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The Cock Tavern (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Five Points - First Brews No. 4 – Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Poacher Elderflower (Citra & Amarillo) | | 1 |
| Brew By Numbers - 01/01 Saison Citra | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - AK | | 1 |
| Alpha State - Citronvald | | 1 |
| Redemption - Rock the Kazbek | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - RIP - Russian Imperial Porter | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Ruby Red | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale XX - Superior No. 2 | | 1 |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pacific Light Ale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Light Riding Pale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Amber de Luxe | | 1 |
| Hoppy Collie - American Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - European Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Wild Beer Co. - Epic Saison | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 5 | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Export Porter | | 1 |
| Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - Spanish Main |  | 1 |
| Weird Beard - Black Perle (superseded by 3.8% version) | | 1 |
| Three Friends - Pale | | 1 |
| Brew Wharf - Dr Rudi’s Snake Oil | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Caramel Brown | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Poacher Elderflower | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Wit IPA | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Oatmeal Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Black Iris - Peregrine Pale | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Big Chief | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Trinity | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Revelation | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 3 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cronx - Standard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Kiwi | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cronx - Kotchin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Old Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout (superseded by 6.5% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Sound Wave | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Red Rye | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Victorian Ruby Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - US Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
13 Aug 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Pleasantly uncrowded in here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Poacher Elderflower (Citra & Amarillo) | 5.00 | | Amber/gold in colour. Full-flavoured. Excellent hops, plus a flowery earthiness from elderflowers. |
| Black Iris - Peregrine Pale | 4.60 | | A rather dry, golden bitter. |
| Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - Spanish Main | 5.50 | | Frankly a bit odd. It is a smooth, Jamaican Stout. Muscovy sugar and black pepper appear on the ingredients list and are both prominent in the taste. Roasted malts. Any hop flavours seemed lost. |
| Cronx - Standard | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Cronx - Kotchin | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Export Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried |
06 Jul 2013 (Stephen Harris)
We are on our way to the Brewery Open Day at Five Points Brewery, but hear that it is crowded there and beers are running out. The Cock makes a first class substitute destination, with the bonus attraction of pork pies, and we stay until quite late.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Light Riding Pale | 3.30 | | Another really good, low-strength, pale and hoppy beer from the brewery downstairs. |
| Three Friends - Pale | 4.70 | | Three Friends are following a well-beaten path by brewing their beers at Kent Brewery whilst they get their own premises sorted out. This is a golden ale, with Centennial hops to the fore and a little rye in the background. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Poacher Elderflower | 3.80 | | There must be a lot of elderflower in this. Pungent and flowery. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 3 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Smoked Porter | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Export Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried |
18 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening visit, ahead of a tour of Five Points Brewery. By the time we left, Howling Hops beers were being taken off and replaced by Five Points beers for the expected post-brewery visit influx.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Export Porter | 5.50 | | A really good, hoppy porter with tons of Columbus and Willamette hops. Almost a Black IPA in taste. |
| Alpha State - Citronvald | 3.70 | | Available on key-keg dispense. Golden coloured, with a big citrus hop presence. Condition a little flat (try throwing that one in to the current cask vs keg vs key-keg debate). |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Wit IPA | 4.50 | | An opaque, milky yellow colour. Thick, wheaty taste and lots of hops. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Mild | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
12 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
I walked in during the Pub Quiz. Harris’ First Law of Pub quizzes applied. That is the law that says that if you walk in after the quiz has started then every question is a straightforward one of history, geography or English literature and you would probably have won if you entered. But, enter next week, and inexplicably all the questions will be about ITV programmes, ‘celebrities’ and post 1995 pop music and you’ll probably come last.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale XX - Superior No. 2 | 5.00 | | Cloudy. Dangerously hoppy. Probably corrosive to internal organs. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Amber de Luxe | 4.80 | | As close to a standard bitter as i’ve tried from this brewery. Hoppy though, of course. |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Red Rye | 6.00 | Not Tried |
28 May 2013 (Stephen Harris)
There is a presentation tonight for the Cock Tavern being awarded the East London & City CAMRA’s “Cider Pub of the Year” award. I’m a bit off message though and drink no cider or perry all evening. In fact I peak too early and leave well before the presentation, having an appointment in Leytonstone.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - First Brews No. 4 – Pale Ale | 4.40 | | Perhaps a little less full-bodied and more-hoppy than earlier trials of this beer – at least that’s how it appeared to me. Uses Amarillo, Centennial and Citra hops. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - RIP - Russian Imperial Porter | 12.50 | | A very serious Imperial Stout, served here on key-keg dispense. Has all the flavours that being a 12.5% Imperial Stout implies. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Oatmeal Pale Ale | 3.50 | | An unusual and challenging beer. A bit sweet from the oatmeal used in the grist, and with delicate hop flavours from Aurora, Simcoe and East Kent Goldings. |
| Dark Star - Victorian Ruby Mild | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | 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) - US Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - American Light Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Red Rye | 6.00 | Not Tried |
15 May 2013 (Stephen Harris)
On an evening when most of London is positioned near a TV screen to follow the Chelsea game, there are still plenty of people who would rather be in a pub like this that doesn’t even have a telephone, let alone a television.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Ruby Red | 5.00 | | A red ale with some sweetish malt and a full-flavour of some of the best hops around (Citra, Galaxy, Liberty and Centennial). |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Pale Ale | 4.40 | | Very full-bodied. |
| Hoppy Collie - American Pale Ale | 5.60 | | Nice to see a beer from this Fulham brewery, even if it is only on key-keg dispense. A cloudy amber colour. Very pronounced citrus hop flavours, approaching lemon juice taste. Minimal carbonation. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Mild | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Kiwi | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Chocolate Stout | 5.20 | 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) - English Light Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - First Brews No. 2 – Red Rye | 6.00 | Not Tried |
04 May 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Like many others, my group ended up in here when we found the London’s Brewing Festival to be too crowded for comfort. It was, of course, busy here too – but we found space at the end of a table and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - European Pale Ale | 4.30 | | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pale Ale No. 5 | 3.80 | | |
| Brew By Numbers - 01/01 Saison Citra | 5.70 | | A bottled beer. There must have been 20+ bottles of this in the fridge when we arrived, but just one left by the time it was my turn to buy a round. Saisons are all the rage, and Citra is currently London’s favourite hop. Put the two together and you have a rather special beer. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Sound Wave | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Weird Beard - Black Perle (superseded by 3.8% version) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pacific Light Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
26 Apr 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Busy in here in the mid to late evening – but after a while we manage to grab a table. In addition to be the beers listed below, there were three more Howling Hops cask beers available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Pacific Light Ale | 4.20 | | |
| Weird Beard - Black Perle (superseded by 3.8% version) | 4.50 | | My first sighting of a cask-conditioned Weird Beard brew. Black and a little bit of lactose sweetness. But dominated by strong coffee tastes. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - Mild Ale (Hopped for Export) | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout (superseded by 6.5% version) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
12 Apr 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Very busy in here and the beer selection is a little depleted, although high on quality.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | | Lovely. |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - AK | 2.50 | | Not to be confused with any light milds from Hertford, this is a typically hoppy Howling Hops beer. Low-strength but full-flavour. Uses UK Cascade and Kazbek. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Kiwi | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Old Street Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Howling Hops (Former brewery at Cock Tavern) - English Light Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
22 Mar 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Relatively quiet for a Friday night. Apparently it had been packed for last night’s presentation of Saison beers (only a couple of which are left on tonight) and a lot of people have gone to the brewery launch party at Five Points (not quite sure why I’m not there myself).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redemption - Rock the Kazbek | 4.00 | | Golden. A full-flavoured, hoppy brew. |
| Wild Beer Co. - Epic Saison | 5.00 | | I dipped into the keg selection for this one, as everybody was recommending it. Cloudy, spicy and warming. Heavily hopped with Sorachi Ace. Light carbonation. |
| Brew Wharf - Dr Rudi’s Snake Oil | 6.00 | | A fairly clear saison-style beer, heavily hopped with Dr Rudi. Herbal, spicy and quite challenging. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Caramel Brown | 6.00 | | A very unusual, dark beer. Caramel and toffee offset by a saltiness. Very moreish. |
| Dark Star - Revelation | 5.70 | 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 |
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