#waterintobeer

[beerandpresentdanger]

Golden Pints 2016

2016 was an odd one. I don’t just mean politically, historically, environmentally - I mean on a personal, more human level, down in the trenches where I can be found crawling around. It was touched by grief and by joy - a bereavement and finding out I was going to be a dad, respectively - and besides those things, everything else seemed slightly greyed out in comparison, like the softly-blurred middle distance of a photograph, focused on something else.

Blogging took a back seat, unfortunately, as the slowly diminishing archives of BAPD shows - even if the drinking didn’t, what with it being there to comfort you in the down times and toast you in the good. In fact, I can say without a doubt that 2016 was my best drinking year ever - for quality, for diversity, maybe even for volume, though maybe not that, since I was a student once. Quite literally, from the moment the clocks chimed midnight and ushered 2016 into being, I have been drinking good beer - I started with Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout 2015, and the as final vengeful seconds of 2016 ticked away, I was sipping a Trappistes Rochefort 10. The pace and the pleasure rarely let up. Hopefully that been reflected in the blog, even if not as regularly as I would have liked.

The accepted way to celebrate the year in beer on the internet is in the form of Golden Pints - a kind of communal awards, shouting out all the things you loved most from the past 12 months. Having gone right over the year end, just in case anything was going to sneak in under the wire, here are my prize winners, in whatever categories I feel like recognising:

Beer of the Year - Cloudwater DIPA V10

It feels like Cloudwater’s evolving DIPA series has become almost emblematic of UK craft beer and the culture surrounding it - a high ABV your dad would wince at, scarcity in the select bottle shops it turns up in, and a series of eye-catching designs meaning the bottles are as satisfying to look at as they are to open. But despite its cultural dominance, it’s barely been 12 months since the first iteration appeared and made everyone lose their collective shit. Now on a monthly schedule, and harnessing the accumulated experience of nine past iterations, December’s DIPA V10 saw the addition of alchemical hop powders and oats to the grist, for their most billowingly fruity effort yet. DIPA defined the year. Bring on the cans.

Brewery of the Year - Brew by Numbers

It feels almost impossible to pick a brewery of the year when there were so many good breweries making great beer this year - the aforementioned Cloudwater, Magic Rock and Siren all made strong showings - but ultimately I picked Brew by Numbers because I couldn’t think of another brewery making such strides with such diverse styles as they have this year. From barrel-aged imperial stouts to semi-legendary saisons, via hazy pale ales and sticky IPAs, there isn’t a dice roll of digits that hasn’t worked for them.

Venue of the Year - waterintobeer

Sometimes, you just get lucky. This year, my sleepy corner of south east London discovered, in the space of a few days, that it was getting two bottle shops. Both turned out to be excellent, and I maintain Salthouse Bottles may be the most pleasingly laid out shop in the capital. But waterintobeer has a special place in my heart, thanks to a) having seats allowing you to sit in and drink b) playing excellent records and introducing me to bands like Martha. It’s a home away from home already.

Location of the Year - Brussels

I’m almost embarrassed (humblebrag!) by the number of places I went this year where beer was a centrepiece of the trip. I did a cask ale crawl round the charming pubs of Derby. I drank my way through the dankest offerings Brooklyn’s Other Half had to offer. I crushed cans of Jai Alai in the Florida sun, and crammed in as many bars as Manchester and Leeds had to offer. All of these are worthy beer trips to make, but nothing else quite matched up to my first trip to Belgium. After a bad teenaged run in with a bottle of Leffe, I’d never truly come to appreciate Belgian beer, but a weekend in Bruges and Brussels soon changed that. Sitting in the sunny yard of a puppet theatre drinking Westvleteren XII was close to a religious experience.

Writers of the Year - Matthew Curtis / Will Gordon

Whether on his own site, Total Ales, or doing beautifully illustrated stories for Good Beer Hunting, I’ve loved reading Matthew Curtis’ work this year. He writes with passion and precision, and an uncommon clarity about the broader industry that always makes me pause to consider the bigger picture. Meanwhile, Will Gordon remains the chief inspiration for me bothering to tell other people what I like to drink, with a voice that combines humour and insight in equal doses. I hope they both keep up the good work.

Moment of the Year - The British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards

This is shamelessly self-obsessed, but after two years of writing a blog read by a small circle of family and friends (usually during their toilet breaks, I’d imagine), being named runner up in the Best Young Beer Writer category at the British Guild of Beer Writer Awards was overwhelming. On top of that, it was a cracking evening, with friendly, welcoming company, (especially the team at Hall & Woodhouse who kindly hosted me), top notch food and plenty of beer. It showed me, as much as anything else, that the world of beer is a good place to be, whatever year it is.

[theglorioussob]

#JesusBrother #BryanChrist #WaterIntoBeer #CoorsLight 🤣🤣🤣

[whiteemotion]

SE4 London >> This Saturday 24th will be joining Cath Roberts to play a duo at #brak - improvised music at waterintobeer - The bill is stelar including, Tom Ward, Karolibe Kraabel, Colín Webster and Sarah Gail Brand. Doors 6.30 #improvisation #duo #brak #cathrobers #unplugged (at waterintobeer) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci19oxjoJ-2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lewismckale]

Now boarding my plane back to Spain but I take very dear memories home with me! I made new friends as well as catch up with a bunch of dear old ones too! Thanks to everyone that came to our shows! This tour was mega and we certainly went out with a bang on Saturday at @waterintobeer! And what a week I had with @jamesdmaxim! We will definitely be doing this again! I will see you next time UK! https://www.instagram.com/p/CdGQbwOISBq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gigsoupmusic]

Tim Holehouse departs from mutant delta blues sound with rustic and artful new album 'Come'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0CR3THJMCo&feature=youtu.be Making a real departure from Tim Holehouse's normal material of mutant delta blues, Come (Out November 15th) is a more alternative country feeling album. Recorded with a string trio, pedal steel guitar and various instruments at Silent City Studio with Robert Hobson - who is known for producing more harsh albums including those of black metal band A Forest of Stars (two of whom appear on this record) - over August 2017. It's a real departure and adventure into new sonic territories for all parties involved.

The album was written over a 5 year period, initial demos started when Tim was writing previous albums Odd/Even and Hail. These were then sculpted over the next 5 years with arrangements and further demos. It was a real labour of love to make this album as perfect as possible, with maybe a little look back to earlier album From The Dawn Chorus to make sure it was not rushed. Patience paid off. Those who have heard the album in early play backs have drawn comparisons to The National, Leonard Cohen, Smog, Lambchop, Bonnie Prince Billy (who the song Prince of the Palace is tribute to) and, perhaps rather unusually, Tony Bennett. Almost narrated stories unravel through string-laden and various sounding pieces.

Come was recorded during two weeks by Tim Holehouse and Robert Hobson. Tim lived in the studio, sleeping on the studio's couch or floor when his brain would allow him to sleep. The album features Katie Stone (violin and backing vocals) and Rick Blakelock (drums) from A Forest of Stars, Tim Loud (double bass) from Bootscraper and also a former solo touring tour mate, virtuoso violin player Kieran O’Malley from Spirit of John. Florence Fawcette provided some lovely cello lines, James William Boston played some wonderful piano on it and last but not least the amazing Benjamin William Pike provided pedal steel guitar. Tim Holehouse was born in Dorchester and raised in Portsmouth. Having graduated from the University of Plymouth with an honours degree in music (despite not actually being able to read score) Tim has spent the last 13 years pretty much full time on the road playing 250-300 shows a year touring not only in Europe but all round the world. Drawing inspiration from many sources and styles of music he never likes to be typecast.

Tour Dates: 3rd October @ Bontempi, Nancy 4th October@ L'Intra Muros, Nivelles 5th October@ Roadside Barbers, Antwerp 6th October@ Uncle Lou’s, Liege 7th October@ House Show, Zweibrücken 9th October@ Piraten Pub, Piern am chiemsee 10th October@ Black horse Inn, Wels 11th October@ DemoZ, Ludwigzburg 12th October@ Vendarbar, Dresden 13th October@ Upholstery Studio, Munchen 16th October@ Wienberg Krugg, Kassel 23rd October@ Artliner, Berlin 24th October@ Beard Brothers and Sisters, Leipzig 25th October@ Hiranja Thai restaurant, lautzenhausen 9th November@ Waterintobeer, Brockley, London 14th November@ Cambridge Blue Moon 15th November @Queen’s Arms, Torpoint 16th November@ Charlie’s Bar Redruth 17th November@ Framers arms, Penzance 18th November@ Chameleon, Nottingham 19th November@ Northern Guitars, Leeds 20th November@ Swansea, Bunkhouse 21st November@ Le Pub Newport 22nd November@ Cellar Bar Cardigan 23rd November@ Cwmcarn Hotel, Cwmcarn 24th November@ Specialist subject records, Bristol 26th November@ Poco Loco, Chatham 27th November@ La cave, Bolong sur mur 28th November@ House show, Antwerp 29th November@ Local Autogéré du Borinage, Mons 30th November@ JH Ypsilon, Aalast Read the full article

[lewishamledger]

A complete list of stockists of The Lewisham Ledger

The paper is distributed to more than 160 pick-up points across the borough, which are listed in full below. Stockists are located in Catford, Hither Green, Lewisham, Ladywell, St Johns, New Cross, Deptford, Brockley, Telegraph Hill, Crofton Park, Honor Oak, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Beckenham Place, Bellingham, Downham, Grove Park, Lee and Blackheath. If you’re a local business or organisation who would like to stock some copies of our free community publication for your customers to read, please email lewishamledger@gmail.com. 

David Oakman & Sons Family Butchers, 28 Muirkirk Road, SE6 1BE

Good Food, 7 Sandhurst Market, Sandhurst Road, SE6 1DL

Sangley Road Laundrette, 294 Sangley Road, SE6 2JT

Catford Library, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU

Ninth Life, 167 Rushey Green, SE6 4BD

Joy’s Health Sanctuary, 29 Winslade Way, SE6 4JU

Catford Mews, 32 Winslade Way, SE6 4JU

Torridon Primary School, Hazelbank Road, SE6 1LU 

Havva’s Hairdressers, 181 Torridon Road, SE6 1RG  

Springbank Fish & Chips, 75 Springbank Road, SE13 6SS

Arlo and Moe, 60 Springbank Road, SE13 6SN

Blue Marlin Fish Bar, 17 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5ND

You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, 15 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5ND

Mems Barbers, 8 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB

Crimson & Clover, 10 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB

The Station Hotel, 14 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB 

Bill’s Barbers, 28 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB

H2U, 25 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5ND

Park Fever, 21a Staplehurst Road, SE13 5ND

Good Hope, 216-218 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6RT

Drink at Bob’s, 214 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6RT

My Home, 214 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6RT

R&M Traditional Barbers, 208 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6RT

Sheriff Estates, 198 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6QB

Mission Green, 182 Hither Green Lane, SE13 6QB

Lewisham Library, 199-201 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LG

Fox & Firkin, 316 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JZ

Ladywell Tavern, 80 Ladywell Road, SE13 7HS

Meat Jon, 107 Ladywell Road, SE13 7HU

Raja Barbers, 89 Ladywell Road, SE13 7JA 

The Larder, 71 Ladywell Road, SE13 7JA

Men’s Traditional Barbers, 257a Algernon Road, SE13 7AG

Oscar’s Cafe, 48 Ladywell Road, SE13 7UZ

Catch Inn, 52 Ladywell Road, SE13 7UZ

Brookbank Dry Cleaners, 155 Brookbank Road, SE13 7DA

Vanilla’s Coffee, 157 Brookbank Road, SE13 7DA

Brookbank Laundrette, 159 Brookbank Road, SE13 7DA

The Sunflower Centre, 81 Tressillian Road, SE4 1XZ

No 50 Friendly Street, 50 Friendly Street, SE8 4DR

The Brookmill, 65 Cranbrook Road, SE8 4EJ

Sister Midnight Records, 4 Tanner’s Hill, SE8 4PJ

The Full Nelson, 47 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PH

Deptford Cinema, 39 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PQ

The Coffee Room Deptford, 24 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PA

Deptford Surgery, 502-504 New Cross Road, SE14 6TJ

Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, SE14 6TY

Uncle C’s Juice Bar, 395a New Cross Road, SE14 6LA

The Word Bookshop, 314 New Cross Road, SE14 6AF 

New Cross House, 316 New Cross Road, SE14 6AF

Goldsmiths, Richard Hoggart Building, Dixon Road, SE14 6YZ

Marquis of Granby, 322 New Cross Road, SE14 6AG

Station Pharmacy, 10 Amersham Vale, SE14 6LE

Henry’s Hairstylists, 2a Amersham Vale, SE14 6LD

The Moonshot Centre, Angus Street, SE14 6LU

Five Ways, 25a Milton Court Road, SE14 6JL

Isla Ray, 37 Deptford High Street, SE8 4AD

Deptford Does Art, 28 Deptford High Street, SE8 4AF 

Reb Barber, 479 New Cross Road, SE14 6TA

The Greenhouse Deptford, 481 New Cross Road, SE14 6TA

Royal Albert, 460 New Cross Road, SE14 6TJ 

Bread & Butler, 3 Creekside, SE8 4SA

The Bird’s Nest, 32 Deptford Church Street, SE8 4RZ 

Art Hub Studios 5-9 Creekside, SE8 4SA 

Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, SE8 4RJ

Hop Burns & Black, Arch 1, Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4NS  

Little Nan’s, Arches 13-14, Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4LY

Taproom SE8, St Paul’s House, 3 Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4BX

Job Centre, 120 Deptford High Street, SE8 4NP

The Black Horse, 195 Evelyn Street, SE8 5RE

[Out of stock] Middleton, 63 Loampit Hill, SE13 7SZ

The Talbot, 2 Tyrwhitt Road, SE4 1QG 

Bottle Bar and Shop, 2 Catford Broadway, SE6 4SP

Corbett Community Library, Torridon Road, SE6 1RQ 

Change Grow Live, 410 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LJ

Brockley Brewery, 31 Harcourt Road, SE4 2AJ 

The Brockley Deli, 14a Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE

Oliver’s Food 4 Life, 12 Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE

The Barber Shop, 2 Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE

Paul’s Hairdressers 257 Malpas Road, SE4 1BH 

Brockley Barbers, 24-26 Brockley Cross, SE4 2AA

Prestige Barbers, 28a Brockley Cross, SE4 2AA

Telegraph Hill Centre, Kitto Road, SE14 5TY

Yong Xiang, 7 St Norbert Road, SE4 2EY

Waterintobeer, 209-211 Mantle Road, SE4 2EW

The Broca, 4 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW

Parlez, 16 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW

Nu Spice, 11 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW 

Salthouse Bottles, 12 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW 

The Gantry, 188 Brockley Road, SE4 2RL

The Orchard, 5 Harefield Road, SE4 1LW 

Fishy Business, 1 Harefield Road, SE4 1LW

Brockley’s Rock, 317 Brockley Road, London SE4 2QZ

L’Oculto, 325 Brockley Road, SE4 2QZ

Crofton Park Tavern, 330-332 Brockley Road, SE4 2BT

Crofton Books, 375 Brockley Road, SE4 2AG

Crofton Park Library, 375 Brockley Road, SE4 2AG

Terry’s All Locks, 379 Brockley Road, SE4 2PH

London Beer Dispensary, 389 Brockley Road, SE4 2PH

Jerome’s Wine Bar & Shop, 391 Brockley Road, SE4 2PH

Wing’s Welcome, 368 Brockley Road, SE4 2BY

Jones of Brockley, 354 Brockley Road, SE4 2BY

Arlo & Moe, 340 Brockley Road, SE4 2BT

The Neighbourhood Vet, 1 Stondon Park, SE23 1LB

My Jamii Cafe, 3 Honor Oak Park, SE23 1DX

Rise Cafe, 108 Brockley Rise, SE23 1NH 

Wash N Dry, 104 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN

Sun Do, 92 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN

Wilson Fish & Chips, 88 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN

The Honor Oak Wellness Rooms, 82 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN 

Everest Spice, 78 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN

Sun Barber’s, 58 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN 

The Chandos, 56 Brockley Rise, SE23 1LN

The Honor Oak Pub, 1 St German’s Road, SE23 1RH

Lewisham Elders Resource Centre, 260 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DD

Blythe Hill Tavern, 319 Stanstead Road, SE23 1JB 

Moon Lane Books, 300 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DE

Dartmouth Arms, 7 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN

St David Coffee House, 5 David’s Road, SE23 3EP

The Butchery, 49 London Road, SE23 3TY

Smoddy Sharp, 33 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN

Sylvan Post, Heron House, 24-28 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3XZ  

Leaf and Groove, 57 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN

The Archie Parker, 55a Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN

Aga’s Little Deli & Cafe, 49a Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HN

Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ 

Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ

161 Food & Drink, 161 Kirkdale, SE26 4QJ

Kirkdale Fish and Chips, 157 Kirkdale, SE26 4QJ 

Sugahill Cafe, 250 Kirkdale, SE26 4NL 

Cobb’s Corner, 260 Kirkdale, SE26 4RS

Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, SE26 4RS 

[Out of stock] Sydenham Community Library, 210 Sydenham Road, SE26 5SE 

Beckenham Place Mansion, Beckenham Hill Road, BR3 5BP

The Fellowship & Star, Randlesdown Road, SE6 3BT

The Green Man, 355 Bromley Road, SE6 2RP 

St John’s Catford, 353 Bromley Road, SE6 2RP 

Downham Health & Leisure Centre, 7-9 Moorside Road, BR1 5EP

Downham Library, 7-9 Moorside Road, BR1 5EP

The Gentlemen’s Lounge, 346 Baring Road, SE12 0DU

The Rising Sun, 356 Baring Road, SE12 0DU 

Baring Hall Hotel, 368 Baring Road, SE12 0DU 

Grove Park Library, Somertrees Avenue, London SE12 0BX 

Baring Fish & Chips, 57 Baring Road, SE12 0JS

Lee Raj, 55 Baring Road, SE12 0JS 

Rose, 59 Baring Road, SE12 0JS

Sway Dry Cleaners, 56 Baring Road, SE12 0PS

Bamboo Garden, 124 Burnt Ash Road,  SE12 8PU

Gary’s Barber Shop, 130 Burnt Ash Road, SE12 8PU

David Keen Dental Surgery, 134 Burnt Ash Road, SE12 8PU

[Out of stock] The Arts Network, 8-12 Eltham Road, SE12 8TF

Milk, 164 Manor Lane, SE12 8LP

[Out of stock] Ocean Fish Bar, 166 Manor Lane, SE12 8LP

Happy Valley, 170 Manor Lane, SE12 8LP

The Complementary Health Centre, 174 Manor Lane, SE12 8LP

Manor Lane Dry Cleaners, 176 Manor Lane, SE12 8LP 

Halcyon Books, 266 Lee High Road, SE13 5PL 

Manor House Library, 34 Old Road, SE13 5SY

[Out of stock] Elements Bar, 207 Lee High Road, SE13 5PQ 

Lagos Bar, 221 Lee High Road, SE13 5PQ

The Conservatoire, 19-21 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ

[Out of stock] Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ 

Age Exchange, 11 Blackheath Village, SE3 9LA

The Migration Museum, Unit 11, Lewisham Shopping Centre, SE13 7HB

[daynegrant]

I'm at Waterintobeer!

https://4sq.com/2x52rfp

[lewismckale]

Thank you London! What an amazing evening at @waterintobeer, big love to Martin for having us! Can’t believe the tour is over! What an incredible week! I will miss my touring buddies @jamesdmaxim and @steve_vstheworld. Thanks to everyone that came to our shows over the past week and for making this tour a success. https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBiyIxI8p1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lewismckale]

London!!! We are here! See you at @waterintobeer at 19:30! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc-_jTEouvk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lewismckale]

Thanks Bristol! A great night of making new friends and catching up with some dear old friends! Final night of the tour in London at @waterintobeer tonight! Totally unplugged and emotional! What a great week it’s been! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc-a5OGoIJm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lewismckale]

1 week until the tour!!! Who’s coming to the Brunswick next Monday?! Brighton people!! My first gig back home in 2 years! See you at the following dates: 25/04 - The Brunswick, Hove 26/04 - The Fountain, Chichester 28/04 - Chaplins, Bournemouth 29/04 - Chelsea Inn, Bristol 30/04 - Waterintobeer, London https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccfxay-KCYp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lewismckale]

ANNOUNCEMENT! In April I will be returning to the UK and will be playing a bunch of shows with my dear friend @jamesdmaxim! I cannot wait for this, it’s been 2 years since I last played in the UK so this will be a big one for me! I hope to see you at the following… 25/04 - The Brunswick, Hove 26/04 - The Fountain, Chichester 28/04 - Chaplins, Bournemouth 29/04 - The Chelsea Inn, Bristol 30/04 - Waterintobeer, London https://www.instagram.com/p/CaaG7b1L_Q9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[daynegrant]

I'm at Waterintobeer!

https://4sq.com/2x52rfp

[lewishamledger]

A crafty couple

Words by Seamus Hasson; Photo by Lima Charlie

What started off as a punk fanzine with a complementary football team based in Leeds has somehow progressed into a mecca for home-brewing enthusiasts in Brockley.

Waterintobeer is the brainchild of Tim Livesey, an avid punk fan and craft beer aficionado. It’s a home brewery, a bar, an off-licence, a music venue, a community space and a cultural hub that brings together people with diverse interests attracted by its niche events and exquisite selection of beers and ales.

Tim opened the business two-and-a-half years ago after a trip to Washington with his partner Helen Clarke. The name however originates from early noughties Yorkshire.

“We went on holiday one year to the States to a place called Olympia in Washington to look at Riot Grrrl stuff basically, because that’s where Riot Grrrl comes from,” Leeds native Tim, who has been living in south-east London for the past eight years, tells me.

“I was working in administration for a construction company at the time and we came across a homebrew shop. We thought, ‘There isn’t one of these in London’, and it went from there.”

While the name Waterintobeer might sound self-explanatory, it is in fact the name that Tim gave to a fanzine he ran in Leeds some 15 years ago with his friend Luke. The pair went on to start a Sunday League football team of the same name and the punk DIY ethos that drove Tim’s earlier ventures is very much present in the home brewing shop.

Helen, a former journalist who now works in PR and has been present in the business from the beginning, says: “I think the idea behind the home brewing side of it was you were homebrewing a lot at home and you'd buy everything online,” she says to Tim.

“So, there was nowhere you could go at the last minute, ‘Oh, I’ve not got the yeast, I’ve not got the mull so you would have to put everything off for another week. Whereas we often get people running down saying, ‘I’ve forgot to get this, so it’s just somewhere for home brewers to get their bits last minute.”

“We brew a bit of everything – we brew IPAs, pales and then there’s Helen’s Brewery Day,” Tim adds. “The good thing about home brewing is that you can experiment a lot with the flavours, you can basically chuck anything in. So, with Helen’s Brew she just throws in things like Jaffa Cakes and marmalade and oranges.”

“I do a lot of stouts,” Helen adds. “So I've done things like coffee stout and jaffa cake stout.”

Before meeting Tim, Helen also ran a feminist punk fanzine and the couple are passionate advocates of the punk DIY ethos.

Waterintobeer is much more than another craft beer shop; it’s a community where people experiment and share their ideas.

“We have a mix of people who come here to use the home brewing, from students who just want to do something quite cheap and get five pints at the end of it to people who have been brewing 30, 40 years,” Tim says.

“With the homebrew club everyone shares the beers that they make, so that’s the only time we would taste the home brew,” Helen adds.

“Our homebrew club is usually about 15 to 20 people and they never just say, ‘Here’s a lager I made or here’s a pale ale.’ It’s always, ‘Here’s an oaked smoked beer’, or something completely bonkers.”

Tim and Helen also have an allotment across the road from the shop where they grow their own hops for the home brews. They do monthly challenges where people bring along ingredients they have grown themselves such as hops and chillies.

“A lot of people come in here during the summer to do their own elderflower wine or elderflower champagne,” Helen explains. “Or cider whenever it’s apple season; people come in and use the apples they’ve grown in their garden or they’ll go out and forage for their own ingredients.”

“There are hops growing wild around here, so people use the wild hops, this is old Kent basically, which is a fertile hop-growing region,” Tim adds. “You’ll find them growing all around the train station and so on.”

The shop sells a wide selection of beers from independent breweries across London and as a Leeds boy, Tim also stocks breweries from Yorkshire allowing Londoners to sample flavours from the north. Aside from selling beers and home brewing, Waterintobeer is gaining a growing reputation for its often niche cultural events.

“We do monthly acoustic nights, we do a monthly improv night, a monthly comedy night, there’s a board game night and we do monthly quizzes,” Helen explains.

“Music is a big part of the shop, we try to incorporate it in everything we do,” Tim adds.

“We’ve had an American artist come here for the acoustic night, and last night we had a Scottish touring artist.”

Tim describes improv as a sub-shoot of jazz. “They all call themselves jazz musicians,” he explains. “It's basically where one person starts playing and another plays off them, so it’s improvised compositions that are just made up on the spot. Sometimes the result can be very weird.”

“There are three local musicians who run the night,” Helen adds. “So they all live in Brockley and they invite someone to do a duet with them. All the events that we have here are run by locals, we just kind of hand over the space to them.”

Another evening that has recently been added to the repertoire of events is a seven-inch singles night, where people are encouraged to bring their favourites along. There is also, of course, the home brewing club, an ever-growing community of home brew enthusiasts.

“It's brought together different aspects of the community around here, who never really had the space previously because all the stuff is quite niche,” Tim says. “Even the quiz is ridiculously hard. It’s run by our friends who wanted to put a quiz on, it's their baby.

“We’ve built up a community and brought people together who haven’t had a space before, because like I say, a lot of the stuff is quite niche – but there’s a huge appetite for trying out new artistic things around here.”