Saint Monday Taproom, E8

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Aqualung . left this review about London Fields Tap Room

This is a basic sort of place that would probably best be described as a large micropub, if that makes any sense at all.
The key to finding it is the pub called the London Fields on the West side of Mare Street. Go down the side street on which that pub resides and the London Fields Tap Room and brewery is on the left underneath the railway bridge. Inside it's bare floorboards with a random collection of tables and chairs and on my morning visit a powerful aroma of hops. The bar is right next door to the brewery from which it is separated by a window. The room looks a bit like it has been assembled by a school woodwork class, but that's not really the point. As far as I could see all the beer products on offer were from London Fields Brewery. There is also a limited selection of soft drinks, wines and ciders, although I failed to spot the cider. Coffee is also served and toasted sandwiches.

The beer is served from a bank of 6 pumps and two rows of keg options which included London Fields Lager. One of the six handpumps was unclipped. I assume it would normally have the Black Path Porter so the five casks on sale were there other three regular beers (Hackney Hopster, Love Not War and Shoreditch Triangle) while the remaining two pumps held two of their premium Bootlegger series of more radical brews. These were the two I went for, Black Frost Stout (£4.00) and American Black Ale (£4.80). Both of these were in immaculate condition.
The price of the standard bitters was £3.40 I think. Half way through the second beer I noticed that two of the keg beers were on special offer at £4.00 a pint. Sadly the First Born Barley Wine was only served in half pints so I had one of them and followed it with a pint of the Oak Aged Weizen Doppel Bock. The Bock was rather gassy but the Barley Wine was a fine example of this rather old fashioned drink.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here, possibly the prices are a bit steep for such a minimalist place and I would have preferred a pint of the barley wine, but these are very minor quibbles. I would happily return here and recommend it, especially for someone new to London Fields beers.

The venue is open daily from 11:00 until midnight (Xmas and New Year hours vary). Brewery visits are catered for but have to be paid for and require booking. There are also home brewing courses.

On 17^th January 2014 - rating: 9
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