It’s been over a month now since the pubs and bars were shut down in the UK and for beer lovers like myself it’s been tough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m an alcoholic who can’t live without beer but I would be lying if I said I don’t enjoy regularly trying new beers.
For the past few years I’ve been enjoying finding local beers during my travels. There are so many amazing beers out there that you just wouldn’t be able to experience without going to the country or region it’s made.
That being said, I also love checking out the craft beer scene in the UK. London is home to over 100 breweries and I enjoy trying them out. With the UK currently on lockdown this has been harder but thanks to Craft Metropolis now the beers come to me.
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About Craft Metropolis
Craft Metropolis was set up when founder Oli had a thought. Wouldn’t it be nice if those delicious beers he drank in London with his mates turned up at his door? Then there would be no more need to track down new beers or settle for the limited selection from the offy. Instead he pictured a world where interesting beers from small, independent breweries arrived at his door regularly.
Craft Metropolis Delivery Box
What makes Craft Metropolis different from the other beer subscriptions available is that you get to pick your own beers. With all the other beer subscriptions I’ve seen you never get to pick what beers you get. Most of these boxes will be light ales so not the best option if you prefer darker beers.
What I like about Craft Metropolis is that you aren’t tied down to a monthly/quarterly fee. The stand alone delivery boxes mean you can purchase as often or as little as you like.
These one off boxes are perfect for tourists visiting the UK who want to sample a selection of beers from small independent breweries from around the country that they might not otherwise be able to sample.
The Beers I Ordered
The beer delivery has just changed at Craft Metropolis since I bought my beers a few weeks ago. Before it was £38 for a box of 12 beers, roughly £3 per beer. There were some premium beers available with an extra cost. The price varies for each beer simply to cover the higher cost price of certain beers. The few premium beers I selected only had a small extra cost (between 30p to £1) which meant my order cost an extra £3.95. A price I was happy to pay for the premium beers.
Now the beer delivery has changed so you can buy as few or as many beers as you like. Each beer has an individual price so you can see how much you are spending as you place the beers in your basket.
Here are the 12 beers I selected for my box…
Black Perle
Brewery: Weird Beard Brewing Co.
Type: Coffee Stout
ABV: 3.8%
Untapped Rating: 3.69
Sweet, roast malts, big coffee and chocolate all star in this beer. Brewed with lactose to smooth the bitterness of darker malts and add a light creaminess to this sessionable dark beer. We use wonderful whole bean Hasbean coffee for this brew
Standing Room Only
Brewery: Affinity Brew Co.
Type: Table Beer
ABV: 3%
Untapped Rating: 3.32
Easy drinking beer brewed with fresh cranberries and cranberry rose sencha tea with a hint of bitterness to it.
Hoodoo Saison
Brewery: Partizan Brewing
Type: Session – Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 3.8%
Untapped Rating: 3.33
Inspired by New Orleans’ Carnival and Hoodoo practice, Partizan have brewed a Saison with West Indian Lemongrass and dry hopped it with Sorachi Ace and Motueka. West Indian Lemongrass is the main ingredient used in Van Van Oil in Hoodoo to ward off evil spirits and rid of evil messes. Sorachi Ace and Motueka were used to impart notes of coconut and tropical fruit to complement the lemongrass.
Dark Mild
Brewery: Boxcar
Type: English Mild Ale
ABV: 3.6%
Untapped Rating: 3.61
A dark, low strength, rich and flavourful ale. Chocolate and caramel malts, with a dash of English hops giving spice and dried fruit. This beer is vegan friendly
Smoke
Brewery: Weird Beard Brewing Co.
Type: Rauchbier
ABV: 6%
Untapped Rating: 3.61
Our take of the quintessential smoked lager style from Bamburg using Beechwood Smoked Malt that gives the beer its distinct aroma and flavour. This beer is vegan friendly
08| Stout – Chocolate and Orange
Brewery: Brew By Numbers
Type: Stout
ABV: 6.6%
Untapped Rating: 3.69
Chocolate and seville orange come together in this smooth seasonal stout. The cacao and orange character blends perfectly with the complex malt bill to bring this exploratory, modern stout to life
Baseline
Brewery: Mondo Brewing Co
Type: IPA – Indian Sessoin Ale
ABV: 3.8%
Untapped Rating: 3.59
Best Ale malt provides the base, Wheat and Carapils added for body. Columbus hops for bittering. Idaho 7, Galaxy, Amarillo and Mosaic in the whirlpool. Dry hopped with Idaho 7, Galaxy, Amarillo and Columbus. Fermented with our house West Coast Ale yeast strain
Pogonotrophy Project 1
Brewery: Weird Beard Brewing Co
Type: Stout
ABV: 5.9%
Untapped Rating: 3.68
A stout packed full of cranberries that are allowed to ferment naturally. Taking advantage of the wild yeast you will find in the air to bring out deep complex flavours
Peckham Session IPA
Brewery: Brick Brewery
Type: IPA – Indian Session Ale
ABV: 4.2%
Untapped Rating: 3.74
Inspired by sunny days spent on Peckham Rye, Peckham Session is a light and easy-going Session IPA. Packed with hops for a tropical and citrus punch. This East Coast style beer remains light and refreshing from the sessionable strength. London Ale yeast leaves residual sweetness, helping accentuate both malt and hop flavour and aroma
Savage Scene – Inner City Pale Ale
Brewery: Rock Leopard Brewing Co.
Type: IPA – American Pale Ale
ABV: 4.9%
Untapped Rating: 3.46
Citrusy, Tropical and Hoppy. Fresh & Piney. Flaked Oats, Flaked Wheat, Pale Malt Cascade, Columbus, Mandarina Bavaria Yeast. This beer is vegan friendly.
The Session Porter
Brewery: Anspach and Hobday
Type: Porter
ABV: 4.5%
Untapped Rating: 3.60
A 4.5% version of their classic Porter. All the rich, roasted coffee and chocolate notes but with a lighter body. As recently seen on James Martin’s Saturday Morning Kitchen!
Great Eastern IPA
Brewery: Redchurch Brewery
Type: American IPA
ABV: 7.4%
Untapped Rating: 3.73
A true West Coast IPA. American hops give a strong orange and citrus fruit flavour with balanced bitterness. Hints of grapefruit complete the taste sensation.
Craft Metropolis Taproom
As well as delivering incredible craft beer to your door, Craft Metropolis now has a taproom and bottle shop in Penge, South London. After recently learning about the new taproom I had planned to visit but sadly with the UK going into lockdown and the pubs having to close temporarily this has not happened yet. But you can bet as soon as we are out of lockdown I will be visiting the taproom!
The Verdict
After trying the beers I was very happy with my selection. I definitely prefer a beer delivery service where you get to pick your own beers. There were several breweries on the website I was familiar with but so many new ones that I loved being able to try and will definitely be buying from again.
As well as beers, they also sell ciders on the site. Although I personally do not like ciders, sorry it’s too fruity for me, but I also bought my dad a box of beers which included some ciders and he was very impressed with them.
Key Information
- Taproom Address: 47 Hight Street, Penge, London SE20 7HW
- The Online craft shop can be found here
- Prices range from £2.75 to £7.00
- Craft Metropolis deliver throughout the UK
- Next day delivery cost £5.95
- Free delivery on orders over £60
Beer Lovers May Like…
If you love going on brewery tours and beer tastings you may like these post:
- Taking A Brewery Tour of the World’s Northernmost Brewery
- BrewDog Beer Tasting
- Tennent’s Brewery Tour
- Killarney Brewery Tour
- Anchor Brewing Company Tour
- Meantime Brewery Tour
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