3 Locks Brewing Company: Guided tasting and brewery tour

Fresh beer, straight from the tank. 3 Locks Brewing Company offers a lively 90-minute tour at Camden Market’s first ever brewery, with a guided tasting, a look around the brewhouse, and several chances to drink beer at its source. I like the unusually generous amount of beer included, and I like that the tour mixes tasting with a real look at how the beer is made. The main drawback is simple: this is for adults only, and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

The tour costs £30, listed at about $33 per person, which is strong value if you enjoy trying several beers rather than nursing one pint. Guides such as Mick and Michael have earned praise for their humor and clear explanations, while Shay has been singled out for generous pours. Just pace yourself, because the final beer comes after a welcome drink, six tasters, a brewhouse beer, and a tank pour.

Key points to know before booking

• Six beers are included in the guided tasting, giving you a broad sample rather than one standard pint.
• You drink beer in the brewhouse, not only in the taproom.
• One pour comes straight from the tank, the most unusual part of the visit.
• The tour begins and ends at 3 Locks Brewing Company inside Camden Market.
• Your ticket includes five separate drinking moments, from the welcome beer to the final tour beer.
• A 10% discount is available afterward on taproom beer and merchandise.

Entering Camden Market’s first brewery

The tour starts at 3 Locks Brewing Company, where you check in with the bar team. This is useful because you do not need to search for a separate meeting point or walk elsewhere in the market before the tour begins.

The setting gives the experience a local feel from the start. You are not being taken to a large industrial plant outside town. You are visiting a brewery operating within Camden Market, a place already associated with food, drink, and independent businesses. The brewery’s claim to be the market’s first gives the tour a clear sense of place, even though the main focus remains the beer.

Your welcome beer gets things moving while the guide sets up the visit. It also means you begin with a full drink before the formal tasting starts. That matters when you compare the £30 price with brewery tours that include only a few small samples.

The tone appears to be relaxed rather than technical. Mick has been praised for being engaging, funny, and easy to follow, while Michael has been described as both friendly and amusing. If you prefer a very formal lesson in brewing science, this may feel light. If you want useful information without a lecture, the approach should suit you well.

Six tasters that give the tour its backbone

The main tasting includes a flight of six beers. This is the most practical part of the tour for anyone who wants to understand the brewery’s range before ordering a larger drink in the taproom.

Six samples let you compare styles, flavors, and strengths in a way that one pint cannot. The supplied information does not name the beers or list their alcohol levels, so you should not expect to choose a set menu in advance. The selection may change with what is available at the brewery.

The guide leads the tasting rather than simply placing six glasses in front of you. That makes a difference. You can ask questions, learn what you are tasting, and get a better sense of how brewing choices affect the finished beer. One recent participant particularly praised the mix of beer knowledge, jokes, and explanations about brewing conditions such as temperature.

I like this guided format because it gives structure to the drinking. You are not left guessing why one beer tastes different from another. At the same time, the experience does not appear to demand specialist beer knowledge. You can arrive as a serious enthusiast or as someone who simply enjoys a good pint.

The six tasters are also where you should slow down. The tour continues with more beer afterward, so treating each sample as a small drink rather than racing through the flight will make the whole 90 minutes more enjoyable.

Inside the brewhouse for a closer look

After the tasting, the tour moves into the brewhouse. This is where the experience becomes more than a pub tasting.

You get a guided tour of the brewing area and a beer in the brewery itself. The available information does not promise a full technical lesson covering every ingredient, machine, and stage, so keep your expectations realistic. You will see the working brewing space and hear explanations about the process, but the exact amount of detail can depend on the guide and the day.

That flexibility is not necessarily a weakness. A smaller brewery tour can feel more direct than a polished factory presentation. The comments from visitors point to guides who explain the process in a clear and humorous way, with Mick receiving especially warm praise. His style seems to keep the talk friendly while still giving you useful facts.

The brewhouse stop also helps you connect the taste in your glass with the work behind it. You have already sampled six beers. Now you can place those drinks in the setting where they were produced. That simple connection is valuable, especially if you are new to craft beer and want to understand why breweries talk so much about tanks, temperature, and process.

Wear proper shoes. Open-toed footwear is not permitted, so sandals are a bad choice for this activity. The rule is easy to follow, but it is worth checking before you leave your accommodation.

The tank pour is the tour’s signature moment

The most unusual part of the visit is drinking beer straight from the tank. This is not just beer served at the bar after a tank-to-tap journey. The experience specifically includes a pour directly from the tank in the brewery.

For beer fans, this is the detail that gives the tour its identity. It offers a closer connection to the production process and makes the visit feel different from a standard taproom tasting. You are not only hearing about fresh beer. You are tasting it at the point where it is being held in the brewery.

The tank pour may also appeal to people who enjoy the novelty of seeing how things are made. It is a memorable story to take away, and it gives the tour a clear highlight beyond the six-beer flight.

Still, I would not book the tour only because you expect every beer to taste dramatically different from a normal taproom pour. The value is in the full experience: the tank, the brewhouse, the guide, and the amount of beer included. The tank drink is special because of where it comes from and how it fits into the visit, not because the tour promises a particular style or flavor.

The final beer and the problem of pacing

The tour finishes with another beer after you complete the brewing visit. This means the full package includes a welcome beer, six tasting glasses, a beer in the brewhouse, a tank pour, and an end-of-tour beer.

That is a lot of beer for 90 minutes. The brewery makes a strong point of offering more beer than other brewery tours, and the numbers support that claim in practical terms. The experience is not built around one welcome pint and a quick walk past the equipment.

The generous servings are a major reason the tour feels like good value at £30. They also create the main practical concern. You may be drinking several different beers in a short window, so pace yourself and use the tasting as a tasting. If you are visiting with a friend, comparing impressions can be more enjoyable than trying to finish every sample quickly.

The final beer gives the tour a clear ending. You are not simply sent back to the bar after the tank stop. You get a last drink to mark the finish, then can use the 10% taproom discount on more beer or merchandise.

Because the supplied details do not specify serving sizes or alcohol levels, you should avoid assuming that every item equals a full pint. Even so, the total amount is notably generous for a 90-minute activity.

What guides Mick, Michael, and Shay add

The guide can make or break a brewery tour, and the strongest praise here goes to the people leading it.

Mick has been described as engaging, funny, and excellent at explaining the process. One person called him the best part of the experience, while another praised the relaxed manner and good humor he brought to the tour. That suggests you can expect a conversational presentation rather than a dry list of brewing terms.

Michael has also been praised for being friendly and funny while helping participants learn about the beers. The comments about both guides point to the same strength: you get information, but you are not expected to sit through a stiff classroom lesson.

Shay has received special praise for being kind and generous with the beer. Since the tour includes many drinks, a guide who keeps the atmosphere comfortable and welcoming matters. The best version of this experience is likely to feel like a guided visit hosted by people who enjoy talking about beer, not a scripted sales pitch.

Guide assignments can change, so you should not book expecting one particular person unless the provider confirms it. Still, Mick, Michael, and Shay are names worth noting because their humor, friendliness, and attention to the tasting have shaped the experience for many people.

Is £30 good value for the amount included?

At £30, or roughly $33 as listed, the tour is priced above a simple bar tasting but includes far more than a single drink. You receive a welcome beer, six guided tasters, a brewery drink, a tank pour, and a final beer. You also get a guided tour of the brewhouse and a 10% discount afterward.

The value depends on what you want from a brewery visit. If you are mainly looking for one pint in Camden Market, this is more than you need. If you want to try a range of beers and learn how they are produced, the price is easier to justify.

The quantity is the clearest selling point. Many brewery tours charge for access and provide only a handful of small samples. Here, the drinks are central to the experience, and the brewery openly builds the tour around generous pours.

The discount adds a small bonus, especially if you plan to stay for another beer or buy merchandise. I would not make the discount the reason to book, but it improves the overall value for anyone who already expects to use the taproom.

The rating of 4.9 from 16 reviews supports the idea that the tour delivers what it promises, especially in value, humor, and beer selection. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than absolute proof. The practical evidence is stronger: the inclusions are clear, and the tour offers several elements that costumed, scripted brewery walks often lack.

Who will enjoy this brewery tour most?

I would recommend this experience to adults who like beer, enjoy trying several styles, and want a casual introduction to brewing. It suits people who value generous portions and a guide with a sense of humor.

It is also a good fit for a small group looking for something different to do in Camden Market. The tour stays in one location, lasts 90 minutes, and begins and ends at the brewery, so it does not require a long transfer or a full day away from the market.

Beer enthusiasts will appreciate the tank pour and the chance to see the brewhouse. Beginners should also feel comfortable because the tour is guided and does not require prior brewing knowledge.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone under 18, since children under 18 are not allowed. It may also be a poor match if you do not drink alcohol, dislike tastings with several samples, or want a long technical tour focused on machinery and production data.

For footwear, choose closed shoes. The open-toed shoe rule is firm enough that it should be part of your planning.

Timing, flexibility, and the simple booking details

The activity lasts 1.5 hours, with starting times based on availability. The precise start time is not fixed in the information provided, so check the available options before you plan the rest of your day.

You check in with the bar team at 3 Locks Brewing Company. The tour returns to the same brewery, which keeps the logistics easy and prevents you from having to find a second ending point.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. If you need another language, this is not the right choice based on the available details.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if you want to hold a place while keeping your plans flexible.

Should you book 3 Locks Brewing Company?

Book it if you want a high-volume beer tasting with a real brewery visit, especially if drinking beer directly from the tank sounds more appealing than a standard pub crawl. The combination of six tasters, brewhouse access, several included drinks, and friendly guides makes £30 look fair.

Skip it if you want a quiet, short drink, a child-friendly activity, or a highly technical tour with detailed information guaranteed at every stage. For everyone else, this is a good Camden Market stop with a clear strength: you get a lot of beer, a proper look at the brewing space, and a memorable tank pour without giving up half your day.

FAQ

Where does the 3 Locks Brewing Company tour start?

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

How long does the brewery tour last?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

Where does the tour finish?

It finishes back at 3 Locks Brewing Company.

How much does the tour cost?

The ticket is listed as £30 per person, with the supplied price shown as about $33 per person.

What beers are included?

You receive a welcome beer, a guided flight of six tasters, a beer in the brewery, beer straight from the tank, and a final beer at the end of the tour.

Is the tasting guided?

Yes. A live guide leads the tasting and brewery tour in English.

Can children join the tour?

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

Can I wear open-toed shoes?

No. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Is a discount included after the tour?

Yes. Tour participants receive a 10% discount in the taproom on beer and merchandise.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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