The Kernel Brewery
Microbrewery
in Bermondsey,
London,
Greater London,
England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Associated with 3 Venues
Established in 2009
Contact
01 Spa Business Park, Spa Road, London, SE16 4QT, England
Description
General guidance to members adding beers:-
Kernel beers are largely added as 'series' and the naming within the various series are for example ... 'Pale Ale - Hop(s)'. Capital letter on each hop, no commas.
Kernel beers are largely left unretired so don't tick the 'out of production' box unless it's a special/collaboration beer.
With all the various hop combinations it's not been unknown for a specific beer to re-appear again after an absence of 7 years.
The early beers named as 'sours' were brewed by kettle souring, as such these beers (typically 4% and below) are regarded by the brewer to be more akin to a Berliner Weisse stylistically and are therefore listed as such.
The brewery springs from the need to have more good beer. Beer deserving of a certain attention. Beer that forces you to confront and consider what you are drinking. Upfront hops, lingering bitternesses, warming alcohols, bodies of malt. Lengths and depths of flavour. We make Pale Ales, India Pale Ales and old school London Porters and Stouts towards these ends. Bottled alive, to give them time to grow.
Kernel beers are largely added as 'series' and the naming within the various series are for example ... 'Pale Ale - Hop(s)'. Capital letter on each hop, no commas.
Kernel beers are largely left unretired so don't tick the 'out of production' box unless it's a special/collaboration beer.
With all the various hop combinations it's not been unknown for a specific beer to re-appear again after an absence of 7 years.
The early beers named as 'sours' were brewed by kettle souring, as such these beers (typically 4% and below) are regarded by the brewer to be more akin to a Berliner Weisse stylistically and are therefore listed as such.
The brewery springs from the need to have more good beer. Beer deserving of a certain attention. Beer that forces you to confront and consider what you are drinking. Upfront hops, lingering bitternesses, warming alcohols, bodies of malt. Lengths and depths of flavour. We make Pale Ales, India Pale Ales and old school London Porters and Stouts towards these ends. Bottled alive, to give them time to grow.
7.4/10
โ
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Keg the tap. Opaque gold. Foamy white head. Aroma has a herbal bitterness with stone fruit edge. Flavourwise it's got a bitter resinous core and a good handful of herbs. Underlying fruit. Light-medium bodied. Slick. Soft carbonation. Long dry slightly astringent finish.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Kernel Taproom (Spa Road)
on 03 Jul 2026
at 18:35
8.8/10
โ
Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
Bottle from Hop Burns and Black, enjoyed watching Spain v Austria. Pours deep jet black with a beautiful brown head. Nose of prune, malt, treacle, coffee. Flavour is medium-big sweetness with a well-balanced roast bitterness. Gentle boozy warmth. Full bodied, creamy with a gentle pickle, slight astringency mixed with booze on the finish. A thing of beauty, ever reliable and one of my all time favourites.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jul 2026
at 20:00
7.6/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Good stuff overall, nicely biscuity, a little oily citrus peelโikd bitter hay. Touches of white grape, melon, minerality. Fairly clean finish. Drinks well overall.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Kernel Taproom (Spa Road)
on 02 Jul 2026
at 16:56
8.4/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Oh yeah thatโs exquisite. Super clean, lovely dry funk, lemon peel, bit of grass bite. Salty, refreshing, lightly sweet. Delicious.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Kernel Taproom (Spa Road)
on 02 Jul 2026
at 16:49
6.8/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Cask at Mother Arch iii, 02/07/2026.
Clear golden with an off white cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is melon, orange peel, soft malts.
Taste comprises bready notes, orange zest, melon, light perfume.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close doused in mellow hop bitterness.
Okay cask pale but had way better here ... a little flabby.
Clear golden with an off white cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is melon, orange peel, soft malts.
Taste comprises bready notes, orange zest, melon, light perfume.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close doused in mellow hop bitterness.
Okay cask pale but had way better here ... a little flabby.
Tried
on 02 Jul 2026
at 10:46
7.4/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Keg at Mother Arch iii, 02/07/2026.
Hazed orange with a lasting just off white head.
Nose is tangerine, grass, melon, papaya.
Taste comprises bitter orange, grass, pine nip.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close spiked with mellow hop bitterness.
Okay IPA but far from the Kernels finest.
Hazed orange with a lasting just off white head.
Nose is tangerine, grass, melon, papaya.
Taste comprises bitter orange, grass, pine nip.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close spiked with mellow hop bitterness.
Okay IPA but far from the Kernels finest.
Tried
on 02 Jul 2026
at 10:44
7.8/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Keg at Mother Arch iii, 02/07/2026.
Golden topped with a thin off white cap that veers to the edge.
Nose is modest funk, wood must, bretted pangs, herb, lemon rind, hedgerow.
Taste comprises sharp citric tones, funk, stale bread, herb, green berry must, apple skins.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light tang at the climax.
Solid well balanced refreshing stuff.
Golden topped with a thin off white cap that veers to the edge.
Nose is modest funk, wood must, bretted pangs, herb, lemon rind, hedgerow.
Taste comprises sharp citric tones, funk, stale bread, herb, green berry must, apple skins.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light tang at the climax.
Solid well balanced refreshing stuff.
Tried
on 02 Jul 2026
at 10:39
7.4/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Keg at Mother Arch iii, 02/07/2026.
Moderate haze on a golden orange pour with an off white cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is juicy citric zest, grass, melon, light breads.
Taste comprises crisp malts, bitter citric shreds, grass, orange zest.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close spiked with grassy hop bitterness.
Okay pale.
Moderate haze on a golden orange pour with an off white cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is juicy citric zest, grass, melon, light breads.
Taste comprises crisp malts, bitter citric shreds, grass, orange zest.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close spiked with grassy hop bitterness.
Okay pale.
Tried
on 02 Jul 2026
at 08:01
7.9/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 9
Overall 8
Keg at Mother Arch iii, 02/07/2026 - having arrived in a handsome cab, thanks Jubilee Line!
Almost clear golden blonde topped with a lasting white head.
Nose is pale malts, citric tinged straw, grains, cereals, bready notes.
Taste comprises pale malts, citric nip, grass, herb, more breads to the fore.
Medium bodied, fine massaging carbonation, semi drying close with a sprinkle of dusty hops.
Hit the fucken spot on a hote day.
Almost clear golden blonde topped with a lasting white head.
Nose is pale malts, citric tinged straw, grains, cereals, bready notes.
Taste comprises pale malts, citric nip, grass, herb, more breads to the fore.
Medium bodied, fine massaging carbonation, semi drying close with a sprinkle of dusty hops.
Hit the fucken spot on a hote day.
Tried
on 02 Jul 2026
at 07:59
8.5/10
โ
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
(Draft at Akkurat, Stockholm, 24 June 2026) Black colour with frothy, beige head. Malty, roasty nose with black coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice, whisky and oak wood. Malty, roasted, vinous taste with notes of espresso, cacao, dark chocolate, liquorice, oak wood, whisky, hints of tar and smoke, and a generous roasty bitterness in a warming finish. Full body, quite sweet (but not excessively). Rich, warming and powerful, with a good whisky barrel touch. Great beer!
Tried
from Draft
at
Akkurat
on 01 Jul 2026
at 20:03