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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! |  | 2 |
| Ossett - Butterley | | 1 |
| Otter - Bitter | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 2 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 2 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 8 |
| Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop |  | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Mysteries of the Galaxy | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest | | 1 |
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | | 2 |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Autumn Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor - Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Leveson Buck | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Pilcrow Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Number One | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - North Downs Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pilgrim - Progress Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Harlequin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
25 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | In good form |
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | 4.00 | | Good not one of the best of the 2024 green hopper crop |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - DB Number One | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As expected here |
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | 4.00 | | Good enough to have a second one |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Pilcrow Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
18 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Good but have had much better |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Mysteries of the Galaxy | 4.50 | | Heavy in your face hopping |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Autumn Red | 4.40 | Not Tried |
14 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Yet again - spot on |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Harlequin | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | 4.30 | Not Tried |
12 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | | Often disappointingly presented elsewhere but not here |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Simply time ran out to have more |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pilgrim - Progress Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale Ale | 3.70 | | Good basic bitterness |
| Ossett - Butterley | 3.80 | | Mildly bittered Yorkshire ale |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Sensed it might be well down the cask |
| Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - North Downs Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | 4½* The best Palmers IPA in a long time. As near perfect as one hopes for. One to drown in |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | 4.50 | | Dry bitterness. Initial head and lacing did dissipate pretty soon |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest | 4.40 | | Good bitterness but one was enough |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As expected in fine form |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | So lucky to have this as an all year round ale |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Leveson Buck | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident | 3.40 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Totally spot on |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Good but had better |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | A bit under par |
| Exmoor - Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | 3.00 | Not Tried |
11 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As yesterday - spot on |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | As yesterday great creamy head and lacing - a fine drop |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As always a little doubt about exactly what this ale should taste like |
| Exmoor - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | 3.00 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 261 |
| 118 |
 | 16 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Addiscombe, Greater London, CR0 7AA.
Small low ceilinged pub close to Addiscombe Tram Stop in Bingham Corner, Lower Addiscombe Road. This pub is a regular outlet for Palmers beers. In November 2012 Palmers awarded the pub a certificate for having sold a total of 1,000,000 pints of Palmers Best Bitter (IPA) exceeding any other of its free trade outlets and in later years further greatly exceeded here and similarly certificated with 1,250,000th in 2019. 6 handpumps dispense the real ales and always at least 2 ciders served by a walk to the ground floor cellar, the latter of late not being real ones however. Beers in the cellar and due to come on are listed on a wallboard. Changed hands in 2016 with slight change of name from Claret Free House to Claret & Ale but little else has changed. 6 handpumps. Regular winner of the local CAMRA branch Borough Pub of the Year award. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 187 times, seen 275 different beers and tried 87 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA