The Best New Craft Beer Breweries 2023

“Absolute madness and an impossible dream.” That’s the verdict one industry expert on the craft beer industry right now. With the aftermath of COVID lingering and the cost of living and materials at an all time high it’s easy to see why, sadly, this comment might ring true. However, some brave souls are still following their passion and trying to make a mark. Here are the some of best young craft breweries who are making brave steps to expand according to Oli the owner of Craft Metropolis.

Pretty Decent Brewing Co.

Pretty Decent is a very modest name for a very very good brewery. The first of their very decent beers was brewed back in 2017 but it’s only been since moving in 2021 to an arch in Forest Gate things really went up a notch. The extra space and the larger equipment made it much easier for the brewery to make a name for themselves and get beer into the hands of thirsty locals. It was a key move for them and it also allowed production to expand into bottle-shops and bars all over London and the UK. The beer flowed and the effect snowballed and another move followed in December 2022 when production relocated again to an even bigger facility in E17 and they joined the famous “Blackhorse Beer Mile.”

You can always spot a Pretty Decent beer by their rather quirkily titled beer names. How about a pint of; “I Reckon You’re Overthinking This Robbie Williams Track” or a half of; “Our Illustrator Went On Jury Service And All We Got Was This Label”!? If you’re still not sold let me throw in the fact that owner and former charity worker James Casey donates 15p out of every pint sold to charity. Pretty Decent if you ask me.

Gravity Well

Gravity Well’s journey is almost a replica of Pretty Decent and their journey is as equally encouraging. Founded after a hobby got out of hand the inspiration behind it is that beer is; “a gravitational force that pulls people together,” and a strong space theme runs through all their beer names and imagery.

They too started in an arch, expanded into another next door, and now find themselves on a bigger industrial estate with beery neighbours Redemption and Signature in Tottenham.

Before the expansion their beer was criminally good but nearly impossible to get hold of. They were like some mythical beast of the London brewing scene and simply spotting their brews on tap was like some kind of rare discovery that needed documenting so people would believe you. Thankfully the beer quality remains just as good now they have expanded their reach and have started to pop up in much more locations. There’s something about their beer that’s just different which I can’t really nail down or explain. Although they are unashamedly very much into “a real love for hazy IPAs” each and every one tastes like it has an edge that sets them apart from other breweries. One theory of mine is the water they use. They still use a reverse osmosis filter to purify mains water which is both time consuming and tricky but maybe gives them the signature flavours. One of their latest DIPA’s Hubble Bubble showcases this with a smoothness and tang to it that I’ve not really encountered anywhere else. On a more sessionable end of things their 5-6% pales are a joy to drink so do seek out the all-year-round Galaxies Apart as a starting point for a voyage of discovery.

Makemake

This brilliant Portsmouth based up-and-coming brewery don’t tend to follow the norm. For example you pronounce their name like the Dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. For the uneducated like me it’s; Mak-ay mak-ay. The small outfit began their journey due to a “lack of access to the beer we desperately wanted to drink, especially locally, and since day one our focus has been on making what we enjoy.” I’d say they’ve achieved that goal and then some.

They blend traditional European techniques with the more aggressive and experimental practices of American breweries to create an epic range of styles from light and zippy session IPA’s right up to huge coffee and chocolate-laden imperial stouts. That said, it’s their sour IPA game that really flourishes with the blend of old and new brewing techniques colliding to spawn some really exceptional flavours. From basement home-brewing in 2017 to building a brewery in 2022 it’s not been an easy ride but the arrival of DEYA brewing’s old kit and canning line has catapulted production and sales. A newly added taproom was installed at the end of last summer and they seem that there will be no let up in exceptional and quirky brews coming out of the tanks.

An endless cosmic arena of possibilities await for these guys and all small breweries out there right now.

It’s a tough time in the industry but long may innovation and passion keep inspiring people to keep making interesting and independent beer.