A visit to Hammerton Brewery requires a history lesson before you take that first sip; the original brewery became the first in the world to invent oyster stout in 1938 and the current owner, Lee Hammerton, found out after bringing the name back to life that he is distantly related to the original owners from the 19th century.

Now to the current day and the taproom located off what seems like a secret alleyway; exit from Caledonian Road & Brondsbury Overground, just one stop away from Highbury & Islington in zone 2. My visit on a rainy day meant all the drinkers were inside, but there was still plenty of room either on the mini upper floor or wooden benches and tables on the ground floor next to more comfortable, leatherette armchairs and sofas. Plenty of fun to be had here at the Hammerton Brewery taproom as well with games everywhere; table football, connect 4 and even a couple attempting to keep their Jenga bricks upright before saving their pint glasses from the inevitable crash, bang, wallop. 17 taps were on when I came, all serving some stunning core ranges and seasonal specials; chocolate fudge cake stout, black forest gateau stout, bergamot IPA and the award-winning Crunch, a gorgeous peanut butter milk stout.

Food on this occasion was from Big Doggs but that changes every weekend as it does in front of the other London taprooms. Hammerton Brewery also has a bar on Holloway Road, the House of Hammerton.