PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Beehive
The Beehive (Ei Group (formerly Enterprise Inns))
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Chiltern - Beechwood Bitter |  | 1 |
| Vale - Black Beauty Porter | | 1 |
| Tring - Shear Fright |  | 1 |
| XT Brewing - No. 4 Session Amber | | 1 |
| Brentwood - Gold | | 1 |
| Vale - Scarecrow - ruby ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| XT Brewing - No. 1 Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Hop Kitty | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Cryptic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Black Swan Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Moondance | Not Tried | 0 |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Mythical Animal: Minotaur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Golden Best (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
29 Oct 2026 (Magnus Greel)
Fairly quiet just a few folk about for a late Thursday afternoon.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vale - Black Beauty Porter | 4.40 | | Rich sweet, velvety chocolate and roasted malts nectar. |
| Triple fff - Moondance | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Mythical Animal: Minotaur | 4.30 | Not Tried |
03 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Eighth visit of the outing: Busy early evening with many hogging and drinking at the smallish bar while standing and where the bar area is purposely laid out minus stools. A personal pet hate of mine is bar hogging in the area to be served from. Once able to observe the beers on, I was served quickly. My party of real ale drinkers were seated around a high table in a sort of corridor part of the pub leading to its cavernous rear. My high chair was located and planted in the vicinity of my fellow real ale drinkers from east London predominantly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiltern - Beechwood Bitter | 4.30 | | Very good head and lacing presented and lasting all the way on this 1982-launched best bitter named after the local beech trees that cover the hills. Those behind the brewery got their skates on in 1980, making it the oldest independent micro-brewery in the county and set up on an old working farm in Terrick, near Aylesbury in rural Buckinghamshire. Amusingly, the handpump badge had all about it summed up as amber, nutty, toffee, and fruity on it. But here goes: A malty bitter first hit on this mid-amber coloured bitter. A hoppy fruitiness rising from the triple foliage, Challenger, Fuggles, and Goldings. Challenger lending a sharp, bitterness, Fuggles dropping a woody, earthy herbal note, and Goldings behind a floral spice for me. A buttery toffee aroma and on the swallow, a fruity and gently bitter finish winning over the grain. A maltiness doing battle with a biscuity caramel surfacing from a marry-up of Maris Otter and Crystal malts, showcasing Buckinghamshire-grown barley from the grand Waddesdon Estate. The Maris Otter behind a sweet and bready biscuit base, while the Crystal malt throwing down a heavy dollop of rich caramel sweetness into the mix with the hot liquor in the boil turning it into a velvety nutty flavour that stays smooth as a silk topper. A pleasurable malty fruity outflow for me. Served in totally ‘up to the knocker’ form for me as in the highest state of excellence. |
| Oakham - Cryptic | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Black Swan Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried |
18 Apr 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Third stop on this St Albans’ visit: Not overly busy and pretty much ahead in the beer trail from The Great Northern. Prompt friendly service for my early afternoon arrival. I met up with a contingent from north London, namely the Enfield & Barnet CAMRA branch, and who I first came across in The Little Green Dragon micropub on their patch. Ticking over but seating for all of us!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Brewing - No. 4 Session Amber | 3.80 | | Very good head and lacing on this copper-coloured session amber from the Notley Farm brewery at Long Crendon, on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and set up in 2011 by Gareth Xifaras and Russell Taylor, hence XT as the brewery’s name. A bitter first hit. A good hoppy bitterness rising with piney and resinous "New World" hop flavours emerging from its American Cascade. This was originally developed in the United States at Oregon State University as part of a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) breeding program. This session amber was balanced with the English variety, Bramling Cross, primarily grown in the counties of Kent and Sussex, lending it blackcurrant, loganberry and spicy citrus flavours. A malty note or two emerging with hints of caramel sweetness and toasted biscuit from its blend of English and special Belgian malts. These are likely to include aromatic and crystal malts. A very dry bitterness prevailing. A moreish hoppy note sailing downwards. Served in very good nick. |
| XT Brewing - No. 1 Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Hop Kitty | 3.90 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the outing: Finally caught up with what looked like some of the CAMRA outing here. A couple among them later turned out to be the same couple I had met in the Radius Arms in Whyteleafe, Surrey, on a trip there last year or even the year before. Warm, friendly welcome from this gem of a little pub at 2 Keyfield Terrace, just set off the main London Road running into St Albans, and not much further on from The Farmers Boy. It was literally full of snugs and dining areas. I was served without delay from a choice of two cask ales and one from Tring, some 14 miles north-west of St Albans in the direction of Aylesbury. It has a roomy garden housing sheltered booths complete with their own heaters and TVs.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tring - Shear Fright | 4.40 | | Head and lacing, very good, and lasting to the end on this extra strong bitter, though only 4.4%, from Tring, north-west of St Albans. A malty, stewed-fruit first hit. A moreishly dry bitterness taking flight on its broomstick with a pleasant black malt or two flying up in joy. British hops blended in Tring's cauldrons lending it a dry hoppiness paddling out in a good puddle of bitterness. |
| Vale - Scarecrow - ruby ale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 May 2018 (ChrisE)
Various pump clips turned round but just one beer on sale. I made my apologies and left.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried |
24 May 2014 (Andrew)
Tucked away just off the London road this is old pub with split levels. Lots of sport going on
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentwood - Gold | 4.30 | | Good condition. Mid gold. Hint of bitterness on the finish. Ok |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Golden Best (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The Beehive
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 2 |
| 3 |
 | - |
 | - |
The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1QL.
In Keyfield Terrace, a pub with 2 separate drinking areas in addition to the main bar. Wooden boards flooring throughout. Centrally located island bar.
We have visited this pub 6 times, seen 15 different beers and tried 5 of them.
Postcode: AL1 1QL