Marston's Old Empire IPA

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 Brockley Barge, Brockley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		28 Aug 2024	Great head, full bodied, a delight
Philip Pirrip		10 Jun 2024	Superb last half out of the cask, barman was not going to serve it to me!

Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		13 Aug 2024	Great form, temperature and condition. In the sun.
Dosser		09 Apr 2024	Lovely couple of pints. Wonder if Marstons new fresh version will be as good as the cask? Lol
Dosser		08 Jan 2023	This was hidden in the corner. Nice pint but it didn't taste like old empire.
Dosser		23 Sep 2022	Lovely drop
Dosser		17 Jul 2022
Dosser		22 Dec 2019	Told I couldnt have a top up as the beer had gone. But I was others drinking it!
Dosser		16 Jun 2019	Good pint
Dosser		08 Nov 2017
ChrisE	Not Tried	06 Nov 2017
Dosser		04 Nov 2017

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		03 Jun 2024	Its strength soon becomes evident!
Philip Pirrip		14 Nov 2023	Line pulled through for a new cask as I waited and this was first pint out. Superb
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Jul 2022
Philip Pirrip		25 Jul 2022	A sweet brew
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Aug 2021

The Watch House, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 Apr 2024	Good nightcapper
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Oct 2023
Philip Pirrip		16 Jul 2023	Good early morning nightcap after midnight
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Jun 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Apr 2023
Philip Pirrip		08 Mar 2020	In OK condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Feb 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Feb 2020
Philip Pirrip		31 Mar 2018	A heavy hitter all round
Philip Pirrip		19 Feb 2017
Philip Pirrip		19 Feb 2017
Philip Pirrip		02 Dec 2015	Jury's out

The George, Croydon, Greater London

The Greyhound, Bromley, Greater London

The Pheasant, Ashford, Kent

The Red Well, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		14 Apr 2023	£1.85 with a token made this a bargain. The sparkler takes away soo much flavour from a beer like this.

The New Cross Turnpike, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 Jun 2022	Good dry bitterness - second day in a row when best beer of the day was in a 'Spoon's
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Feb 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jul 2017	Just a taster had a caramel edge
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Mar 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Sep 2016	Ran out as I ordered. Clip left showing so I turned it round, a simple act of customer service!!
Philip Pirrip		12 Sep 2016	1st one
Philip Pirrip		12 Sep 2016	2nd out just that bit fresher
Philip Pirrip		17 Jun 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Aug 2015

The Humphrey Bean, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		22 Apr 2022	My 'one for the road' treat...

The Spa Lane Vaults, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		08 Mar 2022	Top pint.

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		21 Nov 2021
Magnus Greel		15 Nov 2021
ChrisE	Not Tried	05 Oct 2011
Ian		23 Jul 2008	Still just about my favourite Marston's beer. The hop really is quite amazing and I keep forgetting just how good the aroma and hop finish are. Beautiful pint. I could smell this all night.
Ian		04 Jun 2008	Really very hoppy for an English beer. Slight burton snatch on the aroma. Then the alcohol kicks in. Not obvious syrupy, but definitely has an effect on the brain.
Ian		16 Jan 2008	Just about the best pint of this beer I've had. The hop was incredibly fresh on this.
Ian	Not Tried	16 Sep 2007
Steve		13 Jun 2007	Full Flavoured ale taste the hops and malt very fruity at 5.7 it was one pint I didn't knock straight back I just sipped and savoured excellent beer
Ian	Not Tried	27 Mar 2007
Ian	Not Tried	13 Mar 2007
Ian	Not Tried	08 Mar 2007
Andrew	Not Tried	23 Jan 2007
Andrew		24 Dec 2006	Pale malt gold colour. No head. Smells of summer medows. Tastes of snow and gold malt. Quite sharp and slightly sour.
Ian		24 Dec 2006	Some ok fruit, some hoppy dryness on end. Quite pleasant to drink
Ian		20 Nov 2006	Crystal clear copper colour with lasting partly creamy/bubbly beige head. Earthy hop aroma. Some hop, bit of ashtray. Bit farty on aroma too. Raspberry malty fruit in mouth, some hop bite on end. Sweet red fruit in mouth. Drying finish, hops battling with the sweetness. Juicy malt. Too sweet for me, not enough hop to balance, but interesting.

The Gate Clock, Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip		15 Mar 2020	Good nightcap

The Thomas Ingoldsby, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		20 Sep 2021	Went down very well.

Bridge Inn, Brewood, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		26 Jun 2021

Ritz, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		03 Oct 2020	Still good
Dosser		02 Oct 2020	Quality pint. Spoilt however by my conversation with the young waiter who refused a top up on 2 pints insisting that 5% of the beer could be a head. Unfortunately for my 5% was head but another 7% was missing. No amount of me taking pictures or talking out loud about my previous lie as a man working for the weights and measures would change their minds. It seemed that my 50p voucher had to be reduced to 25p by reducing the size of the pint. Whinge over Mr pirrip.

The Willow Walk, Victoria, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Jan 2020	A massive dry bitter hit

The Lord Burton, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

The Eight Bells, Dover, Kent

The Bottle of Sack, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		03 Aug 2019	One of best pints of old I've had..and 1.49 with voucher

The Parchment Makers, Havant, Hampshire

The Great Harry, Woolwich, Greater London

Boot Inn, Weymouth, Dorset

The Bankers Draft, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		04 Dec 2018	Superb nick, very dry bitterness

The Leading Light, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Nov 2018	A snip at £2.15 pp

The Robert Pocock, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		25 Oct 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 Dec 2016

The Tailor's Chalk, Sidcup, Greater London

The Clarendon Hotel, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

The Sir Norman Wisdom, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		16 Jun 2018	Boring but at 1.99 the best beer here. Unless you like gloombar et al.

Conquerors March, Hastings, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		29 May 2018	This was pretty decent from bottle.

The White Lion Hotel, Tenterden, Kent

Green Dragon, Welton, East Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		23 Jul 2016	A perfect nightcap before retiring to the stable block.

Olde England 2, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

The Society Rooms, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB	Not Tried	05 Nov 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	03 Aug 2013
Toby	Not Tried	13 Jun 2013
Alenomore	Not Tried	05 Aug 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	26 Jun 2012
Alenomore		14 Jul 2011	Not in particularly good condition.
Ian	Not Tried	19 May 2011
Alenomore	Not Tried	26 Sep 2010
Alenomore		29 Jul 2010	Still a classic. Very good.

The Plasterers Arms, Norwich, Norfolk

Hamilton Hall, City, Central London

Goldengrove, Stratford, Greater London

The Crosse Keys, City, Central London

The Huntsman, Cheadle, Staffordshire

The Standing Order, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Good Intent, West Farleigh, Kent

The College Arms, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

The Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		05 Apr 2013	Should have stayed on the red top, but against my better judgement I tried this. Flat and out of condition.

The West Gate Inn, Canterbury, Kent

The Muggleton Inn, Maidstone, Kent

Woodrow Wilson, Carlisle, Cumbria

The Metropolitan Bar, Baker Street, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Jul 2012	Dry and moreish
Ian	Not Tried	17 Feb 2009

The Sovereign of the Seas, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11	Not Tried	25 Jun 2012
oz11		22 Jun 2012

The Bree Louise, Euston, Central London

J.J. Moon's, Tooting, Greater London

Three Compasses, Hornsey, Greater London

The Last Inn, Oswestry, Shropshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		24 Dec 2011	I shy away from Marston's whenever I see it, strange considering I was brought up on the stuff. I'm glad I tried this. It was nicely malty and fruity with a medium dry finish. Good balance, good body and smooth to drink . No hesitation in having this when I see it again.

The Thomas Sheraton, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham

Yates (formerly The William Wilberforce), Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		12 Jan 2011	Superb hops, pale gold with superb aroma and finish.

Ye Olde Red Lion Hotel, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel		25 Dec 2010	Really good. Robust IPA flavours, well kept and just the right amount of buzz from the first beer of a long boozy day.

The Welkin, Liverpool, Merseyside

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		23 Dec 2010	Very nice, good flavour for a pale beer, lovely ho taste and aroma

The Loggerheads, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

The Earl of Dalkeith, Kettering, Northamptonshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen		03 Jun 2010	Great well balanced ale but you feel it drinks all its strength so only had one.
Stephen	Not Tried	03 Jun 2008

The Mechanical Elephant, Margate, Kent

Gardener's Arms, Oxford, Oxfordshire

The Guildhall, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		16 Feb 2007	Deep copper colour with lasting off white head. Perfumey hop aroma is slight. Good in mouth, some toffee, some warming alcohol. Good dose of hops. Some yeast. Bit of syrupy malt. Goodish white flesh stone fruit/peach/nectarine.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2007, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		02 Feb 2007	Decided to go on an IPA mission. The sulphorous odour is almost enough to put you off, but the taste is great.

Simmons (formerly Jimi Loves Gloria; Pillars of Hercules), Soho, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		15 Oct 2005	Hazy orange colour quite good hops, some nice fruit, quite fresh, but doesn't drink its strength