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History: Home > The Alpaca (formerly The New Rose)
The Alpaca (formerly The New Rose) (Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken UK))
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds - Imperial |  | 1 |
| Salopian - Hop Twister | | 1 |
| Leeds - New Moon | | 1 |
| Portobello - Market Porter | | 1 |
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | | 1 |
| Hackney - American Pale Ale |  | 2 |
| Little Valley - Hebden's Wheat | | 1 |
| Budvar - Budvar | | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot | | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | | 1 |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | | 1 |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Best | | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Corker | | 1 |
| Kent - Cobnut | | 1 |
| Hop Stuff - Single Hop Simcoe |  | 1 |
| Edinbrew - 85/- | | 1 |
| Sharp's - Atlantic Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Harvest Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hackney - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wold Top - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| New River - London Tap | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Original Port Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Corvedale - Katie's Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wolf - Golden Jackal | Not Tried | 0 |
| Potbelly - Crazy Daze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Naylor's - Pinnacle Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thwaites - Wainwright (please now use the Banks's entry) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| London Beer Factory - Chelsea Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Golden Sheep | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
16 May 2017 (Stephen Harris)
After work drinks with Dave R, and we start a little pub-crawl here. He at least remembers the CAMRA discount, even if I don’t.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinbrew - 85/- | 4.60 | | A Mild; nearly black in colour, with a huge, foaming head. Slightly roasty flavour. |
| Castle Rock - Harvest Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hackney - Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| New River - London Tap | 3.80 | Not Tried |
21 Aug 2015 (Stephen Harris)
A hot and muggy early evening and I arrive here damp from my tube journey. Dave R and I have to adjust our seating to avoid being subjected to the horror of an England batting collapse on the TV. Wish I had read Jack William’s review more closely and remembered the CAMRA discount.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor & Eton - Corker | 4.00 | | A nice, light, Pale Ale. |
| Black Sheep - Golden Sheep | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Atlantic Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
08 Aug 2015 (Jack William)
Mid evening on a warm Saturday evening. This area of London is heaving - but this pub offered a peaceful oasis with enough staff to make it pleasant. Of my 4 this evening this is the one to return to. A bit pricey - but 10 % CAMRA discount actively promoted by the friendly (Bolivian) barman.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Hop Twister | 4.50 | | It was zesty, great flavour and perfect for a Summer evening. |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | | Good body, malty. |
| Hop Stuff - Single Hop Simcoe | 4.20 | | Bit warm |
09 May 2015 (ChrisE)
Saturday evening and very busy but the service was good and I did manage to find a table so I decided to treat myself to a pizza.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds - Imperial | 4.70 | | Reddish ale with a good balance of malt and hops. |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hackney - American Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
07 May 2015 (ChrisE)
I thought the beer was a bit pricey, but the girl behind the bar reminded me that this is Islington, she then offered me Camra discount and a free pizza. The chef was trying out various ideas for a new pizza menu so I, and everyone else were given about five or six quite large portions of very good pizza to try. They were very good indeed so I might even buy one when they appear on the menu. A couple of other customers asked me if I new anything about a pub called Crocker's Folly so I showed them the entry on this site.
I thoroughly enjoyed this visit, my only complaint was the Country and Western music being played on the sound system.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | 4.80 | | Delicious dark ale. |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Best | 3.60 | | |
| Hackney - American Pale Ale | 4.50 | |
16 Feb 2015 (thebrewingman)
A friendly welcome from the staff and the whippet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds - New Moon | 4.60 | | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| London Beer Factory - Chelsea Blonde | 4.30 | Not Tried |
23 Apr 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Mid to late-evening and quite busy, although we did not have to wait long for a table to become free.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Dark, heavy, rich and nutty. |
| Hackney - American Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Served with a huge head, which quickly dissipated. Very fruity hop tastes, although not in peak condition here. |
| Budvar - Budvar | 5.00 | | On keg dispense. Ages since I’ve drunk this outside of the Czech Republic. Pale and with a malty bite. Improved as it warmed. |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thwaites - Wainwright (please now use the Banks's entry) | 4.10 | Not Tried |
12 Feb 2013 (ChrisE)
Another pub that we found by accident, we had originally intended to go to Corley's Tavern in New North Road, but found that it had been demolished about two years ago. We wandered down Essex Road to catch a bus to St. Pancras and found this excellent pub adjacent to the bus stop. Advertised as Just Another Pub we had to go in, and we found an excellent boozer. The pub is hosting a beer festival sometime in April this year, unfortunately I did not make a note of the exact dates and the pub's web site does not give any clues.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portobello - Market Porter | 4.60 | | Very impressive beer. |
| Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot | 4.00 | | |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | 4.80 | |
03 May 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Final knockings of a little beer festival that has been running for a few days. Very busy. A Bingo session about to commence as I left.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Valley - Hebden's Wheat | 4.50 | | Orangey-coloured ‘Wit Bier’ in the Belgian style. Cloudy, a bit lemony, hint of coriander. Strange to be drinking a wheat beer out of a dimpled pint mug. |
| Wold Top - Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Original Port Stout | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Corvedale - Katie's Pride | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Wolf - Golden Jackal | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Potbelly - Crazy Daze | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Naylor's - Pinnacle Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried |
About The Alpaca (formerly The New Rose)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 5 |
| 10 |
| 2 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Islington, Central London, N1 8LU.
This is a pub in Essex Road with attitude. Two spacious rooms, its location on Essex Road almost guarantees a big crowd – but the pub works hard to keep the crowd, hosting numerous events. Closed for a while and re-opened in spring 2020 after a refurbishment and re-naming.
We have visited this pub 9 times, seen 33 different beers and tried 16 of them.
Postcode: N1 8LU