Beer of the Day: Five Points Brewery XPA

Imagine you’ve never tried cask ale before. You’re on a historic pub tour around Shoreditch and you ask your guide: “So… what should I order?” Today’s judge, Charo Havermans, knows exactly what she’d say.

Charo is a public historian and tour guide specialising in pubs, particularly the often-overlooked role women have played in brewing and pub life. She’s even helping to create the world’s first Pub Museum. On one of her Shoreditch tours, a conversation about women as some of our original brewers led a group of tourists to ask what they should choose for their very first cask. Charo recommended Five Points XPA – locally brewed in Hackney by a team that includes Head Brewer Laura Hardman and Assistant Head Brewer Alana Lim.

At 4%, XPA is light, zingy and tropical, with mango and passionfruit alongside a satisfying hoppy bitterness. Originally created for Field Day festival in 2016, it proved far too popular to disappear afterwards and is now part of the core range – and it’s gluten-free too. But there’s another reason Charo remembers that particular tour. One local guest was very enthusiastic about her recommendation and promptly made sure everyone ordered XPA. Why the excitement? He owned shares in Five Points. As Charo says: “Let’s hope it’s made a difference, Pete!”

So whether you’re a seasoned cask fan or wondering what to order for your very first pint, follow Charo’s lead and give XPA a go. Her top spots to find it are two London pub legends, The Pride of Spitalfields and The Cockpit. History lesson over. Pint time.