John Doe Porter
Brockley Brewery

Brockley is another start-up that is seven years old and still struggling. I'm noticing a similar, but delayed pattern here in the UK that I saw in the U.S. before the pandemic. Covid stopped the possible fortunes of many U.S. crafters and that stalled market is now contracting slowly. With the UK a bit later to the micro-revolution, Covid instead stunted growth of the market. While Brockley has opened a second taproom for weekend drinking, its website is not winning it any more business. While the analogy is not entirely fair as Brockley is in a slowly regenerating neighbourhood and has done some crowdfunding, Brockley should be distinguishing itself or its growth will remain stunted. Anyway, I give Brockley good Overall Hugs. I just wish they'd do a bit more to compete. Just a thought.

John Doe Porter is intended, by its name I presume, to be the common man's porter. And it probably succeeds. ABV is lower for working people than, say, a Baltic. Pulled from the cask at Stratford's Tap East, John Doe Looked average (not much foam.) It Smelled a little better with some interesting cocoa; although I detected none of the traditional older "stale" porter blended in. John Doe saves himself by the roasted malts and hops introducing themselves early and finishing prominently semi-dry. Medium-mouthed and soft from the cask.