Craft Beer Bar Near Me: Howling Hops Brewery in Hackney Wick

Howling Hops Brewery and Tank Bar brings raw energy and direct-from-tank freshness to 9A White Post Lane in Queen's Yard in Hackney Wick. For anyone hunting down an exceptional craft beer bar near me in East London, this industrial playground delivers an experience unlike any standard pub. Founded in 2011 inside the cramped basement of The Cock Tavern in central Hackney, the brewery outgrew its subterranean beginnings and moved to Queen's Yard in 2015. There, the team constructed the United Kingdom's first dedicated tank bar, pouring unpasteurized, unfiltered beer straight from ten suspended steel maturation tanks into cold glassware.

Reaching the bar is a scenic adventure that winds past industrial warehouses and vibrant canal street art. Howling Hops sits inside Queen's Yard off White Post Lane, directly opposite the Hackney Wick Overground station, making transit remarkably simple. Exit the station onto White Post Lane, cross the street into Queen's Yard, and you will immediately spot the broad wooden terrace and floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The location backs directly onto the River Lee Navigation canal, placing you in the beating artistic heart of East London's creative quarter.

The defining feature of Howling Hops is the theatrical ten-meter-long bar backed by ten enormous stainless steel tanks. Each tank holds several thousand pints of beer, piped directly to counter taps through cooled overhead lines without ever touching a commercial keg, cask, or mobile transport vessel. This tank-to-glass approach eliminates oxidation and ensures you taste the brew at the exact temperature, carbonation level, and hop vibrancy that the brewer intended when conditioning concluded.

The beer menu on the overhead light board changes regularly as individual tanks empty and refill. A perpetual favorite is Barley Pop, a crisp modern Helles lager pouring at 4.2 percent ABV for £6.20 a pint, delivering clean cracker malt notes with a dry finish. Hop enthusiasts invariably gravitate toward Tropical Deluxe, a sessionable 3.8 percent pale ale priced at £6.80 a pint that bursts with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hop oils. Those craving intensity can order the rotating New England IPA at £7.40 a pint, packed with velvety oats and intense pineapple aromas.

Takeaway options are equally robust thanks to on-site canning lines that package small-batch releases weekly. Four-packs of The Upper Crust bitter cost £16.40, while single takeaway cans are priced at £4.10 directly from the counter cold cabinets. Seasonal fruit sours featuring real raspberry and apricot purees sell for £22.80 per four-pack, offering a bright, tart acidity that cuts cleanly through rich food. The bar also maintains a small list of natural wines and soft sodas for guests wanting something different.

The kitchen residency at the tank bar is run by La Cumbia, dishing out mouthwatering Latin fusion street food that complements the hop-heavy draft list. Their slow-cooked beef birria tacos served with rich dipping consomme, pickled onions, and cilantro cost £12.00 for an order of three. Loaded queso nachos smothered in melted cheddar, jalapenos, and guacamole cost £9.50, while crispy seasoned cassava fries with chipotle aioli run £5.50. The rich, spicy profiles of the Mexican street fare elevate the crisp, refreshing character of the tank-poured lagers.

Planning your visit around the neighborhood rush helps secure a comfortable spot along the communal wooden tables. Weekday afternoons from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm offer a quiet, sunlit space popular with local designers and remote workers enjoying a relaxed half-pint. Thursday through Saturday evenings transform into bustling social hubs, with peak attendance arriving between 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm. On sunny weekend afternoons, the outdoor terrace overlooking Queen's Yard fills almost immediately, so arriving before 2:00 pm is wise.

The seating policy is refreshingly democratic: the vast majority of the indoor benches and outdoor picnic tables are kept open for walk-in guests at all times. Online table reservations are accepted exclusively for parties of six or more via the official brewery website, ensuring that larger birthday parties and social gatherings can secure dedicated space. Smaller groups of two or four simply walk inside, pick an open perch, and order directly at the central copper bar counter.

The atmosphere inside the high-ceilinged warehouse is electric and effortlessly communal. Huge steel girders and polished concrete floors reflect the natural daylight flooding through factory-style windows, while the gentle hum of indie rock and hip hop floats over lively conversation. Long timber benches encourage mingling with fellow beer lovers, while the sheer visual spectacle of the glowing tanks creates an immediate talking point. It feels youthful, creative, and proudly unpretentious from midday until late closing.

The rise of Howling Hops mirrors the dynamic transformation of Hackney Wick over the last fifteen years. When the team began brewing in 2011, Hackney Wick was primarily an enclave of artist studios and light manufacturing units. By converting an old industrial unit in Queen's Yard into a state-of-the-art production brewery and taproom in 2015, Howling Hops helped anchor the creative hospitality community that defines the neighborhood today, surviving redevelopment while maintaining its fiercely independent identity.

A visit here pairs seamlessly with an afternoon wandering along the East London waterways. Just across the footbridge over the River Lee lies Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where wide paved trails lead past the London Stadium and the striking ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture. Walking north along the canal towpath takes you past houseboats and vibrant murals toward Victoria Park, London's oldest public park, which is a scenic twenty-minute stroll away. The area is filled with independent art galleries, vintage markets, and micro-roasteries.

A few essential operational pointers: Howling Hops is a cashless establishment, accepting all standard bank cards and digital wallet transactions. The taproom features flat ground-level entry suitable for wheelchair users, along with an accessible gender-neutral restroom near the back corner. Dogs on leashes are enthusiastically welcomed inside the warehouse and outside in Queen's Yard. The bar stays open late until 11:30 pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1:30 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

This venue is custom-made for anyone seeking a lively, forward-thinking craft beer bar near me with great music, exceptional beer freshness, and delicious food. If you are seeking a hushed Victorian library with carpeted floors, this high-energy warehouse may feel loud during peak hours. For pure tank-fresh hoppy bliss in one of London's coolest creative quarters, Howling Hops hits the mark every time.