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The Cock Tavern (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Domestic IPA |  | 2 |
| Buxton - High Tor |  | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Sour - Raspberry | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | | 2 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | | 2 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - US Pale XX | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Mocha | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | | 3 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | | 2 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale XX - Superior No. 2 | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Harvest Ale – New US Crop | | 1 |
| Late Knights - Hop o' the Morning | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Session Wit IPA |  | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | | 2 |
| Ha'Penny - Hewitt’s Opus No. 10 | | 1 |
| Late Knights - Old Red Eyes | | 1 |
| Blue Monkey - NUTS | | 1 |
| Harbour - Light Ale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 3 | | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Cruiser | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Revelation | Not Tried | 0 |
| Clarence & Fredericks - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Ruby Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Kiwi | Not Tried | 0 |
| Late Knights - Worm Catcher IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Old London Victorian Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magic Rock - Curious | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magic Rock - High Wire | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Hopspur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hopdaemon - Dominator | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Big Chief | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Jamboree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Bethnal Green Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
07 Mar 2013 (HSB)
Cracking brew pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | |
07 Mar 2013 (ChrisE)
Another new pub for me, the smell of fresh hops when we entered was amazing. A good mix of customers including a Chinese wedding party.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | | Not very chocolaty, the barman then told us he thought it was the mild with the wrong pump clip. He gave us a bottle of their mild, and chocolate stout, and the bottled version was indeed chocolaty. |
| Dark Star - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Revelation | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | Not advertised, but see entry for chocolate stout. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Ruby Red | 5.00 | Not Tried |
26 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Plenty of beer pilgrims in tonight, enthusing about Howling Hops beers. Good to see an all East London line up on the handpulls.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Sour - Raspberry | 3.70 | | On key keg dispense. A brilliant interpretation of a Belgian lambic beer, sharply flavoured with raspberries. If this came from the Senne Valley it would be a famous brew. Another day I would probably give five stars. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Cruiser | 4.00 | | Golden in colour. Smoother and less fiercely hoppy than some of this brewery’s output. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Bethnal Green Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - US Pale XX | 5.00 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Another busy Friday evening in Hackney.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | | A great blend of dark, chocolaty malt and fruity hoppiness. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Mocha | 9.00 | | Thick, dark and strong, with an intense roast coffee bean taste. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale XX - Superior No. 2 | 5.00 | | Approaching orange in colour and full of US hop tastes. |
| Harbour - Light Ale | 3.70 | | Very pale. A pleasant, juicy and crisp pint. Refreshing. |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Session Wit IPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
26 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Lunchtime visit, with a large group of pub crawlers. A couple of other groups are already in before us and the pub is busy at 1pm. Many complimentary comments about the pub from my Nottingham visitors.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | 5.20 | | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Session Wit IPA | 3.80 | | A pale, yellowish, cloudy wheat beer with a hoppy character. |
| Ha'Penny - Hewitt’s Opus No. 10 | 6.20 | | Hewitt’s are currently brewing their beers at the Ha’penny Brewery in Ilford (earlier brews were mostly at Pitfield Brewery). This is a sweetish, orange-coloured, strong brew. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Jamboree | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
I dragged several members of the CAMRA ‘London Tasting Panel’ here after our visit to London Fields Brewery, for a bit more swirling and slurping and note taking.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | | Black, liquorice taste, masses of hops (probably Cascade we thought). |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Domestic IPA | 6.80 | | This cask indicated as 5.9%. An amber beer with a lemony, fruity hop taste. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | | This cask indicated as 5.5%. |
| East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild | 3.60 | | A dark, sweetish, low strength beer dominated by a vanilla pod taste. Some chocolate too. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | 4.20 |  | Very pale. This batch not quite right, with a faint metallic taste. |
| Hopdaemon - Dominator | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - High Wire | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Late Knights - Worm Catcher IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
11 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Crowded on Friday night. Somehow, all my pub-crawlers squeeze in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | 4.20 | | Very sharply-hopped. |
| Late Knights - Old Red Eyes | 4.50 | | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Domestic IPA | 6.80 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | 5.20 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Busy when I arrived at 6:30pm, becoming crowded. Great beer range tonight, as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | 5.20 | | Black and very smoky. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Harvest Ale – New US Crop | 4.60 | | Amber in colour, with a US fruity hops character. |
| Blue Monkey - NUTS | 4.60 | | A deep chestnut colour. Malty and nutty and warming. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 3 | 3.80 | | Pale and hoppy, with a fresh, zesty taste. |
| Magic Rock - Curious | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - High Wire | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | Not Tried |
24 Dec 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Oh dear, Christmas Shopping day, one of my least favourite of the whole year. My spirits are much improved when the job is done and I find time for a beer and pork pie lunch in here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | 4.50 | | This cask is dry-hopped with Slovenian Celeia hops. These give a good hop aroma and a bitter taste to the beer. |
| Late Knights - Hop o' the Morning | 4.20 | | As the name suggests, this is a hoppy stout, and very tasty too. Barman Mario said he thought that late Knights either now had their own brewery open in London, or that opening was imminent. |
| Buxton - High Tor | 6.30 | | A Red IPA with a nice piney, lemony hop flavour strongly present. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Kiwi | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Late Knights - Worm Catcher IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Old London Victorian Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried |
18 Dec 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Very busy throughout the mid-evening period. The crowd includes a wide-eyed, brave expeditionary force of CAMRA members from south of the river. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that I think Howling Hops has been the best London brewery of 2012, of the near 40 now in production, despite only being operational since July.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Domestic IPA | 6.80 | | Superb, strong, pale IPA. The hops are Styrian Goldings and Citra, a great combination with the sharp taste of Citra mellowed and smoothed by the Styrians. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - US Pale XX | 5.00 | | An increased strength version of the US pale. Still a luscious, hoppy pint. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | 4.50 | | This cask has been dry-hopped with east Kent Goldings, giving it what I think of as a ‘dusty’ hop flavour. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Clarence & Fredericks - Best Bitter | 4.10 | Not Tried |
About The Cock Tavern
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 15 |
| 187 |
| 90 |
| 28 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Hackney, Greater London, E8 1EJ.
There was a pub called the Cock in Hackney village as early as the 1650s, and in 1661 it was the venue for ‘Popish Conspirators’, plotting an unsuccessful assassination attempt on King Charles II. Nobody is quite sure if this was the predecessor of today’s pub – but the present pub was certainly around by the 1830s and was rebuilt in its present form by Truman’s Brewery in around 1930. Very much a down-market, high street, strictly ‘no real ale’ sort of place, it closed in early 2012 for refurbishment, and re-opened on 18 July 2012 as a real ale champion, complete with in-house ‘Howling Hops’ micro-brewery (subsequently relocated to larger premises). This pub is sister pub to the Southampton Arms in Kentish Town.
We have visited this pub 124 times, seen 426 different beers and tried 269 of them.
Postcode: E8 1EJ