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The Half Moon (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Potbelly - Beijing Black |  | 1 |
| Tring - Blond |  | 2 |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | | 1 |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | | 1 |
| Flipside - Sterling Pale | | 1 |
| Cloudwater - Session IPA | | 1 |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Cockerel |  | 1 |
| Northumberland - Sheepdog Bitter | | 1 |
| Brewster's - Hophead | | 1 |
| Church End - Einstein A Go Go | | 1 |
| B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Shefford Bitter | | 1 |
| Brewster's - Dost Thou Jest |  | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oldershaw - Blonde Volupta | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - GB Growler Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nene Valley - Business Time | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Punch | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Through The Hopback | Not Tried | 0 |
| Church End - Wren's Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Cornish Knocker Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Tribute | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Old Growler | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Lemondrop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Priory Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Inferno | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Broadside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Wild Boar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brains - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Bessemer Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks & Taylor's (B&T) - Dragon Slayer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Four Door Saloon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nene Valley - I Miss The Congas | Not Tried | 0 |
| Church End - Grave Digger's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
06 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the Hitchin outing: Busy for my early evening arrival and 8 real ales on in this wet-led pub featuring original features such as the brick bar and ceiling beams and pillars. Prompt friendly service and seating to be had and following the walk through Hitchin town centre to this slightly out-of-town drinking hole.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | Poured with a very creamy head and lasting lacing on this jet-black mild from the Woodston area of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire and where the 1993-launched brewery relocated to in 2006. A dry bitter first hit. A bitter maltiness rising. A hint of caramel rising among its coffee and dark chocolate flavours from its traditional British malts, Maris Otter, Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt and Caramalt. A dry malty bitterness joining in before descending aided by its 100% US-sourced hops, Willamette lending earthy, herbal and spicy notes, Cascade behind its citrus and grapefruit hints, and Simcoe behind its pine resin and tropical fruit, passionfruit and apricot, and with all these hops together ensuring the dark malts are not for my taste buds too heavy with the pine and earthiness complementing its roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavours. Served in top form with lasting condition on the mouthfeel. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Inferno | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Lemondrop | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried |
07 Jun 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening busy with folk swarmed around the entire bar area however plenty of tables free which suited our small group.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Cockerel | 4.60 | | A dry hoppy pale ale with a bitter kick |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Nene Valley - Business Time | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Through The Hopback | 4.00 | Not Tried |
10 Jun 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening not too busy with plenty of tables available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewster's - Dost Thou Jest | 4.00 | | I struggled to get through this with ever increasing sourness the more I progressed.. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Nene Valley - I Miss The Congas | 4.10 | Not Tried |
28 Apr 2015 (HSB)
Lunch stop. Great atmosphere as usual. There were five beers left over from a recent beer festival but I didn't record them.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flipside - Sterling Pale | 3.90 | | Hoppy |
| Cloudwater - Session IPA | 4.80 | | Another hoppy beer |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Inferno | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Wild Boar | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Bessemer Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | Pilgrim hopped beer |
03 Jun 2014 (HSB)
15:30 Added to the crawl as one member of the party wanted to visit. Now open all day.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewster's - Hophead | 3.60 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Priory Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Nov 2013 (HSB)
13:50 Lunch stop. Busy. Very friendly staff. Third visit here in recent years. An excellent pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | | One of my current favourites. I like the taste of the Summit hop. |
| Church End - Grave Digger's Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oldershaw - Blonde Volupta | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - GB Growler Bitter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Punch | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Church End - Wren's Pride | 4.00 | Not Tried |
14 Oct 2011 (Magnus Greel)
Lively and well staffed (did not have to wait for long to be served even though pub was very busy) with a good choice of beers and a fair priced bar snack menu.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tring - Blond | 4.00 | | |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Potbelly - Beijing Black | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Shefford Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Banks & Taylor's (B&T) - Dragon Slayer | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Four Door Saloon | 4.00 | Not Tried |
14 Oct 2011 (ChrisE)
A very busy Friday evening. It was my first visit here and I was impressed with the pub, we had some good ales, and good company.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potbelly - Beijing Black | 4.40 | | Fantastic |
| Tring - Blond | 4.00 | | |
| B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Shefford Bitter | 3.80 | | A good session beer, it brought back memories of drinking in the Lord Rodney's Head at Whitechapel, a former Banks & Taylor pub. |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Banks & Taylor's (B&T) - Dragon Slayer | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Four Door Saloon | 4.00 | Not Tried | Mighty Oak's monthly special for September, this beer came on sale towards the end of our visit. |
26 Sep 2009 (Blair)
This is a great pub. The staff were really friendly and seemed to love their jobs. Me and the old man sat chatting to the Welse barman about an assortment of rubbish for a couple of hours before heading to our next stop.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland - Sheepdog Bitter | 4.70 | | A very good bitter. Fruity with a little floral hop in there. Quite complex and very nice. |
| Church End - Einstein A Go Go | 5.00 | | Really pale lager style beer. Quite crisp and refreshing, it was hot so this was perfect. |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Cornish Knocker Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Old Growler | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The Half Moon
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 6 |
| 5 |
 | - |
| 1 |
The pub is found in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9TZ.
A local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2014. Large open plan pub in Queen Street, with a great beer garden at the back. Hertfordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2016.
We have visited this pub 9 times, seen 47 different beers and tried 12 of them.
Postcode: SG4 9TZ