PubsandBeer
The Hope (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardknott - Continuum |  | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Big MoFo Stout | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | | 2 |
| Tillingbourne - Black Troll | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Green Hop IPA | | 1 |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Awesomestow IPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Green Giant | | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Black Eel |  | 1 |
| Hastings - Handmade 11 | | 1 |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | | 2 |
| Redemption - Port & Brandy Porter | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | | 1 |
| Kent - Altered States | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 2 |
| Surrey Hills - Albury Ruby | | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | | 2 |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | | 1 |
| Magic Rock - High Wire NZ | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Hoptical Delusion | | 1 |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | | 1 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Old Street Pale | | 1 |
| Magic Rock - Human Cannonball | | 1 |
| Marble - Earl Grey IPA | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Old Ale (aka Old Chestnut) | | 1 |
| Kissingate - Smelter's Stout | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter |  | 1 |
| Vale - Black Swan Mild | | 1 |
| Boggart - Dark Mild | | 1 |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Guardsman | | 1 |
| Summer Wine (SWB) - Resistance Dark Mild | | 1 |
| Ascot - Rhino Rye | | 1 |
| Clarence & Fredericks - Golden Ale | | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Kent - Cobnut |  | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Red Dawn Mild | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Moor Top | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Summit | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 Dec 2013 (thebrewingman)
Early Saturday evening to celebrate a win at Sutton. Busy with drinkers and made very welcome.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | | |
| Marble - Earl Grey IPA | 6.00 | | |
| Hastings - Handmade 11 | 5.40 | | A black IPA made with Ella hops. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2013 (HSB)
16:00 75th Birthday party for one of the pub's shareholders. Packed, the beers were changing regularly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kissingate - Smelter's Stout | 5.10 | | |
| Kent - Altered States | 4.70 | | |
| Ascot - Rhino Rye | 5.00 | | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Summit | 4.30 | Not Tried |
07 Feb 2013 (HSB)
Lunch time session before getting a train over the Leigham loop. This is a great pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Big MoFo Stout | 10.50 | | Wonderful. |
| Tillingbourne - Black Troll | 3.70 | | |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | 7.00 | | |
| Arbor Ales - Hoptical Delusion | 3.80 | | |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | 4.00 | |
18 Dec 2012 (HSB)
Pre Christmas gathering for one of the number of groups I go drinking with. We had one end of the pub to ourselves.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | | |
| Kent - Green Giant | 6.00 | | |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | | |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | 3.80 | |
18 Dec 2012 (ChrisE)
A fair sized crowd of us met up here, and had a most enjoyable afternoon. The barman was extremely knowledgeable about the beers, and even managed to play the piano for us between pulling pints.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Citra | 3.10 | | |
| Dark Star - Old Ale (aka Old Chestnut) | 4.00 | | |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | 3.80 | | |
| Magic Rock - Human Cannonball | 6.30 | | |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | | |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | |
18 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with locals and a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Rock - High Wire NZ | 5.50 | | High Wire brewed with new Zealand hops giving a fruity tropical fruit character to the beer. My score 16/20. |
| Vale - Black Swan Mild | 3.90 | | Dark brown mild with a dryish malty character and a little hoppiness giving a slight bitterness in the finish. My score 15/20. |
| Clarence & Fredericks - Golden Ale | 3.80 | | Good well balanced pale gold bitter with soft peach hop character and some biscuity malt. Fairly fruity finish. My score 15/20. |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Red Dawn Mild | 3.70 | | Red/brown mild with a dry malt character and low hop character. Little sweetness from the malt giving a rather harsh dry finish. My score 14/20. |
10 Oct 2012 (Stephen Harris)
The Hope is CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year. Tonight is the presentation night and the pub is very crowded. The presentation itself is running late and Kev and I have to leave before the speeches are made and everyone gets stuck in to the free beer and buffet set out in a marquee out the back.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Green Hop IPA | 6.50 | | Possibly the best of this year’s big haul of green-hopped beers that I have tried so far. Big and bold and hoppy. |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | | Lovely, moreish, chocolaty, black porter. |
| Windsor & Eton - Guardsman | 4.20 | | Brown and fruity and tangy. |
| Kissingate - Smelter's Stout | 5.10 | | A notably well-roasted, black stout. |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - New Forest Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Moor Top | 3.60 | Not Tried |
01 Sep 2012 (ChrisE)
Saturday afternoon, and a great range of interesting beers on. Beers were turning over very fast indeed, it seemed that every time I went to the bar all the pump clips had been changed for a new ale. Unfortunately I was unable to make a list of all the beers that were on offer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | |
29 Mar 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
A beer festival in progress, showcasing London brewers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Old Street Pale | 5.00 | | Strong pale bitter with sweetish citrus and fruity hop flavours. Sweetish, fruity finish. My score 16/20. |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Black Eel | 5.00 | | A black IPA with a good combination of dark malt and citrus hop flavours. Full bodied with a fruity hop finish. My score 16/20. |
| Redemption - Port & Brandy Porter | 5.80 | | A lot of Port and Brandy went into this festival special to raise the ABV by 0.7%. Dark malts just temper the flavour of the fortifications. My score 16/20. |
| Boggart - Dark Mild | 4.00 | | Malty dark brown brown mild with a sharpish fruity finish. |
| Summer Wine (SWB) - Resistance Dark Mild | 3.70 | | A little hazy, possibly too fresh, not quite as flavoursome as usual. My score 15 with B for quality. |
| East London (ELB) - Pale Ale | 4.00 | | This version was specially dry hopped with Citra for the beer festival with the inevitable results. My score 15/20. |
28 Jan 2012 (thebrewingman)
Busy Saturday lunchtime with people taking advantage of the beer festival. Superb selection with beers going off and coming on. Excellent community pub. I've only listed those beers I've tried.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | 6.00 | | Superb stout. |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Awesomestow IPA | 7.00 | | Wow. Does not drink like 7% |
| Hardknott - Continuum | 4.00 | | Very hoppy brew. |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
| Surrey Hills - Albury Ruby | 4.60 | |
About The Hope
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 12 |
| 48 |
| 31 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Carshalton, Greater London, SM5 2PR.
Town pub in West Street with an island bar surrounded by several distinct drinking areas. Handy for Carshalton Athletic FC. CAMRA Greater London Regional Pub of the Year 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 and in 2023 too. Last 4 finalist of the CAMRA National Pub of the Year competition 2013. SPBW London Pub of the Year 2016. Most recently local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2022 & 2023. 7 handpumps but with an increasing propensity to sell craft keg beers. Initially run by a share-owning co-operative (32 shareholders) on a 20 year free of all tie lease from Punch Taverns. Reported in June / July 2015 CAMRA London Drinker magazine that the freehold had now been purchased.
We have visited this pub 25 times, seen 112 different beers and tried 76 of them.
Postcode: SM5 2PR