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Farriers Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter |  | 1 |
| Marston's - Young's London Original | | 1 |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | | 1 |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Cask Ale |  | 1 |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - AK Original Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Country Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
03 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Fifth visit of the outing: Just literally feet from The Verulam, it has recently changed hands and been done up but the original bar and seating are all still intact. A good few in and who appeared to be quite mature locals seated around its tiny bar. Three real ales on and it has a plaque on its exterior side wall detailing it was here that the first branch meeting of CAMRA was held on 30th November 1972. Also commemorated on this plaque is that in the 1800s it was a butcher’s and grocer’s before becoming licensed as a beer-house from the 1830s. The plaque was donated by South Herts CAMRA in 2025. Speedy, friendly service late afternoon from this independent pub’s new guvnor and a table to share with a friendly local customer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | 4.00 | | Served with very good head and lasting lacing on this copper-amber coloured West Yorkshire bitter from brewing first set up in 1858 in Cook Lane in the West Riding town of Keighley, before upping sticks in 1863 to a grander premises over at the Knowle Spring Brewery in Keighley, and remaining West Yorkshire's last independent family brewer of true cask ales. A dry bitter first hit on what was originally known to the old boys as Taylor’s Best Bitter before it was crowned Supreme Champion Beer of Britain and where the brewers use nothing but real, whole-leaf hops and premium malts. A dry bitter first hit. A sweet fruity bitterness rising from its Fuggles lending earthy and woody notes for me, Goldings behind its sweet floral touches, delicate spice and a bit of honey, and Savinjski Goldings lending a bright citrus orange peel and a punchy, zesty marmalade hint. A malty fruitiness winning over aided by its Golden Promise Premium barley lending a sweet and distinctly bready flavouring, its Crystal Malt lending a toffee, sweet caramel and dark honey infusion, and Amber Malt behind its toasty biscuit, light nuttiness, and a touch of dry woodiness. Hitting my whistle with a biscuit-like, toasted nut-cake sweetness. A bitter hoppiness paddling out. Served in very good order. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
9th visit of the outing: A personal favourite of mine from earlier recent visits to Albans over the last five years as very unspoilt even on the inside. It only became a pub in the 1920s having been a grocer's and butcher's during the 19th century. Almost the size of a modern micropub but perhaps a touch too big to fit the true definition. It has though certainly originated from a former shop premises and it does not do fancy food and so my sort of wet pub where you do not feel you are intruding on people dining as not laid out in that way. They will toast you a sandwich or ready-made pizza but no sign of anyone tucking in on this visit. Free of tie and gaming machines, there is only a tv for sports. Once belonging to McMullen's Brewery of Hertford, it became a free house in 2013. The only pub in the whole of St Albans not to have ever not served real ale. It is commemorated with a plaque from CAMRA's Hertfordshire branch for their first meeting here in 1972; they are the oldest branch of CAMRA. Busy on my early evening arrival with many still from the local CAMRA branch and one or two still going strong from some of London's branches on the crawl. Prompt, friendly service and timed it just right for a seat and table in the rear bar area.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | 3.60 | | My second tasting of this golden ale from the Tring-based brewery, some 14 miles north-west of St Albans in the direction of Aylesbury, on the outing and just as good as the first one tried in the White Hart Tap earlier. A dry hoppy but also fruity sweet first bite aided by its American Cascade hops. A hop-infused fruitiness looming up with a good helping of citrusy sweetness winning over. Much applause paid by my taste buds for its fruity note or two tap-dancing off in perfect style but not before the encore performed by its lingering citrus and floral playmates. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
28 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for my Saturday early evening visit. Friendly welcome and prompt service in this St Albans' backstreet traditional pub with 3 real ales on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Young's London Original | 3.70 | | Good head and lacing. A chewy, bitter mouthfeel and not sweet. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 May 2014 (HSB)
12:00 Had the pub to ourselves until just about to go. Lovely interior, on CAMRA Heritage list.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Country Best Bitter | 4.30 | Not Tried |
07 Jul 2007 (Ian)
Not exactly my favourite pub in St Albans. I almost got the feeling that it was for locals only.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Cask Ale | 3.80 | | Copper gold with lasting off white head. A little dull and bland to start with, not much aroma, some hop in mouth and then more hop towards the finish. Distinct hop bitterness on finish. |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - AK Original Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Country Best Bitter | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About the Farriers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
 | - |
| 4 |
| 1 |
 | - |
The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4PT.
Corner pub in Lower Dagnall Street. Light and airy feel. Centre bar serves front public bar and rear lounge room. Old fashioned locals' pub feel. A blue plaque on the exterior wall of the pub records that the Farriers Arms was the first meeting place of the Hertfordshire branch of CAMRA on 20th November 1972. McMullen sold the pub in 2013 to private owners. In early 2022 pub freehold once more up for sale. Re-opened in early September 2023 with new owners.
We have visited this pub 5 times, seen 9 different beers and tried 5 of them.
Postcode: AL3 4PT