As a concept, the BeerKat descends upon a disused pub in London to curate a pop-up experience. Partnered with some of the country's best craft breweries, street food vendors and live music acts, they promise that when you see their branding, you know it's going to be good. They have currently overtaken the former location of Phibbers Pub in Holloway and throughout May and June 2016, they partnered with London's darling brewery, Beavertown, to bring 18 beers in tap to thirsty patrons.
Across three levels, the Holloway venue is a maze of bars and seats and decked out by BeerKat and (currently) Beavertown's artistic guru and chief designer, Nick Dwyer, who has jazzed the place up with branding, pinball machines, murals and a plethora of photo ops. The brewery's familiar iconography of skeletons, lasers and space scenes is found across all levels of the pub and every week promised new surprises, ranging from special limited edition beers and guest bottles in the fridge, week-long residencies of street food stalwarts and a great live music/event line-up.
Events this month included: a Q&A session with Logan Plant, founder or Beavertown, and their head brewer, Jenn Merrick; a special single keg of a limited release Bloody Nortorious blood orange DIPA; and the Graveltones are lined up to play a set on the closing night this weekend. When we visited, Grill my Cheese was proffering some gooey toasties and live music was provided by Bikini Beach Band (perhaps the most esoteric thing I've ever seen).
Hangover Sundays include offerings of Monster Munch, screenings of classic cinematic favourites and Bloody Marys liberally poured. And the place has been attracting a heaving crowd- especially when they catch a whiff of a special beer on keg or cask- this weekend, one such offering lasted a tidy four hours. It's proved surprisingly popular with beer drinkers and the quirky venue is a perfect host for large crowds to mill about it. There are two bars and beers can be purchased in halves or full pints- but, especially in the case of Beavertown, there's nothing cheap and some of the beer seriously packs an ABV.
While the Beavertown residency has proved very successful and popular, BeerKat have already announced a follow-up two week stint with Siren, another accomplished UK brewery with an expansive range of different styles of beer. Expect more live music, more street food and some special surprises- after this, rumour has it that a few more UK breweries have been approached for a similar showcase of their beers.
The Holloway location might be occupied for some months to come, if this is the case. But that's no excuse to miss it. read more