Remember when we did a FREE show for The Bronx in our 150 capacity venue? Y'all were queuing from 11am, there was stage diving from bars, people losing shoes and more beer spilt all over the place than any gig we've ever seen. It was carnage.
Thanks to our buddies at Old Empire for making this happen and to James Sharples for capturing all the madness. Check out the video here!
ORANGE AMPS x TBH PLAYLIST
Our drinking/gigging/sound magnifying buddies over at the legendary Orange Amps have made us a killer playlist of sweet jammers to treat your ears, all while we treat you with sweet brews. It ain't no secret Orange are the staple of that heavy sound we all live for, artist relations manager Dan Darby shares the following on their ALL killer NO filler playlist-
"When I was asked to pick some bands from Orange's roster for a BH playlist, it didn't take long to put something rad together! Luckily I could have added hundreds to the list, the difficulty was cutting it down. I tried to have some bands that have played, or were playing, Desertfest London such as Graveyard and Sleep, as well as bands that have graced the Black Heart such as The Bronx and Red Fang. Then I thought yeah, Deftones and Kvelertak because you know what? I just want them on my list! So hopefully there are some interesting bands that wouldn't sound out of place, blaring out of the Black Heart speakers at 2 o'clock in the morning. We'd like to think so anyway! "
Sounds pretty damn good to us... Click the link to check it out!
BLACK CHRISTMAS: FOREST ROAD LAUNCH BLACK ALE AT OUR BLACK HEART
Dreaming of a white Christmas this year? You better dream on, because Hackney brewers Forest Road Brewing Co. launch their Pitch black ale at the Black Heart this Thursday!
Resurrected after popular demand, Forest Road's beloved Pitch is getting an official launch party to celebrate the brewery's re-release of the black ale, with just enough produced to see through these cold, dark months.
Brimming with dark, chocolatey, Belgian malts and hops, the Pitch boasts a lovely toasted malt base under refreshing, thirst-quneching layers of bitterness. At 4.8%, it's a bit more sessionable than a porter.
The party starts at 7pm, but get down quick - we've only got two kegs of these bad boys!
BLACK HEART HALLOWEEN BLOOD BATH IS ALMOST UPON US!
Our annual Halloween spectacular is nearly here, and we've got some delicious details to share with you ahead of the madness!
We've got a special tap takeover from Norwegian nutters Amundsen Bryggeri and we'll have the following beers available -
Apocalyptic Thunder Juice (New England IPA, 6.5%);
Hop Magic (NEIPA, collaboration with Dugges and Dry & Bitter breweries, 7%);
Lush Raspberry and Lime Berliner Weiss (Sour, 5.5%);
Super Santa (special chocolate and coffee stout, 4.7%);
and Marshmallow Psycho (special-release cognac barrel-aged imperial stout, 12.3%).
We'll also have cans, in the main bar and the venue, of Everyday Hero (session IPA, 4.7%), Rebel King (imperial stout with coffee and vanilla, 8.5%), Run to the Pils (craft pilsner, 4.7%), Ink & Dagger (IPA, 6.5%), and Lush Raspberry and Lime Berliner (5.3%).
Kicking off at 7pm THIS Saturday, we'll have live tunes upstairs courtesy of Slabdragger, Under & Trevor's Head; hard and hairy hits downstairs from our friends Born Again Heavy Metal Soundhouse; tasty as hell food from The Devils Kitchen; and as usual, it's FREE entry. Don't miss the best party of the year!
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here's your latest update on the beers we have on tap at the Black Heart this week. We’ve got a ridiculously diverse offering on, including a breakfast stout, a golden ale, a couple of IPAs, a scotch ale, and a sour. Get stuck in!
First up is Alphabet Brewing Co.’s Flat White, a white breakfast stout from the Manchester brewers. With aromas of coffee beans, black pepper and green leaves, and flavours of fresh coffee and chilli zest, the Flat White is dry, herbal and chocolatey. Its pepper, dark chocolate and milky coffee finish is one to stick around for. 7.8%.
Next we’ve got the first of two IPAs, the Deviant from Salisbury brewers Dark Revolution. This American-style pale ale has light, tropical fruit and citrus aromas with an enjoyably bitter taste. The finish is a malty sweetness with dry pineapple and coconut notes. 5.6%.
Then it’s onto a criminally delicious collaboration between Swedish/Norwegian brewers Beerbliotek and Cervisiam - Not Guilty! The OJ IPA. Unsurprisingly juicy tasting with a long bitter, and lightly sour, aftertaste, this full-bodied IPA is sweet, malty, and bursting with citrus, grapefruit and pineapple aromas. We can’t believe they’re getting away with it. 7.5%.
On to our golden/blond ale now, Beavertown Says Amateur Hour. Medium bodied, the Amateur Hour is soft, smooth, well-rounded and flavourful. Sweet aromas and tastes of peach, apricot, lemon and grapefruit mingle wonderfully before a bready finish. 4.6%.
Following up fiercely is a scotch ale that certainly isn’t for amateurs or “wee lads”, Founders’ Dirty Bastard. Brewed with ten varieties of imported malts, this bold and powerful ale is full-bodied, packing sweet, nutty aromas of fudge, caramel and dark toffee. Let the rich, complex finish - with hints of smoke, peat, malt and dark chocolate - put hairs on your chin. 8.5%.
Finally, we have Manchester brewers Chorlton and their Nugget Sour ale. Light, dry and with a fine crispness, the Nugget Sour has a sharp orange taste, a hoppy, tangy citrus aroma, and a medium body. Light hop notes and a sour lemon nip finish this well-balanced sour. 5.9%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for other updates on our Instagram
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here's your latest update on the beers we have in at the Black Heart this week. We’ve got a selection of some of the Heart's favourites on draught, as well as a few newer brews to pique your curiosity.
First it's the Sea Salted Caramel Brown ale from Maryland, USA gonzo brewers Flying Dog, and yes, that is salted caramel in a beer. Well balanced between the salty and sweet, while staying true to the beer itself, this one is mild but enticing, the caramel adding to the traditional brown ale taste. Full bodied, lightly carbonated. 7%.
Next we have Amundsen's Ink and Dagger. Slightly sweet and lightly bitter, this dry, medium-bodied American-style IPA isn’t too hoppy, but its aromas and flavours of citrus and toffee are delicious. Zesty, hazy golden/yellow in hue, the hoppy notes pair with tropical aromas for an IPA that is none too heavy nor overbearing. 6.5%.
Then it's Boulevard with their Single-Wide IPA, the Kansas City brewery's take on British IPAs. This American version - also inspired by Boulevard's Smokestack Series Double-Wide I.P.A. - boasts a heady combination of six varieties of hops. Its aroma consists of malt, fruit, hops, caramel and orange, and flavours have similar notes, as well as those of tropical fruit and bit of biscuit. With its fresh, fruity scents, a lovely balance, and slightly dry, bitter finish, the Single-Wide is terribly drinkable. 5.7%.
Finally, we have Peak District brewers Thornbridge and their Bakewell Sour Tart, a sour/wild ale. Refreshingly tart and dry, with a mix of citrus hops and flavours of grapefruit and bitter lemon, the Tart is appropriately named but never overbearing. It boasts earthy, woody notes as well as the sour, citrus taste and finish. 6%.
We also have in bottles and cans two scrumptious numbers from California's Wiens Brewing Company, the Deadpan Pilsner, 5.5%, and the Fortune Teller Session IPA, 5.3%, as well as The Cloud IPA, 7%, from Maryland's Stillwater brewers.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram.
BORN AGAIN BATTLE CARCASS/GENTS PISTOLS THIS FRIDAY
This Friday downstairs at the Heart, DJs Michelle (of Born Again Heavy Metal Soundhouse) & Bill (of Carcass/Gentlemans Pistols fame) spin the best of 60s/70s/80s rock and heavy metal!
The duo will take over our decks from 9pm-2am, playing a range of bangers from classic to hard rock, glam, and beyond.
Come down and get an earful of their Heavy Load!
NO SLEEP 'TIL CAMDEN: MOTÖRHEAD DAY 2
Motörhead Day 2, the second annual celebration of Lemmy and the boys, takes over the Heart tomorrow!
Starting at 4pm, the Born Again Heavy Metal Soundhouse DJs will kick things off with Motörhead tunes, and the girls will be playing tracks all night.
We'll have a Motörhead quiz with rounds throughout the evening, as well as a raffle. Tribute band Motörheadache, and support, will play a couple of sets, and Born Again will be taking all your Motörhead requests afterwards, until close.
And of course, we'll have a (limited) supply of Röad Crew (4.5%), the Motörhead American pale ale from Camerons Brewery.
Doors are free but you'll need a free ticket to guarantee entry on the day. Register for a free ticket HERE
See all you damage cases there!
VINYLMANIA IS RUNNING WILD NEXT WEEK, BROTHER!
On Saturday July 8th, DIY record/art/gigs/events organisers BelowBeyond take over the Heart with a killer record fair to celebrate their one year anniversary.
Kicking off at midday, they will exhibit some of the best Vinyl, Art, Merch and Craft sellers from around the UK as well as acoustic and experimental performances to soundtrack your crate diggin' adventures.
Stalls announced for the fair include Don't Care Records, Heavy Ritual Records, Me Saco Un Ojo Records, and many more.
Then from 7PM, BelowBeyond and Old Empire will host one of the heaviest line ups imaginable, with performances from Oxford's Drock/Droom/Drunk/Drone/Drudge miscreants Drore, south England doom/sludge massive Grey Widow and Birmingham/Black Country doom/sludge fiends Opium Lord.
DJs Matt (Dysteria/Human Disease Promo) and Josh (Old Empire) will be spinning party tunes and heavy shit into the late hours afterwards.
The record fair is free. Tickets for the gig can be bought HERE.
DEVIL'S KITCHEN TO OPEN AT THE BLACK HEART
After their pop-up/mini-residency blew our minds and filled our bellies earlier this month, we are very pleased to announce that Devil’s Kitchen is going to be back at the Heart!
From next week, starting Friday 7th July, Devil's Kitchen will be here every Friday onwards.
The Kitchen cooked up some truly diabolical quesadillas and smokey sweet potato fries during their brief stay, so you can expect more hellishly delicious vegan - and meaty - delights.
Come on down and eat like a sinner!
LAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THE BLACK HEART
Voting for the Heavy Music Awards closes TODAY so this is the final chance to support Our Black Heart!
In the Awards' very first edition, we have been nominated for Best Venue.
Voting closes TODAY at 5pm. Click HERE to vote.
Winners will be announced at HMA17, which will take place in London on 24th August at House of Vans.
Love Our Black Heart!
CRYPT OF THE WIZARD TAKE OVER THE BLACK HEART THIS SATURDAY
London's leading heavy metal record shop Crypt Of The Wizard is taking over our decks tomorrow night to DJ the bar downstairs!
Desertfest London will also land Dallas, Texas' hard rocking psych trio Mothership in the venue upstairs.
Tickets for Mothership (with support from London doom crew Poseidon) are available HERE.
Expect an all-night ass-kicking of heavy shit and party tunes. Come on down!
VOTING FOR THE BLACK HEART CLOSES THIS WEEK
Voting for the Heavy Music Awards closes this week so don't forget to support Our Black Heart!
We've been selected as a finalist in the first edition of the awards and are nominated for Best Venue.
Voting closes on Friday 30th at 5pm. Click HERE to vote.
Winners will be announced at HMA17, which will take place in London on the 24th August at House of Vans.
If you dig what we do - intimate venue, massive sound, and of course, hosting the best beer and bands in Camden - then support the smaller guy and vote for Our Black Heart!
LESS THAN 10 DAYS TO VOTE FOR OUR BLACK HEART
Voting for the Heavy Music Awards closes next week so don't forget to support Our Black Heart!
The Heart has been selected as a finalist in the inaugural edition of the awards, nominated for Best Venue.
Voting closes on Friday 30th at 5pm. Click HERE to vote.
Winners will be announced at HMA17, which will take place in London on the 24th August at House of Vans.
If you dig what we do - intimate venue, massive sound, and of course, hosting the best beer and bands in Camden - then support a smaller venue and vote for Our Black Heart!
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here's our latest update on the beers we have on draught at the Black Heart this week. We’ve got a variety of IPAs and golden ales, as well as a sour cherry ale, a a raspberry fruit beer, and a coffee and vanilla porter.
First, the IPAs. We’ve got Swedish brewers Beerbliotek and their Crazy in the Coconut IPA. Packing big aromas and flavours of citrus/tropical fruits, bitter zest, yeast, malt, hops, and a mild taste/aroma of toasted coconut. Refreshing and tasty. 6.8%.
Then we have Huddersfield massive Magic Rock with their Cannonball IPA. Made in the “true tradition - high in alcohol and massively hopped”, the Cannonball is tropically fruity, with aromas of citrus, peach, and tangy orange. Resinous hops are paired with a sweet malty backbone, while the lip smacking bitterness follows the soft, light, well-balanced body. 7.4%.
Next we’ve got the fruity brews. Manchester’s Chorlton brewery and their Cherry sour, a red/brown ale. Pouring deep reddish brown and medium bodied, the Cherry’s aroma is earthy and roasty, with notes of cherry cola and ripe cherry. The taste is toasty, tart and tangy, with sour cherry and ripe berry flavours. 5.4%.
Then it's the Raspberry Pale from Norway's Ægir Bryggeri. Pouring a hazy reddish/orange and fairly light in body and bitterness, the Raspberry Pale is semi dry, with mostly raspberry and lemon notes in the flavour, and some pale malt. The aroma is sharp and dry, with more traces of raspberry, lemon and malt.
ABV: 5.5%
On to the golden/blonde ales now, Brooklyn’s Summer Ale and Thornbridge’s Wye. The Summer Ale is a “modern rendition of the ‘Light Dinner Ales’ brewed in England throughout the 1800s until the 1940s”, which were big on flavour and refreshment without the heaviness. The Summer Ale’s English malt gives this light-bodied beer a fresh bready/wheat flavour, while its German and American hops provide a light, crisp bitterness and floral/citrus aromas. 4.5%.
Thornbridge’s Wye is a crystal clear pale ale lightly hopped with the aroma of cucumber. The Peak District brewers have made sure the cucumber is present but not overbearing, and the Wye’s flavour/aroma is also fruity, earthy, and malty. Medium bodied, with a dry, slight bitterness. 4.7%.
Finally, we end with Fierce Beer’s Cafe Racer. I’m not sure there’s anything good to have ever emerged from Aberdeen - my place of birth - but the Cafe Racer is a serious contender for proving me wrong. This dark roasted coffee and vanilla porter pours rich and black, with a slight tan head. Its aroma is roasted malt, coffee and vanilla, and its taste is of coffee, vanilla essence, and dark chocolate. Medium body with a complex, bitter chocolate finish. 6.5%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram.
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here's your latest update on the beers we have coming to the Black Heart this week. We’ve got a variety on draught, including a slew of IPAs, a breakfast brown ale, a madly indulgent porter, and more.
Out of our three IPAs this week, the first is Sierra Nevada’s Peach IPA. This intensely hoppy IPA has had, yes, peach added to it and it’s abundant in the aroma and flavour of the beer, along with the sweet citrusy hops. That aside, the medium-full bodied Peach IPA is well balanced by its biscuity malt character and mild bitter finish. 5.9%.
Then we’ve got Hackney brewers Pressure Drop and their Cheeky session IPA. Light and tropical - it’s made with fresh orange, mango and kiwi juices supplied by Pressure Drop's neighbours Square Root London soda factory - the Cheeky IPA is medium bodied, slightly sweet, and hardly bitter. Dry tasting but still fresh, fruity and juicy, this IPA is mouthwateringly citrusy and zesty. 3.8%.
Finally, from Black Heart regulars Amundsen, we have the last IPA, the Ink and Dagger. Slightly sweet and lightly bitter, this dry, medium-bodied IPA isn’t too hoppy, but its aromas and flavours of citrus and toffee are delicious. 6.5%.
Next up, Manchester brewers ABC with their Juice Springsteen, a tropical pale ale. With a light, slightly earthy-bitter taste and finish, the Springsteen is fairly dry but with enough hoppy, tropical fruit notes - and a little herb in the mix - to ensure plenty of character. 4.5%.
On to the darker stuff now, with Pilot and Left Hand’s collaboration brew, Transatlantic Breakfast, a ‘maple syrup pancake, coffee and lactose brown ale’. Oh boy. While the aromas/flavours of toffee, coffee, treacle, caramel, marzipan and vanilla are prominent, this one is more like drinking a coffee. It’s not as dark or sweet as it might seen, and is surprisingly light in body, with a perfectly sweet aftertaste. 7.2%.
And lastly, it’s the darkest brew this week, Howling Hops’ Double Chocolate Coffee Toffee Vanilla Milk Porter. Oh yes. This Hackney-brewed porter is unsurprisingly deep and rich. There’s of course aromas/flavours of coffee and chocolate, roast malts, toffee, vanilla, but a bit of spice in there too, and the malts are bitter sweet. The light dry finish leaves the coffee and vanilla lingering, and you wanting more. 6.3%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram.
BLACK HEART NOMINATED FOR BEST VENUE - VOTE NOW!
The Black Heart has been selected as a finalist at the inaugural Heavy Music Awards, nominated in the Best Venue category.
Following “an intensive period of voting by more than 300 of the music industry's leading lights”, shortlists were selected, including Best UK Band, Best Festival, Best Producer, Best Photographer, among other categories.
Voting is now open HERE.
If you dig what we do - intimate venue, massive sound, and of course, hosting the best beer and bands in Camden - then get voting and support Our Black Heart!
Winners will be announced at HMA17, which will take place in London on the 24th August at House of Vans.
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here's our latest update on what beers you can find on tap this week at the Black Heart. We have a couple of delicious pairs, with two draughts each from American brewers Founders and Norwegian favourites Amundsen Bryggeri & Spiseri, as well as beers from Flying Dog and Wylam breweries.
First up, Founders. We’ve got the Michigan brewer’s benchmark Centennial IPA and their robust Porter. The Centennial is a complex, flavourful ale with a medium body. Floral, sweet citrus fruit notes mingle with malty undertones, balancing the dry hops and a perfectly bitter finish. 7.2%.
The full-flavoured Porter pours silky black, with strong but sweet aromas of chocolate, coffee, and caramel malt. It’s a malty one but well balanced by the bitter hops and dark roasted grains. 6.5%.
Straight out of Oslo, we have next Amundsen’s Black Zombie, an orange-infused Black IPA, and their Lush Mango, Mint & Lime Berliner, a Berliner Weisse with, yes, mango, mint and lime. The Black Zombie pours darker than the hearts of the undead, with fragrances of dark chocolate, toffee/caramel, and roasty malts. The taste is dry and bitter, with roasted toffee notes. 7%.
The Mango, Mint & Lime does what it says on the can, with big, sweet aroma/flavours of the fruits. The zesty lime mingles nicely with the juicy cooling mint. Light bodied, well balanced in the finish with a slight sour bite, and ridiculously refreshing. 5.2%.
Then we’ve got Flying Dog of Maryland, USA, with their Sea Salted Caramel Brown Ale. Yup, salted caramel, in a beer. Well balanced between the salty and sweet, while staying true to the beer itself, this one is mild but enticing, the caramel adding to the traditional brown ale taste. Full bodied, lightly carbonated. 7%.
Finally, we finish with the Swipe Right Session IPA from Newcastle’s Wylam. Their ‘Smashed Juice Session Pale... with oats and wheat’, boasts tropical hops and the flavours of grapefruit, pineapple and kiwi fruit pulp. Juicy, and with lovely aromas and tastes of tropical fruit and light hops. 4.7%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram.
THIS WEEK'S BREWS
Here’s our weekly rundown of what you can expect to see on draught this weekend at the Heart.
First we’ve got Wylam's Upside Down IPA, a delicious, hop-packed collaboration between Wylam and Simply Hops, the Upside Down southern hemisphere IPA. Created to celebrate Leeds’ Hop City 2017 festival, the Upside Down is a fruity, citrusy IPA brewed with Vermont Ale Yeast and a disrespectful amount of Australian Vic Secret hops. 6.4%.
Next we have stellar Copenhagen brewers To Øl and their Gose to Hollywood. Packed with malts, this light Gose with oranges has been brewed “with the best fruits California can offer”. Medium sour and well-balanced, the Gose to Hollywood is salty and tangy with aromas of gooseberries, rhubarb and a little raspberry. 3.8%.
Then we have Sierra Nevada’s Sidecar Orange Pale Ale. Boasting hops with a bright, citrus-heavy character, this is a new take on the hoppy pale ale, brewed with a hint of orange peel. Pouring a golden orange colour, the Sidecar is fruity and zesty, with aromas and flavours of toast, orange, and bread crust, the floral bitter notes mingling nicely with the orange peel for an easy drinker. 5.3%.
We’ve also currently got back on some beers we posted about before Desertfest, an intriguing and unique pair from Australian brewery Stone & Wood - their Cloud Catcher American-style pale ale and their wheat ale The Gatherer. The Cloud Catcher is a full-flavoured, full-bodied, limited-release ale, 5.5%. The Gatherer (2017 edition) adds cooling cucumber, mint and watermelon to make a thirst-quenching American-style wheat beer that’s crisp, dry, and lip-smacking. 5%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. And as ever, keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram.
This Week’s Brews - Desertfest Special!
Here’s our latest update on what beers you can find on tap this week at the Black Heart, with a special selection in time for Desertfest.
From Thursday to Sunday we will have the following on every day, including our flagship brews, Camden Hells Lager, 4.6%, and Camden Ink Stout, 4.7%.
Firstly, we have our new cider, Hawkes Urban Orchard apple cider. One of London’s first cider makers, Hawkes blend country apples with handpicked urban apples, provided by the community. At 4.5%, the Urban Orchard is a smooth, medium dry cider, complex and rich in texture, and with a crisp wine-like finish.
Then we have a tasty array of beers from Brooklyn Brewery, including their standard-bearer, Brooklyn Lager, 5.2%, as well as their Scorcher IPA, the Defender West Coast IPA, and their American Ale.
The Scorcher is a surprisingly sessionable IPA. Floral, piney hop aromas are followed by bursts of mouthwatering bitterness, and a hint of toasty malts before a clean finish. 4.5%.
Created in collaboration with New York Comic Con to be the convention’s official beer, the Defender is a bright, juicy, West Coast-style IPA take on “a reddish twist from a dash of roasted malt”. Bold, fruity hop bitterness meets an intense aroma and dry finish. 6.7%.
The American Ale is a heavier, more malty and blended, dry-hopped pale ale. Medium-bodied, it pours a deep golden-orange colour. Aromas of fruit, malt and caramel mingle with similar flavours, as well as notes of citrus, bread and grass. 4.5%.
Next, we have something quite different, the De la Senne Jambe-de-Bois from Belgian brewers Brasserie de la Senne. This Abbey tripel is said to be the most bitter tripel in Belgium! Pouring golden-yellow, the De la Senne is sweet, malty and yeasty. Notes of caramel, icing sugar, lemon citrus and spice blend before a slight spice in the finish. 8%.
Finally we have Weird Beard's Black Perle. Brewed in partnership with Alchemy Coffee, this cask-conditioned milk stout is chock full of roasty malts and milk sugar, and is "hopped with handful’s of perle plundered from the unsuspecting, and aged on a chest full of Zamorana coffee beans". 4.5%.
That’s it for this week’s beers, check back next week for another update. Keep your eyes peeled for updates of beers and bands on our Instagram, and see you all at Desertfest!