Beer from the tank feels like a small rebellion.

This 3 Locks Brewing Company tour is built around one thing: you taste a lot of beer, fast, with a guided run through the brewhouse at Camden Market. Two standouts I like are the six-beer tasting (so you get range, not just one style) and the chance to drink straight from the tank, which is genuinely different from a standard taproom pour. One consideration: it’s a 1.5-hour experience that’s very beer-forward, so if you’re not a confident taster, you might want to go in with a slower pace in mind.

The tour also feels good value for what’s included. You’re not just watching equipment for an hour and leaving with a single pint; you get multiple structured pours plus a final beer to cap it off. The one possible downside for some people: it’s not for kids (18+ only), and you also need closed shoes since open-toed shoes aren’t allowed.

Key things that make this brewery tour worth your time

• Camden Market’s first brewery: you’re tasting beer in a place that already has serious foot traffic and local energy.
• Beer straight from the tank: a real process moment, not a gimmick line at the end.
• A guided flight of 6 beers: enough variety to learn what you like, without feeling overwhelmed.
• More beer included than most tours: the format is built to get you tasting, not just listening.
• Guides named Mick/Michael and Shay: many bookings highlight humor, good conversation, and lots of beer being served.

Camden Market’s first brewery: what that changes for your visit

3 Locks Brewing Company sits right in Camden Market, and that matters more than it sounds. You’re not driving out to an industrial estate far from anything else; you can pair this tour with strolling, snacks, and a proper day out where people actually hang around.

That setting also shapes the vibe. Expect a busy, real-world atmosphere rather than a museum-like brewery tour. If you like your beer education with a bit of street-level Camden energy, this fits.

A tight 1.5-hour plan: welcome beer, brewhouse pour, tank tasting

This is a straightforward 1.5-hour guided experience, and it’s designed to keep moving. The tour includes a welcome beer, a guided tasting of 6 beers, a beer served in the brewhouse, plus one beer straight out of the tank, and a final beer to finish.

Here’s how the flow feels in practice:

1) Check in with the bar team and settle in

You start by checking in with the bar team. It’s a simple start, and it sets you up for a tour that’s more tasting-led than lecture-led.

2) A welcome beer to get your palate going

Right away you’ll have a welcome beer. For me, that’s smart timing because it gets your taste buds working before the flight and helps you pay attention to differences as you go.

3) Brewhouse tour with a beer in the brewing area

You’ll get a full tour of the brewhouse, not just a walk-past-a-couple-of-tanks moment. And you get a beer while you’re in that environment, which makes the process feel connected to what you’re actually drinking.

4) The tank moment: beer straight from the tank

This is the signature part: you’ll drink beer straight from the tank. It’s a small detail on paper, but it changes the whole experience. Instead of thinking of beer as something already finished and served, you get to experience it at a more “live” stage of the process.

5) Guided tasting flight of 6 beers

After the tour elements, you’ll do the guided tasting of 6 beers. This is where you can actually start learning what you like: crisp vs. malty, hoppier vs. smoother, and how different styles land on the same palate.

6) End-of-tour final beer

You finish with another beer. It turns the experience into a clean arc: arrival, learning, tasting, then a satisfying wrap-up.

Beer straight from the tank: why this isn’t just a photo stop

Most brewery tours try to make the process feel fun, but tank beer is one of the few elements that genuinely changes your understanding. The beer straight from the tank gives you a different sensory experience than a standard pour from a line or a taproom glass.

It also helps you learn the brewery’s point of view. If the team is proud of how they brew and handle the beer, this is where you can taste that pride quickly. You’re not waiting hours for an abstract lesson; you’re drinking the result.

Also, because it’s part of the structured tour, it doesn’t feel random. You get context in the brewhouse, then you get that tank pour. That connection is what makes it worth planning your day around.

The 6-beer flight: how to make the tasting actually useful

A guided tasting of 6 beers is a strong sweet spot. You get enough variety to compare styles, but not so many that you lose the plot. Here’s how I’d approach it so you come away with real takeaways.

Treat the flight like a mini “what I like” map.

As you taste, try to pick one you’d happily order again, one you’re surprised by, and one you wouldn’t choose normally but that you can appreciate. That way the tour becomes a practical guide to future pint choices.

Ask your guide about differences you notice.

Since the tour includes expert guidance and the tasting is guided, you’ll get prompts and explanations. Use them. If you’re curious whether something is hop-driven, malt-driven, or just how it’s been conditioned, this is the time to ask.

Go in open-minded.

If you only like one style, this can still work, but you’ll need a little patience for “off-style” beers. The value here is learning your preferences faster than you would by randomly ordering in a taproom.

Guides who bring humor and lots of beer service

The best tours usually nail two things: clarity and energy. This one has a reputation for both. Many bookings highlight guides like Mick/Michael as engaging, funny, and relaxed, with witty remarks and real insight. And Shay is mentioned as friendly and generous with the beer.

That matters because a tasting tour can go one of two ways. It can be stiff and instructional, or it can be a good chat where you still learn. Based on the feedback pattern, this leans toward the second option.

So if you like learning without feeling like you’re in class, you’ll probably enjoy the pacing and the way the guide connects brewing details to what you’re tasting.

Price and value: what £30 buys you here

The ticket is listed at £30 (shown as about $33 per person) for a tour running 1.5 hours. On the surface, that’s not a cheap activity. But the structure is where the value comes in.

You get:

• a welcome beer
• a guided tasting flight of 6 beers
• a beer in the brewhouse
• beer straight from the tank
• an end-of-tour final beer
• plus a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch

Most brewery tours you’ll see spend most of their time walking and talking, and the tasting is smaller. Here, the format is explicitly heavy on drinking, which is why it’s priced the way it is.

In plain terms: if you’re already planning to spend money on beers during a Camden Market day, this tour is a way to turn that into an experience with context and multiple pours, not just a couple of pints.

The taproom discount is small, but smart

You’ll get a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch after your tour. This is the kind of perk that’s easy to skip on the day you book, but it matters once you’re standing in front of the fridge or the merch table.

If you liked the beers you tasted (and the flight is designed to help you figure that out), you can come back for a couple more and usually stretch the value of the initial ticket.

Who should book this tour (and who should skip it)

This tour is a good fit if:

• you love beer and want a guided tasting that covers multiple styles
• you want the brewery experience without a long day commitment
• you’re curious about process and want it tied directly to what’s in your glass
• you enjoy a relaxed guide who uses humor and keeps things moving

It’s not a great fit if:

• you’re sensitive to alcohol or you don’t want multiple beers in a short window
• you need a family-friendly activity (it’s not suitable for children under 18)
• you don’t plan for footwear rules (open-toed shoes aren’t allowed)

Practical tips so the tasting feels smooth

A few small choices can make this tour better:

• Wear closed shoes. Open-toed shoes aren’t allowed, so plan around it.
• Time it as your main beer block. Since you’re tasting multiple beers in 1.5 hours, don’t stack heavy drinking plans right before or right after.
• Come curious, not picky. The guided flight is designed to show range, and that works best when you’re willing to taste outside your usual order.
• Use the guide. If they’re offering explanations while you taste, that’s the moment to ask what you’re noticing, not later.

Should you book 3 Locks Brewing Company?

Book this tour if you want a high-beer, guided brewery experience in a fun, city-center setting. The combination of a welcome beer, a structured 6-beer tasting, brewhouse beer, and the standout beer straight from the tank makes it feel like more than a quick stop. And with the feedback pointing to guides like Mick/Michael and Shay bringing humor and lots of pours, it sounds like a tour that stays lively without losing the point.

Skip it if you’re looking for a quiet, purely educational museum-style tour, or if you’d rather buy one beer and move on. This one is built around tasting, so treat it like that.

FAQ

How long is the 3 Locks guided tasting and brewery tour?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

How many beers do you taste during the tour?

You’ll do a guided tasting of 6 beers, plus you receive additional beers as part of the experience.

Are there beers included beyond the 6-beer flight?

Yes. The tour includes a welcome beer, a beer in the brewhouse, beer straight out of the tank, and a final beer at the end.

Is there a discount in the taproom?

Yes. You get a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch.

What language is the tour guide?

The tour guide is English.

Is this tour suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Are open-toed shoes allowed?

No. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Where do you check in?

You should check in with the bar team.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.