Hammerton Brewery
N7 Pale Ale
5.2%
Islington, London, UK

Right off Upper Street you’ll find old now new brewery, Hammerton. First founded in 1868 the brewery closed in the late 50s and demolished. However in 2014 Lee Hammerton, a member of the Hammerton family decided to resurrect Hammerton Brewery. Residing in Stoke Newington I believe Hammerton is techcnially now my closest brewery (with Pressure Drop moving a while back) so I’ve wanted to try a beer for a long time.

Sat in the Star of Kings (near my office) recently I had a few pints of N1, also a pale ale by Hammerton. Then on a day off I did my monthly Clapton Craft haul and picked up a bottle of N7, a special pale ale. I say it is special because the recipe was developed by James Kemp, formally Head Brewer of Buxton Brewery and now Senior Brewer at Thornbridge Brewery. It has a sweet aroma with lots of fruity hop fragrances coming through.

N7 uses six different hops and the taste is very reminiscent of citrus fruits, particularly like grapefruit. There is a really refreshing bitterness combined with a sweet flavour, making it a lovely beer. Hammerton is a lovely story and kind of epitomises the craft beer surge we’re currently seeing. To think the original brewery closed over 50 years ago but is now back and making a sustainable business, but even better brilliant beers.

OVERALL: 3/5