Brewhouse and Kitchen

2 Reviews on “Brewhouse and Kitchen”

• Kingy

  I loved this pub when it was the arc so it was a shame when it shut down. However I gave this place a go and it was disappointing. Good choice of beers but the atmosphere is pretty pure and the service is severely lacking. It was basically a young bunch of lads who just wanted to mess around in front of the customers get your order wrong and ask you three times if you want a large instead of a small. Will not revisit.

  December 7, 2015, 2:09 am

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• Matt The List

  London may well have 70+ breweries operating at the moment, but there is only a handful of good brewpubs. To that short list, we can now add Brewhouse & Kitchen, who have just set up shop in Islington following success with their pubs in Portsmouth and Dorchester. Another branch will also open soon a couple of miles away in Highbury.My immediate impression was that it looked like a pretty standard pub, but there are some lovely design touches on closer inspection, including cheeky beer quotes, hidden hop drawers and arty beer bottles. Then of course there’s the fully operational brewing equipment rescued from the sadly extinct Lamb & Botanist brewpubs, not hidden behind glass but sitting proudly in the pub right next to the punters. Look out for friendly Head Brewer Pete Hughes patrolling the area.I tasted 6 of Pete’s launch beers on my visit, but here is the full list including some seasonal Autumn & Winter specials Arc Angel ordinary bitter, 3.6% (traditional, caramel, bitter) Spandau B session IPA, 4% (light, bitter, hoppy) Myddleton blonde ale, 4.5% (simple, balanced, refreshing) Britton American brown ale, 5% (dark, complex, hoppy) Watchmaker strong bitter, 5.5% (traditional, balanced, bitter) Chaplin IPA, 6% (intense, bitter, hoppy) Autumn & Winter specials: Suffragette Ninja milk stout, 4% (rich, sweet, roast)Triple A rye ale, 5% (dry, spicy, floral) Vlad winter warmer, 5.5% (fruity, spicy, malty) Raleigh smoked porter, 5.5% (smoked, roast, chocolate)The darker beers were particularly successful, and I also went back for a second go at the 6% Chaplin IPA. There’s plenty here to keep beer lovers happy, especially as there are many more draught and bottled options in reserve. If you really fall for a particular beer, you can take home a 5 litre mini keg of the stuff too.I worked my way through some canaps (e.g. lamb koftas, pork belly in cider, mini fish & chips with mushy peas) but a return visit for the eye-catching beer-can chicken might be in order. Food & beer pairing is strongly encouraged with third pint glasses available and a host of tempting mains from 10 on the menu.If you really want to get your hands dirty, sign up for a 99 Brewing Experience Day which gets you 5 hours of learning, brewing, beer banter, a hearty lunch and 5 litre minikeg to take home. Islington Brewhouse & Kitchen is a welcome addition to an area that isn’t short on top boozers. Why not make a day of it with the likes of Three Johns, Craft Beer Co, Charles Lamb, Earl of Essex and North Pole round the corner. mattthelist.com

  January 25, 2015, 4:05 pm

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