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Behind a concrete counter, a dozen draught taps draw both the obscure and the accessible with Brooklyn Lager rubbing shoulders with a milk stout from Colorado, De Koninck from Belgium and Thornstar – a collaborative creation from Thornbridge and Dark Star, two of the UK's leading microbreweries.
The approach to cask is quality rather than quality, with just three real ales on handpull.
There are plenty of bottled brews to peruse too, with a 40-strong beer menu. London beers include Kernel IPA and Meantime Raspberry, while a blossoming British brewing community is well represented in the shape of beers from Marble in Manchester, Otley in South Wales and Harveys in Sussex.
As well as American craft beers, barrel-aged brews and the best of Belgium and Germany, the 'oddities' section includes beers brewed with chocolate, heather and seaweed.
The friendly staff know their stuff without being snobby. Also, for the undecided or uninitiated, beer is available in taster flights of three or six third-of-a-pint glasses (equalling one or two pints respectively).
There are tapas-style small plates of food with a British bent, and on Sunday it's all about the roasts.
Urban and a little industrial, Mason & Taylor's not the snuggest place to sup; there are school-style chairs and tables, concrete ceilings and plenty of metal.