Westerham Brewery Tap Room, Westerham

Located just off the A223 at the point where is bypasses the centre of Westerham, this brewery and taproom is part of a larger complex that includes a winery and farm shop, making it a popular weekend destination. The brewery is set in a large barn-like building with several separate areas, a sizable car park and a good deal of outdoor seating, ideal as overspill on warmer days. The tap room is to the left in a fairly simple rectangular room with the servery on the right-hand wall and a lot of beer fridges and shelves to the rear, all available to drink in or take out. High tables and stools through the centre of the room provide the bulk of the indoor seating options, with a few comfier alternatives at the far end under a wine display. The bar has a chunky wooden counter, some large beer storage tanks on the bar back and a very useful beer board, detailing the available draught brews, to one side. There are also some interesting boards near the entrance which detail the brewery’s history, from its inception all the way through to their expansion to their current out-of-town site. A door to the side of the servery leads you through to the brewery, also accessible from the car park, which is dominated, as you might expect, by some large-scale brewing equipment, but also makes room for a few more tables and chairs. Tours are readily available and there seemed to be plenty of people there enjoying some sort of organised visit when we turned up. Music played quietly in the background throughout our stay, but the soundtrack was drowned out by unruly children and dogs, both of which are welcomed here. There were five Westerham ales on cask when we arrived – Summer Perle, British Bulldog, 1965 Special Bitter, Spirit of Kent and 15 Hop Anniversary IPA. I tried the Anniversary IPA, which was in very good condition but considerably less exciting than the promised 15 hops implied. A similar number of beers were available on keg alongside the full range of bottles and cans, with tasting flights available in case the choice proves too much. I thought this was quite a well put-together taproom which does a good job at showcasing the beer they brew here. Some additional comfortable seating might help and there’s a bit of an overtly corporate feel to the place which didn’t quite sit right, but it’s certainly worth a stop off the next time you’re passing through.