Destination Deptford

An invitation to view Robert Fitzmaurice's Companion Pieces show provided an opportunity to visit the Hop Stuff Brewery Taproom SE8 and Villages Brewery Taproom in Deptford afterwards.

Canada Water Library

A Jubilee line tube ride to Canada Water followed by a 47 bus to Deptford Fire Station and then a walk to No Format Gallery, housed in a railway arch, was my approach to Deptford on Friday 12 October, 2018.

Robert Fitzmaurice

Robert's artworks, including prints, paintings and ceramic pieces were well displayed in the gallery space.

The Albany

My route to Deptford High Street, after crossing to the south side of the railwal line to Greenwich, allowed a stop for coffee at The Albany, Douglas Way. The new theatre / arts centre was opened in 1982 four years after a fire destroyed The Albany Empire in 1978.

Market stalls in a space next to the Albany were being put away as I passed.

One approach to Deptford Market Yard is signed with a huge red arrow mural visible from Deptford High Street.

The wide access also leads to the Carriage Ramp that curves around towards Deptford station. The ramp was built in 1835 and restored in 2015.

Some of the arches under the ramp are now used for independent shops and cafes.

Taproom SE8, the second taproom to be opened by Hop Stuff Brewery, which started out in Woolwich Arsenal in 2013, is on the corner of a new development that faces east and south towards the Carriage Ramp.

Inside, a board lists the Hop Stuff and guest brewery beers available from the 14 taps. On my visit other South London breweries like Anspach & Hobday, Gipsy Hill and Brick were featured as was well as Lost + Found from Horsham and Harry Masters cider from Cidersmiths of Hoxton.

I ordered a pint of Hop Stuff DDH Pale from tap 1 and the first taste of the 5.7% ABV double dry hopped pale ale confirmed this was the right choice for my palate.

The taproom has plenty of seating and tables. From my table, furnished with a zinc plant pot and a glass 'candle' holder, there was a view of the timber fronted bar with metal stools for additional seating.

After finishing my pint, I walked to Villages Brewery taproom at 21-22 Resolution Way, passing The Job Centre (a cafe / bar) at 120 Deptford High Street.
Simon Everitt (on a mission to visit every pub in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide) identifies the Job Centre as an Antic pub in his October 2018 BRAPA blog post featuring interior photos and which also describes his visits to the Dog & Bell and the Brookmill in Deptford. Follow Simey BRAPA Everitt on Twitter to keep up with his progress.

Resolution Way is a narrow road on the south side of the railway line to Greenwich.

The Villages Brewery taproom occupies arch 22.

The simple bar, at the far end, is in front of a tap wall with a board listing the available beers.

My first beer was a half pint of draught Rafiki (4.3% ABV Session IPA / £2) which was not bitter and had a flavour that exceeded my expectations. The beer menu describes it as 'Generously dry-hopped with juicy tropical fruit hops and balanced with notes of pine on a sweet biscuit malt base'. Rafiki is hopped with Falconer's Flight 7C's and Mosaic.

Before leaving I would buy some cans to take home from the well stocked fridge! (£2.30 or 6 for £12).

I could have taken a seat inside or outside the taproom but preferred to stand at the bar and chat with Greg who had served me.

My second draught Villages beer was Rodeo, a 4.6% ABV Pale Ale with grapefruit notes, always a flavour that I appreciate in beer. The American hops used are Cascade, Citra and Amarillo.

Greg explained that installing a new vessel in the brewery, visible through the gap to the adjacent arch, was taking longer than expected. It was obvious that the Villages brewery has been well planned with a quality floor and new equipment.

Although there were only five beers on tap, they were all pale beers and unlike the situation in most taprooms and craft beer bars with a more varied range, at this taproom I would have liked to try every beer available. However, with time for only one more beer, I chose Zinzan, meaning that Gecko (Little Beer) and Whistle (Pilsner) were missed out on this occasion. (The sixth tap, on the right, is for Prosecco!)

The tasting notes on the clipboard for Zinzan, 5% ABV New Zealand Pale Ale read 'A juicy, hazy, full-bodied pale ale. Melon, grape and pineapple on the tongue buds.' Zinzan is hopped with Motueka, Pacifica and Wai-iti. The malt bill is Golden Promise, Carapils and Wheat and it is fermented with Windsor yeast. As this was a seasonal / special beer it was more expensive at £2.50 half pint.
This was the third delicious beer I enjoyed at Villages taproom which makes the brewery one that I will be recommending to anyone who enjoys pale ales.

Archie and Louis Village are the two brothers behind Villages brewery. It was nice to chat briefly with Louis about Zinzan and agree about the white grape and melon flavours.
I showed Louis a Wild  Weather Ales advertisement in a copy of West Berkshire CAMRA's Ullage magazine and suggested that a collaboration brew with Wild Weather Ales might be something to try in the future.

Cumbia music was playing on the sound system during my visit and subsequent research revealed that 'Disco with a generous serving of jazz' is the Village brothers' secret ingredient in creating a successful brew (in a story by Julia Jarvis for Hole & Corner magazine).

On the way back to Deptford station, I passed the Deptford branch of Hop, Burns & Black, the beer and hot sauce retailer, in an archway under the station but did not have time to go inside before catching the train to London Bridge.

Deptford station

Villages Brewery
21-22 Resolution Way, Deptford, London SE8 4NT
Website:
Facebook @villagesbrewery 
Twitter @VillagesBrewery
Taproom opening hours (check before visiting)
Friday     5-11pm
Saturday noon-11pm
Sunday   noon-8pm

Taproom SE8
Unit 2, St Paul’s House, 3 Market Yard, Deptford SE8 4BX
Website
Twitter @TaproomSE8
Taproom opening hours
Mon to Thurs 4pm-11pm
Fri to Sat 12-11pm
Sun 12-10pm