A craft beer tasting tour of the Bermondsey Beer Mile

Five half-pints, one guided beer route. This London craft beer tasting tour turns Bermondsey Beer Mile into a simple walking plan, with a guide leading you from taproom to taproom and explaining what you are tasting along the way. I love that you get half-pints (or soft drinks) included at every stop, so you can focus on flavor instead of constantly checking menus. I also love that the guide, Paul, blends the local brewery scene with real talk on brewing methods and how English beer styles developed, so the history shows up in what is in your glass.

One drawback to plan for: the day runs on a steady schedule. You should expect 3 to 4 hours of guided pacing, with about 45 minutes at each stop, plus an after-party section where you can buy additional drinks if you want. If you are not much of a beer drinker, you will still get soft drinks, but you may find the overall rhythm drink-forward.

Key highlights at a glance

• Bermondsey Beer Mile, five brewery stops across well-known tap rooms
• Half-pint tastings (or soft drinks) included at each location
• A small-group feel with a maximum of 20 people
• Paul’s focus on brewing methods, beer styles, and tasting technique
• A clear start and end: Southwark Brewing Company to The Kernel Spa Road
• An after-party finale where you can choose and buy drinks you want

Bermondsey Beer Mile in one organized beer crawl

This is a guided craft beer tasting tour built for people who want great London beer without doing research for weeks first. You get a set route along Bermondsey Beer Mile, and you are not wandering from one place to another hoping they have space or a tasting room open. The tour gives you structure, and that matters in London where travel time and lines can quietly eat your afternoon.

I like that the tasting is built around short, purposeful visits. Each stop is about 45 minutes, and that gives you enough time to try a style, hear what makes it different, and still keep the group moving. If you have ever done a DIY beer day, you know how quickly it turns into, okay, what now. This keeps you on track.

Also, you get to sample across multiple breweries rather than just repeating the same “safe” flavors. Even if you do not become a beer expert by the end, you will leave with better instincts for what you enjoy and why.

Price and what is included in your $67.99

At $67.99 per person, the value comes from what is built into the ticket. You are not just paying for a guide and a walk. You are also getting admission ticket access at each stop, and a drink component is included.

Here is what the package covers based on the tour structure:

• At each brewery stop, you get a half-pint or 2/3 of a beer or a soft drink
• Each stop runs about 45 minutes
• The after-party at The Kernel includes time to hang out, and you can choose and buy any drinks you want

That “included tastings at five stops” is the key. If you are planning to try multiple places on your own, it is easy for costs to stack up once you factor in multiple pints, travel, and the risk of places not being set up for walk-ins. With this tour, you pay once, and the tasting plan is part of the deal.

I also think the pricing makes sense because you are getting a real guide, not a general host. In the best case, that guidance turns the tour from drinking into learning how to taste. That is what you are paying for, and it is the difference between a fun afternoon and an afternoon that changes how you pick beer later.

Start at Southwark Brewing Company, end at The Kernel Spa Road

The tour has a clean beginning and ending, which helps a lot if you are fitting it into a day with other plans. You meet at Southwark Brewing Company, 46 Druid St, London SE1 2EZ. At the end, you finish at The Kernel, Spa Road, 132 Spa Rd, London SE16 3AE.

You are also given directions to the nearest underground station, which is useful because you do not want to burn time guessing how to get to the meeting point. The tour is near public transportation, so it is not one of those experiences where the first challenge is simply getting there.

Because this is a guided route with multiple stops, plan to arrive a little early. You will get better value if you start relaxed rather than rushing into the first tasting.

Stop-by-stop route, what you will experience at each brewery

This tour is designed so each stop feels like a mini tasting lesson, not just a random place to stand and sip. The included portion is typically a half-pint or 2/3 of a beer or soft drink, and you get roughly 45 minutes at each location.

Stop 1: Anspach & Hobday at The Arch House

You kick off at Anspach & Hobday in The Arch House area. This opening stop sets the tone. It is a good moment to calibrate your palate so the later flights and styles make more sense as you go.

Practical tip: start with the pace your guide recommends. If you rush the first tasting, the next place can feel like a blur of flavor rather than a clear comparison.

Stop 2: Southwark Brewing Company

Southwark Brewing Company is both your meeting point and one of the tasting stops. That is convenient because you are already “in it” as soon as you arrive.

This stop also helps you get oriented to the Bermondsey Beer Mile idea. You are seeing how the area works, what kinds of taproom setups to expect, and how different breweries approach taste.

Stop 3: Mash Paddle Brewery

At Mash Paddle Brewery, the value is in the contrast. When you taste at a second and third stop, you start noticing patterns: what feels lighter or heavier, what tastes more hoppy versus more malty, and how carbonation and aroma shift from place to place.

If you are the type who thinks you only like one style, this is where you may get surprised. A good tasting guide helps you name what you are sensing, which makes it easier to repeat later at a pub or bottle shop.

Stop 4: Bianca Road Brew Co.

Bianca Road Brew Co. is another strong mid-tour stop. By now, your group has found its rhythm, and you are likely more comfortable asking questions or comparing notes with the people around you.

Also, because you get soft drinks as an option, you can keep up even if you are not drinking beer. The structure still works, and you can focus on the tasting explanation without feeling left behind.

Stop 5: The Kernel Brewery, after-party and buy-your-own drinks

The final stop is The Kernel Brewery, and it shifts into a more social after-party vibe. You still get about 45 minutes, but instead of only included tastings, you can choose and buy drinks you want.

This is a smart way to end. If a style clicked for you earlier, you have a chance to follow up. If a beer surprised you, you can chase that flavor while it is still fresh in your head.

The guide factor, why Paul makes this more than a checklist

The biggest “make or break” for a beer tour is the guide, and this one has the right energy. Paul comes across as engaging and fun to hang out with, but also serious about craft. The standout theme is that his talks are not limited to the local route. He connects brewing methods with the history and development of English beer styles, then ties that back to how you taste.

That matters because tasting is a skill. If someone tells you what to notice, you pick up a lot faster. You will learn practical tasting cues, like how aroma changes the perception of flavor, and how brewing choices show up in the glass. Even if you only catch part of it, it improves your beer decisions afterward.

Group size also boosts the guide experience. The maximum is 20 people, and the tour often feels small enough for attention and conversation. When the group is compact, you get more back-and-forth rather than a lecture where you can only hear half the details.

One more small but helpful thing: you get tips for where to try next, across London and beyond the exact Beer Mile route. That turns the tour into planning support for the rest of your trip, not just a one-off afternoon.

What to do before you go, so you actually enjoy the tasting

This tour is straightforward: arrive thirsty. It is built around included tastings, so you want your appetite for flavor to be awake.

A few ways to set yourself up:

• Eat earlier, but do not overstuff. You want to taste clearly.
• Bring a light jacket if you are out in the evening air or during cooler months. Taprooms are comfortable, but walking matters.
• Pace yourself on the first stop, then decide what you want to repeat in the after-party at The Kernel.

If you are worried about drinking too fast, you can use the soft drink option strategically. The guide explanations still apply, so you can keep up with the tasting lesson while taking a break from alcohol.

Who this tour suits best

This works great for you if you want:

• A structured London beer plan without doing homework all day
• A guided tasting where someone explains what you are tasting
• A route that moves through multiple breweries instead of one long stop

It also suits locals who want a reason to explore Bermondsey Beer Mile. You get a guided walk that includes enough context to feel worthwhile even if you live nearby.

Where I would use caution is if you need flexible pacing. The route is time-based, with about 45 minutes at each stop, and it can feel like a longer afternoon than you expect if you are getting into every conversation. Give yourself a wider window than you think, especially if you have other plans soon after.

Should you book the Bermondsey Beer Mile craft beer tasting tour?

I recommend booking if you want a fun, focused beer afternoon with real guidance and included drinks. The route is set up so you taste in sequence, learn as you go, and end with an after-party at The Kernel where you can keep exploring what you liked.

Book it especially if:

• You care about beer style and how brewing choices affect flavor
• You want a guided route that is easy to follow
• You want included tastings rather than paying for every stop yourself

Skip it or adjust expectations if:

• You only want one or two drinks and prefer very slow hanging out
• You are short on time, since the tour runs roughly 3 to 4 hours, and it can run closer to 4 to 5 hours depending on pacing and conversation

If you do book, give yourself enough time, arrive ready to taste, and ask Paul questions. This is the kind of tour where those questions pay off in your glass, not just in conversation.

FAQ

How long is the Bermondsey Beer Mile craft beer tasting tour?

The tour runs about 3 to 4 hours in total, with roughly 45 minutes at each of the five stops.

What is included in the ticket price?

You get a guided beer tasting tour with included tastings at each brewery stop. A half-pint or 2/3 of beer (or a soft drink) is included per stop.

Are soft drinks available if I do not want beer?

Yes. At each brewery stop, you can choose a half-pint or 2/3 portion of beer or a soft drink.

Where do I meet the tour?

You start at Southwark Brewing Company, 46 Druid St, London SE1 2EZ.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at The Kernel, 132 Spa Rd, London SE16 3AE.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is there a group size limit?

Yes. The maximum group size is 20 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the minimum traveler count is not met, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Confirmation is received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.