciders). The Shoreditch taproom is also affiliated with the Old Fountain on Old Street.

Address: 14 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DU, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Old Street & Shoreditch High Street

Goose Island Brewpub Shoreditch

Goose Island Shoreditch is the London outpost of Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co.

It’s not a taproom where beer has just been shipped over the pond, there’s also a brewery on site, along with guest taps. For food, there are burgers & sides.

Address: 221-222 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6PJ, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street

The best craft beer bars, breweries, & bottle shops in Dalston & Stoke Newington

Mother Kelly’s Stoke Newington

Mother Kelly’s has a reputation for having some of the best craft beer in London. Their Stoke Newington location is one of their smaller bars, functioning mostly as a bottle shop. In addition to 300+ bottles & cans, they have 6 taps, as well as spirits & wine.

Mother Kelly’s also has other taprooms & bottle shops in Bethnal Green, Vauxhall, and Stratford.

Address: 92 Stoke Newington Church St, London N16 0AP, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Stoke Newington

40FT Brewery & Taproom

40FT Brewery & Taproom is located down an alleyway in Dalston, but once you’re there the space opens up into a huge beer garden. The brewery started out in two 20-foot shipping containers. Get it? There are up to 10 taps of beer available. The beer garden is one of the nicest places to drink outside in London.

The garden space is shared with The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, & Acme Fire Cult, a live-fire restaurant with 40FT Brewery beer that also serves dishes to the beer garden.

Address: 2-3 Abbott St, London E8 3DP, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland

Red Hand

Dalston’s Red Hand has 17 taps of craft beer, plus over 100 spirits. Oh, and cheese toasties as well. Perfect.

Address: 36-38 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XJ, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland

Kraft Dalston

Kraft Dalston is a new taproom from German Kraft, which has a brewery & beer garden in Elephant & Castle. The taproom serves beer straight from the tank, brewed in accordance with German purity laws using only malt, water, hops & yeast.

In addition to the brewery, there is also a gin distillery onsite, as well as a kitchen specializing in shared plates & kebabs.

Address: Kraft Dalston Bar & Restaurant inside Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High St, London E8 2LQ, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland

The best craft beer bars & bottle shops in Clapton

Clapton Craft

Clapton Craft is a bottle shop & online store with eight locations around London. Their original Clapton bottle shop has hundreds of cans & bottles available, plus growler fills. While some of their locations offer on-premises drinking, this one does not. But there are plenty of parks nearby.

Address: 97 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0NP, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Hackney Central & Hackney Downs

All Good Beer

All Good Beer in Hackney Downs is a bottle shop & taproom offering hundreds of craft beers from top breweries from Britain and beyond, as well as wines. The bar, which is part of Hackney Downs Studios, has a large all-season patio available.

Address: Hackney Downs Studios, 17 Amhurst Terrace, Lower Clapton, London E8 2BT, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Rectory Road & Hackney Downs

If you have any other favorite places for craft beer in Hackney, let me know in the comments!

Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!

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Last updated on June 11, 2022

The post 23 Great Places for Craft Beer in Hackney – Shoreditch – Dalston – Hoxton – Clapton – Stoke Newington – Hackney Wick – East London appeared first on Everybody Hates A Tourist.