3 Locks Brewing Company: Guided tasting and brewery tour

The best part of this 90-minute brewery tour is also its most unusual: you drink beer straight from the tank. Not a sample poured from a bottle or tap, but a fresh pour taken right where the beer is being held. Add six guided tasters, a welcome beer, a brewhouse beer, and a final beer, and you have a generous Camden Market experience built for serious beer fans.

I like the hands-on brewery setting and the relaxed, funny guiding style reported from Mick, Michael, and Shay. I also like that the tasting is not limited to one flight. You get beer at several points during the tour, plus 10% off in the taproom afterward. The main consideration is simple: this is for adults only, and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Key points

• Beer straight from the tank: The tour includes a fresh brewery pour taken directly from the tank.
• Six guided tasters: You sample six beers while learning about the brewing process.
• Camden Market setting: 3 Locks is described as the market’s first-ever brewery.
• Several beers beyond the flight: A welcome beer, brewhouse beer, and final beer are also included.
• Guides with personality: Mick, Michael, and Shay are associated with an easygoing, humorous approach.
• Useful post-tour saving: You receive 10% off taproom beer and merchandise after the tour.

A brewery tour with beer at every turn

Some brewery tours are really short talks followed by one drink. This one takes a different approach. At 3 Locks Brewing Company, the beer is part of nearly every stage: you begin with a welcome beer, move through six guided tasters, have another beer in the brewhouse, sample beer straight from the tank, and finish with a final drink.

That matters because the tasting does not feel like an afterthought. You are given several chances to connect what you are hearing with what you are drinking. The flight gives you variety, while the brewhouse and tank pours show you beer closer to its production setting.

The experience takes place at Camden Market, where 3 Locks is described as the market’s first brewery. That gives the tour a useful sense of place. You are not heading to an isolated industrial site far from the rest of your day. You can fit the brewery into time spent around the market, although the supplied details do not specify how close the meeting point is to any particular entrance or transport stop.

Checking in at 3 Locks Brewing Company

You check in with the bar team at 3 Locks Brewing Company. The meeting point is also the end point, so the tour begins and finishes in the same place. That keeps the arrangement straightforward, especially if you are planning to continue with a drink or more time in Camden Market.

The tour lasts about 1.5 hours. That is long enough for a proper introduction to the brewhouse and a guided tasting, but short enough to fit around other plans. I would avoid booking it too close to a timed attraction, meal, or departure, since the experience includes several pours and may be better enjoyed without rushing.

Your first included drink is the welcome beer. The supplied information does not name the beer styles or explain whether you choose it from a list, so you should expect the bar team or guide to direct you on the day. It is a useful opening: you get settled with a full drink before the more structured tasting begins.

Six beers, not just one standard sample

The central tasting includes a flight of six beers. For anyone comparing brewery tours, this is one of the strongest features. Six tasters let you compare different beers rather than forming an opinion from a single house pour.

The guide leads the tasting in English and explains the beers and brewing process. Specific styles are not provided, so I would not book this expecting a particular pale ale, stout, lager, or seasonal release. The appeal is the range and the guidance, not a promised list of labels.

Good tasting guidance helps you notice more than simple sweetness or bitterness. You may be shown how aroma, temperature, color, and brewing choices affect what you taste. A recent description of the tour points to expert guidance, witty remarks, and interesting details about beer making, while other comments single out the relaxed humor of Mick and Michael. That combination should suit you if you want information without a stiff classroom feel.

The tasting is also a sensible format for mixed beer preferences. One person in your group may prefer lighter beer, while another likes something more forceful. Six samples create room for both to find a favorite, although the exact selection can change.

Inside the brewhouse

After or around the guided tasting, you tour the brewhouse. This is where the experience moves beyond drinking and gives you a look at how the beer is made. The available information does not list each piece of equipment or promise access to every production area, so you should think of this as a guided brewhouse tour rather than a full behind-the-scenes factory visit.

You also receive a beer in the brewery. That extra pour is important because it links the setting to the drink. You are not only looking at tanks and hearing brewing terms, you are tasting beer in the place where the process happens.

The guide’s role makes a real difference here. Mick is praised for being engaging and well informed, with a relaxed sense of humor. Michael is also described as friendly and funny, while Shay is noted for giving generous pours and adding to the welcoming feel. The specific guide may vary, but you can expect the tour to be led in English by a live guide.

The tank pour is the signature moment

The most distinctive part is the beer straight from the tank. The wording is unusually clear: this is beer poured directly from the tank, not merely beer served in the brewery taproom.

For you, the value is partly sensory and partly visual. You see the source of the pour, then drink the result. It gives the tour a detail that many standard brewery tastings lack. It also makes the experience feel tied to the working brewery rather than just to a bar decorated with brewing equipment.

The practical catch is that the information does not say which beer will come from the tank or how large that pour will be. Do not assume you can select a favorite style or receive a full pint. Treat it as a special tasting moment within a larger series of drinks.

Because the tour already includes six tasters and several additional beers, pace yourself. The amount of beer is repeatedly presented as unusually generous, which is good value but also a reason to take your time and drink water before or after the tour.

Why the quantity changes the value

The price is listed as $33 per person, with the ticket price also given as £30. The amount you pay at booking can depend on the platform and exchange rate, so check the final price shown for your date. At either figure, the value rests on how many drinks are included.

You receive:

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

That is a great deal of included beer for a 90-minute activity. You are paying not only for the drinks, but also for the guide, the brewhouse tour, and the setting inside Camden Market. If you would otherwise buy several beers during an afternoon at the market, the package can make financial sense.

Still, value depends on your drinking interests. If you only want one quick pint, this is too much of a tasting commitment. If you enjoy comparing beers and learning how they are made, the generous format is a major reason to choose it.

The 10% discount in the taproom adds a small extra benefit. You can use it on beer and merchandise after the tour. The supplied information does not state how long the discount lasts or whether it applies to every item, so ask the bar team if you plan to buy something specific.

A relaxed guide can make or break the hour

Beer terminology can become dull fast. The strongest descriptions of this tour focus on the guides’ personalities as much as on the beer. Mick is described as engaging, funny, and good at keeping the tour relaxed. Michael is also linked with a friendly, humorous style, while Shay is praised for generous service and giving plenty of beer.

That tells you what kind of experience this is likely to be. You are not signing up for a formal lecture delivered in a serious tone. The tour aims to teach while keeping the mood social.

The guide can also help you get more from the six-beer flight. Ask questions if you want more detail about ingredients, temperatures, or the brewing process. The available information does not promise a set lesson plan, so the conversation may depend on the guide and the group.

The live tour is in English. The activity is not offered as a multilingual tour in the supplied details, so English is important if you want to follow the explanations.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this tour to beer lovers who want more than a taproom visit. It suits you especially well if you enjoy tasting several styles, asking how beer is produced, and seeing a working brewery in a central market setting.

It also works for visitors who want a short activity rather than a full-day excursion. Ninety minutes leaves room for other plans, and the tour begins and ends at 3 Locks Brewing Company.

The experience is not suitable for children under 18. That is both a legal and practical point, since the activity is built around repeated beer tastings. Everyone in your party should also wear closed-toe shoes. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, so sandals are a poor choice even on a warm day.

I would be more cautious about booking if you dislike alcohol tastings, prefer a quiet museum-style tour, or want a detailed promise of particular beer styles. The information does not provide a beer menu, group size, or exact brewhouse route. You are buying a lively guided tasting with generous inclusions, not a fixed technical program.

Timing, cancellation, and a sensible plan

Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want. Since the tour lasts 1.5 hours and includes several drinks, I would schedule it when you can stay afterward rather than rushing to another appointment.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option also helps if your Camden plans are not fully settled. These policies give you useful flexibility, but check the booking conditions shown at checkout for the exact payment deadline.

Plan to check in with the bar team before the tour begins. The meeting and return point is 3 Locks Brewing Company, which makes the logistics simple. No separate transportation between locations is included or needed within the stated itinerary.

Is the Camden beer tour worth booking?

Yes, if you want a generous, adult-only brewery experience with plenty of tasting and a clear signature moment. The tank pour, six-beer flight, brewhouse drink, and final beer give this tour more drinking time than a basic brewery introduction.

Book it for the combination of quantity and personality. Guides such as Mick, Michael, and Shay are associated with humor, friendly service, and useful explanations, which should keep the 90 minutes from feeling dry in either sense.

Skip it if you want children included, need a specific beer list, or are not comfortable wearing closed-toe shoes. For everyone else, 3 Locks Brewing Company offers a compact Camden Market activity with an unusually full glass at the end of nearly every stage.

FAQ

How long does the 3 Locks Brewing Company tour last?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the tour begin?

You check in with the bar team at 3 Locks Brewing Company in Camden Market.

How many beers are included?

The experience includes a welcome beer, six guided tasters, a beer in the brewery, beer straight from the tank, and a final beer at the end of the tour.

Is the tour suitable for children?

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

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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