Anspach & Hobday Croydon Tap, Croydon

Following the success of their original brewery on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, Anspach & Hobday have expanded their operations into a much larger plant in the unlikely location of an industrial estate on the outskirts of Croydon, just a short walk from the Therapia Lane tram-stop. As with the Bermondsey location, the new brewery also boasts a taproom, although as with most industrial estate-based brewery taps, this comprises little more than the front part of a large unit which is mostly filled with brewing apparatus and endless stacks of packaging. A small plywood counter to the left of the entrance (assuming the shutters are raised), is the only real pub-like feature, with the taps mounted on the bar back and a lone handpull on the counter. A couple of canteen tables and long benches have been squeezed opposite on the bare concrete floor, with seven or eight more outside in the loading bay, including one with a much-needed little gazebo-style shelter over it. The place was being manned by a lone barman who was doing a good job keeping up with all the tasks required of him – tasks made slightly more onerous by the various precautions required in the post-Covid world. There were four keg brews available when we arrived, but one was taken off before I even had a chance to note it down, leaving a choice between Anspach & Hobday IPA, Porter and Pale Ale. We tried the IPA and Porter, both of which poured too warm on an admittedly baking hot afternoon, which was surprising for a keg beer, but tasted fine nonetheless. The handpull was unclipped but there was a fridge next to the bar full of A&H bottles and cans plus a couple of ciders and perhaps even a guest beer or two. The bar accepts cash or card payments, but their card machine failed when we tried to pay and with no cash on us, the barman said we could have our drinks on the house, which was very good of him. We loitered for a bit longer and eventually the machine started working again, so we didn’t need to take him up on the kind offer. I suppose it was only a matter of time before this type of brewery tap sprang up in the borough, but ultimately, there’s not much here that you can’t find on countless industrial estates around London and beyond. The beer is generally pretty good (a delivery of their Porter and Pale Ale got me through the early weeks of lockdown), and the neighbouring Signal Brewery offers a chance for a double header, but its not the sort of place where I can settle down for a session. Only open Saturday afternoons at time of writing.

Official site of The Taproom - www.anspachandhobday.com

Official site of The Taproom - www.anspachandhobday.com

Tap room for Anspach and Hobday brewery Saturdays only