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The Rum Puncheon (Ei Group (formerly Enterprise Inns))
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Summer Stout |  | 1 |
| Bank Top - Old Slapper |  | 1 |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Eyrie (was 4.6% previously) | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 1 |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | | 1 |
| Musket - Flash in the Pan |  | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Musket - Trigger | | 1 |
| Weltons - All Black |  | 1 |
| Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Ginger Tosser | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotleigh - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Fat Sprat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Cobnut | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Explorer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Turners - American Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Surrey Nirvana | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
07 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
1st visit of the outing to Gravesend: Pleasant riverside pub, Grade II-listed, wet-only, carved wooden bar counter, a log fire, and dating back to 1792. I have only visited once before some 7 years ago. My fellow real ale enthusiast and I decided to check out whether still not doing real ale as on the CAMRA homepage listing. We were presented with two handpumps on with cask ale pump clips displayed. Only one of the two pump clips stated brewery-conditioned ale, for Wainwright Gold, and a term I had not looked up beforehand. The Wainwright Amber did not display this on the handpump. CAMRA’s more in-depth listing for the Rum Puncheon states: “The two beers on handpumps are brewery-conditioned.” In looking this up, it is beer that completes its carbonation process entirely within the brewery rather than in a cask or bottle. Unlike traditional "real ale," it is filtered to remove yeast before being packaged into kegs for distribution. Certainly, wrong to present as if still real ale through handpumps and especially where the two brews are known for being cask ales. Examples given of brewery-conditioned ales are Hobgoblin IPA, Wainwright Gold and Wainwright Amber. A friendly barmaid promptly and attentively served us. To aid identifying "Fresh Ale" at the bar, look out for the "Brewery Conditioned" label on the pump clip. Also observe the dispense style if not sure. Unlike a traditional pull where the handle creates the suction, "Fresh Ale" handles often act as a switch. If the beer flows continuously without multiple physical pulls of the handle, it is likely being pushed by gas pressure from a keg. Because “Fresh Ale” beers use traditional handpumps, CAMRA suggests checking the pump clip for specific indicators. The CAMRA listing has been clarified with: “Misleading Dispense - This is a 'Fresh Ale' - a keg beer served through a cask handpump. Handpump Hijack." See: https://camra.org.uk/take-action/handpump-hijack
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|
21 Apr 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Low expectations after many years since my last visit were soon extinguished upon entry on a sunny spring mid afternoon. Friendly welcome with a half dozen or so customers dotted about. Only 2 cask beers on offer but the choice could've been a lot lot worse!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Another well kept pint chilled just enough to appease any criticism |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 | | Not over chilled for this refreshing dry toasty peppery nectar. |
04 Jan 2018 (ChrisE)
We were expecting the usual good range of beers here but were disappointed to find just two ales on offer so we moved on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried |
16 May 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening 2130hrs. Lights on, door locked, a shadow at the rear. Later found it is open lunchtimes only Monday to Thursday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|
16 Jan 2016 (ChrisE)
Last port of call before catching a bus to Ebbsfleet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Top - Old Slapper | 4.20 | | |
| Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Ginger Tosser | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Cotleigh - IPA | 3.90 | Not Tried | According to Cotleigh's web site this was brewed to commemorate their 35th anniversary (1979 to 2014) and is available in June and July. |
05 Sep 2015 (Stephen Harris)
A pleasant early-evening drink – made even more pleasant after I moved tables out of earshot of a group that I think may actually be the same sweary group as last time I was here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Summer Stout | 4.20 | | Superb, low-strength Stout. Smooth and chocolaty and a bit roasty. Full-bodied. |
| Weltons - All Black | 4.50 | | Described on the clip as a Black IPA, but did not taste anything of the sort. Odd. Tasted of blackcurrant juice. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Turners - American Pale Ale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - Surrey Nirvana | 4.00 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 3 others in. Time was called a little earlier than 1030 pm published Sunday time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musket - Trigger | 3.60 | | My first taste of Musket |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Explorer | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried |
22 Nov 2014 (Magnus Greel)
Busy as expected for a Saturday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale Ale | 3.80 | | Nice crisp biscuity malt combined with grapefruit and a good usage of yeast. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Eyrie (was 4.6% previously) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Trigger | 3.60 | Not Tried |
22 Nov 2014 (ChrisE)
Saturday evening, fairly busy and a good welcome.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Eyrie (was 4.6% previously) | 4.30 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Cottage - Norman's Conquest 5% | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Trigger | 3.60 | Not Tried |
28 Sep 2014 (ChrisE)
Early Sunday evening and fairly quiet. Just time for a couple of pints before waiting for a rail replacement bus.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musket - Flash in the Pan | 4.00 | | Green hop ale, slightly dry and fruity. A pleasant pint. |
| Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Fat Sprat | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The Rum Puncheon
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 25 |
| 21 |
| 5 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0BL.
Situated close to the landing stage for the Tilbury - Gravesend Ferry, and is also handy for the railway station. It has an L-shaped bar, low volume background classical music, tasteful flock wallpaper and comfortable furniture. There is a rather fine large Russell's Gravesend Brewery etched window on the side alley, unfortunately half of which is now transfer rather than original. Open view kitchen at the rear. 8 handpumps furnish the bar counter. Latterly no cask ale but misleading dispense uses 2 handpumps to sell brewery conditioned beer.
We have visited this pub 28 times, seen 76 different beers and tried 39 of them.
Postcode: DA11 0BL