One of our most enviable boozy bolt-holes, it’s odd that we don’t cover the Brewery bar as much as we ought. Not that this has impacted its “busyness” in any way; the place seems rammed pretty much the whole damn time.
In fact, we still don’t quite understand why such a successful bar isn’t open daily: early/midweek eves are when locals should really be able enjoy a more laidback drink, something not an option with its Thurs-Sat opening hours, increasingly overrun with out-of-towners and groups on brewery tours.
First up? On Wednesday 14 the best of Italian craft breweries are taking over the taps. “There’ll be 12 rare and brilliant Italian brews pouring, and great Italian street food outside,” says in house expert Mark, “and the whole day we’ll be making a beer with the Italian brewers – an Oktoberfest-style lager.”
Ouch. Then on Saturday 17, if you’re a real CTB fan it might be worth hopping 10 minutes on the Overground to Hackney as they’re co-hosting a BBQ at Climpson’s Arch (Arch 374 Helmsley Place, E8 3SB) – the official launch event of Australian brewery Stone & Wood’s beers in London. There’ll be some exclusive beers on tap, and the brilliantly named Licky Chops are on the BBQ grill.
Not only that, Mark reckons it’ll be the freshest beer in town, “and some of the coldest – those tanks are zero degrees inside.” And to mop it all up there’ll be a much-needed array of street food stalls outside in a pop-up beer garden.
So if all that’s making you a little thirsty, the bar is open as usual all day today (and all weekend). And for the record, Thursday evenings are usually quite civilised, but the quietest times are always during the working day, when you can sometimes have the joint to yourself.
For a few precious moments only, natch.
