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The Original Plough (formerly The Plough) (Oak Tree (Mitchells & Butlers))
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Sambrook's - London Winter Ale |  | 2 |
| Peerless - All American |  | 1 |
| Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's) | | 1 |
| XT Brewing - No. 8 Dark Roast | | 1 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Spring Equinox |  | 1 |
| Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Hawaii 340 | | 1 |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 1 |
| Mordue - A'l Cherry Pet |  | 1 |
| Acorn - Strongheart | | 1 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | | 1 |
| Itchen Valley - Junga | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harviestoun - Old Engine Oil | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lancaster - Lemongrass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter Californian | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brentwood - The Only Way is Santa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Zest is Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - 5 Gold Rings | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thwaites - Nutty Black | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Wonderland | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wold Top - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Old Man | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale Rider | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Hoptimus Prime | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Welsummer (exclusively for Nicholson's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Batemans - Yella Belly Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Peter's - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lamplighter Amber Beer (exclusively for Nicholson's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Black Beauty Porter (superseded by 4.4% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
08 Jan 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Watched West Ham getiing a 6-0 caning by Manchester City.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Tasted like first out in a while. All signed vestiges of this former Nicholson's house have been removed finally then a Nicholson's house beer creeps in. |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thwaites - Nutty Black | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Wonderland | 4.20 | Not Tried | The Everards name was in the smallest font imaginable on the clip. Why hide - be proud |
30 Sep 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Really slow service with just one barman serving the whole length of a busy bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn - Strongheart | 4.10 | | Too intensely orangey citrus. Consequently very slow drinking - it lasted the whole of the second half of a TV Premier League football match! |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | Clip turned round thus removing the temptation! |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Zest is Best | 3.60 | Not Tried |
14 Jul 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Not overly busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mordue - A'l Cherry Pet | 4.10 | | Lost its tasty edge half way down the glass. Described as a sour cherry whaet beer |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Black Beauty Porter (superseded by 4.4% version) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Old Engine Oil | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Lancaster - Lemongrass | 4.00 | Not Tried | I rolled my eyes as I read the pumpclip. "Subtle lemongrass citrus flavours delicately balanced with pale malt elements, culminating in an excellent well balanced treat." From Tales of the Brewhouse Edition 06. Actually exclusive to M&B pubs |
29 Apr 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. I found out later in the evening that this pub has been debranded from the Nicholson's chain which explains the change in beer range and ambience.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset Brewing Company - Spring Equinox | 4.60 | | Realised it was an American Red only after ordering - not to my palate really |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Batemans - Yella Belly Gold | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | Misleading provenance at point of sale - no mention of Ringwood |
01 Apr 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peerless - All American | 5.20 | | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried | This brewery seems to be getting wide geographical listing |
| Robinsons - Hoptimus Prime | 4.10 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Very handy for the railway station.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | | £2 pp to clear. Creamy head. Tasted anonymous |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Wold Top - Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter Californian | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Seemed better service and organisation than my last visit here. Beer range and ambience potentially the best in town.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sambrook's - London Winter Ale | 4.60 | | 2nd one out of same pump was a tad cooler which made it perfection personified |
| Sambrook's - London Winter Ale | 4.60 | | Nicholson's have a thing going with Sambrook's. A darkish ale |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Bitter Californian | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brentwood - The Only Way is Santa | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - 5 Gold Rings | 4.80 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Seems, perhaps, to have gone down a peg since last visit. Long wait for service and quite a few pumpclips turned round.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Sweet and cloying but enjoyable |
| St Peter's - Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lamplighter Amber Beer (exclusively for Nicholson's) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Itchen Valley - Junga | 3.90 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quick visit as a train was delayed (very handy for station).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Hawaii 340 | 4.50 | | Pale bitter with good citrus hop character and a fruity finish. My score 15/20. |
05 Jul 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Next pub after the Railway Tavern and what a contrast with friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff offering unsolicited tasters and nothing but close attention to full measures. Nicholson's houses have generally re-positioned themselves to offer good ranges of real ales including some brands brewed exclusively for them. At the end the guvnor held my hand and took me over the road to The Ale House under the railway viaduct!!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Brewing - No. 8 Dark Roast | 4.50 | | Refreshing and clean tasting - not at all a cloying dark beer |
| Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's) | 4.50 | | First rate. Not seen this beer before. A slight nose of Lavender somehow infused into the hops I guess |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Taster - condition OK but lacking some of the flavour strength and intensity that I think this beer once had |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale Rider | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Welsummer (exclusively for Nicholson's) | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The Original Plough (formerly The Plough)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 7 |
| 6 |
| 8 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1HY.
Conveniently located just the other side of the railway overbridge from the railway station in Duke Street this pub was for a while a stylish Nicholson's but was debranded from Nicholson's in early 2013. 8 handpulls available to serve beers with 8 more repeating the same range.
We have visited this pub 21 times, seen 61 different beers and tried 18 of them.
Postcode: CM1 1HY