London: Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting of 4 Beers

Five Points makes this a working brewery visit, not just a beer tasting in a pub. You walk through the brewhouse and packaging lines, then sit above the activity with four beers poured fresh from the tank. It is a close-up look at how an independent London brewery operates.

I like two things in particular: the guide connects brewing methods with London’s beer past, and the tasting gives you four different Five Points beers rather than one token sample. A named host, Bex, has been praised for her warmth and humor, though you cannot count on a particular guide for your date.

One consideration: this is a 90-minute introduction, not an in-depth brewing course or a full evening of tastings. The samples are one-third-pint measures, so you get a useful range without a full pint of each.

The useful details at a glance

• See an active brewery: The guided route includes the brewhouse and packaging lines.
• Taste four beers: Each sample is a one-third-pint measure, served fresh from the tank.
• Hear two kinds of stories: Guides cover both the brewing process and London’s beer history.
• Finish above the brewery: The tasting takes place on a mezzanine terrace overlooking the working space.
• Keep the evening going: Your tour includes 10% off your first round of drinks and 10% off food in the taproom.
• Plan for the practical rules: Bring ID, wear closed-toe shoes, and leave anyone under 18 at home.

Inside Five Points Brewery in Hackney

The tour begins at the main bar in the Five Points Taproom. Check in there when you arrive. If you are early, you can order a pint while you wait, though you may prefer to save your appetite and attention for the guided tasting.

Five Points is an independent brewery in Hackney, and the appeal here is seeing it as a functioning business. Rather than hearing only about beer in the abstract, you get to view the places where it is made and packaged. That makes the tour a good fit if you are curious about what happens between a recipe and the drink in your glass.

The guide takes you through the brewhouse and packaging lines. You can expect explanations of the brewing process, the science behind it, and the choices that go into making a beer. The exact details you hear will depend on the guide and the questions you ask, but the format gives you a chance to connect the finished beer with the equipment and work behind it.

The packaging lines are part of what makes the visit more than a tasting session. They show that a brewery has to do more than brew: it also needs to get its beer ready to serve or sell. You are seeing the operation up close, rather than simply looking at a display about how beer is made.

What the brewing tour can teach you

A brewery tour is most useful when it gives you a clear process to follow, and this one is built around that idea. Your guide explains what goes into brewing excellent craft beer while leading you through the working space. If you already know a little about beer, you can use the visit to ask about the details you have wondered about. If you are new to it, the equipment and sequence help make the subject easier to grasp.

You will also hear about the history of beer in London. The tour combines practical brewing information with stories and amusing facts about the capital’s beer past. That mix matters: a technical explanation can be fascinating for a while, but the local history gives the tour a broader frame and keeps it from feeling like a production briefing.

The tour is short enough to fit into an afternoon or evening plan, but that also puts a limit on how far the guide can go. Think of it as an accessible introduction rather than a specialist class. You will get a guided look around and a tasting, not a full lesson in every brewing decision or a detailed survey of London’s pubs.

If Bex is leading your visit, you may find the storytelling especially lively. Her hosting has been singled out for being warm and fun. Guides can vary, so the most useful expectation is a guided explanation of the brewery and its beers, rather than a promise of any particular personality or script.

Four beers, poured fresh from the tank

After the brewery walk-through, you sit on a mezzanine beer terrace overlooking the brewery and taste four different Five Points beers. Each serving is one-third of a pint. Together, that is a little more than a pint, divided among four samples, enough to compare different beers without turning the tour into a heavy drinking session.

The samples are served fresh from the tank, which gives the tasting a direct link to the place you have just seen. You are not simply being handed a list of products in a separate bar. The beer comes from the working brewery below, and the guide can connect what you are drinking to the brewing process and company story.

The portions have drawn particular praise for being generous rather than mean. That is useful to know if you have been on tastings where samples feel more like a sip than a serving. Still, one-third of a pint is a tasting measure, not a full beer. If you want to keep drinking afterward, the taproom is right there.

The specific beers on offer are not listed in advance, so I would not book expecting a certain style or a particular favorite. The value is in trying four different beers from the brewery and learning how to pay attention to what is in your glass. If you have strong preferences or dietary concerns, check with the provider before booking rather than assuming the tasting will match them.

The mezzanine and the taproom afterward

The mezzanine terrace gives you a place to sit and taste while looking down over the brewery. That setting is a small but worthwhile part of the visit: you can continue to see the working space while the guide talks through the beers and the company’s story. It keeps the tasting connected to the tour instead of moving you to an unrelated room.

At the end, the activity returns to the meeting point. You are welcome to stay in the taproom, where tour participants receive 10% off their first round of drinks and 10% off food. Those discounts make the tour easier to turn into a longer stop, especially if you want a meal or another beer after the samples.

The discount is a modest bonus, not a reason on its own to book. Its value depends on whether you planned to eat or drink in the taproom anyway. If you did, it helps; if you are heading elsewhere immediately, it may not change the cost much.

Is $26.94 a fair price?

At $26.94 per person, the price covers a 90-minute guided brewery tour, four beer samples, and the two taproom discounts. You are paying for access to the working brewery and a guide who explains both the making of the beer and its London context, not simply for four small pours.

That distinction is important when you compare the price with buying drinks at a bar. The samples alone are not the whole value. You also get a close look at the brewhouse and packaging lines, plus an explanation of how an independent brewery operates. If you are interested in craft beer, that combination makes the cost easier to justify.

If your main goal is to drink a large amount of beer, this is not the best-value format. The tour is structured around learning and tasting, and the samples are limited to four one-third-pint measures. You can order more in the taproom afterward, but those additional drinks and food are separate purchases, with the stated discounts applied.

The three available ratings average 4.7 out of 5, with praise focused on the guide, the tasting, the portions, and the information about beer making. One assessment was more reserved, describing the tour as pleasant rather than groundbreaking. That is a fair way to set expectations: it is an enjoyable, solid introduction to a brewery, not a rare or highly technical event.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this tour if you enjoy craft beer and want to understand more about how a brewery works. It also suits a couple or small group looking for an activity with a clear start and finish, followed by the option to stay for food or drinks. The short duration makes it easy to pair with other plans, provided you check the available start times.

It is especially useful if you prefer an activity with some substance behind the tasting. You are not just sampling four beers; you are seeing the production area and hearing about brewing and London beer history. The balance of practical explanation and stories should work for both curious beginners and people who already have a few favorite beer styles.

I would think twice if you want a long, technical workshop, a guaranteed specific beer lineup, or a full evening included in the ticket price. The tour does not promise those things. It is also not suitable for children under 18, and the provider may refuse service to anyone who is intoxicated or behaving antisocially.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, which is helpful when planning a visit. You must bring a passport or ID card, and a copy is accepted. Sandals, flip-flops, and other open-toed shoes are not allowed, so wear closed-toe footwear. Pets are not allowed.

Booking advice and final call

The activity lasts 1.5 hours, and you need to check availability for the starting times. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms offer some flexibility if your London plans are not yet fixed.

Book it if you want a relaxed, informative look at an independent Hackney brewery, with four measured samples and the option to continue in the taproom. The strongest reasons to go are the access to the working brewing and packaging areas, the guide’s mix of brewing insight and London stories, and a tasting that is not stingy with its portions.

Skip it if your priority is quantity over context, or if you need a guaranteed list of beers before you commit. For a modest price and a manageable 90 minutes, Five Points offers a practical way to add a local brewery visit to your London plans. Just remember the ID and closed-toe shoes, and leave room for a meal or another drink if you want to make the taproom part of the evening.

FAQ

How long does the Five Points Brewery tour last?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

How many beers are included?

The tasting includes four different Five Points beers, served in one-third-pint measures.

Where does the tour start and end?

Check in at the main bar in the Five Points Taproom. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

What should I wear and bring?

Bring a passport or ID card. A copy is accepted. Wear closed-toe shoes, as sandals, flip-flops, and other open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.