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The Original Plough (formerly The Plough) (Oak Tree (Mitchells & Butlers))

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Sambrook's - London Winter AleExceptional2
XT Brewing - No. 8 Dark RoastExcellent1
Peerless - All AmericanExcellent1
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)Excellent1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - JaipurGood1
Dorset Brewing Company - Spring EquinoxGood1
Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Hawaii 340Good1
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale AleGood2
Acorn - StrongheartAcceptable1
Marston's - PedigreeAcceptable1
Mordue - A'l Cherry PetAcceptable1
Adnams - LighthouseNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Bitter & TwistedNot Tried0
Brains - The Rev James OriginalNot Tried0
Long Man - Old ManNot Tried0
Robinsons - Hoptimus PrimeNot Tried0
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale RiderNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Adnams - Southwold BitterNot Tried0
Rooster's - Welsummer (exclusively for Nicholson's)Not Tried0
Batemans - Yella Belly GoldNot Tried0
St Peter's - MildNot Tried0
Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale AleNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lamplighter Amber Beer (exclusively for Nicholson's)Not Tried0
Vale - Black Beauty Porter (superseded by 4.4% version)Not Tried0
Itchen Valley - JungaNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Old Engine OilNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Lancaster - LemongrassNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter CalifornianNot Tried0
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)Not Tried0
Brentwood - The Only Way is SantaNot Tried0
Rudgate - Zest is BestNot Tried0
Vale - 5 Gold RingsNot Tried0
Thwaites - Nutty BlackNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - WonderlandNot Tried0
Wold Top - BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Original Plough (formerly The Plough), Chelmsford, Essex

Visits Details

08 Jan 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Watched West Ham getiing a 6-0 caning by Manchester City.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00AcceptableTasted like first out in a while. All signed vestiges of this former Nicholson's house have been removed finally then a Nicholson's house beer creeps in.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Brains - The Rev James Original4.50Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Thwaites - Nutty Black3.30Not Tried
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Wonderland4.20Not TriedThe Everards name was in the smallest font imaginable on the clip. Why hide - be proud
30 Sep 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Really slow service with just one barman serving the whole length of a busy bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Acorn - Strongheart4.10AcceptableToo intensely orangey citrus. Consequently very slow drinking - it lasted the whole of the second half of a TV Premier League football match!
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)4.50Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not TriedClip turned round thus removing the temptation!
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Rudgate - Zest is Best3.60Not Tried
14 Jul 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Not overly busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mordue - A'l Cherry Pet4.10AcceptableLost its tasty edge half way down the glass. Described as a sour cherry whaet beer
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Vale - Black Beauty Porter (superseded by 4.4% version)4.30Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Harviestoun - Old Engine Oil4.50Not Tried
Lancaster - Lemongrass4.00Not TriedI rolled my eyes as I read the pumpclip. "Subtle lemongrass citrus flavours delicately balanced with pale malt elements, culminating in an excellent well balanced treat." From Tales of the Brewhouse Edition 06. Actually exclusive to M&B pubs
29 Apr 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. I found out later in the evening that this pub has been debranded from the Nicholson's chain which explains the change in beer range and ambience.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dorset Brewing Company - Spring Equinox4.60GoodRealised it was an American Red only after ordering - not to my palate really
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Brains - The Rev James Original4.50Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Batemans - Yella Belly Gold3.90Not Tried
Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale4.10Not TriedMisleading provenance at point of sale - no mention of Ringwood
01 Apr 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Peerless - All American5.20Excellent
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted3.80Not Tried
Brains - The Rev James Original4.50Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Long Man - Old Man4.30Not TriedThis brewery seems to be getting wide geographical listing
Robinsons - Hoptimus Prime4.10Not Tried
15 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Very handy for the railway station.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Acceptable£2 pp to clear. Creamy head. Tasted anonymous
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Wold Top - Bitter3.70Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Adnams - Lighthouse3.40Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter Californian4.50Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
15 Dec 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Seemed better service and organisation than my last visit here. Beer range and ambience potentially the best in town.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sambrook's - London Winter Ale4.60Exceptional2nd one out of same pump was a tad cooler which made it perfection personified
Sambrook's - London Winter Ale4.60ExcellentNicholson's have a thing going with Sambrook's. A darkish ale
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter Californian4.50Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Brentwood - The Only Way is Santa5.20Not Tried
Vale - 5 Gold Rings4.80Not Tried
27 Sep 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Seems, perhaps, to have gone down a peg since last visit. Long wait for service and quite a few pumpclips turned round.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00ExcellentSweet and cloying but enjoyable
St Peter's - Mild3.70Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lamplighter Amber Beer (exclusively for Nicholson's)4.80Not Tried
Itchen Valley - Junga3.90Not Tried
26 Jul 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quick visit as a train was delayed (very handy for station).
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Hawaii 3404.50GoodPale bitter with good citrus hop character and a fruity finish. My score 15/20.
05 Jul 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Next pub after the Railway Tavern and what a contrast with friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff offering unsolicited tasters and nothing but close attention to full measures. Nicholson's houses have generally re-positioned themselves to offer good ranges of real ales including some brands brewed exclusively for them. At the end the guvnor held my hand and took me over the road to The Ale House under the railway viaduct!!
BeerABVScoreNotes
XT Brewing - No. 8 Dark Roast4.50ExcellentRefreshing and clean tasting - not at all a cloying dark beer
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)4.50ExcellentFirst rate. Not seen this beer before. A slight nose of Lavender somehow infused into the hops I guess
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90GoodTaster - condition OK but lacking some of the flavour strength and intensity that I think this beer once had
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale Rider5.20Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Rooster's - Welsummer (exclusively for Nicholson's)4.50Not Tried

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About The Original Plough (formerly The Plough)

The pub sign. The Original Plough (formerly The Plough), Chelmsford, Essex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent7
Good6
Acceptable8
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1HY.

Conveniently located just the other side of the railway overbridge from the railway station in Duke Street this pub was for a while a stylish Nicholson's but was debranded from Nicholson's in early 2013. 8 handpulls available to serve beers with 8 more repeating the same range.

We have visited this pub 21 times, seen 61 different beers and tried 18 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CM1 1HY