3 Locks Brewing Company: Guided tasting and brewery tour

Beer from the tank tastes better when you can see where it came from. At 3 Locks Brewing Company, you get a guided tour of Camden Market’s first brewery, six tasting pours, and several extra beers during a lively 90-minute visit. The format is simple, generous, and built for people who want more than a quick drink at the bar.

I especially like the tank-fresh beer, which gives this tour a detail you will not get at an ordinary tasting. I also like the generous amount of beer included, from the welcome pour to the final drink. The main consideration is clear: this is for adults who already enjoy beer, not for families or anyone looking for a quiet, nonalcoholic brewery visit.

The guide can make or break a tasting, and Mick receives especially strong praise for his humour, relaxed manner, and clear explanations. Shay is also singled out for being friendly and generous with the pours. Wear closed shoes, arrive ready to check in with the bar team, and pace yourself because the amount of beer adds up quickly.

Key points to know before booking

• Camden Market’s first brewery: The setting gives you a local brewery experience in one of London’s best-known market areas.
• Six beers in the guided tasting: You receive a flight of six tasters, not just one sample and a sales pitch.
• Beer straight from the tank: This is the tour’s most unusual feature and the part beer fans are likely to remember.
• Several extra drinks included: Your ticket covers a welcome beer, a brewery pour, tank beer, and a final beer.
• Mick is a major part of the experience: His humour and relaxed delivery receive particularly high praise.
• A 10 percent taproom discount: You receive money off beer and merchandise after the tour.

Why the 90-minute format works

The 3 Locks experience lasts about an hour and a half. That is enough time to learn how the brewhouse works and taste a wide range of beer without taking up an entire day in Camden.

I like this length for a London schedule. You can fit the brewery visit around time in Camden Market, a meal, or another nearby activity. At the same time, the tasting is not rushed into a quick half-hour stop. You have time to listen, taste, ask questions, and enjoy the social side of the visit.

The tour begins and ends at 3 Locks Brewing Company. You check in with the bar team, then take part in the brewery portion and return to the same place for the final beer. That simple arrangement matters. You do not need to follow a guide across several locations or worry about finding a second meeting point.

The exact starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before you book. The live tour is in English, and the supplied information does not list other languages.

Arriving at Camden Market’s first brewery

The brewery’s Camden Market location gives the experience a strong sense of place. You are not visiting an anonymous industrial unit somewhere outside town. You are starting inside a famous London market setting, at a brewery described as the first of its kind in Camden Market.

That makes this a useful choice if you want to pair a beer activity with a wider visit to Camden. The brewery is not presented as a separate sightseeing attraction with a long list of exhibits. Its appeal is more direct: you are there to drink beer, see the brewhouse, and learn how the operation works.

At the start, the bar team checks you in and provides the welcome beer. This first drink sets the tone. You are not waiting through a long introduction before tasting anything, and the tour begins with something in your glass.

I would arrive with a little time to spare. The meeting instruction is simply to check in with the bar team, so you will want to locate the brewery and settle in before the tour begins. The information does not specify parking, public transport instructions, storage, or group size, so those details are worth confirming directly if they matter to your plans.

Six tasters, not one token sample

The main tasting includes a flight of six beers. That is enough variety to make the session useful even if you already know the basics of brewing.

A six-beer flight lets you compare different colours, strengths, aromas, and brewing choices as the guide explains them. The available information does not name the individual beers or promise particular styles, so you should not book expecting a specific IPA, stout, lager, or seasonal release. The strength here is the range, not a fixed menu.

The guide leads the tasting rather than simply placing six glasses in front of you. That makes a difference. You can connect what you taste with the brewing process and ask questions as you go. One particularly warm account praises the combination of generous beer, expert guidance, witty remarks, and practical brewing insight.

I like that balance. Beer tasting can become technical very quickly, but the tone described here sounds relaxed rather than formal. Mick is praised for being engaging and funny, while another account calls the tour informative without losing its easygoing feel. That should suit you if you want to learn something without sitting through a lecture.

The flight is also where pacing matters. Six samples may sound small, but they are followed by more beer in the brewhouse, from the tank, and at the end. Sip slowly and treat the tasting as a guided session, not a race.

Seeing the brewhouse in action

The tasting is paired with a full tour of the brewhouse. This is the part that gives the experience substance beyond a standard taproom flight.

You get to connect the finished drink with the place where brewing takes place. The information does not list the equipment, the brewing stages, or the length of each explanation, so I would not expect a detailed engineering tour. Still, seeing the brewhouse while drinking beer in the production space gives the session a useful sense of how the brewery operates.

A separate beer in the brewery is included during this part of the visit. That extra pour helps keep the tour social and practical. You are not only looking at tanks while someone explains them. You are tasting the product in the place where it is made.

The strongest value of this section is context. A normal bar visit tells you what the brewery serves. This visit gives you a basic idea of how the beer moves from brewing equipment to glass. If you enjoy learning how local food and drink are made, that connection is worth paying for.

The tank-fresh pour is the special moment

The most distinctive promise is beer straight from the tank. The wording is unusually direct, and this is the moment that separates the tour from a normal brewery tasting.

You are not merely sampling a beer associated with the brewery. You are drinking it at the source, before it makes the usual journey to a taproom glass. The supplied details do not explain which beer is available from the tank or how the pour is served, so the exact selection may change. The special feature is the origin of the pour, not a guaranteed beer style.

I like this because it feels tied to the working brewery. It is a small detail, but it gives the visit a story you can remember. You saw the brewhouse, tasted six beers, and then tried one directly from the tank. That sequence makes the visit feel more connected than a simple sampling session.

This is also where closed shoes matter. Open-toed footwear is not allowed, so wear trainers, boots, or another fully covered option. The rule is easy to follow, but it is the kind of detail that can spoil a booking if you overlook it.

The final beer and the real value of the ticket

The ticket includes more than the six-beer flight. You receive:

• A welcome beer
• Six guided tasters
• A beer in the brewery
• Beer straight from the tank
• A final beer after completing the tour

That is an unusually full package for a 90-minute brewery experience. The exact size of each pour is not stated, so I would avoid treating the total as a fixed number of full pints. Still, the amount is clearly generous, and the high praise focuses heavily on how much beer is included.

The final beer gives the visit a pleasant finish. It is not just a tasting that ends as soon as the guide completes the explanation. You get a last drink after completing the tour, which lets you settle back into the taproom before deciding if you want to buy anything else.

The ticket is listed at £30, with a displayed price of about $33 per person. Currency and booking prices can change, so check the amount shown when you reserve. At that price, the value depends on how much of the included beer you actually want and how much you value the guided brewery access.

For a beer fan, the package compares well because it combines a welcome drink, six samples, several additional pours, a brewery tour, and a tank-fresh serving. For someone who only wants one casual Camden drink, it is probably more than necessary.

You also receive a 10 percent discount in the taproom on beer and merchandise. That is a useful extra if you plan to take home a purchase, though I would not book the tour solely for the discount.

The guides shape the mood

The most praised part of the experience is not a piece of equipment. It is the guiding.

Mick is repeatedly praised for a relaxed, funny, engaging style. One particularly enthusiastic account calls him the goat, which is strong praise in modern review language. Another says he combines good humour with useful information. That tells me the tour is likely to feel conversational rather than stiff.

A French-language comment names Michael as a friendly and funny guide who helped make the beer education enjoyable. The available information does not clarify whether Michael and Mick are the same person, so I would not assume that. What is clear is that the guiding team receives strong marks for personality and warmth.

Shay is also praised for being kind and generous with the beer. That matters because the bar team handles the welcome and taproom side of the visit. A friendly welcome makes a beer tour feel more relaxed from the first pour.

Guide quality can vary by date, of course. Even so, the consistent praise for humour, clear explanations, and a calm style is a strong reason to choose this tour over a bare tasting flight.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend 3 Locks to adults who want a beer-focused activity with plenty of tasting built in. It suits you especially well if you enjoy hearing how beer is made, comparing several pours, and trying something directly from production equipment.

It is also a good fit for:

• Couples or friends building a Camden day around food and drink
• Beer fans who want more than a standard pub visit
• Visitors who prefer a short activity rather than a full-day brewery outing
• Anyone who enjoys guides with humour and an informal style
• People who value a generous inclusion list

The tour is not suitable for children under 18. It may also be a poor fit if you do not drink alcohol, dislike tasting several beers in one sitting, or want a highly technical brewing course. The experience is built around drinking, and the amount included is one of its selling points.

Because there is no stated information about accessibility, seating, or facilities, contact the brewery before booking if you have mobility or access needs. The closed-shoe rule applies to everyone.

Booking, cancellation, and practical tips

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available, which is helpful if your Camden plans are still changing.

I would book ahead if the tour is central to your day, since starting times depend on availability. Check the meeting instructions and make sure you know the brewery location before you set off. Your check-in point is the bar team at 3 Locks Brewing Company.

Wear closed-toe shoes, avoid arriving thirsty enough to rush the first drink, and leave enough time after the tour if you plan to browse the taproom. The 10 percent discount applies to beer and merchandise there, so you may want a little room in your schedule for a final purchase.

The supplied information does not give a group size, beer menu, accessibility details, or precise pour sizes. Those are the main points I would confirm if they affect your decision.

Should you book 3 Locks Brewing Company?

Yes, if you want a generous, beer-heavy Camden activity with a friendly guide and a genuine brewery setting. The combination of six tasters, a brewhouse tour, tank-fresh beer, and several extra drinks gives you a lot for a 90-minute visit.

I would skip it if you are not interested in drinking several beers or if you want a long technical look at the brewing process. For everyone else, especially adults who enjoy relaxed guides and good value, 3 Locks looks like one of the more satisfying ways to spend part of an afternoon in Camden.

FAQ

How long does the 3 Locks Brewing Company tour last?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 3 Locks Brewing Company in Camden Market. Check in with the bar team.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour returns to 3 Locks Brewing Company.

How many beers are included in the guided tasting?

The guided tasting includes a flight of six tasters.

Is a welcome beer included?

Yes. The ticket includes a welcome beer.

Do I get to drink beer in the brewery?

Yes. One beer in the brewery is included.

Can I drink beer straight from the tank?

Yes. Beer straight from the tank is included in the experience.

Is another beer included at the end?

Yes. You receive a final beer after completing the tour.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide and tour language are English.

Can children join the tour?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

Are open-toed shoes allowed?

No. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Do I have to pay when I reserve?

No. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is available.

Do tour participants receive a taproom discount?

Yes. Tour participants receive 10 percent off beer and merchandise in the taproom.