East London Brewing Taproom, Higham Hill, E17

Just like the location opposite, the last time I was here it was being used by a different brewery, in this case Wild Card. This one remained unused since Wildcard folded in October 2024 until ELB took it over a couple of months ago. Although the inside of the industrial unit looks very much like it did when Wild Card was here, serving area to the right as you enter, brewery kit to side and back and mezzanine floor above the bar (currently not used) they have done a lot more with the external space and a large area of astroturf is covered by a couple of large gazebos and a permanent metal roofed structure that gave cover to bench seating. On talking to one of the guys there are plans to convert the mezzanine floor into an in-house pub. Not sure what form that would take so will have to revisit in winter to see what it becomes. On the ale front a large chalk board above the serving taps details 8 keg options and 8 cask options. However, reality is that this board is more an indication of what they brew rather than what is currently on the taps and once you get your eye in to see the multitude of chalk crossing outs, reality was seven on keg and two on cask. Still, not too shabby, and the cask versions of Foundation Bitter and Nightwatchman that were available were very good as you would expect with the distance travelled. Unfortunately, my favourite of their cask ales, in the form of Cowcatcher was only available on keg. We all enjoyed our visit here and thought they were settling in nicely into their new premises.

Visited 29/05/26 Beers all their own brewed apart from the cider (from Umbrella) and the AF (from Nirvana). On cask they had the Quadrant Oatmeal stout, the Foundation Best Bitter, the Pale Ale, the Table Beer, the Jamboree Golden Ale, the Cowcatcher APA and the Nightwatchman their premium bitter. Keg offering was their East End lager, their East End Pilsner, their Lido pale ale, their Two Palms hazy pale ale, their Beyond the Tower SIPA, and the keg versions of Quadrant and Cowcatcher. Newly opened and relocation for the brewery. Large industrial premises with astroturfed area out front smothered with regular tables and chairs and some deckchairs on a sunny evening. There is a food wagon out front so furiously busy on my early Friday evening visit. Roll down shutter entrance and concrete flooring with bar counter immediately on the right as you enter. Only a few tables inside so suspect they might bring a few more in on poorer weather openings, but there is some covered seating out the front also. Very much a working venue, beyond the end of the bar counter is roped off with the larger area housing the brewing equipment. Felt a bit manic with lots of young kids running around and generally screaming - I think their beers are pretty good albeit I have had a few in can in the dodgiest of E1 bars (and I have ticked a few on here).