3 Locks Brewing Company: Guided tasting and brewery tour

Tank beer in Camden Market? That is the whole point.

The guided tour at 3 Locks Brewing Company is fun, practical, and very specific: it is built around drinking beer straight from the tank and tasting through multiple styles at pace.

I also love how the tasting is structured, not random. You get a welcome pour plus a guided flight of 6 beers, then more beer as the tour moves through the brewhouse, including the tank moment and a final pour.

One consideration: it is an adults-only beer experience, so if you are looking for a child-friendly stop or a light taste with no real drinking, you may want to skip this and find a lower-alcohol option elsewhere. Closed, sturdy shoes help too, since open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Key tour takeaways

• Tank beer is the star: you actually drink from the tank, not just hear about it.
• You get a lot of beer for the money: welcome beer, a 6-beer tasting, in-brewery pours, tank beer, and an end beer.
• You get a real brewhouse tour: it is not just a bar stop with a few sips.
• Guides bring humor plus beer brain: Mick and Shay are specifically praised for making the session fun and clear.
• Taproom savings after the tour: you receive a 10% discount on beers and merch.

3 Locks Brewing Company inside Camden Market: why this feels different

Camden Market is one of those places where you can wander for hours and still not know what you will find. At 3 Locks Brewing Company, the idea is focused and local, and it matters that this is the market’s first ever brewery.

The tour is designed for people who like beer, but also for people who want to understand beer without taking a class. You walk away with more than just buzz. You leave knowing what the brewer is trying to do, what changes during brewing, and why certain flavors show up when you taste.

And the headline moment is simple: you drink beer straight from the tank. It is weird in the best way, and it gives you an immediate comparison to what you will taste in a glass later on.

The 1.5 hour game plan at 3 Locks: what happens in order

This is a tight 1.5-hour tour, so it helps to know the rhythm before you go. You check in with the bar team at 3 Locks, then you settle into the guided tasting and brewhouse walk.

What you can expect, in the order the experience is built:

• A welcome beer to get you started
• A guided tasting with a flight of 6 beers
• Time to drink beer inside the brewhouse
• The highlight, beer straight out of the tank
• A final end-of-tour beer to cap it off

Because the pacing is part of the fun, you probably will not want to linger too long between pours. This is meant to feel like a guided session, not a self-led sampling spree.

One practical tip: if you are deciding what to wear, go for closed shoes. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, and you want footwear that feels safe for walking around the brewery space.

The tasting flight of 6 beers: how to taste smarter, not just faster

A lot of beer tours give you sips. This one gives you a guided flight of 6 beers, which means the guide can explain what to look for while you taste.

Here is how I would play this tasting, and it works even if you are not a beer nerd:

• Start by thinking in pairs. Pick one thing you smell first, then one thing you taste first.
• Keep your notes to one sentence per beer. You are trying to remember the character, not write a review.
• Ask the guide what to expect from the next pour. You will taste with purpose instead of just chasing flavor.

The vibe from the guide side is also worth noting. Mick and Shay are praised for being funny while still giving real insight. That mix matters because it keeps you relaxed, but it also stops the tour from feeling like a script read at you.

And yes, there is a lot of beer in the flow. If you usually drink one beer and call it a night, go slower than you think you need to. You can always pause between pours and let the flavors reset.

The brewhouse walk: what you learn when the focus is the process

The best brewery tours show you the machine, but even better tours explain what that machine is for. In this case, you get a full tour of the brewhouse, plus beer included along the way.

That structure is valuable because it links the senses to the process. You taste, you see where it comes from, and you learn the logic behind ingredients and brewing steps. Even if you do not remember every technical detail, you will remember the cause-and-effect feel.

You also get to drink beer in the brewery space, which changes how the beer feels in your brain. It is easier to connect the tasting to the environment, rather than thinking of it as something that magically appears at a bar.

A small drawback to keep in mind: because you are inside and tasting multiple beers, you will likely want to pace yourself. The goal is to enjoy, not to power through.

Drinking beer straight from the tank: the moment you will remember

“Tank beer” sounds like a gimmick until you do it once. The tour builds this as a core experience, not an optional add-on.

Why this matters:

• Beer straight from the tank can feel fresher and more direct in character, since you are not tasting it as a finished product you already associate with service.
• It gives you a sensory baseline. After you taste from the tank, you understand what people mean when they talk about how beer changes from brew stage to finished pour.

This is the kind of moment that sticks because it is physical and immediate. You taste, then you look around and understand what you are tasting. It helps the rest of the tour click.

Also, this is part of why the tour is priced the way it is. You are not just paying for a guided walk. You are paying for access to a specific brewing moment plus extra pours that other experiences often skip.

Price and value: why the math works for beer lovers

The tour runs about £30 (listed as $33 per person in the summary), for 1.5 hours. It is not the cheapest thing you can do in Camden Market, but it is also not a token experience.

Here is the value logic I see:

• You get a welcome beer.
• You get a guided tasting flight of 6 beers.
• You get additional beer during the brewhouse time.
• You get beer straight from the tank.
• You get a final end-of-tour beer.
• You also receive a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch.

When you count that up, you are buying a structured beer session with guided explanations and a real process tour. For people who already like craft beer, the price starts to feel like you are paying for access and guidance, not just for drinks.

If you are traveling on a strict budget, consider whether you would otherwise buy multiple beers in Camden Market anyway. If you would, this tour can be a better deal because it bundles pours with instruction.

Who this tour is for, and who should consider skipping

This is a best-fit tour for:

• People who like trying multiple beers in one go
• Travelers who want a guided brewery look, not just a pub crawl
• Anyone who wants to learn a little about brewing while still having a laugh

It might not be for you if:

• You want a short, light tasting without heavy drinking
• You are traveling with anyone under 18, since the experience is not suitable for children under 18

One more small practical note: the tour is in English, so if you are not comfortable with English, this may be harder to fully enjoy.

Practical tips before you go (so the hour and a half feels easy)

A few things will make your visit smoother:

• Wear closed shoes since open-toed shoes are not allowed.
• Drink water between beers. It keeps you tasting at your best.
• Eat earlier or plan a snack before you start. This tour is centered on beer.
• Go with a curious mindset. Ask what you should notice in the next pour.

If you are the type who forgets flavors after a few sips, try this trick. For each beer, pick one word for smell and one word for taste. That simple habit keeps the tasting meaningful.

And if you want a souvenir of sorts, remember the tour includes a 10% taproom discount on beers and merch. That is the best time to grab something you actually want, not something you buy just because it is there.

Should you book 3 Locks Guided Tasting and Brewery Tour?

Book it if you want a focused, beer-first experience in Camden Market with guided tastings, access to the brewhouse, and the standout tank-poured moment. The pricing tends to make sense because you are not paying only for a walk. You are paying for a structured drinking session plus multiple beers and a taproom discount.

Skip it if you are looking for something child-friendly or you know you cannot handle a multi-pour tasting. For everyone else, this is one of those tours where the details are the point, and the result is a fun, memorable way to understand beer without turning it into homework.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours.

How much does the guided tasting cost?

Tickets are listed at £30 per person, and the summary price is shown as $33 per person.

What is included in the tour?

It includes a welcome beer, a guided tasting flight of 6 beers, beer in the brewhouse, beer straight out of the tank, and a final end-of-tour beer. You also get a 10% discount in the taproom on beers and merch.

What is the minimum age?

The tour is not suitable for children under 18.

Is open-toed footwear allowed?

No, open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Where do I check in?

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

Is free cancellation available?

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