Much has changed in England's capital during the last decade. Breweries have come and gone as have countless beer styles, too.
But in 2024, Hammerton Brewery - based moments from Caledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station in the London Borough of Islington - proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The business, founded by Lee Hammerton and his girlfriend - now wife - Karina has produced a wealth of beers during those 10 years, picking up a raft of awards along the way.
And brewing is something that runs in the blood for the Hammerton's, with Lee being a distant relative of the family that founded the original Hammerton Brewery, a substantial site situated at the bottom of Lingham Street in Stockwell, and one acquired by Charles Hammerton in the late 19th century.
While the modern Hammerton produces a number of decorated dark beers, that original brewery was also known for being the first in the UK, and probably Europe, to use oysters as part of the process of brewing stout in 1938.
In this interview, we chart the last decade through some of the brewery's most important beers.
From N7 IPA and Panama Extra Pale Ale to the alcohol-free Zed and from nitro stout Tint to City of Cake, which just picked up Gold in the Cask competition at the recent SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2024, we discuss how these beers have shaped the first 10 years of one of London's finest breweries.
