Crate Brewery, Hackney Wick, E9

This place has got a nice location in an old canalside warehouse, ideal for picking up passing walkers, cyclists and of course boaters, but walking here from Hackney Wick station involved traipsing through some rather grim streets bearing all the hallmarks of industrial decline. This brewery bar is thriving though and the good weather had attracted a sizable crowd who filled up the canalside seating and enjoyed the al-fresco barbeque. The bar itself is a small concrete floored room with the servery positioned diagonally across the middle of the room, with an open kitchen behind. The walls are bare blockwork and there are big windows at the front and rear that allow a good amount of light in. Long canteen style tables and benches are arranged along the front wall and down the left hand side of the bar and all were occupied on my lunchtime visit, with many customers enjoying pizzas from the concise menu. There is a large brewing vessel next to the front door and the actual brewery can be seen through the doors and windows on the right hand side of the bar. Decor is fairly limited, with a single decorative lamp hanging from a huge industrial sized hook above the servery being the only concession to decoration that I noticed. Music was playing quietly throughout my stay but posters suggest that there are DJ nights on Saturdays, when things presumably get a bit livelier. Four house beers were on handpull when I arrived – Best Bitter, Pale, Golden Ale (all £3.50) and IPA (£4.00). I tried the Best Bitter which I thought was a pretty good effort. Keg taps offered the likes of Crate Lager, Kent Pale, Moor Rye Pale Ale, Grain Blonde Ash and Hardknott Cool Fusion as well as Orchard Pig Reveller Cider. A fine looking range of UK and US bottled beer was displayed in fridges behind the bar and handy menus on the bar counter helped numerous punters decide what to choose. There’s something very enjoyable about drinking beer a few feet from where it was made and as such I found this a very satisfying place to stop off for a drink. I’m not sure that Crate’s beers match up to those of the top microbreweries in London right now, but it certainly has one of the best microbrewery bars and I’d happily return for a few more waterside pints.

Randomness Guide to London - Crate Brewery entry

Wondered where we were going as we went to this pub. It was really popular and we were lucky to get a table. Seating inside and outside filled up ever so quickly and there was a good atmosphere. Walkers coming in from the canalside. The bar was busy with beer orders and pizzas too, and they looked fantastic if a little pricey. We stayed to enjoy all 4 of the Crate beers on offer. Golden Ale, Best Bitter, Stout and IPA. Not too bad to get to from Hackney Wick station.

Randomness Guide to London - Crate Brewery entry

Official site of Crate Brewery - www.cratebrewery.com

Official site of Crate Brewery - www.cratebrewery.com