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Old Cross Tavern (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord |  | 3 |
| Old Cross - 3 Nine 50 |  | 2 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Red Kite | | 1 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Stour Valley Gold | | 1 |
| New River - Blind Poet | | 1 |
| Old Cross - Cascade | | 1 |
| Old Cross - Solstice | | 1 |
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | | 1 |
| Tring - Tryanuary American Amber | | 1 |
| Brew York - Kaijuice | | 1 |
| Brew York - Make It Pacific Sunrise | | 1 |
| Grey Trees - Into The Valley | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Cwismas Quacker | | 1 |
| St Austell - Tribute | | 1 |
| Strathaven - Trumpeter Dark Ale | | 1 |
| Tring - White IPA | | 1 |
| Wilderness - Bitter | | 1 |
| Mr Grundy's - Bullet | | 1 |
| Adnams - Mosaic Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Merchant XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Power Shot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Empire - Colony 13 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fyne - Hurricane Jack | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lacons - Norfolk Gem | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lacons - Saint Nick's | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lost and Grounded - Spring Protagonist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Autumn Mist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Cascade IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Mr Moonlight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Oh Hoppy Daze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Plasticine Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Steeple Jack | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Fanny Ebbs Summer Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Lightbulb | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Kentish Reserve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wilderness - Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wilderness - Pale - Golden Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford
Visits Details
29 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
8th visit of the outing: As offering an impressive six real ales, we saved this one until last and our party of four from south-east London all made it here before our journey back. Two serving at the bar meant the queue soon went down on our early evening arrival. Warm, friendly service from the barmaid.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilderness - Bitter | 3.90 | | Very good head and lacing hanging on to the end on this mid-Welsh bitter from Newtown, south-west of Montgomery, and where the brewing commenced in 2017. A very malty sweetened first hit. A dry bitterness rising. A spicy hoppy note rising with its hoppiness prevailing care of being lightly hopped with East Kent Goldings and Saaz. A fruity note getting in on the act. A touch of maltiness climbing up from its Maris Otter, Aromatic and Biscuit malts. A very dry bitterness sailing out. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lacons - Saint Nick's | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Wilderness - Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Power Shot | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Wilderness - Pale - Golden Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried |
11 Apr 2025 (Magnus Greel)
Bang on mid day opening we turned up to hear the reassuring clunking of bolts allowing us entry. Obviously the first customers we sat at the same table as before which aptly acoomodated all of us in comfort. Friendly and welcoming the landlord despite busy with deliveries kept our glasses topped up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | 4.50 | | Dark ruby coloured beer, malty with a light dry fruit bitterness. |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | | A trip down memory lane with all my SL expectations satisfied and dare I say it yet to have its original strength downgraded by the ABV nannies! |
| Brew York - Kaijuice | 4.40 | | A cream soda delight on the APA theme. |
| Brew York - Make It Pacific Sunrise | 4.60 | | Heavy hop hit with a plethora of orchard fruits to round off the bitterness. |
| Grey Trees - Into The Valley | 4.60 | | A perfectly balanced crisp dry bitter earthy and malty refreshing light coloured fare. |
| Lost and Grounded - Spring Protagonist | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Lacons - Norfolk Gem | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening fairly busy, the table adjacent to the bar was free which fitted us all in comfortably. Friendy and efficent service kept waiting times minimal.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Prominent coconut and vanilla perfection for this silky smooth indulgent treat, a joy to drink. |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Stour Valley Gold | 4.20 | | A light and refreshing golden ale brewed using fragrant citrus hops with subtle orangey notes made for a refreshing change from the usual dominating lemon-ness. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Fyne - Hurricane Jack | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Lightbulb | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Merchant XPA | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Oh Hoppy Daze | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2019 (ChrisE)
I was outside the door for 4pm opening and managed to gain entry a few minutes before that and was soon joined by the rest of our group. I was pleased to be informed that there was so much money in the kitty left over from previous trips that it should cover the costs of the evening. I really like this pub, a good atmosphere with a good friendly atmosphere. I may not have listed all the beers as several were changed during the course of the evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | | This came on sale towards the end of our visit but just had to be sampled. |
| Tring - Tryanuary American Amber | 4.00 | | Very much to my taste, I had several of these. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Cascade IPA | 6.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Steeple Jack | 4.10 | Not Tried |
24 Aug 2018 (ChrisE)
This pub opens at 4pm on Fridays so we waited in a nearby pub and arrived here at about 3.58pm to find a fair number of people had beaten us to it and were already sitting with their pints. My first visit here and I really liked it, a comfortable relaxed atmosphere, welcoming staff and a great food selection of either pork pies or Scotch eggs, superb.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Red Kite | 4.20 | | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Fanny Ebbs Summer Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Mosaic Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - White IPA | 5.50 | Not Tried |
17 Jun 2018 (Stephen Harris)
For the second time today we walk into a pub to find that there is a beer festival underway. Just noting those sampled.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New River - Blind Poet | 4.50 | | A dark Porter with chocolate and smoke. |
| Tring - White IPA | 5.50 | | Murky gold. Hoppy and sharp. |
17 Aug 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Quiet, Monday evening quiet. Good conversation at the bar but little help with my crossword!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - Cascade | 3.80 | | New on tonight |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | |
| Mr Grundy's - Bullet | 4.30 | | |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | 4.80 | Not Tried |
17 Feb 2015 (HSB)
16:50 Last stop on the crawl for me. Opened at 16:30 so fairly quiet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - 3 Nine 50 | 3.90 |  | Tasted like amateur homebrew |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Kentish Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Plasticine Porter | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mr Moonlight | 4.00 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Assistant brewer of the in-house brewery was behind the bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - Solstice | 4.90 | | Best beer tonight |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | |
| Strathaven - Trumpeter Dark Ale | 4.20 | | Just a taster reminded me of cough linctus, the barman thought of beef gravy! |
| Mighty Oak - Cwismas Quacker | 4.00 | | |
| Old Cross - 3 Nine 50 | 3.90 | |
21 Oct 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | | Couple of pints before it ran out |
| Mighty Oak - Autumn Mist | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Empire - Colony 13 | 5.10 | Not Tried |
About the Old Cross Tavern
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 3 |
| 24 |
| 13 |
| 4 |
| 1 |
The pub is found in Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1JA.
Fairly small freehouse in St Andrew Street, with its own brewery. Around 5-6 beers served, usually one from the brewery and some local and national guests. Has a total of 8 handpumps on the bar but rarely all in use at one time. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2012 and 2018.
We have visited this pub 21 times, seen 68 different beers and tried 34 of them.
Postcode: SG14 1JA