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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Craft Beer Co, EC1
EC1
EC1N 7TR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Craft Beer Co.
Update-A little disappointed on my most recent visit(28/12/12) to find only 5 handpumps in operation plus one other for the cider,I guess this was down to expectations of a low turnout after Christmas although it was reasonably well attended while I was there.Of the two pints drunk whilst there I found the Thornbridge Warp a little hazy and rather ordinary, this was made up for by the second pint, a quite tasty Summer Wine Brewery Barista Espresso Stout,While slightly disappointed on this visit,compounded by the discovery of the Gunmakers up the road being closed for Christmas ,I would still recommend this pub to anyone.
Original review August 2012-
Plenty of room in here early afternoon on a Tuesday,spoilt for choice on the beer front,I tried Darkstar Hylder Blonde,Hopdeamon Green Deamon and Magic Rock Dark Arts which was stunningly good.Helpful barman/manager,tasters are no problem, this is a pub you could quite happily sit in all day,and have a different beer every time,highly recommended for the pub lover and beer enthusiast alike.
On 29th December 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pete Simms left this review about Craft Beer Co.
I visited CBC on a Saturday afternoon July 2012 and was so impressed I had to return for a few more hours the following afternoon. Being the weekend the local area is very quiet and the CBC itself was pleasantly quiet, perhaps 20-30 customers around during the afternoon. Bar staff were very friendly and knew their beers. The range of craft beers on tap is of course superb and the staff were happy to provide suggestions and discuss tastes. There is no better place to spend a weekend afternoon and definitely hope to return. My only complaint with CBC is that they did not open a pub around the corner from where I live in Melbourne, Australia.
On 18th October 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Craft Beer Co.
I paid my long overdue first visit here during the week – in fact we visited twice, once at lunchtime when it was nearly empty and again during the evening when it was absolutely heaving. The pub itself is as described previously, with notable features being the mirrored ceiling with giant clock face which is obviously a hangover from when this was the Clock House; the well-preserved Charrington’s mirror above the fireplace; and the green banded leaded windows, branding it as an ex Charrington’s pub of course. Oh, and I suppose the presence of 16 handpumps featuring ales from little known breweries, plus another 20 or so keg fonts, could also be described as notable features. Although this is usually something that tends to pass me by, my companion was very impressed with the cleanliness and facilities in the toilets.
Ales below 4.0% are still £3.40, rising up the scale as the ABV increases. But you always get a pint as they use lined glasses, so need to ask for top ups here. Even though it was very busy during the evening, the bar was well manned and all four staff were working their socks off to keep the beer flowing. Encouragingly, I didn’t see anybody drinking anything but beer in here, so I wouldn’t recommend this place if you are into cocktails or quality wines.
This is a massive and welcome addition to London’s real ale scene. I will definitely be back.
On 15th September 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Craft Beer Co.
Well, what can I add? Certainly one of London's top beer destinations and worth seeking out for the imports on keg just as much as the 16 ales: they might be expensive, but it's well worth treating yourself to something from Mikkeller or one of the American micros from time to time.
Unlike aleand hearty below, we did visit at a busy time and I can confirm that Craft does indeed get pretty crowded on a Friday evening. The crowd spills out onto the street but one is discouraged from stepping off the pavement with one's pint. Mind you, this is going to be the case with any decent Central London boozer on a summer's evening.
Been a few times and expect to visit many times more.
On 27th August 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about Craft Beer Co.
An exciting, new wave craft beer emporium, tucked away just off the Clerkenwell Road. Rather smaller than I was expecting and decked out in the slightly sparse modern style, but still impressive for all that.
Basically, beer is king here and even the most jaded palate should be able to find something suitable from the 16 hand pumps, 21 keg fonts and scores of bottles on offer. I was more than happy to stay with the ales and found my Thornbridge ‘Kipling’ and Crouch Vale ‘Yakima Gold’ in good nick, but heart flutteringly expensive, at £3.80, for someone used to paying around a pound less, per pint, in the north.
The young bar staff were friendly and slick and there was a good atmosphere, from a surprisingly varied clientele, when I called mid-afternoon on a Friday. However, I wouldn’t like to visit at peak times, as I can see it getting ridiculously crowded. Despite that small reservation, I’d recommend the CBC to any true beer fan and will almost certainly call again if in the area.
On 25th May 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Craft Beer Co.
My first and definitely not my last trip to this beer emporium,which is fast becoming one of the best in the capital.The exterior is smaller than I expected and is situated in an interesting neighbourhood,while the interior has been largely stripped out but still includes interesting features like the mirrored ceiling and chandelier.The raised bench seating around the perimeter walls with high tables and stools is not the most comfortable ,but understandable given the popularity and the need to drink vertically at busy times.I really liked the polite but firm instruction to two potential bar blockers when they moved stools to sit in front of the handpumps,the staff explaining the error of their selfish ways and asking them to keep the bar clear.If only other pubs would adopt this kind of policy at a peak time such as 6pm Friday.If you don't like crowded pubs ,you may want to carefully schedule any visit here or check out the first floor seating.
The ale selection was outstanding ,featuring micros with a reputation for excellence such as Dark Star,Redemption,Magic Rock and Durham on my trip.Prices vary with ABV,and some of the strong stuff I sampled was closing in on £4pp but worth it.Quality was very high on all pints sunk by the team.
The keg beers appeared much more expensive than the ale,although many were rare and imported.I missed the opportunity to have a drink off between the cask and keg varieties of Dark Star Revelation as a result of the cask running out quickly.Maybe that was the answer to that particular question.
I felt that this was even better than the sister pub Cask in Pimlico,and to describe it as a must visit is a gross understatement.
On 2nd February 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about Craft Beer Co.
I have visited this establishment 3 times in the past couple of months, each time on a Sunday lunch. It never gets busy, just 4 or 5 guys drinking and reading the papers. Excellent selection of real ales and Keg but at a price. Some of the unusual foreign Keg stuff is very expensive, Having seen a Rogue Ale from Oregon USA and having been to the brewery on my travels I was going to give it a go, but at £6 a half, I decided on 2 pints of somthing from this side of the Atlantic. Still, don't be put off, excellent pub, superbly knowledgable staff and good bar snacks makes this a london destination boozer. I will definatly be in there again, but not over the Christmas break as they are closed for most of it!
On 22nd December 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Craft Beer Co.
The latest big noise in the rapidly expanding UK ‘craft beer’ scene, the CBC (operated by the same lot as CASK in Pimlico) opened its doors during summer 2011 replacing the defunct Clockhouse and has rapidly made a name for itself. As a weekday-only opener my first was visit was somewhat delayed and I finally made it there at just after 5pm on a dark Friday evening. It’s a corner pub which has had a tidy makeover externally. Internally, there’s a fabulous mirrored ceiling with clock face and the bar is to the right which immediately reveals why I’m here – 16 cask ales, 20+ quality keg products, numerous world bottled beers and plenty of whiskies. I didn’t spot any cider though. Ale-wise, the emphasis is on what the operators deem ‘quality’ breweries (who knows exactly what criteria are used? Though the chap who runs it day-to-day I recognised as ex of Brewdog). I sampled four of the ales on offer and the quality of all but one was very good. Price-wise it can get wallet-bothering once you head out of the mid-range ABV’s, though to their credit the ale tariff is clearly marked, sliding upwards by ABV band. Keg stuff can be frighteningly expensive (though a fair chunk of it you won’t see often) so ask before you buy! Glasses are lined, which is a nice touch. Seating takes the form of raised banquettes and high tables downstairs, which aren’t too comfy in all honesty, especially when it gets busy. There’s also further seating upstairs, laid out in a more traditional manner which I much preferred. I noticed that branding seems to be an integral part of the experience – from the glasses through to the wallpaper, it seems like everything has been stamped with the logo. As the place filled up I noticed one punter with a copy of 1001 Beers To Try Before You Die, so word has clearly got round.
I’d like to try this one off-peak but for now I’d be happy to recommend it to the more adventurous (and well-off) pub-goer. I’m sure it’ll end up being a default choice for me when in the area for the next few months.
On 30th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Craft Beer Co.
“What today’s Ale drinker wants is choice” is a line increasingly peddled by the growing number of micro breweries, including the head brewer of Wibblers Brewery in Essex, who was propping up the bar with his good lady wife after trying to influence the Craft Beer Co to take some of their wares. And if that is the case then this place delivers it in spades.
And evidence on this visit would infer that they may well be correct. Six months into this venture the pub was jammed when I arrived early midweek evening and whereas most city pubs will empty out as the after office crowd venture home, this remained full throughout the evening as others arrived at a steady rate.
The interior and impressive array of beer pumps has been well covered by previous reviewers and I will concur that this is more of a proper pub experience than the location in Pimlico. But its current popularity means standing room only, so not likely to be a comfortable or quiet experience, unless there is enough of you to book the upstairs lounge. .
The service is very sharp and the beer quality of all the ones we tried was top notch, but it will not be a low cost experience, as mentioned by others below. The Cask Ale tariff of £3.40 to £4.50 depending on gravity is not too outrageous for central London prices, but it does ratchet up significantly for the very high ABV brews and bottles as mentioned
There’s no food on offer except for ‘high quality bar snacks’ in the shape of handmade scotch eggs and pork pies. But here again, the local cash point will be busy at £5.00 for half a 4inch Pork Pie and £3.50 for a Scotch egg. And as much as I adore real scotch eggs, the hard boiled egg would need to have been shelled using the thighs of a virgin during the manufacturing process for me to fork out £3.50.
But all in all, this is already a must visit location for the ale drinker and one I am sure is destined for future success. And the company pub web site is requesting suggestions to where they can open other locations this format looks likely to grow. However the Nimby in me hopes that no-one suggests my backstreet local in N21 as that would spell the end of me getting a seat or being able to afford to drink there with regularity.
On 29th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Craft Beer Co.
Cought a number 55 bus to this pub as I had read reviews and wanted to try it. I have been to Cask Pub & Kitchen before and agree this one feels more of a pub. Great choice of beers and quality of those we had was good. A bit pricey, but will be a welcome pub for those wanting to experiment with beers from around the world. We were quite happy with the real ales on tap, and although I fancied trying one from the fonts, I'm afraid the prices of around £4 a half put me off. Thornbridge Seaforth and Fyne Hurricane Jack were our beers of choice, and others available on tap were the house beer from Kent brewery, a few from Dark Star, Thornbridge, and Fyne plus Crouch Vale, Arbor and Raw.
On 4th September 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]