3 Locks Brewing Company: Guided tasting and brewery tour

Beer straight from the tank sounds mad. This guided stop at 3 Locks Brewing Company in Camden Market turns that idea into a real tasting, with a guided flight and a brewhouse visit that is actually fun to learn from. I like the hands-on feeling of drinking tank beer, and I like how the tour includes a lot of different pours in a short window. One drawback: this experience is not suitable for children under 18.

The vibe is relaxed, but the beer knowledge is solid. Guides like Mick and Shay come across as engaging and funny, with quick explanations that make the brewing process easier to understand, not harder.

If you are sensitive to strong aromas or you just want one small sip, you might find the sheer beer volume a lot. This is a beer-focused tour, not a light walk and a chat.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Tank beer is part of the ticket, not an extra you have to chase
• A six beer guided tasting flight, with explanations while you drink
• Guides like Mick and Shay, known for humour and clear brewing insights
• Camden Market location, so you can wrap it with other browsing
• Lots of beer for the price, including a welcome beer and a final beer

Camden Market first brewery, and a real reason to visit

3 Locks Brewing Company sits in South East England’s Camden Market area, and it is known as the first ever brewery in Camden Market. That matters because this is not an offsite “big brewery museum” situation. You are in a working brewing space where beer is being made, and the tour is built around what you can see and taste right now.

The best part is that the tour does not treat beer like a complicated homework assignment. Your guide brings the topic down to earth. In the same hour and a half, you get enough context to understand what you are tasting, without feeling like you are memorizing brewing terms.

Also, the energy from guides like Mick and Michael (noted in feedback) tends to be upbeat and witty, which makes the experience feel social rather than stiff. Shay also gets credit for being generous with pours, so it is not a skimpy tasting.

What you get in 1.5 hours: welcome beer to final pour

This is a guided tasting and brewery tour that lasts about 1.5 hours, and it moves at a pace that works well for a busy day. You start by checking in with the bar team, then the tour quickly turns into beer time.

Here is the flow the ticket is built around:

• A welcome beer
• A guided tasting flight of 6 beers
• A beer in the brewhouse
• Beer straight out of the tank
• A final beer to close the tour

That sequence is smart for a couple reasons. First, you ease in with a welcome beer before the tasting flight. Second, you get the tank beer moment after you have already tasted multiple beers, so you notice how that direct tank pour fits into the bigger picture.

On top of that, you get a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch after the tour. If you like what you taste, that is a clean way to turn your tour experience into a real take-home or take-away moment.

One practical note: it is a brewery setting, and open-toed shoes are not allowed. Wear comfortable closed shoes so you can enjoy the tour without worrying about rules or safety.

Enter the tasting flight: how the six beers are paced

The heart of this tour is the guided tasting of 6 beers. You are not just sampling random pours and hoping for the best. The guide typically talks as you taste, so you connect flavor to the brewing process while the beer is still fresh in your mind.

For your taste buds, this flight format is ideal. Instead of trying to figure out everything at once, you get a guided path through different styles or variations. That makes it easier to identify what you like, whether it is hop character, malt sweetness, or something more subtle in the balance.

For your travel planning, the six beer structure is also efficient. In many brewery tours, tasting can get slow, or you end up with short, awkward sips that do not feel like enough. Here, the tour is explicitly designed to give you more beer within the 1.5 hour window.

From feedback, the guide approach matters as much as the beer. Mick is repeatedly mentioned as engaging and knowledgeable, with a relaxed style and good humour. That is the difference between a tour that sounds like a lecture and one that feels like you are learning while hanging out.

Beer straight from the tank: what makes it special

The standout moment is the beer straight from the tank. This is one of those “sounds gimmicky, might still be fun” ideas that actually makes sense once you experience it.

Drinking from the tank changes the feel in a few ways you can notice right away:

• The beer can taste exceptionally fresh because it is being served directly from the brewing storage point
• The carbonation and temperature feel more immediate than what you might get from a longer chain of storage and pouring
• You get a clearer sense of the actual batch character, since you are tasting it at the point where it is ready to go

You do not need to be a beer expert to enjoy this. The guide will help you pay attention to the differences, and that is what turns it into a learning moment instead of just another drink.

This also explains why the tour includes the earlier welcome beer and the six beer tasting. By the time you reach the tank pour, you have enough baseline tasting experience to compare with what you already drank.

If you love beer, this is the section you want to savor. Pace yourself through the flight so you can actually enjoy the tank beer instead of just racing to the next pour.

The brewhouse tour: seeing the process behind the glass

After the tasting flight, you move into the brewhouse for a beer and a proper look at where everything happens. Even if you are not interested in equipment details, it helps to see the workflow in one place.

The tour format is designed to connect “what you taste” to “what you saw.” That is where the guide’s tone matters. When Mick or Michael leads, the explanations tend to be clear and tied to what is happening during brewing, so you leave with more than just new favorites. You leave with a better understanding of why a beer tastes the way it does.

This portion is also where you get a different kind of value. A lot of brewery tours do show you tanks and pipes, but they do not do much to translate that into real taste awareness. Here, the tour is structured around you tasting again during the brewhouse segment, which keeps it grounded.

You might find this section especially worthwhile if you are returning to beer after a break, or if you are trying to order more confidently in the future. You start learning how to talk about beer beyond just saying it is nice.

Value at around 30 pounds: why the price feels fair

The tour price is £30, listed at about $33 per person, and it is easiest to judge value when you look at what is actually included. You are not paying for a long walk plus a couple small tastings.

You get multiple beers, including:

• a welcome beer
• a guided tasting flight of 6 beers
• a beer in the brewhouse
• tank beer
• a final beer

That is a lot of drinking for 1.5 hours, and it is also a practical deal if you were planning to visit the taproom anyway. You have a built-in reason to spend time in Camden Market and make it a beer plan, not just an optional stop.

One more value angle is the guide experience itself. Feedback highlights witty remarks, expert guidance, and a relaxed but informative style. When the host can keep the tour enjoyable, you get better “learning per minute,” which is what you really pay for in any guided activity.

One consideration: if you are not a regular drinker or you prefer non alcoholic options, this is not positioned that way. The whole tour is built around beer pours, so your value comes from whether you will genuinely enjoy tasting multiple styles.

Comfort, timing, and small rules that matter

This is a brewery tour, so small practical things can make or break your comfort.

• Shoes: open-toed shoes are not allowed. Wear closed shoes you can stand in.
• Pace: the tour is short, and the beer count is high, so slow down early. If you try to rush through the six beer flight, the later tank pour will feel less special.
• Curiosity: the guide will likely point out brewing details while you taste. If you ask simple questions, the tour tends to feel more personal.

Language is English, and the vibe is guided, not self-paced. If you learn best by hearing explanations while you taste, this structure fits well.

Also, because the tour is in Camden Market, you can plan it as part of a larger day. You can wander before or after, and the tour gives you a focused “anchor” activity so your day feels intentional.

Who should book this tour, and who might skip it

This is a great fit if:

• you love beer and want to taste several options in one guided session
• you enjoy learning while you drink, especially when the guide makes it funny and clear
• you want the hands-on experience of tank beer, not just a bar tasting flight
• you like value, meaning you want the ticket to include a meaningful amount of beer

You might think twice if:

• you are traveling with someone under 18, since the tour is not suitable for children under 18
• you prefer very low alcohol experiences, because the tour is explicitly built around beer pours
• you dislike beer in general, because this is not a general sightseeing experience

From the feedback, the guides can really elevate the experience. If Mick or Shay are running your date, that combination of humour and expertise seems to land well.

Should you book 3 Locks Brewing Company?

If you are in Camden Market and you like beer, I think this is a smart booking. The biggest reason is not just tank beer. It is the full package: welcome beer, a guided tasting flight of 6, brewhouse time, tank beer, and a final beer, all in 1.5 hours.

The second reason is the guide style. Mick, Michael, and Shay are repeatedly associated with engaging, witty, expert-led tours, which is what turns a brewery stop into a real experience.

Book it if you want a focused beer activity that feels more generous than a typical tasting. Skip it if you are looking for something light, kid friendly, or low involvement. For everyone else who enjoys beer, this one gives you a lot to taste, and a lot to understand, without wasting your time.

FAQ

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

The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.

Where do I check in for the tour?

Check in with the bar team.

What does the ticket include?

It includes a welcome beer, a guided tasting of 6 beers, a beer in the brewhouse, beer straight out of the tank, and a final beer at the end.

Is there a discount after the tour?

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

What is the tour price?

Tickets are £30 per person.

Is the tour guided in English?

Yes, the tour guide speaks English.

Are children allowed on this tour?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Are open-toed shoes allowed?

No. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Can I get a refund if plans change?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is the experience beer focused?

Yes. The tour includes multiple beer pours, including a guided tasting of 6 beers and beer straight from the tank.