It’s beer o’clock in Greenwich this weekend…

By Les Dunn

Meantime, which was one of the first craft breweries to open in London, back in 1999, is now owned by Big Beer (it was bought by SAB Miller in May).

Beard-stroking craft beer fans, with their ‘small and local’ ethos, may be up in arms, but perhaps they’ll be assuaged by BrewFest and Friends, which is happening over the weekend from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August.

The marketing people at Meantime are using lots of phrases such as ‘high quality craft products’ and ‘local producers’ to describe the goings-on.

The friends in question are local retailers selling everything from arts and crafts to luxury gelato, and there’ll be some London-based street food stalls (including the excellent Heartbreaker Burgers) as well as live music. You can try ‘brewery fresh’ beer, and take a ‘virtual reality tour’ of the Meantime brewery in Greenwich.

More than 180 different beers are promised, from the UK, Europe and USA.

“Soulless corporate sell-outs!” cry the die-hard hipsters and Camra hardliners. I have to admit though, it sounds good to me. See you there…

BrewFest and Friends is open from Saturday 29th August between 11am-10pm, Sunday 30th August between 11am-10pm and Monday 31^st between 11am-7pm. Tickets cost £20 in advance or £25 on the day, including entry, 5 beer tokens which are exchangeable for 1/3 pint each, a Meantime branded glass, wristband and a BrewFest and Friends programme. Additional beer vouchers will be available at the on-site Meantime bank, in exchange for cash. Tickets can be purchased here.