Published on October 19, 2022
Born in London. Pioneering modern craft beer.
The first step was a first sip. Alistair Hook, Founder of Meantime, had a pint of Pale Ale from a Yorkshire pub and still remembers the taste, igniting his passion for beer.
In 1978, home-brewing became legalised in USA which led to many Americans brewing tasteless beers at home; however, Hook stumbled across the first two American Craft Breweries setting up shop (Mendocino and New Albion Brewing) and becomes fascinated by the forward-thinking kegged IPA’s and Pale Ales. The UK was still focused on only producing and drinking lagers, stouts and ales, so Hook knew what he needed to do. After many years of learning and travelling, Hook rounds up some of his friends and sets up shop in Penhall road in 1999.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more passionate group of beer lovers and brewers than our
Greenwich brewery crew. Great beer is at the heart of everything we do, and everything we brew.
After re-mortgaging his flat and several loans from friends and family, Hook was determined to change the way the UK thought about beer. In 2000, the very first Meantime beer, Union Lager, hits the taps and Meantime soon becomes well-known with foodies, beer lovers and the Greenwich Union flocking to Hook’s pub.
Over the past two decades, Meantime have introduced drinkers to an array of different styles and innovations; from Porters and IPA’s, Saisons and Wheat Beers, to the newest family member, Easytime Lager, an aromatic Pilsner with notes of apricot and peach with a slightly lower ABV. Even today, they are still brewing the highest quality beer at their brewery in Greenwich, packed full of favour that everyone can enjoy.
A team of in-house beer experts will take you on a guided tour of the brewery where as they explain how Meantime beer gets from tank to glass. You will see the brewhouse, fermentation & maturation areas topped off with a visit to the bottling line. Once you have seen the sights, you’ll be able to quench that thirst for more, with a tutored tasting session of 4 beers from across the Full-Time, Part-Time & Off-The-Clock series. Once you’ve gotten to the bottom of your beers, the tour finishes up in the shop and taproom where you can take the beers home or sample even more of the range in our sleek bar, right in the heart of the action. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes for only £20pp.
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About the author
Chloe Lewis
Chloe looks after all copywriting and proof-reading for Drink Warehouse UK, working with the Marketing team to deliver educational content to all our customers. She has spent many years in the hospitality sector, moving from behind the bar to now helping venues to stock their own. You can find more from Chloe about beer, cider, spirits, wine, non-alcoholic, soft drinks and RTDs all over our blogs, website, social media and Set The Bar magazine.
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