Finally Brewdog takes on Soho. A welcome Soho addition I like this spot. I’m not sure it’s my favourite. I think Clerkenwell might take that. Either way if you love craft beer and a fun group time to sit, this is a good place to stop off at as opposed to a traditional pub you will find plenty of.
Kirsty H.
Rating des Ortes: 3 London, United Kingdom
I came here for a drink prior to going for a meal in Soho. Alike every other watering hole round these parts, it was absolutely rammed! The bar specialises is different beers and ciders and bar snacks are available. It was very difficult to order a drink and we had to spill out on the street due to the lack of space. Regardless of my ‘squished’ encounter with this bar, people must obviously like coming here!
Rebecca P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Brewdog’s marketing strategies are entrenched in provocation, so it’s no surprise that they are a divisive topic. Love it or hate it, Brewdog have been at the forefront of the craft beer movement, daring punters to drink aggressively hoppy beers since 2007. Their Punk IPA is synonymous with motivating the taste for hop-forward American style beers in the UK and Brewdog has jumped on numerous opportunities to push forward innovation– they were selling Punk IPA in cans by 2011 and have opened Brewdog bars across the world, from Brazil to Japan. There are currently 28 bars in the UK alone– and this number will continue to grow explosively. The sheer magnitude of the Brewdog Empire is therefore a spiky issue with some beer drinkers. Putting that aside, Brewdog does have an exceptional reputation for training employees and hiring people who are genuinely fanatical about beer. It’s not a joke, either– I’ve spoken to industry heavyweights who acknowledge that their staff training is unmatched. It’s patently obvious when you saunter up to the bar in a Brewdog establishment– you can ask questions about the styles available, the hops used and for information on the guest breweries. I’ve always had excellent banter without any pretentiousness with the bar staff in venues across London. I recently visited Brewdog Soho for the second time because I was desperate for a drink after an afternoon battling the crowds on Oxford Street– seeing as the likelihood of finding anything exemplary in the area was slim, we made a beeline for Brewdog. Many elements of the décor are consistent across the Brewdog bars: expect a modern taproom style bar with a rotating marquee sign beer menu overhead. There’s often a good selection of bottled beers on offer to drink in or take away and bars offer food menus to visitors, which can focus on hotdogs, burgers or even cheese boards to match with their beers. The surroundings are usually characterised by industrial-chic furnishings and fixtures– think exposed light fixtures and ceiling grates, a focus on the bar, wooden tables and stools. They are effortlessly trendy, but it’s the engaged staff that keep the atmosphere grounded. Clientele can vary from anything from serious beer drinkers to suited bankers to stag parties. Brewdog Soho has cunningly incorporated the characteristics of the surrounding locale into its bar– relatively inconspicuous from the outside, the bar boasts a neon sign reading ‘BEERPORN’ and the dearth of natural light inside evokes a mild sense of a dodgy speakeasy– but it works. The bar is set across two floors and there’s even a ‘craft beer sexline’ downstairs for the insidiously curious. Upstairs is generally continuously buzzy with crowds ebbing and flowing while the downstairs area offers some refuge and tends to be more tranquil. Brewdog offers a retreat from the heavy footfall of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. You can generally get a seat in the afternoon and with about 20 beers on tap(and a plethora in the fridges), you’re bound to find something to quench your thirst, whether it’s from their own ranges, which can carry high ABVs and slap you in the face, to some sessionable saisons from a guest brewery. They often have a great range and work closely with local breweries(Beavertown in particular). If you don’t know where to start, I suggest opting for a flight board, where you can try four 1⁄3rd pints that is either pre-selected or you can mix and match based on your own preferences. Always relishing an opportunity to generate buzz, Brewdog releases some novel beers in small batches, their Abstrakt range and limited editions– they even serve their Jet Black Heart on nitro, a new technology for pouring the perfect pint. So it can be hard to decide on only one. Forsaking your feelings towards Brewdog as a brand– or ignoring their controversial and intensely divisive marketing techniques– this is still a great haunt in central London that shouldn’t be overlooked. Perfect for discovering a new beer, enjoying a good pint that will always be served with exceptional care and style, or even just playing a game of Connect Four over a Punk IPA(I’ve seen it). Banish the haters and go check it out for yourself– be a punk and take a page from the Brewdog manifesto.
Jennie C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
BrewDog is excellent as always! They’ve got lots of their own beer on tap as well as guest craft beers. There’s loads of seating — there’s a whole area downstairs that’s a lot more quiet then upstairs. There’s some traditional pub grub and also interesting bites(kimchi hot dogs), and even a coffee bar in case you need a pick me up.
Cyril F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Villejuif, Val-de-Marne
Un super pub. De très bonnes bières, il y a deux bars. Un à chaque étage. Et ils servent des bières différentes à chaque bar. La nourriture y est très bonne. Si vous demander vous pouvez avoir une carte pour avoir 10% de réduction sur votre addition. Je recommande sans hésiter.
Ana A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Madrid
Imaginad a dos españoles dando vueltas por una ciudad que no conocen y pasando más frío que un tucán en Alaska… Así andábamos, buscando nuevos sitios que visitar en Londres, cuando nos dimos de bruces con el BrewDog. ¡¡BrewDog! Nos encanta la cerveza y se nos había aparecido cuando más lo necesitábamos. ¡Qué buen ambiente tiene el sitio! Había de todo: gente pija, gente normal, un par de chavales jugando al Hundir la Flota(sí…tienen juegos!), grupos de amigos. Y no os creáis que no gritan, eh? Que cuando beben hablan bien alto. En la carta, tienen cervezas propias y otra sección de cervezas amigas o invitadas. Cuidan bien la variedad y tienes la opción de picar algo. Ni es mucha cantidad, ni es barato, pero ¡qué bien entran unos croutons con salsa después de dos pintas! Y si entras y hay mucha gente, puedes bajar a la planta baja, que tiene barra propia. El precio medio de las pintas era de 5 – 6 libras, para que os hagáis una idea. Ya estoy deseando volver!
Rob B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Bedford, Canada
Solid craft beer stop in Soho. Interesting, rotating beer selection with some excellent IPAs. Feels like NY or California… in a good way.
Jess L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Hartford, CT
Great spot for craft beers in London. Definitely not a pub but a great spot to try local craft beers. They have daily-changing beers on draft, about 20. Half of them are their own. There’s plenty of seating for small and large groups. They have a small but sufficient menu of food. I appreciate the in-depth descriptions in the menus as well as the knowledgeable staff. Definitely ask for a taste if you’re not sure what to get.