London Amateur Brewers

LAB In-Person Meeting: May 2025
2025-05-12 19:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This month’s in-person meeting, as usual, will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.
This month is our annual Hayesenbrau competition, on the style of brew your best Rye Beer. The competition is open to any member that comes to the meeting, and will be judged by the members present.
Any sort of Rye beer is allowed; there is no minimum rye content but the beer should display rye characteristics, as listed below (shamefully lifted from ChatGPT)!
If you’re planning on bringing a beer, please bring at least 3 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
Meeting Schedule
19:00 Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.
19:30 Haysenbrau entry tastings.
21:30 Meeting to close – feel free to stay and have another beer!

Rye beer is a unique style of beer made with a significant portion of rye malt in the grain bill. Its characteristics depend on the specific brewing process and style, but it generally exhibits the following traits:
Flavour Profile
Spicy and Earthy Notes: Rye imparts a distinct spiciness, often described as peppery or herbal. This is one of the defining characteristics of rye beers.Dry Finish: Rye tends to create a drier finish compared to beers made exclusively with barley.Malty Backbone: While rye beers can have a robust malt character, they are often balanced by the spiciness of the rye.
Mouthfeel
Full-Bodied: Rye beers can have a fuller, silkier mouthfeel, thanks to the higher beta-glucan content in rye.Crisp Texture: Despite being full-bodied, they often have a crisp and clean texture, enhancing drinkability.
Aromas
Spicy and Nutty: The aroma may echo the flavor with spicy, nutty, or even slightly toasty notes.Hop Influence: In some rye beers, hops are prominent, adding floral, citrus, or pine notes.
Appearance
Amber to Dark Brown: The color can range from light amber to deep brown, depending on the proportion of rye and other malts used.Hazy: Rye’s higher protein content can result in a slightly hazy appearance.
Beer Styles Featuring Rye
Rye Pale Ale: A hoppy beer with added spiciness from the rye.Rye IPA: Combines the bitterness and aroma of hops with the spicy and dry characteristics of rye.Roggenbier: A traditional German rye beer, similar to a hefeweizen but brewed with rye, often featuring banana and clove notes from the yeast.
Versatility
Rye is often used in small proportions in various beer styles to add complexity, even in beers not labelled as “rye beers.”
Rye beers are beloved for their balance of spice, malt, and occasional hoppiness, offering a refreshing and unique drinking experience.

LAB Online Meeting: April 2025
2025-04-22 19:00 - 22:00
Our online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 22nd April – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we’ll be having a few “Show us your brewery!” sessions where some members will give a tour of their homebrewing setup and the processes that they use.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Show us your brewery
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 22nd April
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

LAB In-Person Meeting: April 2025
2025-04-07 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This month’s in-person meeting, as usual, will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.
This month we will be tasting the Cream Ale’s our members have brewed following the talk and discussion on the December meeting lead by Rick. If there’s time afterwards we will also have a general tasting of other beers that members bring in.
If you’re planning on bringing a beer for tasting, please bring at least 2 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
Meeting Schedule
19:00 Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.
19:30 Beer tasting – Cream Ales followed by a general tasting.
21:30 Meeting to close – feel free to stay and have another beer!

NAWB Annual Show
2025-04-04 - 2025-04-06 | Royal Court Hotel, Royal Court Hotel, Tamworth Road, Coventry, CV7 8JG, United Kingdom
The 65th Annual Show of the National Association of Wine and Beermakers will take place over the weekend of 4th-6th April 2025 at The Royal Court Hotel, Coventry.
The main event of the show is a wine and beer competition judged by National Guild judges.
The show is an opportunity to get your wines and beers tasted by other Homebrewers as well as official guild judges. There are social events including beer and wine tastings, and a gala dinner on the Saturday evening. There will also be the opportunity to drink our own home-brewed wines and beers during the conference in the designated areas.
On Friday night we will be tasting wines and beers made by the participants.
Please note that there will NOT be a Tombola stall over the weekend.
More details and the relevant booking/entry forms will be available in due course.

Lager Than Life
2025-03-22 | Pillars Brewery, Unit 2, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, London, E17 9HQ, United Kingdom
Together with our friends at Pillars Brewery we’re excited to announce the 6th edition of Lager Than Life.
The competition and festival will take place on 22 March 2025 at Pillars Brewery in Walthamstow.
https://competitions.londonamateurbrewers.co.uk/lagerthanlife/

LAB Online Meeting: Lager Brewing - March 2025
2025-03-17 19:00 - 22:00
Our March online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 17th March – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month Peter Symons will be talking to us about Lager brewing.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – Lager brewing by Peter Symons
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 17th March
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

LAB In-Person Meeting: March 2025
2025-03-03 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This month’s in-person meeting, as usual, will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.
This month we will have a general tasting of beers that members bring in.
If you’re planning on bringing a beer for tasting, please bring at least 2 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
Meeting Schedule
19:00 Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.
19:30 Member general beer tasting
21:30 Meeting to close – feel free to stay and have another beer!

UK National Homebrew Competition
2025-02-22 | Wiper And True Brewery & Taproom, Wiper and True Brewery & Taproom, Unit 11, City Business Park, St Jude's, Bristol, BS5 0SP, United Kingdom
This years UK National Homebrew Competition.
https://nationalhomebrewcompetition.org.uk/

LAB Online Meeting: pH and Beer - Feb 2025
2025-02-17 19:00 - 22:00
Our February online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 17th Feb – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we are having a discussion about pH and beer led by Jerome Vinell.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – pH and beer led by Jerome
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 17th Feb
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

LAB In-Person Meeting: Feb 2025
2025-02-03 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom

Scottish National Homebrew Competition
2025-01-24 - 2025-01-26
The Scottish National Homebrew Competition is back for 2025!
The competition website is live here:
https://scottishcraftbrewers.org/SNHC_2025
Account registration is now open. Entries can be registered until 19th January.
The competition will take place on the weekend of the 24th – 26th January 2025. The shipping window will be open from 13th – 19th January.
There are 300 entries available, initially limited to 2 per entrant. The first entry costs £10 with the second reduced to £5. Paid up members of Scottish Craft Brewers will be refunded for their second entry.
The People’s Choice
We will once again be running our People’s Choice Competition at our awards ceremony. This is a separate, free to enter Competition that is judged by the attendees at the awards ceremony.

A single BJCP subcategory has been chosen by members of the Scottish Craft Brewers Facebook group; this year the category is 20A American Porter.
Entrants should provide 2no. 500ml or 3no. 330ml bottles or cans of a beer in the chosen subcategory.
You do not need to register on the main competition website for the People’s Choice, just bring your entry along on the day or deliver it with your main entries. Entries will be anonymised by the organisers prior to judging.
Entries will be judged by attendees at the awards ceremony only. They will be provided with BJCP guidelines and asked to judged to style. We may be able to provide average scores, but cannot guarantee written feedback.
The chosen subcategory (and the same beer) can also be entered into the main competition if desired.

LAB Online Meeting: Barrel Ageing Beer - Jan 2025
2025-01-20 19:00 - 22:00
Our January online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 20th Jan – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we are having a discussion about barrel ageing beer led by ‘Mr Sours’ Jacques Marais.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – barrel ageing beer led by Jacques
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 19th Jan
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

LAB In-Person Meeting: Jan 2025
2025-01-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom

LAB Online Meeting: American Cream Ale - Dec 2024
2024-12-16 19:00 - 22:00
Our December online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 16th Dec – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we are having a discussion about brewing an American Cream Ale led by ‘Mr USA’ Rick Farr. This is in advance of a mini in-person competition of your cream ale attempt at our April 2025 meeting.
S𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – Brewing a cream ale led by Rick
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 16th Dec
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

LAB In-Person Meeting: Extreme Beers & LABvent - Dec 2024
2024-12-02 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This months in-person meeting will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW on Monday 2nd December.
This month we will have our annual tasting of ‘Extreme Beers’ that members bring in. They can be extreme in any way – extremely hoppy, strong, sour, old, infected etc.
If you’re planning on bringing a beer for tasting, please bring at least 2 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
We will be also holding LABvent – bring in as many bottle swaps as you like, we suggest a max of 12 bottles, to swap with other members.
Meeting Schedule
19:00 Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.
19:30 Member ‘Extreme’ beer tasting
21:30 Bottle Swap

LAB Online Meeting: Freezing & Storing Yeast - Nov 2024
2024-11-18 19:00 - 22:00
Our November online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 18th Nov – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we are having a discussion about freezing yeast and general brewing questions led by LAB Open winner Arthur Olcot.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – freezing yeast led by Arthur
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 18th Nov
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

All American ACB Showdown
2024-11-16 | Briarbank Brewing Company, 70 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1LB
Anglian Craft Brewers competition for American styles.
https://competition.angliancraftbrewers.org.uk/

LAB In-Person Meeting: Nov 2024
2024-11-04 19:00 - 21:30 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom

LAB Online Meeting: Using Rye in Beer - Oct 2024
2024-10-21 19:00 - 22:00
Our October online meeting will take place at 19:00-22:00 on 21st Oct – we’ll run the meeting over Zoom and it’s open to anyone from the home brewing community to join in on, please just jump in.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻@𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 @𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
This month we are having a discussion about using rye in beer led by LAB’s Craig Agnor.
𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
19:00 Welcome and club update
19:30 Talk – Using rye in beer led by Craig
21:00 Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.
22:00 Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: 21st October
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415

Welsh National Homebrew Competition
2024-10-12 09:00 - 17:00
Hosted at Mad Dog Brewery Co, 17-19 Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BS
https://homebrewcompetition.wales/
Follow https://www.facebook.com/groups/WelshNationalHomebrewCompetition for more information.

These Ales of Wonder competition - Norwich Amateur Brewers
2024-10-11 19:00 - 2024-10-12 19:00
Norwich Amateur Brewers competition for British and Irish ales.
https://competitions.norwichamateurbrewers.co.uk

LAB September 2024 Online Meeting
2024-09-16 19:00 - 22:00
Subject is TBC
The meeting will be run over zoom – please see the link below.
Schedule

19:00
Welcome and club update

19:30
Talk/Discussion TBC

21:00
Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.

22:00
Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)

Meeting Details

URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415 – for the password, please email, or message @lonbrew on twitter.

Love & Beer
2024-09-14 | Hackney Brewery, Hackney Brewery, Unit 10, Lockwood Way, London, E17 5RB, United Kingdom
Festival with The Craft Beer Channel and The Malt Miller. Including a home brew club tent!

LAB September 2024 In Person Meeting
2024-09-02 19:00 - 22:00 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This meeting will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.
Meeting agenda TBC
If you’re planning on bringing a beer for tasting, please bring at least 2 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
Meeting Schedule

19:00
Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.

19:30
TBC

21:30
Meeting to close

LAB August 2024 Online Meeting
2024-08-19 19:00 - 22:00

London Craft Beer Festival - LAB afternoon session meet up
2024-08-10 11:30 - 16:30 | Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Quay, London, E1W 2SF

LAB August 2024 In Person Meeting
2024-08-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom
This meeting will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.
This will be a general tasting of member’s beers.
If you’re planning on bringing a beer for tasting, please bring at least 2 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.
Meeting Schedule

19:00
Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.

19:30
General Tasting

21:30
Meeting to close

LAB July 2024 Online Meeting
2024-07-22 19:00 - 22:00
This month James will be talking about using adjuncts in brewing.
The meeting will be run over zoom – please see the link below.
Schedule

19:00
Welcome and club update

19:30
Talk – Adjuncts in Brewing by James

21:00
Club members Q&A and general chit chat – what’s brewing etc.

22:00
Meeting to close (unless folks want to hang around and chat some more)

Meeting Details

URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81560951415 – for the password, please email, or message @lonbrew on twitter.

LAB July 2024 In Person Meeting
2024-07-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Mash Paddle Brewery, 92 Enid Street, London, SE16 3RA, United Kingdom

Reading Amateur Brewers - Sours in the Sun
2024-06-29 - 2024-06-30
This competition focuses on sour, fruited and mixed fermentation beer styles.
https://rab.brewingcompetitions.com/
