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The London beer challenge
e are Gary and David, two friends who worked
Wtogether for a short time in the mid-noughties and,
through a common interest in real ale, have remained firm
friends. For the last few years we have been challenging
ourselves to drink an ale from each and every London
brewery during the year.
In 2014 we managed to find beers from a total of 68 of
the breweries but we missed quite a few so last year we had
another go. We calculate that in 2015 we managed to enjoy
a beer from each of about 90 London breweries. This might
seem to exceed the number of breweries currently active
here, according to some well respected authorities. How
that number was calculated is, of course, open to
interpretation and debate and none more so than
between ourselves in pubs around the capital. For example,
it includes ales from some breweries that have
closed during the year or moved away from London and
from brewers that have brewed on different sites during the
year. Gary insists that the total also includes some
breweries that feature regularly in this magazine but which
David argues are not within London at all – such as
Brightwater in Claygate and Savour, Uprising and Windsor
and Eton, all based in Windsor. We agreed to differ on
that one but they’re included in our total. In summary,
we believe that we each missed out on a just a
couple of London breweries that are past the ‘start-up’
phase.
We found it very difficult to find information on a few of
the breweries, either because the brewers were too busy to
create or update websites or respond to our enquiries. We
have however been ably guided along the way by a number
of CAMRA people and by publications such as those of Des
De Moor, and London Drinker itself, of course.
Consequently we have managed to stay informed about the
vast majority of breweries, especially new ventures and
those that have sadly ceased brewing. Some brewers have
also gone out of their way to help, such as Michaela of
Upstairs Brewing and John at the Ram brewery whom it was
a pleasure to meet and to whom we offer our particular
thanks.
Apart from enjoying travelling all over the capital and
exploring new areas, we have discovered some wonderful
pubs, had some good times at various London real ale
festivals, enjoyed many excellent beers and met many
enthusiastic brewers, publicans and like-minded
individuals, including some from abroad. We therefore
just have to have another go this year to achieve
our elusive goal. With a raft of new pubs, craft
beer bars and micropubs opening around the capital that
specialise in beers from local breweries, it may be easier.
But also, with new breweries such as Ignition, Lost
Rivers and Tankley’s hoping to offer their beers soon, and
some breweries who suspended brewing during 2015
planning to be back again, there will likely be an even larger
target in 2016. Why not try to mount a similar quest
yourselves? You never know, you may bump into us while
you’re at it!
David Liddy and Gary Meaton
RUSHGREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION & SOCIAL CLUB
Rush Green Gardens, Rush Green Road, Romford, Essex RM7 0LB
Award winning
beers from
around our
region
All proceeds
donated to
St Francis
Hospice
Saturday & Sunday 28-29 May
12 noon – 8 pm
All welcome, entry for guests £2pp to include your
souvenir glass. All festival beers at £2.50 per pint
Live entertainment to include Morris Dancers. Games and a bouncy castle
for the kids. A range of foods will be available
Telephone: 01708 744841
45