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Rat Race Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Martius |  | 1 |
| Bespoke - Saved by the Bell |  | 1 |
| Full Mash - Warlord | | 1 |
| Hawkshead - NZPA | | 1 |
| Rooster's - Huntsman Ale | | 1 |
| Tempest - Citra | | 1 |
| Lakeland (formerly Stringers) - Victoria IPA |  | 1 |
| Muirhouse - Stumbling About | | 1 |
| Salamander - Axolotl | | 1 |
| Tryst - Carronade IPA | | 1 |
| Backyard - Gold |  | 1 |
| Brampton - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| BrewDog - 5AM Saint | | 1 |
| Hop Studio - Pale (formerly XP) | | 1 |
| Mauldons - Mole Trap | | 1 |
| Abbeydale - Absolution | Not Tried | 0 |
| Altarnum (formerly Penpont) - Cornish Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Angus Ales - Driver Dark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Caledonian - Double Dark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - St Petrus Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Medieval - Courtly Love | Not Tried | 0 |
| Medieval - Knight Hood | Not Tried | 0 |
| Naylor's - Black & Tan | Not Tried | 0 |
| Northern Monk - Northern Star Mocha Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Old School (OSB) - Headmaster | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twisted Oak - Watkins | Not Tried | 0 |
| Welbeck Abbey - Portland Black | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
20 Feb 2015 (HSB)
13:00 My first visit here. I liked it a lot, just what a micro-pub should be. The Guvnor was very friendly and obviously knowledgeable about beer. Initially just the four of us, but most seats were occupied when the bar closed at 14:15. The walls and ceiling are now covered in pump-clips.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkshead - NZPA | 6.00 | | Full of floral hops |
| Muirhouse - Stumbling About | 5.20 | | |
| Hop Studio - Pale (formerly XP) | 4.00 | | Tasty but cloudy. |
| Northern Monk - Northern Star Mocha Porter | 5.90 | Not Tried |
27 Jul 2013 (ChrisE)
The slightly delayed 12:15 arrival from Sunderland pulled in to the platform, and suddenly an empty pub became full. We were delighted to find that this pub now remains open throughout Saturday afternoons so we stayed very much later than planned.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Mash - Warlord | 4.40 | | Another superb pint. |
| Bespoke - Saved by the Bell | 3.80 | | A new cask on and in top form. |
| Welbeck Abbey - Portland Black | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Old School (OSB) - Headmaster | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twisted Oak - Watkins | 7.40 | Not Tried |
01 Mar 2013 (McGargle)
Great pub but beware the idiosyncratic hours. It closes at 2015!!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland (formerly Stringers) - Victoria IPA | 5.50 | | British style 'traditional' IPA. Solid body, rich mouthfeel and a hoppy bitter drive. |
| Medieval - Courtly Love | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Medieval - Knight Hood | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Altarnum (formerly Penpont) - Cornish Gold | 3.70 | Not Tried |
31 Dec 2011 (McGargle)
Packed but you can always find a seat. Peter and wife were busy but quiet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton - Best Bitter | 4.20 | | Mid-brown in colour and taste. Some biscuit mostly cardboard. Any other day 2*. |
| Backyard - Gold | 4.50 | | Golden ale that could have been brewed with Holdens yeast. Sweet toffee malt with some light hopping leading to a sweetish, cloying finish. Again almost 2*. |
| Caledonian - Double Dark | 4.60 | Not Tried |
30 Oct 2010 (McGargle)
Surprisingly quiet mid-evening. Discovered too late I could have brought some food in. Guess I'd have had to share it though!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest - Citra | 5.90 | | New world style IPA with fruit salad flavours. Carefully balanced malt gives some body and a satisfying finish. |
| Mauldons - Mole Trap | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tryst - Carronade IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Naylor's - Black & Tan | 4.40 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2010 (McGargle)
First visit and I was impressed by what a genuinely friendly place this is.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tryst - Carronade IPA | 4.20 | | Light golden ale with a thin white head. Initial citrus hoppiness from Washington hops leads to a dry finish. Although it feels more than its abv the malts selected add little to flavour and leave the beer a little unbalanced. |
| Mauldons - Mole Trap | 3.80 | | Dominated by a smokey/peaty flavour this wasn't to my taste. Others really enjoyed it though. |
| BrewDog - 5AM Saint | 5.00 | | This was clearly tired with only hints of resinous hops and lacking condition in the mouth. |
| Angus Ales - Driver Dark | 4.40 | Not Tried |
26 Mar 2010 (ChrisE)
The pub advertises that it opens at 12:02, and it did just that, as the 12:02 to Newcastle was arriving in the platform to disgorge thirsty customers. I was the first one in, and the pub soon became comfortably busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Martius | 5.20 | | Copper coloured rich tasty pint. |
| Rooster's - Huntsman Ale | 3.70 | | This was the penultimate pint in the cask, and it was very good. A copper coloured session beer. |
| Salamander - Axolotl | 3.90 | | Light in colour, slightly hazy, and strong citrus flavour. A good beer, but not really to my taste. |
| Abbeydale - Absolution | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - St Petrus Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried |
About the Rat Race Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Hartlepool, Durham, TS24 7ED.
A micropub situated in the former newsagent's shop at Hartlepool railway station. This pub was opened in November 2009 after the owner heard Martyn Hillier of The Butchers Arms speak about micropubs at the 2009 CAMRA National AGM at Eastbourne. There is no lager, television or music. The opening hours oddly reflect the precise, by the minute, time of some train arrivals.
We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 27 different beers and tried 15 of them.
Postcode: TS24 7ED