PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Firkin Alehouse
The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent - Tropic Ale |  | 2 |
| Brighton Bier - Catcher | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Oakham - Sunset | | 1 |
| Vocation - Boundary | | 1 |
| Abbeydale - Serenity |  | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Phantasy | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Pure Shores | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Satisfaction | | 1 |
| Kent - Christmas Session | | 1 |
| Kent - Future Hop | | 1 |
| Kent - Green Dwarf | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | | 1 |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | | 1 |
| Verdant - ESB | | 1 |
| Wiper and True - Milkshake Stout | | 1 |
| Kent - Ēostre |  | 1 |
| 4T's - Raging Bull | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Rocketman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Lendal | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Comet | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Old Skool | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Starry Night | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Yule Log | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wiper and True - Kaleidoscope | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.
Visits Details
11 Sep 2025 (Jack William)
Lunctime. Bus pass outing. 8 of us made for a lively session. Well looked after by the guv. A couple of our group tried the cheeseboard - good selection of cheese and biscuits and excellent value.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | 4.10 | | Very good body, solid flavours. Just a little less than bright. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Pure Shores | 4.00 | | Clean and crisp, a little lacking in body. All Bristol beers are now gluten free apparently. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Satisfaction | 5.00 | |
27 Aug 2025 (Jack William)
Evening, nicely busy - surprised to be told that last orders here are 7pm. Friendly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | Fruity, big bodied. |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening visit to catch up with a couple of old friends. Nicely busy with plenty of comings and goings during our stay.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | Superb, top condition. |
| Abbeydale - Serenity | 3.60 | | Unfined IPA - nice and fruity. |
| Verdant - ESB | 5.50 | | A collaboration with Adnams apparently. Full bodied and malty. |
28 May 2025 (Jack William)
Evening. Jolly banter about the size of giraffes’ tongues (18 inches) and the weight of blue whales (up to 180 tons).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Sunset | 5.30 | | |
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried |
14 May 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening - nicely busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | A rare appearance of this old classic. Not sure if it was as good as it used to be at the Mogul, Dover when it was the subject of “kill the dwarf” sessions to see how quick the cask could be finished! |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Apr 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening. Just a handful in, quiet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Ēostre | 4.20 | | Found this rather lacking in body. Bright enough but little aftertaste. |
| Arbor Ales - Rocketman | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wiper and True - Kaleidoscope | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Andrew)
Pub no. 13 and the end of the tour. Busy. Ian met some people he knew.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Christmas Session | 3.70 | | Liked it. |
| Kent - Yule Log | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Comet | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Starry Night | 4.20 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2024 (Jack William)
Early evening - nice to see a micro open on a a Monday. A few locals in. Had a good chat with a wee Scotsman called Jed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Bier - Catcher | 4.50 | | Well balanced APA in top condition, good hoppy notes. |
| Wiper and True - Milkshake Stout | 4.50 | | Marked up as 4.8 ABV. superb body and condition but very sweet. |
| 4T's - Raging Bull | 3.90 | Not Tried |
12 Sep 2024 (Jack William)
Afternoon - a few regulars in. The landlord was engaging and allowed us to bring in toasted sandwiches from across the road.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Boundary | 4.80 | | A collaboration “ Vocation and Friends”. Juicy, full bodied pale.Almost clear despite being unfined. A delightful pint. |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | |
| Brew York - Lendal | 4.00 | Not Tried |
12 Oct 2023 (Jack William)
Bus pass outing. 9 of us, good session. The first time I had noticed the lounge area to the rear and the original green glazed tiling high in the main bar along with some original meat-hanging metalwork from the previous incarnation as a butchers and greengrocers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | We finished the barrel off - very good. |
| Kent - Green Dwarf | 3.70 | | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Phantasy | 4.40 | | Described as a “hyper progressive session IPA”. It was pleasant. |
| Kent - Green Ernest | 4.60 | Not Tried |
About The Firkin Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 26 |
| 82 |
| 74 |
| 42 |
 | 2 |
The pub is found in Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AY.
Micropub close to Folkestone bus station which opened in November 2012, no music or slot machines and the use of mobile phones is banned with a fine imposed for disturbing the peace. Same level gravity stillage for real ales and ciders from a separate temperature controlled cellar room. Usually at seat service. In its original location had an impressive pumpclip display of beers sold to date in the unisex toilet all laid out by brewery! Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2014. Moved overnight 24/25 September 2017 from 18 to 20 Cheriton Place into new premises and now with a bar counter to obtain service. Moved a second time to No 21 other side of street in December 2022 now with high stools and tables at front and lower sofas and seating in a snug area towards the rear.
We have visited this pub 120 times, seen 252 different beers and tried 170 of them.
Postcode: CT20 2AY