Beer #4953 LPA – London Pale Ale @ Southwark Brewing Company (Bermondsey Beer Mile Begins)
Date: Saturday (the best day for a Bermondsey Beer Mile brew crawl)
Location: Southwark Brewing Company, South London
Beer: London Pale Ale (LPA)
Weather: Amazing London sunshine ☀️
Mood: Off-the-charts pumped
Beer #: 4953 of 5000
Mission: 10+ breweries. 1 mile. An epic brew crawl.
This Was The Day
This wasn’t just another beer blog post. This was the day I’d had circled on my mental calendar for months. The moment I first stumbled across the Bermondsey Beer Mile during one of my late-night online brewery searches, I knew it had to be part of the journey. Scratch that — it needed to be a full day focus.
And it all started with one beer: the LPA from Southwark Brewing Company.
But let’s back up for a second.
From Brewery Ghost Hunts to Beer Heaven
Eight years ago, on a previous visit to London, I was in the middle of crafting a local brewery concept in the Denver area. At the time, the UK’s craft scene felt more scattered, like a treasure hunt without a map. I remember sneaking away one afternoon, solo, to track down a couple of the city’s smaller breweries. The Tube ride was long. The train transfer added time. And eventually, I had to Uber to the final location. Tubes, trains, and automobiles!
Was it a fun adventure? Sure.
Was I impressed with the London brewery scene? Not even close.
Fast forward to today — and Bermondsey flips that entire model on its head.
One Mile. Fifteen Breweries. No Ubers Required.
After discovering the concept of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, I learned something crucial: Saturday is the day. Most of the breweries and taprooms are closed or partially open on other days — but come Saturday, the shutters roll up, the casks are tapped, and the railway arches become a playground for beer nerds like me.
It’s an incredibly cool setting… a crawl-meets-community-market built beneath the infrastructure of the city itself. Breweries, bottle shops, taprooms, and street food vendors all stacked back-to-back, right under the train tracks. No cars. No long walks between locations. No logistics to manage beyond “What’s the next unique pint of craft beer we can enjoy?”
And yes, there are at least 10 breweries within 0.4 miles. I counted. Then I stopped counting. (Because beer.)
The Arrival: Maltby Something, Anticipation Everything
Lori and I got dropped off near the Maltby Street Market entrance — a perfect gateway to the Mile. It was still morning, but the sun was already working overtime, and the energy was palpable. Londoners and tourists alike were lining up at coffee carts, nibbling on pastries, and sipping their first beer of the day.
I was incredibly pumped and ready to get started!
Imagine a Disney World rope drop — but for adults who enjoy hops, fermentation, and a hint of buzz.
This wasn’t just a beer crawl. It was the culmination of curiosity, craft, and a growing culture. A full-fledged brewery village that seemed like it was designed just for me. It wasn’t just a checklist — it was a dream itinerary.
Stop #1: Southwark Brewing Company
So where do you begin on a beer mile? Answer: at the beginning — with a classic.
Southwark Brewing Company is a no-frills, honest-to-goodness pillar of the Mile. One of the first breweries in the area to embrace the arches and the crawl concept. It’s a place where beer comes first and design, branding, and gimmicks politely step aside.
As we approached, we immediately felt at ease. Industrial but cozy. Classic, folding biergarten tables and benches, inside and out. A busy crowd of imbibers already sipping, friendly staff, and the comforting smell of yeast and hops lingering in the air.
I ordered the LPA — their flagship London Pale Ale.
LPA: London Pale Ale, Local Perfect Ale
This beer… hit the spot.
It was sessionable, yes — but not boring. More like an old friend who doesn’t need to yell to be heard. It was the perfect “first pint of the day” beer — one that welcomes you in without overwhelming the palate or the senses.
Would I drink it again? In a heartbeat.
Would I chug it? Of course, a small chug, after a sniff, and a sip.
Would I rate it a 4.0 or higher? No, but it earned a solid 3.75.
This was beer #4953. And it earned its spot.
Why I Geek Out on Beer Crawls Like This
To be clear: I wasn’t just excited because of the alcohol. I love everything about these experiences.
Here’s why the Bermondsey Beer Mile appeals to me so deeply:
- Learning – From hop profiles to fermentation styles, I pick up something new at every stop.
- Business/Marketing – I study brand positioning, label design, taproom layout. These are mini case studies in customer experience.
- Design – Some spaces are minimalist; others are neon-lit graffiti dens. Each one tells a story.
- Energy/Crowds – The people are half the fun. Locals, tourists, students, stag parties — it’s a beer-based microcosm of London.
- Surprises – One minute you’re sipping a refreshing pale ale under the tracks, the next you’re enjoying a Honey Blonde Ale (made with real honey) on the largest sunny patio on the Mile and bumping into the fun group of new friends you met a block away. You just don’t know.
- Merch – T-shirts, stickers, coasters, crazy beer toys — my weakness.
- New Beer – Obvious, but worth repeating. New breweries = new flavors = new stories.
This wasn’t just a Saturday. It was a master class in modern craft culture.
From “One or Two” to “Let’s Try Ten”
The genius of Bermondsey is that it removes friction. You don’t need a map. You don’t need a plan. You just walk, sip, repeat.
As we exited Southwark and strolled a few steps toward stop #2, I looked back at the arch behind us and smiled. The crawl had only just begun, and yet I already felt like we were in the middle of something memorable.
We had at least 9 more stops ahead — each with its own vibe, pour, and surprise. And unlike eight years ago, we didn’t need a Tube, a train, or an Uber to travel between breweries. Just a little time, some comfortable shoes, and a mutual appreciation for “what’s next?”
Closing Thoughts: A First Sip Worth Remembering
Southwark’s LPA was a local’s welcome. A “You’re in the right place” kind of pint. It was crisp, clean, and satisfying in its simplicity. No fireworks. No fog machines. Just great beer in a great place.
The rest of the day would blur into a dozen other stops, flavors, and breweries. But this one — this first one — set the tone. It grounded the experience in something familiar yet new. And it reminded me why I do this.
Not just to drink.
But to explore.
To connect.
To create a trail of pints and moments and stories that I’ll tell long after Beer #5000.
Want more? Follow the journey on IG @50BeersTo5000. #4954 coming soon.
