Day out in the big smoke

Living in London for the past few months has been great, but since living here I've had to get used to a new job, moved flats, been away a couple of times and had the Christmas and NewYear period at home. So I haven't actually had the chance to see a lot of the city.

So yesterday, with a day off from work, the girlfriend to meet between jobs at lunch and a cinema trip planned for the evening, I thought there was no better way to spend my free time than investigating where to find some good craft beer in the capital. And then drink it.

Using my trusty Craft Beer London app that I mention in a previous blog, I was wandering around near Piccadilly Circus and saw to my delight that I was only a few minutes walk away from Craft Beer Co's Covent Garden venue.

Picture: ratebeer.co.uk

Surprisingly, there isn't a great amount of places to buy decent beer around very central London (think Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly etc.) I suppose it could be due to the area's main focus being tourism and entertainment, and whatever the bars around there do serve, they're going to sell it due to sheer volumes of people through the door. I know that's a sweeping generalisation, and I have managed to get a good pint in bars around the area, but it feels harder than it should in city with so much good stuff on offer!

Craft Beer Co is a great new(ish) chain of bars, and I'd heard a lot about it, just never had the opportunity to go. The first thing you notice on entering is the sheer volume of beers - cask, keg and bottle - that they have on offer. I counted 45 on keg or cask, and lost count on the bottles, but got close to 80! Most of these are on rotation as well, so you will never not be spoilt for choice in there. They also have a fantastic whisky selection as well, and as a whisky fan as well, this blew me away! 

However, as it was only 4pm in the afternoon, I decided to leave the spirits for now and stick to the real reason I went in. Beer.

It's not often I find myself hesitating at the bar, as usually I have spotted what I'd like on my walk from the door. Yet in Craft Beer Co, I genuinely had to say "Just another minute.." whilst choosing my beer. Finally deciding on a Somerset Wild by Wild Beer Co, I found myself a bar stool, got out my book and settled down to enjoy it. 

And enjoy it, I did not. Well, not initially. First sip tasted like a strong cider, and I genuinely for a second thought I had been served the wrong drink. On closer tasting however, I could get past the dry acidity, that could also be likened to a white wine, and could taste the refreshing Saison beneath. It took me probably the whole half to really get used to what I was drinking, with the various bacteria used in the fermentation really giving it a citric, sour finish. Different to anything I've drank before, unusual but not unkind, this interesting brew truly incorporates the brewery's 'Drink Wildly Different' slogan.

In order to give my taste buds a bit of a rest, I went slightly more safe with my second choice and bought myself a Pale Ale from The Kernel Brewery. As most of you will probably be aware, Kernel have gone from strength to strength these past few years, and this fashionable brewery are easily the most exiting thing to have come out from under a bridge since that whale swam up the Thames a few years ago. (To anyone who doesn't know, Kernel started under a railway arch in Bermondsey, and has since moved to a slightly bigger one.)

A powerfully-flavoured, American-style beer, their Pale Ale's are defined by the combination of hops used, and sadly I can't remember exactly what ones I has the pleasure to be supping on. Although the light, citrusy notes in the scent and taste gives me some idea at least that it was made with citra, anything else I couldn't tell you. The ale itself is surprisingly sessionable for a 5.4% brew and it's no wonder why this brewery have made such a name for itself. 

I could have stayed in this bar for much longer, but I had places to be and people to meet. Although not before I'd got a bit peckish and treated myself to some chips with my Pale Ale. Not one to blag about knowing loads about food and beer pairings, I have to say Craft Beer Co's salted skin-on chips make an excellent addition to a flavourful, crisp pale ale like The Kernal's. And the Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup is probably the best condiment I've ever tasted!

The best thing to happen in the world of condiments since Nandos 

thought 'you know what this hot sauce needs? More hot!'

 Finishing up. I headed off to meet up with some lovely people for a trip to watch 'Office Space' at Scroobius Pip's Film Club, Prince Charles Cinema. As an added bonus, the cinema had Brewdog in their fridges... f**kin' A! All in all, a great day out. 

Looking forward to my next venture to a new bar, although I've still got a fair few beers here at home to get through!

As always, I'll keep you all posted.

This post was written to the beat of: Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – Get Better