Four taproom stops in London’s beer corridor. This East End craft brewery tour strings together four taprooms with a half pint or soft drink at each stop, plus a guide who teaches you how to taste beer like a pro. I love it for the street-level feel of Hackney’s small-brewery scene, not some stuffy “tour bus” version of craft beer.

I love the way Paul turns a pint into a mini lesson, from tasting technique to why the foam on top matters. I also love that the evening balances play and learning, with Paul keeping things friendly and Noel sometimes joining on the walk to keep the energy up.

One possible drawback: you’re on a schedule. Each stop is about 45 minutes, so if you like slow sittings and lots of extra rounds, this format might feel a touch brisk.

Key points before you go

• Four taprooms, about 3–4 hours of guided sampling in the East End
• Half pint or soft drink included at every stop, so you can choose what works for you
• English tour with a guide (Paul is the name you’ll most often hear; Noel may join)
• Max 20 travelers, which helps the group feel more personal than large pub crawls
• Walk starts and ends in East London, with Hackney Central as the closest train reference

Getting oriented: Mare Street start and Deviant & Dandy finish

The tour starts at 6:00 pm at The Five Points Taproom & Courtyard, 61 Mare St, London E8 4RG. It ends at Deviant & Dandy Brewery, 185 Nursery Rd, London E9 6PB. In between, you’ll be hopping between nearby East End spots with a real local rhythm, not a long bus transfer.

You’ll also want to know the practical end of the plan: the tour notes that guests will be guided to the nearest train station, Hackney Central. So if you’re building a bigger night in London, you can line up dinner or a post-tour pint around that area.

One more small but useful detail: you get a mobile ticket. That keeps the whole thing low-stress. No need to hunt for paper confirmations when you’re juggling train times and meeting points.

How Paul (and Noel) keeps the evening fun and useful

This is the part I’d treat as the heart of the experience: the guide’s style. Multiple reviews highlight Paul as a warm, personable teacher who mixes knowledge with good company. You’re not just handed a drink and left to wander. You get explanations while you’re standing right in front of the beer.

What stands out most is how often the conversation turns to tasting—how to notice flavor instead of just rating whether something is good. You’ll learn the kind of basics that make later beer choices easier: how to look at the pour, how to taste in a way that picks up notes, and how to talk about what you’re experiencing.

A great example is the talk about beer tops—the froth on top of a properly served beer. One review calls out a truly specific explanation of froth design and production. If you’ve ever wondered why one pint looks different from another, you’ll likely appreciate this kind of detail.

Sometimes the tour is run with a colleague (Noel is mentioned in one review), which can add a bit of extra variety to the pace and conversation. Either way, the tone seems aimed at making you feel comfortable asking questions, even if you don’t drink much beer now.

Stop 1: Five Points Taproom & Courtyard for your first pour

Your first stop is The Five Points Taproom & Courtyard at 61 Mare St. You’ll get about 45 minutes, and your included drink is a half pint or 2/3 of beer or soft drink. This is a smart first stop because it gives you a baseline fast. You can start learning the guide’s tasting method while you’re still fresh and paying attention.

The setting matters too. Taprooms like this are usually built for conversation—less formal than a bar you’d rush through. That helps at the start, when you’re getting your bearings and trying your first beer without feeling rushed.

If you’re new to craft beer, this stop is your chance to ask “what should I be noticing?” questions before you move on. If you already drink beer regularly, it’s still useful: you’ll pick up how the guide frames flavor and structure, so later tastings land with more meaning.

What to watch for: the first tasting can set your mood for the whole tour. If you come in thirsty and open-minded, you’ll get more out of the tasting talk than if you’re already full or distracted.

Stop 2: Forest Road Brewing Co. Taproom & Bar and the fun of variety

Next is Forest Road Brewing Co. – Taproom & Bar, again with about 45 minutes and the same included drink format. This is where the tour tends to show its value: you’re sampling different breweries rather than repeating the same style in four rooms.

Craft beer fans often love this part because you start comparing—not just tasting. You might notice how the brewery’s approach changes the body, finish, or aroma. Even if you don’t name every note, your palate starts learning patterns.

A tour like this is also helpful for people who think they don’t like certain styles. When you try multiple small-batch pours back to back, you often find you actually liked the idea of beer—you just didn’t like one specific style served one specific way.

Potential drawback: if you’re the type who only likes one or two beer styles, the included drink at each stop can feel like pressure to keep up. The good news is that the tour includes soft drink options, so you can pace yourself without abandoning the experience.

Stop 3: Hackney Church Brew for learning what makes a beer taste right

Stop three is Hackney Church Brew. You’ll have another 45 minutes, and again, your half pint or 2/3 of beer or soft drink is included. By now, you should be feeling the rhythm of the guide’s teaching. The earlier tasting lessons start to click.

This is often the point where you begin noticing what you previously ignored: balance, sweetness, bitterness, and how carbonation changes the impression of flavor. A good guide points this out in plain terms, so you’re not stuck memorizing brewing jargon.

One of the best values in a beer tour isn’t the checklist of breweries—it’s the tasting framework. Reviews make it clear that Paul explains not only history and technique, but also how to taste correctly to pull out real flavor notes. That kind of instruction is most useful by stop three, when your brain is already comparing the last couple of pours.

Practical tip: use this stop to slow down for a minute. Take a breath, taste deliberately, and ask one question. You’ll get more from that one question than from quickly grabbing each new pint without thinking.

Stop 4: Deviant & Dandy’s taproom in an old courtyard

Your final stop is Deviant & Dandy Brewery. It’s described as a taproom located in an old courtyard, founded in 2017. Here you’ll likely see more of the brewery’s current lineup in a fresh, modern form—lagers, pales, and sours are called out for this stop.

This ending choice makes sense. A brewery with a variety of styles gives you room to try something you haven’t had yet, which makes the last stop feel like a payoff instead of a repeat. Plus, by the time you reach Deviant & Dandy, you’ve already learned how to taste and how to listen for the guide’s cues, so your final pours may land better than your first.

Another reason this stop is a good finale: it’s physically different. Old-courtyard taprooms tend to feel like you’ve stepped into a place with character, not just another room with taps on the wall. That change in setting gives the walk a natural arc.

If you’re tempted to overdo it: you have time, but keep your pace in mind. You’ll have had four included drinks total. The tour is designed for fun, not punishment, so let your choices match your day.

What the itinerary means for you (not just what’s on the schedule)

Four stops, about 45 minutes each, plus the walk between them, lands you in the 3–4 hour range. That timing is a big deal because it’s long enough to learn how to taste and compare, but short enough to feel flexible if you want to do dinner after.

The group size also matters. With a maximum of 20 travelers, the guide can keep things moving while still answering questions. Large pub crawls often turn into noise. Here, the structure seems tighter, and that supports the teaching portion.

Also, the fact that it’s in English means you can actually follow the explanations without guesswork. This is the kind of tour where details (like how to taste or why beer foam forms) matter. You’ll likely enjoy it more if you can track the conversation.

Finally, a detail I appreciate: the tour’s built around taprooms, not just beer counters. That means you’re more likely to feel like you’re part of the neighborhood’s craft routine. You’re drinking where people actually go for a pint, not where you’re herded for photos.

Who this tour fits best in the East End

This tour works well for:

• Beer beginners who want a guided, friendly introduction and a taste-based lesson
• Beer lovers who want a structured way to learn tasting technique and compare styles
• Anyone who prefers small groups and a guide who actually talks, not just points

If you only want one specific beer style, plan to choose your included drink thoughtfully at each stop. Luckily, the tour includes soft drink as an option, so you don’t have to force beer if you’re not in that mood.

If you’re expecting a quiet museum-style experience, this isn’t that. It’s an evening walk with sampling, built around conversation and local taproom energy.

Value check: what you’re really getting

There’s no price listed here, so I can’t judge cost in numbers. But I can judge value in what’s included and how the time is used.

You’re getting:

• Four separate brewery/taproom experiences
• A guided tasting framework (including technique and hands-on explanation)
• A provided drink allowance at each stop
• A group limit of up to 20, which helps the experience stay interactive

That combo tends to be good value because it turns “drinks out” into “drinks with a reason.” You come away with a better sense of what to try next time, and how to describe what you like. If you enjoy learning while doing something fun, this is the sweet spot.

Should you book the East End Craft Brewery Tour?

I think you should book if you want an East End night that mixes local taprooms with real tasting guidance. The standout pattern in the feedback is clear: Paul’s mix of warm hosting and detailed beer talk makes the evening feel worthwhile, even if you don’t consider yourself a beer expert.

Book it if you’ll enjoy comparing different styles and asking questions. Skip it if you want long, slow hangouts with no structure, or if you’re likely to feel uncomfortable with a scheduled 45-minute stop rotation.

If you’re planning a first East London craft beer experience, this one is easy to recommend because it gives you variety, a clear plan, and a guide who pays attention to how you’re tasting, not just what you’re drinking.

FAQ

How long is the East End Craft Brewery Tour?

It’s approximately 3 to 4 hours.

How many stops are included in the tour?

The tour includes four stops: The Five Points Taproom & Courtyard, Forest Road Brewing Co. Taproom & Bar, Hackney Church Brew, and Deviant & Dandy Brewery.

What drinks are included?

At each stop, you receive a half pint or 2/3 of beer or soft drink.

Where do I meet the tour, and where does it end?

Start: The Five Points Taproom & Courtyard, 61 Mare St, London E8 4RG. End: Deviant & Dandy Brewery, 185 Nursery Rd, London E9 6PB.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 6:00 pm.

Is the tour in English, and how big are the groups?

The tour is offered in English and has a maximum group size of 20 travelers.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.

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