BrewDog Camden

Address: 113 Bayham Street, Camden Town, London, NW1 0AG, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7284 4626
Email: camdenbar@brewdog.com
Website: view BrewDog Camden’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Beer bar
Food: Set menu
Established: 2012

Review

A welcome expedition south of the border for Scotland's punk brewers, its choice of Camden (though on a back street rather than the main drag) reflects its alternative vibe. Industrial-style hard concrete and bare brick have turned what must have been a back-street boozer into a pimped-up pub worthy of the BrewDog name, while a doorman keeps out the grungy locals. Downstairs is a more intimate beer cellar.

You've come here to drink beer - and what a selection. No usual suspects here - by which we mean no mass-produced, weak-in-flavour fizzy beers served from refrigerated fonts - but flavourful, exciting and sometimes challenging flavours and styles, with 18 on draught. Choose from BrewDog's own range that includes the fruity pale ale Trashy Blonde 5am Saint red ale which includes five types of malts and seven types of hops. There's Wasabi Stout and then two ales served in balloon glasses and only in 25ml measures - these are the Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32% abv. and Sink the Bismarck at 41% abv.

The bar's not shy of championing other craft breweries' products either, and shares its fridges and cellars with Stone, Three Floyd's, Mikkeller, Struise, Nogne, O, Alesmith, The Bruery and De Dolle.

Couple that selection with enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff and some decent-looking pizzas and it's a recipe that could keep you in for hours. When they fix the air con/heat system that left the bar - and its customers - looking a sweaty mess it will be all the better too.

2012 will herald other new BrewDog bars in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Good.