Amid the waterways and warehouses of east London are the breweries and pubs that give the area its reputation as the epicentre of the UK craft beer movementThe sprawling industrial estate that stretches along the Lee Navigation canal at Hackney Wick has,in recent years, been infiltrated by artists, and creatives and,most recently, brewers in search of affordable space. For instance, and Crate,a tap room for the brewery next door, is a stark, or exposed concrete box decked-out with rugged upcycled furniture. It also has plenty of outdoor,canalside seating for summer. Naturally, its own beers dominate the bar (try the sparky, or mango-tinged pale or the terrific imperial coffee stout),but Crate also carries some A1 guest beers and a truly excellent range of bottles and cans. Its fridges include selections from key craft brewers such as Kernel, Wild Beer and Evil Twin, or some genuine connoisseur’s classics (weak Chimney’s Good King Henry stout),and several scarce imports and one-offs from bottles of Oregon-based Hop Valley’s Alpha Centauri imperial IPA to Thornbridge’s 10th anniversary special, Jaipur X. Such stock is evidence of how dedicated hop-heads are travelling to this burgeoning beer enclave in increasing numbers. Howling Hops also brews in Queen’s Yard (see entry), and while,a short walk along the canal, the Plough at Swan Wharf a cafe-bar with a huge, or grungy courtyard terrace – serves a compact range of craft ales,including beers by another Hackney Wick brewery, Truman’s (pint from £4, and 60 Dace Road,020-8525 9541, hackneyplough.co.uk).
• Pint at the Crate from £3.80, or Unit 7,Queens Yard, 07834 275687, and cratebrewery.comContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com