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The Farmers Boy (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Verulam - Citra HitExcellent2
Verulam - Farmers DelightGood2
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English AleExcellent1
Oakham - Hawse BucklerExcellent1
Oakham - Scarlet MacawExcellent1
Adnams - Fat SpratGood1
Alehouse - Verulum Clipper IPAGood1
Alehouse - Verulum Farmer's JoyGood1
Oakham - Hangar 17Good1
Alehouse - Once Upon a Time in MexicoAcceptable1
Thwaites - Little BewdyAcceptable1
Oakham - X-terminator Double IPAPoor1
Adnams - Mosaic Pale AleNot Tried0
Arbor Ales - Breakfast IPANot Tried0
Bath Ales - Gem BitterNot Tried0
Fernandes - Malt Shovel MildNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland AleNot Tried0
Keltek - LanceNot Tried0
Mallinsons - Citra XLNot Tried0
Marble - DobberNot Tried0
Marble - StoutNot Tried0
Oakham - Black Hole PorterNot Tried0
Oakham - Edgar's BazaarNot Tried0
Oakham - Export Scarlet MacawNot Tried0
Oakham - InfernoNot Tried0
Oakham - Mompesson's GoldNot Tried0
Pentrich - Fighting For a Sandwich Not Tried0
Robinsons - TrooperNot Tried0
Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version)Not Tried0
Rother Valley - Chocolate PorterNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Tiny Rebel - CwtchNot Tried0
Tring - KotukuNot Tried0
Verulam - Run o 't MillNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Farmers Boy, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Picture 2. The Farmers Boy, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Visits Details

01 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the outing: Now in luck for a local brew here with one of the two casks on. Just gently ticking over for my early afternoon visit to this old-fashioned, independently-run pub further down the London Road in the direction of St Alban's city centre. It has a very modest frontage but boasts a large rear garden that is complete with wooden gazebos with individually-operated heaters for the chillier months. Friendly, prompt service and lots of interesting pictures and notices, including one listing all St Albans' pubs of 1884 as captured at the time by the Herts Advertiser, and another framed newspaper article about the establishment's newly designed and hand-painted hanging pub sign, depicting the proud son of the couple running it. The pub's guvnor before running it was not though a farmer but a solicitor according to the article on display.
BeerABVScoreNotes
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale4.00ExcellentThis local brew from just outside St Albans, going north-east, came with very good head and lacing and lasting superbly. A very dry bitter first bite on what was their first creation back in 2012 and a year before they formally launched their brewery. A good fragrant hoppiness running round the farmyard with a malty bitter note looming up on this amber session bitter. A moreishly dry hoppy note ploughing downwards. Made with fresh water from the brewery's very own Hertfordshire borehole.
Pentrich - Fighting For a Sandwich 4.30Not TriedNot such a local one in being from north of Derby.
23 May 2018 (ChrisE)
A quiet lunchtime, I had a good chat with the barman who was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about beer. He informed me that the pub had not brewed for over one year but he hoped to make a brew in June to commemorate the landlord and landlady's tenth anniversary in the pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Hangar 174.10Good
Bath Ales - Gem Bitter4.10Not Tried
Adnams - Mosaic Pale Ale4.10Not Tried
Robinsons - Trooper4.70Not Tried
Mallinsons - Citra XL5.50Not Tried
16 Jul 2015 (HSB)
17:40 Last stop before the train home. Reasonably busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Verulam - Farmers Delight3.90GoodNot the most exciting beer on offer but chosen as none of the home brewed was on sale last time I visited.
Oakham - Inferno4.00Not Tried
Rother Valley - Chocolate Porter4.20Not Tried
Tiny Rebel - Cwtch4.60Not Tried
Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version)4.80Not Tried
24 May 2014 (Andrew)
Friendly pub. It was raining hard out which brought a few extra people in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Verulam - Farmers Delight3.90GoodNice condition. Mid gold. Soft mouth. Very leafy hop in mouth and on finish. Hint of tartness and grapefruit.
Fernandes - Malt Shovel Mild3.80Not Tried
Oakham - Export Scarlet Macaw4.80Not Tried
Keltek - Lance4.00Not Tried
Verulam - Run o 't Mill3.90Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Breakfast IPA4.70Not Tried
01 May 2014 (HSB)
17:20 Sadly no home brew on as at the tail end of an Oakham feature. Brewer very informative.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Hawse Buckler5.60Excellent
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw4.40Excellent
Oakham - X-terminator Double IPA7.90PoorBit tired. Barley wine notes rather than IPA.
Oakham - Mompesson's Gold5.20Not Tried
Tring - Kotuku4.00Not Tried
25 Jan 2014 (Stephen Harris)
A quick visit in the early evening. Some good banter with the regulars at the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Verulam - Citra Hit4.80GoodGolden and crisp. Plenty of Citra hops.
Marble - Dobber5.90Not Tried
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw4.40Not Tried
Marble - Stout4.70Not Tried
Oakham - Edgar's Bazaar3.90Not Tried
Verulam - Run o 't Mill3.90Not Tried
26 Jul 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening with a couple of friends. Seems to have a regular trade of commuters at this time of day as it is near the railway station. The ‘Alehouse Brewery’ is defunct since 2010, but brewing continues here under the Verulam name.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Verulam - Citra Hit4.80ExcellentGolden. Very hoppy. A bit raw, with a very bitter aftertaste.
Adnams - Fat Sprat3.80GoodAmber.
Thwaites - Little Bewdy4.20AcceptablePale golden colour. Fruity Australian hops. The sort of thing I like, but something did not taste quite right for me.
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale4.00Not Tried
Oakham - Black Hole Porter5.50Not Tried
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw4.40Not Tried
07 Jul 2007 (Ian)
This is the brewery tap for the Alehouse brewery. Late Saturday afternoon and they were having a Mexican Day. Mexican food and Mexican drinks on special offer, hence the tequila shots I was drinking. Good pub and worth coming to. Only 10 minutes from the railway station.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Alehouse - Verulum Clipper IPA4.00GoodNow brewed by Alehouse. Pale gold, lasting white head. American hop aroma. Good blond session beer. Slightly yeasty on aroma. In the JHB/Hophead arena/ Just hasn;t quite got the quality of those two. Fresh though.
Alehouse - Verulum Farmer's Joy4.50GoodDeep chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Lots of malt in mouth, good fruit, raisins and sultanas and plums. Some balancing hop on finish. Bit too malty for me. Nice though
Alehouse - Once Upon a Time in Mexico4.00AcceptableBrewed especially for the Mexico day at the pub. Pale gold, lasting thin white head. Smells of JHB/Dark Star Hophead brewed with jalapeno peppers. Tastes that way too. Base beer is good. Spiciness is pretty strong, but actually not disgusting.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried

About The Farmers Boy

The pub sign. The Farmers Boy, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent4
Good7
Acceptable2
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1PQ.

On the busy London Road, but when you walk in the hustle and bustle melts away. Front bar serves a curving single room. 5 handpulls, side patio garden. Cream walls and wood. Good relaxed atmosphere. Verulam Brewery was at one time at the rear.

We have visited this pub 8 times, seen 35 different beers and tried 12 of them.

Map location

Postcode: AL1 1PQ