Howling Hops Tank Room, E9

Already well described, The Howling Hops Tank Room is just that. There are ten floor to ceiling beer tanks behind the long bar in this former warehouse each dispensing a different beer which is fed in directly from the brewery which operates behind. There's also another, smaller bar to the left for anything other than beer and Billy Smokes barbecue in the corner although on our visits the cooking was being done outside where there are more tables. I liked the industrial feel of the place which has been cleverly configured to house both the brewery, which is a real feature, and the customer area, which has been well designed to make it feel much more comfortable than might be expected in a building like this. It's obviously a trendy spot at the moment but the service was very friendly and knowledgable with any tasters freely offered and an invitation given to have a good mooch around the brewery and ask any questions. It's by no means a victim of it's current popularity. Beers available in the labelled tanks were all Howling Hops: Rye Wit, Ruby Red, Pale XX No2, Aussie Pale, Howling Pils, Pale Ale XX No1, UTO Double Black IPA, American Brown, Double Chocolate Coffee Toffee Vanilla Milk Porter and West Coast Special IPA. Our lunchtime visit found some of these unavailable but a subsequent evening visit a week or two later and all beers were present and correct. As mentioned, the beer is served in 2/3rd glasses and is very fresh. Everything we tried over the two visits was very good and in excellent, fresh condition although gassier than traditional cask which slowed down consumption a little. The Porter deserves a special mention as being one of the best, if not the best, of this style that I've tried. It really was excellent. A top spot with great beer.

Not as enthusiastic about this place as BF.Bit of a beer hall feel or a big shed feel.Industrial building but too much like industrial drinking.Scruffy ,peeling paint interior with an ugly bar.Same prices for beer as PS post but a sign said half pints sold but at the same price as 2/3 £2.90.(yes please can I have less beer for the same price.Hope this doesn't catch on.Did notice the gouges in the floor.Interesting.Three superb beers from Howling hops were sampled.Damn the choc toffee vanilla stout had run out.

Official site of Howling Hops Tank Room - www.howlinghops.co.uk

Official site of Howling Hops Tank Room - www.howlinghops.co.uk

Having outgrown their original home in the basement of the Cock in Hackney, the Howling Hops Brewery now run this unusual warehouse conversion, a short walk from Hackney Wick station. It is unusual in that it is the first UK venue to sell all of its beer directly from large conditioning tanks. It really is quite a sight to behold when you first walk in and find yourself confronted by ten huge floor-to-ceiling tanks, each dispensing a different beer. On my visit, all ten tanks were in operation and I was able to choose from Ruby Red, Black XX, Pale XX, Running Beer, Pils, Pale Ale, Riding Ale, Rye Wit, Smoked Porter and IPA. The beer is perhaps a little pretentiously, served in two thirds glasses, each costing £2.90 (or £3.90 if the beer is over 6%). I tried the Smoked Porter which was packed full of flavour and in fine condition. The bar itself is an L-shaped warehouse conversion with a concrete floor throughout, bare brick walls painted in red and white, glass brick windows and long canteen tables and benches which run from the front door all the way to the bar at the rear. A few more benches have been set into recesses along the right hand wall, supplemented by low stools made from kegs. The servery has a tatty brick tile counter and to the left there are numerous sacks of malt, with the brewery plant visible in the large area behind the bar. To the right there is another entrance, next to which you will find a second bar which serves drinks other than those from the tanks. There is also a food hatch here where you can order directly from the kitchen. Breaking the serving points up like this is a pain if you need to order something from each, but at least reduces queuing time at peak hours. Music played quietly throughout my visit and there was ample seating outside both entrances, should sitting in a warehouse car park take your fancy. I really felt the ‘wow’ factor when I first walked in here, but I suspect that it is a novelty that will soon wear off. I like the concept of the bar and was pleased to find that the beer was very drinkable, but I would much rather be drinking the same beers in the Cock than in an old warehouse. There are a few other decent warehouse conversions in this part of town, including the Crate Brewery next door, so a mini crawl would make a trip out here even more worthwhile.