Beer suggestions in London

Have you looked in the Europe forum? Lots of recommendations in threads there.

BTW, if you want age and authenticity in a pub try Ye Olde Cheshier Cheese on Fleet Street. I once sat in a fireside seat there that once upon a time was regularly occupied by Samuel Johnson.

 

Mostly Samuel Smith's and mostly English styles.

http://taplist.at/YeOldeCheshireCheese/

 

I hunted for cask ales when in London. Cask Pub & Kitchen and Craft Beer Co. were exceptional.

https://foursquare.com/top-places/london/best-places-cask-ales

 

You should visit The George Inn in Borough High Street - historically interesting, it is London's one and only surviving galleried inn, and they are likely to have a few decent cask ales on. While you are in the area, you should also visit The Market Porter in 9 Stoney Street, for more cask ales.

 

You absolutely can't go wrong with The Harp in Covent Garden. One of the most acclaimed beer writers in the UK, Pete Brown says it's one of the handful of places he will drink cask beer because it's always perfect. They always have Dark Star Brewery (from Sussex) and Fuller's London Pride (got to try that if you want cask in London) amongst other guest ales. It's not right in the middle of Covent Garden but that's a good thing!

I know that you're not looking for craft beer but they are one of the only places with a permanent Kernel tap too (amazing London brewery - one of the first craft breweries in the city). Up to you but I'd having a half of whatever is on that tap at least!

https://goo.gl/maps/Bd7C1EBL3862

 

Cask ale in London is extremely hit and miss - there's a lot of inviting looking pubs serving warm, badly kept ales to tourists who don't know any better.

With that out of the way, the Harp is a good shout - great beer and central.

The Olde Cheshire Cheese is a Sam Smiths pub, so the only cask will be their Old Brewery Bitter which is no great shakes. Nice building, though. The Princess Louise on Holborn is another beautiful Sams pub - fantastically restored Victorian Gin Palace type decor with frosted glass and mirrors everywhere.

The George at Southwark is a fantastic historic building, but also pretty mediocre as far as beer goes. Have a look around if you like that sort of thing but I'd walk five minutes round the corner to the Royal Oak - a Harveys pub - for actual beer appreciation.

Cask and the Craft Beer Co locations are also worthwhile - locals would see them as places to get modern keg stuff but they also tend to have solid cask. Other decent options might be the Jerusalem Tavern in Farringdon (check opening hours before going, though), the Pelt Trader on Cannon Street, the Queens Head near Kings Cross, the Pride of Spitalfields off Brick Lane, the Wenlock Arms in Hoxton or the Seven Stars on Carey Street.

 

Is the CAMRA app still useful?

 

It only tells you where serves cask beer and not where serves it well unfortunately.

 

Yup, the Harp is a safe bet. The Euston Tap always does a good pint but it's a quirky looking pub, not a traditional boozer.

Avoid Sammy Smiths pubs, I'd say. While they're usually cosy, oldie world establishments, their beer is a bit shite. And almost no cask.

 

The Good Beer Guide app does a pretty reasonable job of signposting places that serve cask in decent condition, although there are always going to be good pubs that aren't in it and a few duff ones that are.

WhatPub, which sometimes gets recommended on here for reasons that I've never fully understood, just tells you whether or not cask beer is likely to be available, and as you say is about as much use as a chocolate teapot unless you're good at reading between the lines.

 

I was just there 2 weeks ago and my favorite pub was the Water Poet. It was a very unique pub that had a giant secluded beer garden in the back.

 

The Royal Oak on Tabard Street (a 10-minute walk from the George mentioned above) is a wonderful Harveys tied house with the full range of their cask beers, including Mild, which is pretty rare in London. I't's like being bacl in the 1970s. In a good way.

 

stayed in Soho in June. The Holborn Whippet was my go to -- simple pub w/an eclectic mix of cask and keg craft. Real nice.