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Old Fountain (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Hoxton Special IPA |  | 1 |
| Marble - Black Marble |  | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Oyster Tea Stout | | 1 |
| Buxton - American Rye | | 1 |
| Mallinsons - Oatmeal Stout | | 1 |
| Magic Rock - Simpleton | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 1 |
| Buxton - Target | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | | 1 |
| Kent - Altered States | | 1 |
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - Centennial | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best Bitter |  | 1 |
| Otley - O-Ho-Ho | | 1 |
| Downton - Downton X | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | | 1 |
| Two Cocks - 1643 Cavalier | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter |  | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Mandarin | | 1 |
| Otley - Trio | | 1 |
| Wild Card - Jack of Clubs | | 1 |
| Rebel - Cornish Sunset |  | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Pale Ale - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Fields Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - The Art of Darkness | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redtail Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Windsor & Eton - Conqueror | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fyne - Hurricane Jack | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | Not Tried | 0 |
| Blue Monkey - Infinity IPA (was Infinity) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oldershaw - Heavenly Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magic Rock - Curious | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magic Rock - Carnival | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Elderquad | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hobsons - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallinsons - Emley Moor | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Dark Nights | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| London Fields - Black Frost | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallinsons - Centennial (Now That's What I Call Hops #10) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hawkshead - NZPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Black-eyed PA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - English Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Liverpool Organic - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
06 Jan 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Hand made handpump clips look tatty and make selection un-necessarily difficult.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otley - O-Ho-Ho | 5.00 | | |
| Rebel - Cornish Sunset | 4.00 | | Meant to be citrus and fruity but was rather unpleasant with distinct caramel taste and smell which then turned to acetic towards very bottom of glass |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| London Fields - Black Frost | 6.00 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Friday Evening Group's Christmas Do on a Monday!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 | | Fully bittered |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | | |
| Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best Bitter | 3.80 | | |
| Windsor & Eton - Mandarin | 4.50 | | Clean and citrus at first but with a sweet and cloying aftertaste |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mallinsons - Emley Moor | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Fields Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | A taster of A N Other's offered a significant citra hit |
02 Jul 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Mid evening visit and not so busy tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Hoxton Special IPA | 6.60 | | A strong, golden IPA. These days if you see a Brodie’s beer in the free trade you have to grab it quick as it is likely that everybody will be drinking it. This pint was in sparkling condition, which really showed off the massive fruity and bitter hops tastes of Citra and Galaxy. |
| Downton - Downton X | 4.20 | | A special beer to celebrate the brewery’s 10th anniversary. It is a nicely balanced beer in the blonde style. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Fyne - Hurricane Jack | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Liverpool Organic - Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oldershaw - Heavenly Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Carnival | 4.30 | Not Tried |
26 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
The Old Fountain is East London & City CAMRA’s overall Pub of the Year for 2013, and tonight was the certificate presentation night. A good crowd present until late.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Lovely, light and hoppy. |
| Kent - Altered States | 4.70 | | Dry-hopped version. Hoppy and yummy. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Oyster Tea Stout | 7.50 | | On key-keg dispense. A vigorous secondary fermentation in the keg made this one foamy and difficult to pour – yet another conundrum for those who are still fretting over the status of key-keg beers. Very full flavoured, along the lines you would expect from its name. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Liverpool Organic - Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Fields Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | Quickly gobbled up before I got my order in. |
| Crouch Vale - Citra | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redtail Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
11 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
This appears to be the first time I have been in here since this pub was named as East London & City CAMRA Pub of the Year – so well done for that. Nice to catch up in here with Martin the Mildman (formerly of this parish) and Volney (one of my oldest muckers).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallinsons - Oatmeal Stout | 4.50 | | A change from the light, hoppy beers usually associated with this brewery. Sweetish, creamy, black stout with some roast malt. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mallinsons - Centennial (Now That's What I Call Hops #10) | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Hawkshead - NZPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Black-eyed PA | 6.50 | Not Tried |
26 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Very busy here in the early evening peak – although no sign of any of the ‘Tuesday Nighters’.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - Centennial | 3.80 | | Pale gold in colour and powerfully hoppy. |
| Two Cocks - 1643 Cavalier | 3.80 | | A nicely-balanced, golden beer. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Hobsons - Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Curious | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Dark Nights | 4.60 | Not Tried |
19 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening visit and there is quite a crowd in. It is a mild evening and some people are risking the roof terrace.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Rock - Simpleton | 2.60 | | Described as a ‘session IPA’, this is a golden-coloured, low-strength and very hoppy beer, with sufficient malt body to prevent it tasting watery. In the same vein as Redemption Trinity and Tap East Tonic Ale. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Bitter | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Conqueror | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Blue Monkey - Infinity IPA (was Infinity) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Curious | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Elderquad | 4.00 | Not Tried |
04 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon visit, and it is nice to be here at a quiet time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buxton - Target | 3.80 | | Golden, with a nice, bitter hop flavour. |
| Marble - Black Marble | 7.20 | | On some kind of low-pressure keg dispense – might have been ‘key keg’, but technology is moving rapidly in this area. A fabulous Black IPA. Massive hop aroma that could be detected as soon as the tap was opened. Big hop taste too, on a thick, malty background. Pushing five stars. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - English Pale Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - London Pale Ale - Citra | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - The Art of Darkness | 3.50 | Not Tried |
29 Jan 2013 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy as ever on a Tuesday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buxton - American Rye | 4.30 | | Pale with plenty of citrussy American hops to counteract the tangy rye flavour. My score 16/20. |
| Otley - Trio | 3.50 | | Pale bitter uncharacteristically malty for this brewer with less hop emphasis than usual. my score 14/20. |
08 Jan 2013 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy as ever on a Tuesday early evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | | Black in colour with a dry, bitter malt character but little supporting hoppiness. Dry finish. My score 14/20. |
| Wild Card - Jack of Clubs | 4.50 | | Amber bitter with some bitter hop but little maltiness. Dryish finish. My score 14/20. |
About the Old Fountain
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 8 |
| 129 |
| 80 |
| 33 |
| 2 |
The pub is found in Old Street, Central London, EC1V 9NU.
Just off the City Road near Old Street tube station and just behind Moorfields Eye Hospital. Entrances, in fact, on two separate streets. The pub was established in the mid-18th century, possibly originally as the Old Fountain Knights, and for a while there was another pub just around the corner called the New Fountain. Historically a Whitbread‘s pub, ownership has now been with the same family for many years. The pub has a split-level ground floor bar and a popular roof terrace. Traditional interior, with a longish dark wood bar. Ground floor upper level bar has 5 handpumps and the lower level bar has 4 handpumps.
We have visited this pub 129 times, seen 297 different beers and tried 216 of them.
Postcode: EC1V 9NU