From Café Kick to Coin Laundry, and from Moro to Mikkeller, Exmouth Market in London is a favourite spot for many in the capital. For good reason, too…

And since late 2019, the Mikkeller Brewpub has been serving the great and the good a wealth of excellent beers. 

For fans of brilliant beer there are few experiences more enjoyable than imbibing it at the source. Be that at a brewery taproom, or the brewpub model more commonly found in North America, the idea of grain to glass can mean beer at its best.

And under the guidance of head brewer Will Phoenix, patrons can enjoy just that in Clerkenwell in London. The majority of the brewpub’s 20 taps are beers produced on-site with current offerings including New England IPA Mic Drop, Market Best Bitter and Grandma’s Fridge Cake, an Imperial Pastry Stout produced in collaboration with Lervig.

While visitors to Exmouth Market can look forward to an upcoming lager showcase starting later in January, we caught up with head brewer Will and location manager Jake Milne at the end of November.

With Jake having since returned to his native New Zealand following a decorated career in hospitality in the UK, we discussed what makes him tick and what makes for a successful hospitality environment.

We also spoke with Will about his journey in the world of beer, starting out in a mixed fermentation brewery at Pastore of Cambridge, and his love of producing beers in the Mikkeller brewpub environment. The challenges and opportunities this setup presents and his plans for the year ahead.