The South London Beer Festival

The First South London Beer Festival finally happened! Were you there on Sunday March 19th? If not you missed out.

So after all these beer loving years - I finally did it! I made one of my dreams come true... I organised my first beer festival.

With the help of friends and the very kind generosity from the Tooting Tram & Social (for free venue use), I was able to make my dream happen. The event was made extra special, as all proceeds made on the day are being donated to The MS Society UK. But I'm not just raising money for charity... I'll be running/completing my first London Marathon, this April and have an over all target of £2, 000 to raise. Wish me luck!

With the help of some awesome South London Breweries, the fantastic team at the Tram and of course all those beer lovers who came on the day, I was able to make a fabulous amount of money - £760.47 to be precise. 
There was lots of organising before hand and pure hard labor on the day (moving most of the furniture in the Tram), which I couldn't of done without the help of my good friends Rachel Benedict and Aaron Harris both South London residents. Thank you guys, you are stars and I couldn't of done it without you.

So the first South London Beer Festival was born and with the success of the first, we are now busy discussing and organising the next event - watch this space for June 2017 and then hopefully every 3 months after.

I don't know about you, but a summer beer festival in Tooting is very exciting, celebrating more from our South London Breweries and local foodies!

If you missed the festival on Sunday then here's some highlights from the day!

The South London Beer Festival at Tooting Tram & Social

The Brewers set up their pitch ready to serve a thirsty crowd.

Myself, Rachel and Aaron collected donations throughout the day for The MS Society UK

By The Horns and Gipsy Hill Breweries were serving their beers upstairs at the Tram

New comers Villages Brewery and Big Smoke Brewery

Canopy Brewing Co and Anspach & Hobday

Local brewer Rocky Head and Craft Tooting sold beer from the breweries that couldn't make it.

Beer lovers were delighted to talk to brewers about the beer and Bullfinch Brewery from Herne Hill

Craft Tooting also selling micro brewery kits, fantastic natural beer from Earth Ale based in Balham

There was sandwiches and snacks from local restaurant Plot Kitchen and our favourite DJ Jonesy span some tunes to keep the party pumping.

There was delicious home-cooked chilli from local Tooting boy The Chilli Man UK, did you take the chilli challenge?

Thanks to everyone involved and everyone who came, I hope to see you at my next beer events. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to find out more about my adventures. 

If you couldn't make it on Sunday and you'd still like to donate to The MS Society UK then please follow this link to my Just Giving Page. 

There will be more news and updates about all my future events coming soon!


Lot's of love LPD xxx

Goose Island Ale House, Balham Launch and Beer Dinner

Tuesday 24^th January 2017

There’s a new bar, like no other in Balham. Goose Island, the big boys of brewing in Chicago, have opened their very first American craft beer bar and restaurant in the UK.

The new Goose Island Ale House and the beer dinner menu for the evening

Delighted to be invited to the official launch night and beer dinner event, I looked forward to rubbing shoulders with some very beer educated bloggers, writers and tasters. There was the added bonus of John Hall (Founder of Goose Island Brewery) and Ken Stout (President and General Manager of Goose Island) attending, having flown all the way from Chicago especially.

The evening began with a delicious beer mimosa, mixed with orange juice, orange liquor and Sofie (the Goose Island beer). Served in a champagne glass and delivered by friendly waiting staff (who were happy to offer you a second), this was a great way to start! My companion and I were shown to our table, where instantly pored over the offerings on the menu with the other like-minded guests.

The delicious beer mimosas and the beers available on tap on the bar.

First course was a meat platter, a selection of finely-sliced meats, with beautiful pickled vegetables, homemade crackers, breads and a very strong (knock your socks off) mustard, all quickly devoured by a hungry crowd. This was followed by smoked short rib & blue cheese croquettes, with a black aioli (black from squid ink), perfectly matched with the Goose Island Winter Ale (dark and malty with a traditional English feel).

A board of finely-sliced meats and the smoked short rib & blue cheese croquettes, with a black aioli.

Our third course was roasted cod, Sicilian fregola with cockles and langoustine, paired expertly with another Sofie. Next came Porter and molasses glazed beef cheeks, paired with the Goose Island Matilda. As Goose Island don't brew a porter, they have used a local brew from Belleville Brewing in this dish. They wanted to use a local brewery to bring that community feel into the bar, they do also stock this porter and are looking to stock more local brews in the future. Next came a taste sensation of buttermilk pancakes, cured bacon, maple syrup, paired with the Goose Island IPA (their top selling core beer).

Roasted cod, Sicilian fregola with cockles and langoustine, paired with the Sofie. Porter and molasses glazed beef cheeks, paired with the Goose Island Matilda.

With bellies already bulging, we braced ourselves for another two courses! First was a Manuka honey & goats milk panna cotta with ginger honeycomb, paired with Halia, a delightfully peachy beer. Wow – the honeycomb and beer together was definitely the best match of the night, as it intensified the peach flavor in the beer.

Buttermilk pancakes, cured bacon and maple syrup and the Manuka honey & goats milk panna cotta with ginger honeycomb, paired with Halia.

We were then treated to the rare, (highly sought-after in the beer world) Bourbon County coffee stout. It really packs a punch with sweet, treacle and chocolate notes and a strong coffee flavour; it’s also 12.6%abv, so be careful if ordering a whole bottle. Here's the story behind this stout, to why it’s so rare and delicious, especially if you like your bourbons too. 

The Bourbon County coffee stout with chocolate truffles and me with Ken and John, the main men from Goose Island.

The new UK Goose island team ensured the evening was a huge success, with tasting notes accompanying each course and explanations as to why the food had been picked and matched with the beers. What a great night! 

The Goose Island Ale House is a fantastic addition to Balham. I’m happy to say it’s on my doorstep and will be back for more beer dinners very soon! Can't wait for the next one!

Goose Island Ale house

3 Ramsden Road

Balham

SW12 8QY

Opening Hours

10:00 – 23:00: Monday to Thursday 

10:00 – 24:00: Friday and Saturday 

10:00 – 22:00: Sunday

5 out of 5 pints

Find out more about Goose Balham on their website and follow them now on Twitter, 

Instagram.

Lot's of Love LPD xxx 

The Little Taperia, Tooting Broadway

Tooting Broadway, South London 

Wow!

Have you been to Tooting lately?

If not then you must.

It's all a change, apparently the new Shoreditch in a few years... and that I can believe.

Walk down the high street and you'll see a vast amount of very different but very similar sized restaurants, bars and cafes.

To name a few The Tooting Italian, Honest Burger, Tota and The Chicken Shop.

It's just amazing to see them all busy and bustling on an evening and brining a different clientele to the area.

One of my new found favourites is The Little Taperia, a new business from the owners of The Little Bar and Meze, also in Tooting Broadway. 

They have both used their good knowledge of the area and running successful bars and restaurants to create a great little place.

The food is to die for (if you love Spanish cuisine) Spanish tapas at its finest. Small plates of deliciousness with so much authentic Spanish ingredients and flavour.

My favourite dishes are the potato tortilla, salt cod frittas, albondigas (pork & beef meatballs) and you just have to try the croquettes and Scotch eggs.

To be fair, there isn't anything I wouldn't eat of the menu and from my last 3/5 visits I've pretty much gone through it all and Tapas has always been my favourite way to eat.

'The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation, because people are not so focused upon eating an entire meal that is set before them'.

The wine menu is pretty damn good too, I've already picked my favourite of the Reds 

£24 is good value too, give it a go.

The beer list isn't too bad either Estrelle on tap, Alhambra Premium, Alhambra Reserva, the Kernel PA and a decent selection of craft beers from By The Horns.

If you do come across Alhambra Reserva then please do give it a try.  

Strong at 6.4%, strong caramel aromas, with a delicious crisp finish.

So lovely and compliments the food perfectly.

The Little Taperia also have a nice cocktail menu, with a decent Old Fashioned, the SW17 (a twist on the classic champagne cocktail) and a favourite for the ladies The Blackberry Gin & Tonic. 

The food is great value for money, drinks are not too bad either. 

Overall a great addition to the South London restaurant scene and i'm so happy it's close to my neck of the woods. 

Love this place.

Love what it's about.

Great food and drinks.

143 Tooting High Street

Tooting Broadway

SW17 0RU

02086823303

@littletaperia

5 pints out of 5.

Lots of love LPD xxx

Effra Social, Brixton, South London

If you haven't been to Brixton, then why not?

Brixton is most definitely one of my favourite places in South London.
Full of the vibrant cultures that makes it such a fabulous place to visit, shop, eat and drink.
The daily street markets which run down Electric Avenue, Popes Road and Station Road are full of exotic fruits, treats and coconut juice fresh from the nut.
Brixton Village is a main attraction located close to the markets and tube station and you wont be disappointed with what is on offer. Grab a slice of Franco Manca pizza, fish and Jerk from Wings & Tings, a great coffee from Foundation Coffee, fresh seasonal and local produce from Brixton Cornercopia and fantastic tasting menus from Cannon & Cannon's upstairs restaurant. Along with a good 20 plus more bars, cafes and restaurants you can't go wrong or go home hungry and thirsty from a trip to the village.

Along with all this hype and popularity does bring up a sore point for a fair few true local Brixtonites...

Gentrification. 
'Gentrification is any facet of urban renewal that inevitably leads to displacement of any occupying demographic'.

This is a widespread and controversial topic which has been seen to happen in many London boroughs. The Controversy of this topic asks the question. Is it good or bad for an area?
Personally i'm always happy to see a nice part of town doing well, but then I find myself hating big chains taking over the old shops that close down. This is often due to landlords hacking up rents, not only in commercial property but also in residential housing, this can then result in many local residents having to move away from a place they were born and bred and made a life in... Sad times.

But if gentrification does arrive into your area, it might not be all doom and gloom. From gentrifying Brixton we have seen the arrival of many interesting trendy new hangs. One in particular i'm rather fond of is a past political building that has been transformed into a wonderful world of secrets and history that you would never believe still exists in Brixton.

Effra Social

Head on out of Brixton central and up Effra Road, just before the Hootananny and you will find a big blue and brick building. 

What could be an American fraternity house randomly placed within the old Victorian town houses, is actually an Alice and Wonderland like experience. The 1970's styled social hall, with parquet wooden flooring, red velvet curtains, mini round tables and red faux leather seats it's like a trip back to my child hood of Fridays down the social.

At the front of the building, as you walk inside you will find the very quaint Chruchill Lounge, almost original flock wall paper and wonderfully framed Churchill pictures hang over the most interesting fire place I've ever seen.

This room is used for local community groups, parties and a sports room and also has a very old small bar, complete with the social club style metal shutters. This bar has two ale pumps with a ever changing selection of ales and a few easy lagers and Guinness on tap.

In the main hall there is always something happening, discos, Soul nights, the occasional live band and in the past they did have a theatre production and comedy night. All of these events would not work without the early 1900's style stage, which finishes the Effra Social hall off to a perfect T.
I do love that they keep the events retro and old school, this fits in well with the surroundings.
You need to check out their website to see what's happening this week.
http://effrasocial.com

The bar is packed with a fantastic variety of beers, stouts, real ales, craft beers, spirits, wines and snacks. There is Something to keep everyone happy and fuel you through a night on the dance floor or maybe the weekly Tuesday night quiz, perfectly presented by the very charming Tommy McArdle, he also presents an Acoustic night once a month on a Sunday. 

The selection of beers that you will find here are Adnams, Truman's, Doombar, A Head in A Hat, Brixton Brewery, Tickety Brew, Thornbridge Jaipur, Black Iris, Gipsy Hill and many more.

It's great to see lots of new breweries from all over the UK finding a pump on the Effra Social bar.

The beer is very good and all drinks are at a decent price £4-£5 for the average pint, £4.50 for spirits and mixers and wines range from £4-£6 depending on size and style of wine.

Behind the main hall you will find the Social restaurant, separated from all the chaos of the main hall on a Friday night go and escape and enjoy a very interesting traditional British menu, with some interesting British twists. The menu changes seasonally and is pretty good value for money. 

The Chunky chips are delicious.

Over all if you like different, wear spats or rollers in your hair then you will be right at home at the Effra Social.

Retro is cool, Vintage is chic!

4.7 pints out of 5

Effra Social, 89 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF

020 7737 6800
www.effrasocial.com

Heading South, Balham Bowls Club

So let’s head South …

As you may know by now I am actually a South Londoner (not originally though) so I do have many favourites down this way.

It’s also great to have so many great pubs to call my local, that are all stumbling distance from home.

I’m going to start in my current hometown Balham, a lovely smallish town about half an hour (by tube) out side of Central London.

A definite recent desirable place to frequent and reside, with some lovely boutique style shops and cafes and have course some great boozers.

First on my list...

The Balham Bowls Club

My first love of Balham, the place where I’ve had many pleasant evenings, met many pleasant people and been to many exciting events.

The history of the Balham Bowls Club is a fascinating one, first established in the late 1800’s and became a social, Bowls club and meeting place for the residents of Balham.

In the beginning ladies were not aloud inside the main building (tut,tut) unless invited by a member and only on special occasions. The ladies were then built a pavilion house out the back were they could meet for maybe they're weekly WI meeting.

The Balham Bowls Club now is just a pub and restaurant but they have tried to hang onto their community spirit, with a display of local events, groups and misalliances posts on their notice board in the hallway.

They are of course apart of the Antic chain of pubs that reside around most south London boroughs these days, but like most of the Antic pubs it does hang on to its individual charm and character, that was once an actual Bowls Club.

With many different rooms/areas to sit and investigate the experience at the bbc is an exciting one. The bar has been kept in a social club nature, small, old school bar top with old wooden frames and metal shutters. 

The beer they have on offer is of a good variety, Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch, Blue Moon, Guinness, Meantime PA and an ever-changing selection of Cask ales on their pumps. Beer prices range from £3.95 — £4.80 for draft beers to £3.50-£4 for cask ales.

They also have a decent wine menu, ranging the regions from France – Argentina; they also stock a good selection of spirits.

The food is very good and offers a variety of hearty food, good to see a seasonal menu and you can’t fault the Sunday roast (served every Sunday 12-4pm),

The restaurant is always packed so get in there quick and reserve if you fancy going for dinner. Food costs £4.50-£8 for starters, £11.50-£20.50 (for a ribeye steak), puddings average around £5.

Every time I go the garden out back gets bigger and on a sunny Balham evening it’s a great place to chill and relax with a pint.

If you do like quiet boozers then I wouldn’t recommend heading here on a weekend, they are normally very busy and it gets very loud. Good days for a quiet pint or date would be a Monday, Wednesday, possibly Thursday and a Sunday evening.

If you like to get involved with something a bit different then why not check out their events, Indeedy Musical Bingo has a monthly regular slot and they're monthly craft and vintage fair is back on Sunday, October 5th 2014, 12-5pm.

Most of their events take place in the fantastic ballroom upstairs and they have even added an extra function room (The Barantini Lounge) for smaller parties.

The staff... What a bunch of lovely folk, young energetic and fun. They do make it a fab place to visit and hang out. This is the main reason for my many returns.

Oh... the Balham Bowls Club, you are close to my heart and will always remain that way, so keep up the good work and keep it rocking.

4.5 pints out of 5

LPD xx

The Balham Bowls Club (not Bowling Club), 7-9 Ramsden Road, Balham, SW12 8QX.

02086734700

www.balhambowlsclub.com

Heading to East London

Over to East London…

As you may know from reading my previous blogings, East London is rather a fond favourite of mine. I’ve made many trips to new resto’s, bars and breweries over East and for the third year running still finding some of my favourite places in London.

I'm now looking to find a mix of cafe's and restaurants who also serve beer, which is mixing two of my favourite things in life... coffee and beer. So firstly I would like to introduce a great little cafe, bar and restaurant The Hackney Pearl, nicely tucked away around the corner from Hackney Wick over ground station and in the heart of Hackney Wick. 

Once you find it you'll have no regrets.

It first opened its doors in 2009 and has kept growing in popularity from then on. Hackney Wick is rather a cool place to be seen with trendy warehouses, studio spaces and a very interesting nightlife, so this trendy little place fits in well.

The feeling is light, open and cosy, with an open kitchen next to the bar.

The bunk seating with vintage cushion covers gives it a great place to chill, drink coffee, use the free WIFI and later meet up with friends.

I enjoyed rather a boozy night here, but had great fun catching up with an old friend and learning about cool places to go round this neighbourhood.

The coffee is delicious here and made to perfection, they take this very seriously and you can tell by the pretty leaf picture created on the top of the foam. They also have an impressive selection of cakes and cookies to nicely add company to your coffee. 

We had cocktails as it was 2-4-1 The Basil Berry Spritz and The Hot Dark & Stormy, which both tasted great and fresh, the hot meaning a chilli kick. They have cocktail happy hour from 5-7pm every Monday to Thursday, so a great way to start your evening during the week.

The cocktail menu is seasonal and so is the delicious food menu so always changing and always new and interesting ingredients to be tried. They make all their own syrups for their cocktails and all their foodie ingredients are sourced locally but often with a European twist.

I was of course happy to see they stocked a healthy selection of craft beers, Meantime on draft (Yakima red, Pilsner and Pale Ale) Pints costing £4.50-£5, bottle beers seemed to be all from London, Beavertown Gamma Ray 5.5% abv, Kernel Table beer 4.8% abv, Five Points Railway Porter 4.8% abv, Pressure Drop pale ale 5.1%. All bottles cost between £4.5-£5 and all from local London Breweries.

If you’re joining them for brunch then I do recommend the brekky bap, a delicious combo of streaky bacon, house made egg mayo & chilli jam, served in a bap with rocket, Also a fond favourite are their scrambled eggs.

Why not check out their menu and see what’s going on here www.thehackneypearl.com.

The Hackney Pearl truly is a fab little gem to the Hackney Wick community and loved by many around the area, if you like good food, good coffee and decent brews then come check it out.

Food prices range from £4-£5 for sandwiches, £5-£9 for brunch, there is a mid-week lunch special for £8, dinner for two people 3 courses with drinks would cost between £70-£90. They also do a set dinner menu mid week two courses for £15 and three courses for £18.

Another great thing about The Hackney Pearl is the staff, they are a great bunch that only want to help and make your experience here a good one to remember. Good work guys!

Hey Hackney Pearl I will be back for more very soon.

4 out of 5 pints.

The Hackney Pearl

11 Prince Edward Road, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5LX

www.thehackneypearl.com

LPD xx

If You're Thirsty For More

Beer Lovers… are you ready??

North, South, East, West, London!

I’m back from another beery quest!

My newest finds, best beers, trendy hangs and some cheeky snacks to keep you going along the way… Sounds good ah??? 
Well if it does then read more…

I’ve been rather busy for the last few months finding the best and newest places to satisfy my beer cravings.

I’ve been to the North, East, West and of course the South of this magnificent city, in order to bring you the finest of London’s newest and best beer hangouts.

So first I venture up to North London, Highbury and Islington to be precise, a short stretch up from the lovely Angel tube station and I’m making my way to find The Taproom.

It was recommended by some North London local friends and is a relatively new craft and cask beer house that opened last July 2013. It was described to me as ‘having loads of beer and right up my street’ so I can barely contain my thirst as I head up towards 163 Upper Street in Islington.

The Taproom Creatively started out as a pop up in 2012, which now has a permanent spot in the very place the vision and dream was created.

It is a truly fantastic and fully dedicated beer haven with the main focus being the back bar with nine cask ales housed in a bespoke glass and chrome stillage with the best local and British ales ready to go, along with a delicious variety of carefully chosen lagers, Pale Ales, Stouts and craft beers. The building is decked out with exposed pipes and striped back brick walls, the occasional artwork by a local artist gives the theme of a Brooklyn warehouse bar. There is a smaller room downstairs for more room to drink, eat and chat, (which also looks as though it could turn into a dance floor on the weekend) but all in all it fits in well with this trendy part of town.

The long bench tables (Imported From Germany) big glass windows and long wooden bar make it a very sociable experience and a great way to get people to chat and share a taster flight of thirds and a beery experience.

They serve some tasty snacks that compliment the beers, the well trained bar tenders will help you chose a bite to eat if you’re not sure what would match?

We tried a selection of Cask and bottle, some of them are as follows; Partridge, by Dark Star Brewery, 4% a classic Bitter and hoppy ale, The Kernel Pale Ale (mentioned before in my previous blog, but always worth another taste) Madness IPA, by Wild Beer Co, 6.8%, west coast hops, warm and dry in flavour. One of my favourites was the Imperial Stout again by Dark Star Brewery, a risky 10.5%, by the bottle, a delicious full packed stout, rich, smooth and long lasting taste of hops and all things good.

The Taproom was a tremendous find and I have already recommended it to many other beer bloggers and friends.

The Average pint will cost between £4-£6 depending on its abv, but you are getting quality, fresh, a high ABV and a few lessons to learn about some fine British beers.

Highly recommended for beer lovers.

4 out or 5 pints.

163 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1US

Find out more here www.thetaprooms.co.uk

LPD xx

Still up North…

Next I visited SmokeHouse a fresh new craft beer and grill house from a small pub company called Noble Inn’s, again in the delightful Islington.

Slightly off the beaten track you will be happy to discover this gem and be even happier to call this your local.

With top grill chef Neil Rankin in the kitchen, who helped create Pitt Cue Co and other meaty establishments, this really is a match made in heaven.

Beer and meat, probably my two favourite things in the world and wherever these two things are done well, it will always be a hit with me.

The décor is fresh and simple, with animal heads and horns dotted about and some nice big black boards promoting the beer selection of the day.

I couldn’t believe the piano like back bar, which conceded of over 20 craft beer taps and hand written names, it made an interesting change from the usual over the top beer fonts and pump clips. I took my fancy to a few new Beavertown beers I hadn’t tried, Black Betty, the black IPA, at 7.4%, extremely delicious and drinkable on a sunny day, very dark but light in flavour, hoppy with German malt and The famous Gamma Ray, American Pale Ale, 5.4%, using juicy American hops with a big bold taste and aroma.

Both very good, but rather dangerous on an empty stomach.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay for dinner but did try some homemade beef biltong, this went down so well with the Black Betty.

I really love this place and need to come back ASAP for more beer and dinner.

I need to find a meat and beer loving date???

Lovely place with exciting tastes in food and beer.

I’ll be back before you know it Rankin, tasting your food and adding another section to my blog.

Can’t wait to come back for more!

4 out of 5 pints (but only for Beer)

63-69 Canonbury Road, Islington, London, N1 2DG

Find out more here www.smokehouseislington.co.uk

LPD xx