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The Best Takeaway Beer in London

Where to find growlers, flagons, and pints — from hop-forward British breweries to Belgian classics

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London’s appreciation for beer is unlike any other capital city, and is one of the few things that remain certain right now. Depending on the moment (or the government-mandated restrictions), much of the cask-dispensed bitters are sidelined for fridge-fresh IPAs, as takeaway adaptations make some beers more practical than others. This is as close to the pub experience as it can get these days.

While pubs and off-licenses that provision these small luxuries are numerous to single out, and in the interest of not doubling over London’s already well-mapped beer scene too much, these ten are good places to start for takeaway guzzling.

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Southampton Arms

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It took a global pandemic, but The Southampton Arms has finally acquired a telephone number. New to this takeout lark, the eminent Highgate Road pub is pulling cask and keg beers into growlers and flagons in lieu of pints; it doesn’t or won’t do bottles and tinnies. See Twitter for what’s tapped at least until the pub’s pickled eggs and periodic wood-panelled interior can be next enjoyed.

Park Fever

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A small but mighty shop in range of Hither Green train station, Park Fever’s commuter clientele is a bit scarce these days. Still, the shelves are no less stacked out with Belgian classics, the newest juice bombs, and a few things in between. A solid rapport with hop-forward British breweries Deya and Verdant means it gets new releases fresh off the line than most shops. 

Art & Craft SW16 Beer Bottle Shop

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The duo behind Art & Craft on Streatham High Street are brewery owners themselves, having founded Inkspot Brewery in 2018. As such, they know what should go into — and come out of — a good one. Their shop stocks 400 bottles and cans, from breweries near (Gypsy Hill, Brew By Numbers, The Kernel, etcetera), and far (Garage, Polly’s Brew Co, Vault City).

Art & Craft [Official Photo]

The Dove

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At a time when Bruges or Brussels seems like a distant dream, comfort is found at this Broadway Market pub. For a figurative siphon of Belgium resides here, including some of the most renowned beers to come out of the country, like Delirium, La Chouffe, Saison Dupont, Westmalle, and Orval. The Dove’s in its element on a busy summer market day. For the moment, this’ll do. 

The Dove [Official Photo]

Caps and Taps

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Run by the industrious and friendly couple Phill and Steph. These two have an intimate knowledge of most of the 400 or so beers lining their shelves. A row of fridges (containing but not limited to new releases from Cascade, KCBC, Jester King, and others from USA) means much of it’s ready to drink out of the shop. There’s also the odd five-litre keg to see through, what is now common, a quiet weekend in. 

Twelve Ounce Bottleshop

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Twelve Ounce’s owners had only just changed the locks, sanded down the shop, and painted it before lockdown 2.0 happened. Undeterred by an entrance at the most volatile time ever, the shop is keeping Crouch End’s fridges replete with of-the-moment British beers. In particular, Twelve Ounce are fiercely North London, sharing their turf — and shelf space — with Ora, Exale, and Pressure Drop. 

Pressure Drop Brewery and Taproom

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It may be tucked deep into the cavity of an industrial estate in Tottenham Hale, but for a six pack of the Cast Iron Billy imperial brown, Pale Fire pale, or the “affordable luxury” Billionaires Should Not Exist (a New England IPA), this is a trip worth making. What could be a more convenient hike than to the brewery’s collaborative taproom with Verdant, a three-minute walk from Hackney Central overground, which is also open for takeaway.

Salthouse Bottles

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Despite the name, the lockdown iteration of this Brockley neighbourhood bottleshop extends further than just beer, supplying the community with local honey, fresh pasta, and all sorts of other bits that would confound the nearby Sainsbury’s. Similarly, Salthouse represents its wonderful catchment of local breweries, including Villages, Brick, Anspach & Hobday, and — just round the corner — Brockley Brewery. 

Salthouse Bottles [Official Photo]

Clapton Craft

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Clapton Craft established itself as a honeypot for East London drinkers when it was set up in 2013 (the logo, after all, depicts a bear). Though the clue isn’t exactly in the name for this branch in Forest Hill — the first site south of the river — it certainly leans into the geography here, with a regular line-up of Orbit, Old Kent Road, Partizan, and Gypsy Hill. The team’s invested in both sides of production as well: the latest endeavour involves brewing a Helles with Leicestershire lager specialists Braybrooke. 

Clapton Craft [Official Photo]

Star & Garter Pub

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Bromley’s best pub also happens to be one of the best within the M25 circular. A close relation to Camberwell’s treasured 20-line pub Stormbird, in fact it’s here, that the pubs’ ardent manager Maura spends most her time. Pivoting to takeout, draught is under a much more modest selection than the pub’s used to — should that not suffice, 240 bottles and cans are enough to pick from. 

Southampton Arms

It took a global pandemic, but The Southampton Arms has finally acquired a telephone number. New to this takeout lark, the eminent Highgate Road pub is pulling cask and keg beers into growlers and flagons in lieu of pints; it doesn’t or won’t do bottles and tinnies. See Twitter for what’s tapped at least until the pub’s pickled eggs and periodic wood-panelled interior can be next enjoyed.

Park Fever

A small but mighty shop in range of Hither Green train station, Park Fever’s commuter clientele is a bit scarce these days. Still, the shelves are no less stacked out with Belgian classics, the newest juice bombs, and a few things in between. A solid rapport with hop-forward British breweries Deya and Verdant means it gets new releases fresh off the line than most shops. 

Art & Craft SW16 Beer Bottle Shop

The duo behind Art & Craft on Streatham High Street are brewery owners themselves, having founded Inkspot Brewery in 2018. As such, they know what should go into — and come out of — a good one. Their shop stocks 400 bottles and cans, from breweries near (Gypsy Hill, Brew By Numbers, The Kernel, etcetera), and far (Garage, Polly’s Brew Co, Vault City).

Art & Craft [Official Photo]

The Dove

At a time when Bruges or Brussels seems like a distant dream, comfort is found at this Broadway Market pub. For a figurative siphon of Belgium resides here, including some of the most renowned beers to come out of the country, like Delirium, La Chouffe, Saison Dupont, Westmalle, and Orval. The Dove’s in its element on a busy summer market day. For the moment, this’ll do. 

The Dove [Official Photo]

Caps and Taps

Run by the industrious and friendly couple Phill and Steph. These two have an intimate knowledge of most of the 400 or so beers lining their shelves. A row of fridges (containing but not limited to new releases from Cascade, KCBC, Jester King, and others from USA) means much of it’s ready to drink out of the shop. There’s also the odd five-litre keg to see through, what is now common, a quiet weekend in. 

Twelve Ounce Bottleshop

Twelve Ounce’s owners had only just changed the locks, sanded down the shop, and painted it before lockdown 2.0 happened. Undeterred by an entrance at the most volatile time ever, the shop is keeping Crouch End’s fridges replete with of-the-moment British beers. In particular, Twelve Ounce are fiercely North London, sharing their turf — and shelf space — with Ora, Exale, and Pressure Drop. 

Pressure Drop Brewery and Taproom

It may be tucked deep into the cavity of an industrial estate in Tottenham Hale, but for a six pack of the Cast Iron Billy imperial brown, Pale Fire pale, or the “affordable luxury” Billionaires Should Not Exist (a New England IPA), this is a trip worth making. What could be a more convenient hike than to the brewery’s collaborative taproom with Verdant, a three-minute walk from Hackney Central overground, which is also open for takeaway.

Salthouse Bottles

Despite the name, the lockdown iteration of this Brockley neighbourhood bottleshop extends further than just beer, supplying the community with local honey, fresh pasta, and all sorts of other bits that would confound the nearby Sainsbury’s. Similarly, Salthouse represents its wonderful catchment of local breweries, including Villages, Brick, Anspach & Hobday, and — just round the corner — Brockley Brewery. 

Salthouse Bottles [Official Photo]

Clapton Craft

Clapton Craft established itself as a honeypot for East London drinkers when it was set up in 2013 (the logo, after all, depicts a bear). Though the clue isn’t exactly in the name for this branch in Forest Hill — the first site south of the river — it certainly leans into the geography here, with a regular line-up of Orbit, Old Kent Road, Partizan, and Gypsy Hill. The team’s invested in both sides of production as well: the latest endeavour involves brewing a Helles with Leicestershire lager specialists Braybrooke. 

Clapton Craft [Official Photo]

Star & Garter Pub

Bromley’s best pub also happens to be one of the best within the M25 circular. A close relation to Camberwell’s treasured 20-line pub Stormbird, in fact it’s here, that the pubs’ ardent manager Maura spends most her time. Pivoting to takeout, draught is under a much more modest selection than the pub’s used to — should that not suffice, 240 bottles and cans are enough to pick from.