Fuller's Brewery

When all else fails on a gloomy day head to Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick.  Beer has been brewed on this site for over 350 years!  Members of the founding families are still involved in the business to this day.

That's what Jessica and I did this past Thursday.  Usually you need to book in advance, but we didn't even think of that and just showed up... We were lucky and was able to hop on the 1pm tour. £10 each later off we go.


First we were introduced to there Wisteria that has been there since 1816 and came from Shanghai. They had shared a bit of this with Kew Gardens, but sure enough THEY KILLED IT. Should of watered it with beer like Fuller's.

Next we go to the Hock Cellar (formerly a air raid bunker during WWII) to get our "orange we are on a tour vest"

Above I am checking out the stuff in the what I think are called Mash Tins?  Those things are HOT! DO NOT TOUCH! The dude peeking around the corner is our tour guide, Brian, he's a beer lover, however, his wife is not.  He loves country music so we were fast friends. He recently went to Texas and had a great time.  He made sure to tell me that not everything in Texas is bigger... meaning their pints... their beer pints are much smaller than they are here in London.

Then we were off to where the "racking" happens.  They do some kind of tapping/stamping the kegs of London Pride among other brews in this "racking room", but when we were there it must of been "down time" because we didn't see much of anything "racking".

They save the best for last, we are now in the "sampling room" getting back our £10, not in cash form, but in the form of beer samples! Yum! I tried the Chiswick Bitter which was good, the HSB which was good, the ESB which was good, Loved the organic Honey Dew, London Pride is ok I just wished it was colder (Brits are screaming at the fact I just said that) they serve it a bit warmer than usual because they feel that's when it taste the best. The colder it is the more the flavor is hidden.  I also tried the Seafarers...well... it was so gross I had to toss it in the pitcher... It smelled awful and didn't taste any better. Sorry Brian & Fuller's.

By the way, according to Brian they sell 1.4 million pints of London Pride a WEEK. Keep in mind you cant ship kegs very far... That's pretty impressive.  Or should I be concerned about this consumption? hmmm....

Fuller’s is best known as the brewer of London Pride, the UK’s leading premium cask ale, as well as many other award-winning ales such as Chiswick Bitter, ESB and 1845. Three of Fuller’s beers - London Pride, ESB and Chiswick Bitter - have been named Champion Beer of Britain, a record unmatched by any other brewer. Fuller’s ale range now also includes Discovery, a blonde beer launched in 2005.

Cheers,
WMMc