Theakston Old Peculier

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.

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Apr 2024
Philip Pirrip		08 Dec 2023	Full-on dose of liquorice
Philip Pirrip		06 Sep 2023	An oily ale, needed just a tad more condition to fully carry it off

Gadds' Beer Shop & Taproom, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		29 Mar 2024	In great nick but tastes different to the gud old dayz.... off to northdown or wantsum next.

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		09 Feb 2024	Not the hit I expected
Philip Pirrip		18 Dec 2023	Top hole condition nightcap
Philip Pirrip		06 Dec 2023	A full bodied dose of liquorice with long lasting head and lacing
Philip Pirrip		15 Jul 2019	OK no more, probably slow selling

William Harvey, Willesborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		03 Jan 2024	Creamy with hints of charcoal liquorice and rye. I turmoiled with the combobulation between 3.5 and 4* for this.

Ye Olde Starre Inne, York, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	27 Jun 2023
pavorossi		22 Jul 2010

The Cover Bridge Inn, East Witton, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	24 Apr 2023
Wittenden	Not Tried	01 Nov 2021
Wittenden	Not Tried	03 Nov 2017
Wittenden	Not Tried	20 Jan 2017
Wittenden	Not Tried	15 Oct 2013	Uncle George thought he had died and gone to Heaven.
Adrian		27 Aug 2008	Very impressive

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	19 Dec 2022
Dosser		19 Dec 2022	A bit too cold fora higher score

The Tremenheere, Penzance, Cornwall

Wat Tyler, Dartford, Kent

Kings Head, Gunnerside, North Yorkshire

Adam & Eve, Norwich, Norfolk

Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		30 Oct 2020	Hidden upstairs. £1.49 with a voucher made this superb value.
ChrisE		15 Sep 2020
Dosser		14 Mar 2020	This beer had run out but barman got a third out and it was fine

The Thomas Ingoldsby, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		12 Mar 2020	Haven’t seen this for a while in Kent

The Robert Pocock, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip		12 May 2017

Shoulder of Mutton, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

The Albert, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Jenny Lind, Hastings, East Sussex

The Roebuck Inn, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

The Gate Clock, Greenwich, Greater London

The Farmers Arms, Muker, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	09 Oct 2019
Wittenden	Not Tried	28 Oct 2018	Selling well.
Wittenden	Not Tried	29 Oct 2017
Wittenden	Not Tried	12 Oct 2014
Wittenden	Not Tried	19 Jul 2014
Wittenden		18 Oct 2013	Had to join Uncle George with this one. Unlike Abbott, this hasn't deteriorated.Mysterious,dried fruit.
Wittenden		12 Oct 2012	Drunk in honour of Uncle George. Black as sin,dried fruit,sweet and sour. Magic.
Wittenden	Not Tried	14 Feb 2012
Wittenden		29 Oct 2010	If Uncle George was rating, he would give 10. That aside, wonderfully dark and treacly, without being cloying.Epic.
Wittenden	Not Tried	26 Oct 2010
Wittenden	Not Tried	30 Oct 2009

Black Swan, York, North Yorkshire

Ye Olde John O'Gaunt, Lancaster, Lancashire

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		12 Jan 2019	Too cold for me. Not like it used to be in olden times...

The Ship Tavern, Holborn, Central London

The Bull Inn, West Tanfield, North Yorkshire

Rockingham Arms, Wentworth, South Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		03 Aug 2018	When in Rome (or Yorkshire) ...

George & Dragon, Wentworth, South Yorkshire

The Village, Walthamstow, Greater London

Museum Tavern, Bloomsbury, Central London

Home Taproom (formerly The Tontine Tavern; The Troubadour of Kent), Folkestone, Kent

The Travellers Joy, Northwood, Isle of Wight

The Alexandra Hotel, Derby, Derbyshire

Fizzy Moon Brewhouse, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Navigation Tavern, Mirfield, West Yorkshire

The Railway, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

The Old Windmill, Coventry, West Midlands

Town Wall Tavern, Coventry, West Midlands

Old Black Bull, Raskelf, North Yorkshire

The Laurel Inn, Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire

The Holden (formerly The Charles Holden), Colliers Wood, Greater London

Brownswood, Stoke Newington, Greater London

Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick	Not Tried	07 Jun 2016
Mick	Not Tried	22 Feb 2016
Mick	Not Tried	11 May 2015
Mick		02 Jun 2014	Nice dark beer in excellent condition
Mick	Not Tried	06 Jan 2014
Mick	Not Tried	10 Mar 2013
Mick	Not Tried	28 Aug 2012
Mick	Not Tried	03 Jan 2012
Mick	Not Tried	09 Aug 2011

The Prince Albert, Ely, Cambridgeshire

The Guest House, Southport, Merseyside

Lamb & Flag, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB	Not Tried	22 Dec 2015
Ian		09 Feb 2008	Tasty dark beer.

Old Bulls Head, Ware, Hertfordshire

Watermill Inn, Ings (Nr. Staveley), Cumbria

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ray		07 Oct 2015	Smooth and rich but perhaps not too fresh.
ChrisE	Not Tried	16 Jul 2015
ChrisE	Not Tried	18 Jul 2013
ChrisE	Not Tried	19 Jul 2012
McGargle		22 Nov 2009	Lacking both body and flavour.

Bay Horse, Masham, North Yorkshire

The Last Plantagenet, Leicester, Leicestershire

Wetherspoons (also known as Station), Leeds, West Yorkshire

Ye Olde Smack, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		26 Jun 2015

The Castle Inn, Skipton, North Yorkshire

The Crown, Hawes, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		21 Jun 2015	Sweet with rum tones - ok if you like this sort of thing.

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		23 May 2015	More an ale for the winter months. Good but not the best I've ever had. No rum and raisin, more bitter than usual.

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

The Bankers Draft, Eltham, Greater London

The Cyclist (former The Moon Under Water), Balham, Greater London

Royal Oak, York, North Yorkshire

Ye Olde White Harte, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB	Not Tried	30 Dec 2014
Stephen Harris		09 Nov 2012	– It is honestly many years since I last drank this classic old ale. It is instantly recognisable. Very dark, with a big creamy head. Rich, caramelly and with liquorice notes. Slight fruity sourness.

Three Daws, Gravesend, Kent

The Muggleton Inn, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		21 Dec 2014

The Bohemian, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Vacuous		29 Nov 2014	More vineous than it should be. Annoying.

The Bouncing Barrel, Herne Bay, Kent

The Tan Hill Inn, Keld, North Yorkshire

Melton Constable, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

The CB Inn, Langthwaite, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		18 Jul 2014	Dark and nourishing, but thinner than I remember. Too cold.

Royal Oak, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

White Cross, Lancaster, Lancashire

The Anchor Inn, Cowes, Isle of Wight

The Olde Ship Hotel, Seahouses, Northumberland

Golden Fleece, York, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		08 May 2014	Far too sweet and sickly

The Flying Circus, Newark, Nottinghamshire

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser	Not Tried	30 Dec 2013
Angie	Not Tried	30 Dec 2012
Pedro		26 Dec 2012
Pedro		26 Dec 2012
Pedro		25 Dec 2012
Dosser		07 May 2012
Alenomore		27 Dec 2011	A top class big un'. Pedro and myself are intent on consuming all of this excellent ale. Could this ale be described as "legendary"? It seems to have been around for an awful long time!
Pedro		27 Dec 2011	Absolutely Great !
Pedro		26 Dec 2011
Pedro		25 Dec 2011
Alenomore		24 Dec 2011	A classic old ale, very nice, slightly fruity with a good taste that belies it's abv.
Pedro		24 Dec 2011	Great beer in great nick
Pedro	Not Tried	13 Jan 2011
Dosser		09 Jan 2011
Pedro		09 Jan 2011	One of my favourites
Pedro		24 Oct 2010	Good to see an old favourite and no Dosser to drink it all !
Angie		23 Oct 2010	Strong and dark.
Pedro		31 Dec 2009	alas now run out !
Pedro	Not Tried	30 Dec 2009
Pedro		29 Dec 2009
Pedro		28 Dec 2009
Pedro		25 Dec 2009	All four that I squeezed in before 3 o'clock closing !...what a great beer when on form !
Pedro		04 Sep 2009
Pedro		03 Sep 2009
Pedro		02 Sep 2009	tried outside on patio
Pedro		23 May 2009
Pedro	Not Tried	22 May 2009
Pedro	Not Tried	21 May 2009
Pedro		20 May 2009
Pedro		17 May 2009	Stunning !
Pedro		16 May 2009	Also new on during evening...great !

The Draper's Arms, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

The George, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

The Black Bull, Reeth, North Yorkshire

Old George, Bethnal Green, Greater London

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Judy G Garland		02 Oct 2013

The Kings Head, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight

The Brandon Works, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire

The Junction (formerly The Angel), Islington, Central London

Shambles Bar, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Pier Inn, Whitby, North Yorkshire

The Peter Cushing, Whitstable, Kent

The Half Moon (Ex Tap & Spile), Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

The Old Swan, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

The Corner Pin, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Mar 2013	Newly on
Philip Pirrip		28 Nov 2012	Distinctive creosotey, tarry flavour
Philip Pirrip		25 Jul 2012	1st out a little warm
Philip Pirrip		25 Jul 2012	2nd out right temperature

Tap & Spile, Birmingham, West Midlands

The Phoenix, York, North Yorkshire

The Kings Arms, Offham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		25 Dec 2012

The Wig & Pen, Northampton, Northamptonshire

The Up Steps Inn, Oldham, Greater Manchester

The Windmill, Hollingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		27 Jul 2012	Ner it's end will be replaced by Bank's Mild
Alenomore		30 Jun 2012	Nice to see this one. A winter warmer in mid summer! A spot on, rich tasting ale.

The Metropolitan Bar, Baker Street, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Jul 2012	Full liquorice tones and gives no clue as to its 5.6% status. For some silly reason the beer some people are scared to drink
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	28 Apr 2012

Dog & Gun, Keswick, Cumbria

Golden Lion, York, North Yorkshire

The Tiger, Camberwell, Greater London

Cask Corner, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

The Lion, Blakey Ridge, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	17 Feb 2012
Wittenden		04 Nov 2011	I only drink this about once a year, but, as ever, it was medieval in its conflation of sweetness and sharp, chocolate and spice. A treat!

Queens Head, Queens Head, Shropshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		16 Feb 2012	At £3.30 I expected something special. My pint had the aroma of pear drops and the overwhelming taste of pear drops. Absolutely awful.

Old Plantation, Bearsted, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		03 Jan 2012

Black Horse & Hoodens, Borough Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		04 Aug 2011	Just luv it !
Pedro		29 Jul 2011
Pedro		27 Jul 2011	I luv this beer !!
Pedro		26 Jul 2011	Gorgeous - luv this one !

The Magnesia Bank, North Shields, Tyne and Wear

Who	Score	When	Notes
Flying.geordie		23 Jun 2011

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		15 Mar 2011	Soft velvety darkness.
Andrew	Not Tried	10 Dec 2010

The Phoenix, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman	Not Tried	27 Dec 2010
Brian		17 Dec 2010	Really good strong chocolate beer. Not a fruity as I remember and slightly milky.

The Old Three Crowns, Bolton, Greater Manchester

Who	Score	When	Notes
pavorossi		31 Jul 2010	Pretty well kept

The Samuel Lloyd, Corby, Northamptonshire

Bowl Inn, Charing, Kent

Opera House, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		15 Jan 2010	Always worth having. Some wood shavings, some perfume, but mostly a solid old ale. Good chewy malts.
Pedro		12 Dec 2009

The Druids Arms, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		06 Jan 2010

The Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair	Not Tried	04 Dec 2009
Blair	Not Tried	21 Nov 2009
Blair		19 Nov 2009	Fruity, tangy and smooth. Roasted malts and a little chocolate. Still not as good as I remember it a few years back.
Blair	Not Tried	05 Apr 2009
Blair		04 Apr 2009	They've changed this and I don't think it's for the better. It seems a lot lighter in colour and not as strong tasting. Old Peculier used to be one of my favourite beers, this was good but not as good as it once was.
Blair	Not Tried	01 Apr 2009
Ian	Not Tried	22 Nov 2008
Blair		02 Nov 2008	I love this beer. Rich and black, loads of roasted malt and chocolate with a slight tartness.

The Pilot, Dungeness, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor		04 Apr 2009	Good, clear dark brown ale which I found quite to my liking
Trevor		26 Feb 2008	Very dark colour and was expecting something full bodied and heavy, but was pleasantly surprised by its lightness. Very drinkable.
Trevor	Not Tried	29 Dec 2006

The Park Tavern, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel		08 Jan 2009	First cask OP of the season. Wintry winner, dark, moody malts. Is this the ideal cold January evening ale? Cellar must have been chilly as this was served a little on the cool side, though conditioning was excellent once it had warmed through.

The Black Swan, Middleham, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Adrian		28 Aug 2008	Condition varied throughout week. Last pint from towards the bottom of the barrel.

The Bolton Arms, Leyburn, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Adrian		27 Aug 2008

The Earl of Dalkeith, Kettering, Northamptonshire

The Bree Louise, Euston, Central London

Simple Simon's, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair	Not Tried	09 Feb 2008
Ian	Not Tried	12 Jan 2008
Andrew	Not Tried	15 Dec 2007
Ian	Not Tried	24 Nov 2007
Andrew	Not Tried	31 Oct 2007
Brian		27 Oct 2007	Normally this is served too cold here, but this time it wasn't. It's a dear pint but in my opnion well worth it. This was tart, with burnt rubber aroma. A deep chocolate malt taste and a sweet caramel finish. It's lovely but not one for a session.
Ian	Not Tried	20 May 2007
Brian		23 Mar 2007	Normal. That's to say, too cold to start and excellent by the end - see all previous posts. (Didn't make a note of what else was on as this is one of my favourites).
Ian		21 Dec 2006	Very dark ruby, no head. Is it supposed to be this sour? The it warms up and this lovely dark fruit flavour comes out. Not huge hop, some dryness on end. Some liquorice and a bit of roasted malt with choc and coffee, but the dark fruits dominate.
Brian		18 Dec 2006	Too cold to start, but soon excellent. Had two pints and felt suitably rewarded.
Brian		11 Nov 2006	I had this on Wednesday and this was just as good. Like a bar of Old Jamaica.
Brian		08 Nov 2006	Too cold to start, but then dark rum and slight sweetness. I love this beer but at 5.7 I only need a couple. Cost £3.30 by the way.
Ian	Not Tried	29 Dec 2005
Brian		11 Dec 2005	A bit cold to begin with, but soon the roasted malt came through with a slight sweetness at the end.

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		22 Sep 2007	I am not a big drinker of this beer, but we gave it a go. Liquorice, dark malts, good characterful beer and interesting.
Andrew		22 Sep 2007	Dark stewed prune colour. Rich plum and raisen. I've not had this for years but this was probably the best pint of it I've had

The Red Lion, Histon, Cambridgeshire

The Castle Inn, St Ives, Cornwall

The Hotspur, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Behind the Wall, Falkirk, Falkirk

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

Lincolnshire Poacher, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Monsal Head Hotel, Monsal Head, Derbyshire