Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) Gale's HSB

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 Good Intent, Petersfield, Hampshire

The Griffin, Brentford, Greater London

The Partridge, Bromley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 May 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Apr 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Mar 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Mar 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Feb 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Jan 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Jan 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Dec 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 May 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Apr 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Mar 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Feb 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Feb 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Jan 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Dec 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Dec 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Nov 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Nov 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Nov 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Sep 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Aug 2023	Usual complete lack of true brewing provenance
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Sep 2013
HSB		03 Dec 2012	Awful
Pedro	Not Tried	14 Dec 2011
Pedro		15 Dec 2010
Dubbel	Not Tried	11 Feb 2009

The Park Tavern, Eltham, Greater London

The Old Customs House, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Sally Port Inn, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		19 Sep 2024	Full bodied and in good nick.

The Old Thatch Tavern, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

The Garibaldi, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

The Ship & Bell, Horndean, Hampshire

The Three Guineas, Reading, Berkshire

The Doric Arch, Euston, Central London

The Bat & Ball, Hambledon, Hampshire

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

The Coal Exchange, Emsworth, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		10 Jul 2022	Well rounded pint in superb condition.

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

The Bear, Oxford, Oxfordshire

The Holly Bush, Hampstead, Greater London

The Prince Blucher, Twickenham, Greater London

The Fox & Hounds, Lyndhurst, Hampshire

The Castle Inn, Sandown, Isle of Wight

Simeon Arms, Ryde, Isle of Wight

The Spread Eagle, Croydon, Greater London

Lewes Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

The Railway Tavern, Carshalton, Greater London

The Basketmakers Arms, Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Nov 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 May 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Mar 2019
ChrisE	Not Tried	28 Aug 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Aug 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 May 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Mar 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Aug 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Mar 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Nov 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 Aug 2016	A mockery in a former Gale's house
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 May 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Dec 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Aug 2015	One could easily be fooled in a former Gale's house
HSB	Not Tried	17 Jul 2014
HSB	Not Tried	23 Jul 2013
Andrew	Not Tried	26 Jan 2013
Ian		03 Mar 2007	Very deep chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Rich malty ESB. Choccy malts, very attractive and enormously drinkable. Dry malt aroma, slight spicey pepper hop on finish.

The John Wallis (formerly Man of Kent), Ashford, Kent

Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

The Mad Hatter, Southwark, Central London

The Robin Hood, Havant, Hampshire

The Parcel Yard, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

The Railway Tavern, Richmond, Greater London

Fez, Margate, Kent

The Union Inn, Cowes, Isle of Wight

The Long Man, Brighton, East Sussex

The Viaduct, Hanwell, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		15 Jan 2018	In absolutely perfect condition. Perhaps served s bit cold but I’m ok with that.

Royal Inn on the Park, Homerton, Greater London

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Milton Arms, Southsea, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		14 Jan 2017	A heavily malty, sweetish beer.

The Wykeham Arms, Winchester, Hampshire

The Hogarth, Teddington, Greater London

Queen Victoria, Rottingdean, East Sussex

The Bull Inn, Sonning, Berkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		25 Jul 2016	Not a big ruby fan - but this really was delicious.

Red Lion, Chalton, Hampshire

The Mad Bishop & Bear, Paddington, Central London

Fighting Cock, Bradford, West Yorkshire

The Crab Tree, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex

The Castle, Harrow on the Hill, Greater London

The Round House, Covent Garden, Central London

Old Road Tavern, Chippenham, Wiltshire

New Forest, Ashurst, Hampshire

The King Lud, Ryde, Isle of Wight

The Dovecote Inn, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman	Not Tried	05 Feb 2015
thebrewingman	Not Tried	01 Oct 2014
thebrewingman	Not Tried	07 Jun 2013
thebrewingman	Not Tried	08 Jul 2012
thebrewingman	Not Tried	12 Feb 2012	Went off as we came in.
thebrewingman	Not Tried	21 Jul 2011
Andrew		13 Sep 2009	Perhaps lacked a bit of condition and I suspect it was the end of the barrel but it still had some nice fruity and resinous notes to it.

Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn, Central London

Chequer Inn, Steyning, West Sussex

Murrell Arms, Barnham, West Sussex

Barley Mow, Southsea, Hampshire

5th Hants Volunteer Arms, Southsea, Hampshire

The Star Tavern, Belgravia, Central London

The Antelope, Belgravia, Central London

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Nov 2014
Philip Pirrip		11 Dec 2013	Had forgotten this was so dark a beer

Golden Lion, Fareham, Hampshire

The Old Bank of England, Fleet Street, Central London

The Dacre Arms, Lee, Greater London

The Red Lion, Whitehall, Central London

Ship Inn, Southwick, West Sussex

The Kings Arms, Emsworth, Hampshire

The Hampshire Hog, Horndean, Hampshire

Tap on the Line, Kew, Greater London

Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead, Greater London

The Congress Inn, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Nick Willis		11 Apr 2014

The Pilot Inn, Greenwich Peninsula, Greater London

The White Horse, Hertford, Hertfordshire

The Swan Hotel, Arundel, West Sussex

The Pub, Leicester, Leicestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stu		14 Sep 2013

The White Hart, Stockbridge, Hampshire

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	16 Jul 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Jul 2013
Mick	Not Tried	04 May 2013
Andrew	Not Tried	20 Apr 2013
Mick	Not Tried	13 Apr 2013
Brian		09 Feb 2013	Nice fruity dark brown beer
Mick		04 Aug 2012	Perfect condition but not really a favourite of mine.
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Aug 2012
Pedro		20 Jul 2012	took home some
Mick		28 Jan 2012	Lovely stuff, rich and full bodied, good malt and full flavour.
Mick		14 Jan 2012	Wonderful pint, rich malt predominates with some hops and a lovely finish.
Mick		26 Nov 2011	Nice, rich and malty with a good hop balance.
Mick	Not Tried	20 Oct 2011
Pedro		08 Oct 2011
Mick	Not Tried	06 Aug 2011
Andrew	Not Tried	01 Jun 2011
Ian	Not Tried	05 Feb 2011
Mick		18 Jan 2011	Very nice, dark and rich, malty without being sweet, hops coming through and a long finish.
Mick		25 Sep 2010	Nice, in excellent condition, good malt and some hops.
Ian	Not Tried	17 Aug 2010
Ken		13 Aug 2010	Was Gales, now Fullers, but glad to see the same high quality is being maintained. An excellent quaffable pint that disguises its 4.8% remarkably well
Mick	Not Tried	15 Jul 2009
Glyn		10 Jan 2009
Glyn		09 Dec 2008
Blair		06 Dec 2008	This was marked as HSB, but with an abv of 5.5% and it was dark, almost porter like so I'm not sure. Regardless though, it was lovely.
Ian	Not Tried	29 Nov 2008
Andrew		29 Nov 2008	Apparently it was once brewed at Horndean, but not the one in Essex! Not my usual beer but I liked it. Lots of wood resins and slightly vinous.
Mick	Not Tried	27 Nov 2008
Mick		11 Oct 2008	Dark Mahogany colour. Rich dark malts and a superb finish,very drinkable.
Andrew	Not Tried	05 Sep 2008

Sonder (formerly The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse; The Thirty-Nine Steps Alehouse), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
John B		13 Jul 2013	Best beer of the day

Red Lion, Kegworth, Leicestershire

Old Joint Stock, Birmingham, West Midlands

The Oak Inn, Bank, Hampshire

The Royal Oak, Guildford, Surrey

The Harvest Home, Denmead, Hampshire

Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden, Central London

Newport Inn, Braishfield, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		14 Aug 2012	Nearly exceptional. I had three, as it was so good.
HSB		30 Mar 2012

The Fox & Crown, Newark, Nottinghamshire

The White Horse, Priors Dean, Hampshire

The Builders Arms, Croydon, Greater London

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

The Old House at Home, Havant, Hampshire

The Newshouse, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Alfred Ale House, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

The Red Lion, Lenham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		09 Oct 2010	cold
Pedro	Not Tried	22 May 2010
Alenomore	Not Tried	22 May 2010
Alenomore		21 Mar 2010	The ex Gales Brewery re-creation and on top form here too.

Black Horse & Hoodens, Borough Green, Kent

The Kings Arms, Boxley, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		12 Aug 2010

The Blue Boar, Poole, Dorset

The Bull, Horton Kirby, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel	Not Tried	19 Dec 2008
Dubbel		15 Nov 2008	In as fine a form as 07 Nov.
Dubbel		07 Nov 2008	Deep brown malt-laden classic served to perfection. Mr Gale would have been proud.

Australian Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		07 Nov 2008	This was very nice. Creamy and malty, very easy drinking.

The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent

The Prestonville Arms, Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		03 Mar 2007	Really quite sweet and malt. Bit cloying.

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		14 Jun 2005	Normally I like Gale's beers, but this was sweet dark brown water. Not impressed at all