Founded in Bermondsey in 2009, The Kernel Brewery has become one of the defining names in modern London beer. And now, for the first time, Cave Direct is proud to be offering two of Kernel’s most iconic beers, Pale Ale and Table Beer, in keg.

For us, this feels like a natural fit. Kernel has spent well over a decade building a reputation for brewing beer with clarity, precision and consistency at its core. Their influence on the London beer scene and UK craft beer more broadly, is hard to overstate. In fact, our sister company, Beer Merchants, was one of the early stockists of Kernel beers when the brewery first launched, making this latest chapter feel like a natural progression of a relationship that stretches back to the very beginning.

For pubs and bars, having Kernel on the taps carries real weight and for drinkers, those simple brown labels remain instantly recognisable.

The brewery was founded by Evin O’Riordain after a trip to New York in 2007 opened his eyes to what beer could be. Having previously worked in artisan cheese at Neal’s Yard Dairy, Evin was inspired by the care, freshness and attention given to beer in the US craft scene, something he felt was largely missing back home at the time.

Back in London, he began homebrewing before launching Kernel in railway arches in Bermondsey. From the start, the focus was never on hype or scale, but on producing fresh, balanced beer with quality front and centre. That philosophy helped shape what would eventually become one of London’s most influential breweries.

Kernel’s beers have always been known for their drinkability and restraint. Their Pale Ale helped set the benchmark for clean, hop-forward modern pale ales in the UK, while Table Beer has become something of a cult classic in its own right. Originally inspired by lower-strength cask beers, Table Beer showed just how much flavour and character could exist in a lower-ABV beer.

“Kernel has been such an important presence in beer for so long that working together just feels like a natural fit. We’re thrilled to be bringing their beers into the Cave Direct portfolio and widening the offering available to our customers.”
– Laurence Smale, Sales & Marketing Director

“Somehow in our 17 years, we have not worked with Cave Direct (a small amount to Beer Merchants, back in the day), and for no particular reason. It’s a pleasure to now be doing so.”
– Evin O'Riordain, Founder, Kernel Brewery

Whether you’re looking for a genuinely iconic London pale ale or one of the country’s defining lower-ABV beers, Kernel delivers exactly what you’d expect: balanced, thoughtful and incredibly drinkable beer.

Shop Kernel Pale Ale and Table Beer via the links below.