Probably the most unlikely place for a brewery that I’ve ever seen. But what’s inside that railway arch is a real gem, a brewery that defies all local traditions and brews the best beers that I have tasted in the UK. Definitely worth going well our your way to find this place, and their beers.

I have visited the brewery once with my friend. We walked ten minutes, through a driving rain, from Borough Market to get here and it was worth every step. As there are a limited number of outlets to buy Kernel beers, a visit to the source is a guaranteed way to get some. When we got there, the brewer’s apprentice gave us a tour of the facilities and spent a good 20 minutes talking with us about the beers, the brewery, Vermont, skiing and even some other stuff. The facility is tiny and there isn’t much to see, but anyone who has tried a Kernel beer will understand that in this case size doesn’t matter. During this visit we tried a Centennial Pale Ale that was debuting that day and bought four bottles to take home. In the same building as the brewery there is a cheese-maker and a meat vendor, each selling food of the highest quality. The Kernel is without a doubt one of the best breweries in London - and, indeed, England - so for any serious beer fan a visit is mandatoy.

Great beers, great meats and great cheeses – a must visit place! The Kernel brewery is quite new on the London beer scene but it’s certainly made its mark as its produce is consistently good. I’ve never had a Kernel beer that I didn’t like and I’ve liked most of them very much indeed. Every Saturday they set up stall at the front of the brewery, which shares space under a couple of railway arches in Bermondsey with a cheese maker and a charcuterie. There are tables outside in a cobbled alleyway and there’s always something new to try. It’s perhaps not the most picturesque setting but it’s certainly convivial and interesting. (Visited 5 November 2011).

Although I have popped by many a time to pick up bottles in the week, Easter Saturday 30/03/13 witnessed my first visit to the Kernel on a normal public day - weird lots of people around! Kernel takes up 2 large arches the back half of both are taken up by brewing kit whilst the front half of one becomes the shop front, whatever bottles they’ve produced in the last 3 or 4 weeks (ususally 10 or so) plus 4 taps which on my visit were serving at least one beer that had yet to be bottled. Service is friendly and efficient a good 4 or 5 people mucking in behind the bar. Discount available for 12 bottle purchase (excluding the strong 8%+ stuff). £29 for a pick and mix 12 pack. At the front half of the other arch is the drinking area, large beer garden style wooden benches which soon filled up. We arrived just after 10.30 and by the time we left at 11.30 the place was filling right up! There is a toliet available. The quickest public transport option from central London is to take the Jubilee line to Bermondsey then a 7 or 8 minute walk. Partizan is about a 10 minute walk from Kernel and you can loop back to Bermondsey Jubilee Line from Partizan in around 10 minutes also.

Have visited both this (the new location) and the old location many, many times, in fact any visit to London is not complete without a visit here. I have to say on the two visits here I still slightly prefer the old location, though I guess this place is much bigger, the crowd are pretty much the same old regular faces and the staff as friendly and helpful as ever and there is far more seating here, I suppose its just a case of getting used to somewhere new. The beers are almost always excellent and everytime you visit you will be certain to get a selection of new beers in fact even if you went every week I think this is pretty much guaranteed. Whilst it is further out east than the old site it is still easy to get to or you can get very close by Tube (Bermondsey) or bus, Jamaica Rd I guess. Great place!

The microbrewery with its drink-in option is located under the railway arches in the south eastern part of London together with other small-scale producers of goodies like cheese, pies and other home-made dishes. These can be brought and consumed in the drinking area of the brewery. During our Saturday visit there were four great ales from tap and lots of bottles to drink-in or to take away. Quite a charming place and area. The drinking part looks like a German beer hall, and we spent a good drinking time here with other ratebeerians like Fin and Harrisoni. In the cold season you are advised to bring warm clothes - it is freezing cold in the drinking area. We shared nine beers and bought quite a few bottles to take home. Ok service. About 20minutes walk from Tower Bridge (visited, 03.11.2012).

So, it’s a brewery under railway line in a less than onspiring neighborhood that only opens for a few hours on Saturday for bottle sales (and on-site drinking) and a couple of beers on tap. Still it manages to score highly for ambience and selection. Firstly, the Kernel folk are great and always around. Secondly, anyone interesting from the beer world who is town is almost certainly going to call in and, because of the limited opening hours, you’re almost certainly going to bump into them. Thirdly, although the number of beers available is not huge, they change every week and, unless you go every week you are bound to miss some because of the number of different beers they make. So definitely an essential visit. Way more than the sum of the parts.

Small little place where you can find the rare Kernal beers which are all brilliant. Limited opening hours.

I have visited on many a Saturday morning following a coffee at Monmouth. The Kernel Brewery is located away from the crowds, underneath some railway arches. When you arrive you find a cool beer stall located next to some purveyors of fine meats and cheeses. The Kernel beers are top quality, decent value and always fresh. You can check on the website to see which beers will be on sale on the Saturday. Evin or the assistant are always more than happy to chat about the beers and let you taste anything/everything before purchase. It is definitely worth the short detour from Borough market on a Saturday to visit this gem.

Visited several times, and this place is not a typical brewery tap, but I simply love coming by. Always very busy ( only open saturday!! ). Has it´s own cosy and very nice relaxed atmosphere, the staff is always very friendly and helpfull. They have a few of the beers on tap, and a lot of bottles, and all Kernel beers, nothing else :-).. They don´t do food, but you are more than welcome to bring your own, and there are lots of small shops close by , where you can buy breed, cheeses, meat or what you fancy to have. Great place, easy to get to, DONT MISS IT :-).. I know for sure I will be back :-)