Adnams Old Ale

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Elephant, Faversham, Kent

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	11 Oct 2023
ChrisE		02 Feb 2016	Superb.

The Plume of Feathers, Greenwich, Greater London

Blythe Hill Tavern, Forest Hill, Greater London

The Gate Clock, Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip		26 Oct 2021	An old staple

The Camel, Bethnal Green, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		18 Dec 2019	I spotted the pumpclip through the window and had to come in for a pint of this classic.

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

Mirth, Marvel & Maud, Walthamstow, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		19 Feb 2019	Nuts and toffee.

The Fat Cat, Ipswich, Suffolk

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Feb 2019
Philip Pirrip		02 Dec 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 Oct 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Oct 2014

The White Swan, Islington, Central London

Leyton Engineer (formerly Leyton Technical), Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	01 Jan 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	10 Dec 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	28 Oct 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	04 Dec 2013
Stephen Harris		06 Nov 2013	Classic old ale.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	12 Oct 2013

The Watch House, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Dec 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Dec 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip		17 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Feb 2015	Ran out
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Feb 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Nov 2014
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Nov 2014
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Jan 2014
Philip Pirrip		03 Nov 2013

The Edmund Halley, Lee Green, Greater London

The Robert Pocock, Gravesend, Kent

The Red Lion, Ramsgate, Kent

The Great Harry, Woolwich, Greater London

The Bricklayers, Colchester, Essex

Blakes of Dover, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		17 Jan 2017	A lovely smooth, dark brew.
ChrisE		02 Nov 2013	Delicious

Pelt Trader, City, Central London

Station Arms, Southminster, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	12 Nov 2016
ChrisE		12 Nov 2016

The Fox on the Hill, Denmark Hill, Greater London

Copper Pottle, Beltinge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		19 Feb 2016

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick	Not Tried	16 Feb 2016
Jack William		31 Dec 2015	Disappointing, ok condition but rather tasteless for an old ale.
Philip Pirrip		12 Nov 2015
Judy G Garland		09 Nov 2013
Pedro	Not Tried	07 Jan 2012
Mick	Not Tried	07 Jan 2012
Andrew		06 Jan 2012	Good condition (of course, this is Martyn's pub) but just not my thing. Good bitter cherry but no depth for me.
Ian		06 Jan 2012	Loved this. Biurbon buscuit flavour in mouth with an amazing mixed cherry slight sourness on the finish. Kept looking at the glass in frank admiration after each swallow.
Mick	Not Tried	18 Jan 2011
Brian		13 Nov 2010	Came on while I was there. Really good old ale.
Andrew		13 Nov 2010	Hint of chocolate powder. Hint of sourness. Milky. Black coloured. I actually drank all of this before I started on the Hophead.
Glyn		11 Mar 2009
Glyn		04 Mar 2009
Ian	Not Tried	27 Feb 2009	lots of people said this was good
Andrew		21 Feb 2009	This was really very nice and in very good condition. Black with a subtle, well balanced, earthy-coffee bite. Very drinkable.
Mick		21 Feb 2009	Very nice, dark and slightly sweet with a little musty coffee.
Conan the Librarian		19 Feb 2009	Just had a half as driving but really full of all sorts of flavours coffee beans being one that stood out. Excellent condition and taste
Glyn		14 Nov 2008	Good dark session beer
Glyn		10 Nov 2008

The White Swan, Charlton, Greater London

Eel's Foot Inn, Eastbridge, Suffolk

Castle, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The George Staples, Blackfen, Greater London

Ale House, Colchester, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		13 Nov 2015

Australian Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		09 Nov 2015	£2.90 a pint
Dosser		04 Nov 2015	Great condition in an area not seen for a long while.
Dosser	Not Tried	31 Oct 2015	Just coming on. Dont see this one around here

Catford Constitutional Club, Catford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Nov 2015
Philip Pirrip		15 Feb 2014	Fragrant hop taste

Spark House (formerly The Drum), Leyton, Greater London

The Crown Inn, Snape, Suffolk

Ravensbourne Arms, Lewisham, Greater London

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

The White Hart, Grays, Essex

The Botwell Inn, Hayes (W London), Greater London

The Willow Walk, Victoria, Central London

Wetherspoons, Victoria, Central London

The Cherry Tree, Woodbridge, Suffolk

King's Head, Woodbridge, Suffolk

The Guildhall, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		25 Nov 2014	Spot on, as good as it gets.
ChrisE		24 Dec 2012

The Cock Inn, Diss, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		20 Nov 2014

The Coopers Arms, Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		15 Nov 2014	Tasty beer in fine form here.

The Lady Luck, Canterbury, Kent

Earlham (formerly Mr Pickwick's; Earlham Arms), Norwich, Norfolk

The Nags Head, Belgravia, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		05 Nov 2014	A tasty and satisfying pint.

White Hart, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

The Rum Puncheon, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	28 Sep 2014
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	15 Jan 2011
ChrisE	Not Tried	15 Jan 2011
ChrisE		14 Nov 2010

The Forest Tavern, Forest Gate, Greater London

Kings Arms, Stowmarket, Suffolk

Dartford Working Men's Club, Dartford, Kent

The Alma Inn & Dining Rooms, Harwich, Essex

Farr's Dalston (formerly Farr's School of Dancing), Dalston, Greater London

Carpenters Arms, Wighton, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		14 Dec 2013	A beer that does nothing for me, and never has.

Three Chimneys, Biddenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		25 Nov 2013	Gentle dark ruby. Nostalgic.
Wittenden		08 Feb 2013	Unfortunately, this had been sitting around for a while:no condition to speak of. A pity, as I loved this beer.
Wittenden		12 Mar 2012	Dark ruby,autumnal, liquorice,earthy but a bit thin tonight.
Wittenden		28 Nov 2011	Dark ruby red,liquorice and chocolate,earthy.Not quite as I remember it from God knows when,but very welcome.

Red Lion, Leytonstone, Greater London

Middlesbrough Little Theatre Club, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		09 Nov 2013	Classic dark old ale. Limited hopping but packed with autumn fruits.

The Leading Light, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		23 Feb 2013	Perfectly good

The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		29 Jan 2013	Excellent brown old style mild ale with lots of sweetish malt flavours and a little fruity hop for balance. My score 16/20.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Dec 2012

Red Lion, Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		29 Jan 2013	Very nice, black, hints of vanilla and chocolate, very drinkable.

The Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel, Dartford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		14 Jan 2013

The New Cross Turnpike, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Dec 2012

Telegraph Inn, New Brighton, Merseyside

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		11 Nov 2012	In tip top condition. Great to sample this seasonal again. Possibly Adnams best ale. X amount of pints devoured at a stonkingly good value £2.50 a pint?

The Muggleton Inn, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		14 Oct 2012
Alenomore		14 Oct 2012	In top condition. Nice to see this seasonal again.

The Rose of England, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		13 Oct 2012	Decent mild/old ale.

Cock Tavern, Cantley, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		13 Oct 2012	Too cold.

The Ship Inn, Conyer, Kent

The Archibald Simpson, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		10 Jan 2012	Bit disappointed here. Low (almost non-existent) hop rate, some autumn fruits but lacking in substance.

The Standing Order, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		02 Jan 2012

The Old Gaolhouse, Winchester, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		01 Jan 2012	Excellent dark ruby cloured old style mild. Sweet and malty with some fruity hop in the finish. My score 16/20.

White Horse, Blakeney, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stu		27 Dec 2011	Dark ruby in colour,but served far to cold left little taste in the mouth. Had this and moved on.

The Whalebone (formerly The White Hart), Downham Market, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		17 Nov 2011

Old Cross Tavern, Hertford, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		31 Mar 2011	This cask had been maturing in the cellar for several months. It had picked up a slight tart sourness, correct for the style, but I prefer the beer when a little younger. My score 15/20.

Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	24 Feb 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Feb 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	04 Feb 2011
thebrewingman		25 Jan 2011	In far better condition than the last one I tried but still lacking in body and substance. Adnams is becoming a very mediocre brewery.

The Old Wellington, Manchester, Greater Manchester

The Falcon, Battersea, Greater London

The Original Plough (formerly The Plough), Chelmsford, Essex

The Mudlark, Southwark, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		09 Jan 2011	Very pleasant smooth and well rounded mild style ale with toffee malt and some fruitiness present. My score 16/20.

Queens Head, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		08 Jan 2011	Quite malty in flavour but just seemed to be missing something that makes a good old.

The Wheatsheaf, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		25 Nov 2010

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		11 Nov 2010

Old Fountain, Old Street, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		20 Oct 2009	Good malty and fruity old style mild ale. My score 16/20.

The George, Aldwych, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel		22 Feb 2009	A first try for me, surprisingly. Dark ale with some tasty liqourice malts but perhaps a little watery.

The Bree Louise, Euston, Central London

Fox & Anchor, Smithfield, Central London

The White Horse, Parsons Green, Greater London

The Fat Cat, Norwich, Norfolk

The Lord Nelson Inn, Southwold, Suffolk

The Kings Head, Southwold, Suffolk

Sole Bay Inn, Southwold, Suffolk

Harbour Inn, Southwold, Suffolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		19 Nov 2008	Soft and sweet with a hoppy finish.

Red Lion, Southwold, Suffolk

The Raven (formerly The Bridge House), Bermondsey, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		21 Nov 2006	Ruby colour with disappearing beige head. Slightly sour fruit aroma. Wonderful in mouth. Dark fruit aroma. Has some sourness. Bit like Harvey's Old, lacks the real sourness I'm looking for. Sour plums and tobacco, fruit and choc and very slight sourness in mouth. Finish lasts with slightly sour plum, Victoria Plum, I rather like the fruit. I like it, fruity and interesting. Soft mouth feel.