PubsandBeer
The Crown (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Beast |  | 1 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Young's London Original | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Beast | 6.60 | | This dark porter, brewed at the New Exmoor Brewery in Wiveliscombe, Somerset*, came with very good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A malty fruited-infused first bite off this beast. Dark fruit flavours rising with a chocolatey maltiness joining in for good measure alongside toffee, treacle and Mocha coffee hints. An underlying herbal hoppiness from its Goldings, Challenger and First Gold hops veering up and aiding its vinous fruit flavours. A mix of pale ale, chocolate and crystal malts tap dancing on my taste buds. A moreishly fruited bitterness slithering downwards with fruitcake-like flavours mixed with a hint of rum. Presented in excellent nick. *Badged here as “The New Romantic,” this dark porter first saw light of day in the autumn of 1992 when brewed at the Exmoor Brewery at Wiveliscombe in Somerset and was said to be inspired by fireside tales of wild cats roaming Exmoor. Reflecting a beer style that emerged in the 1700s, the London porters, it has been described as a beer drinker’s version of an Irish coffee and that sounded right to my taste buds. Hogs Back Brewery set up in 1992 and in the village of Tongham now brews Exmoor’s main volume beers, including Exmoor Gold, Exmoor Ale and Silver Stallion, using the original recipes and yeast. Named after nearby Hogs Back which is a ridge of hills that looks just like a hog lying down, it is the largest independent brewery in Surrey, growing its own hops on-site. In a major commercial collaboration, Hogs Back handles the core production of Exmoor’s iconic ales. New Exmoor Brewery was established in late 2025 at the former Cotleigh Brewery site in Wiveliscombe to focus on specials and limited editions like Exmoor Beast. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Young's London Original | 3.70 | Not Tried |
About The Crown
Summary of Beer Scores
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| 1 |
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The pub is found in Bray, Berkshire, SL6 2AH.
Now Grade II-listed and dating from the 16th century, The Crown at High Street, Bray, was converted from two cottages and was known to supply its beer locally for a time. Although traditionally furnished and complete with its low beamed ceilings, it incongruously was displaying modern abstract art on its walls on a visit in March 2026. They look very out of place and almost the first thing that you might notice. Described as a hostelry over the centuries, referring to a larger historical inn where travellers’ horses were also stabled, it was rumoured Charles II would often call in for a drink and when on his way to his mistress, Nell Gwynn, at Holyport House, also referred to as Nell Gwynn Castle, in the village of Holyport, approximately 1 to 1.5 miles south of Bray, the latter of which is south-east of Maidenhead. The pub is food orientated but the main bar area is laid out for drinkers. The freehold owner is Heineken UK, the UK’s leading beer, cider, and pub company, based in Edinburgh and managing drinks brands and operating a significant estate of approximately 2,400 pubs. Local CAMRA details the operator as independent of tie. Their menu can include rabbit and gammon pie, duck and winter tart. On the visit in March 2026, all of the three pump clips were handmade and two were displaying cask ale that had been somewhat bizarrely renamed.
We have visited this pub once, seen 3 different beers and tried 1 of them.
Postcode: SL6 2AH