Eko Brewery Tap Room, Peckham Rye, SE15

Hidden within an industrial complex near Peckham Rye Station, this small but well put together brewery taproom occupies a double-height unit with striking front windows and a concrete floor. The ground floor has a minimal layout with a small, unused front servery, some high tables and stools, and a few board games scattered about. Brewing equipment is tucked discreetly behind a central staircase that leads to two mezzanine areas. The left side hosts the main bar, with a basic counter, beer board, and sparse bar back. Seating here consists of metal chairs and a few backless benches, while more tables and cold-looking chairs fill out the space on the right. Arty touches brighten the whitewashed walls, and a large neon sign makes the venue easily visible from outside. A smooth jazz soundtrack added an urbane touch to an otherwise industrial space. Cask ale wasn’t available, but Eko Gold and Eko Black were pouring alongside four guest kegs. The beer is brewed using traditional Nigerian brewing techniques, of which I know next to nothing, but my pint of the Black tasted quite nice, which is good enough for me. The atmosphere was quiet—just a few other punters in attendance on a chilly Friday night—but that helped give the place a relaxed, welcoming feel and the service was efficient and polite to boot. I really like the ethos of this place and their determination to do something a bit different in a crowded marketplace. I'm not entirely sure that their beer stands out enough to make it truly memorable, but I thought the taproom was at least a suitably smart and well presented space in which to showcase it. I liked the quirky, two-tier layout, which keeps the drinking and brewing areas apart, and will be interested to check out their bar and restaurant in Homerton. Date of visit: 31st January 2025

Another day another taproom! This one down near Peckham Rye. Their website describes the offering as African inspired vegan beers, and the taproom had their full current offering as well as a number of guest beers on tap. Again a very pleasant location, some benches out front and inside seating on two levels with the bar on the first floor. Their offering didn’t massively inspire, as they weren’t generally my type of beers, all of which was keg unsurprisingly. So there was a lager, a pils, a Porter and a pale ale which was a pretty strong one and not where I wanted to start my evening. They also had an AF option on tap and all of the beers were available in can or bottle. They also had a NEPA only available on tap but I didn’t spot that until I was leaving. Also on tap were a cider (didn’t recognise the brewery - the tap had a green circle with a white umbrella thereon), two Kernel beers (the small pale ale and the table beer) and two from Cloudwater (the Piccadilly Pilsner and the Happy pale ale). I felt obliged to have one of their beers but I wish I had gone for the Cloudwater pale ale)! I like to support these smaller breweries in my own neck of the woods. Can’t say I will be rushing back to this one, but it is great what they are looking to do. Maybe they will be more adventurous with their own range as they hopefully get more successful. Very decent to offer a quite decent guest range to put their own beers up against. A 6 rather than a 5 for that reason.

Facebook page of Eko Brewery Tap Room - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Eko Brewery Tap Room - www.facebook.com

Official site of Eko Brewery Tap Room - www.ekobrewery.com

Official site of Eko Brewery Tap Room - www.ekobrewery.com