PubsandBeer
History: Home > Old Cross Tavern
Old Cross Tavern (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2012 |  | 1 |
| Old Cross - Hersbrucker | | 1 |
| Old Cross - Festival |  | 1 |
| Old Cross - Cascade | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Havercake Ale | | 1 |
| Ilkley - Lotus IPA (was 5.6%) | | 1 |
| Old Cross - Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Old Cross - Cascade | | 2 |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Junga | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Rising Sun | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | | 5 |
| Mighty Oak - Brockton Blockbuster | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Summit |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - 1910 Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shepherd Neame - Diamond Jubilee | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Snake in the Glass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Golden Valley Wheat Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Old Cross - OXT'ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Venom | Not Tried | 0 |
| Old Cross - Gertcha! | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Old Nick's Nog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Auld Fang Syne | Not Tried | 0 |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Scapa Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford
Visits Details
04 Sep 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Pretty much a perfect pub. The beers and customers are equally well looked after. Absolutely no need to go anywhere else in Hertford.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | Wow at last those awful caramel tones have disappeared from Landlord and it is a proper bitter again |
| Old Cross - Pale Ale | 3.70 | | 2nd out of new cask and very aromatic and tasty |
| Crouch Vale - Junga | 4.10 | | 3rd one out of a new cask. Intriguingly tasty |
| Crouch Vale - Summit | 4.30 | | Pump clip said "Wildly aromatic and full of hops". I don't think so. But it was a couple of pints from end of cask |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
26 Jun 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. A faultless boozer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - Hersbrucker | 3.80 | | Just hit the mark tonight. If moreish is a test this was moreish |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | So near a 5* but why has Landlord got that caramel aftertaste everywhere. This one served to perfection in so far as a pub can |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - 1910 Porter | 5.60 | Not Tried |
05 May 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Classy as always, beer clearly cared for. The pork pie was much too good to have taken from Mrs Joe's larder to take to Magwitch!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | |
| Mighty Oak - Brockton Blockbuster | 4.40 | | Dark malty bitter excellent balance |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Scapa Special | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Old Cross - Cascade | 3.80 | Not Tried |
17 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Long wait for order then the place filled even more - good to see a thriving Sunday night house.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Jack - Rising Sun | 5.00 | | First rate and best o't'evening. Resembles a stronger Orange Wheat I thought |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 |  | Perhaps too chilled - it was certainly frothing up though |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Old Cross - Cascade | 3.80 | Not Tried |
28 Dec 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Got busier and busier but I had been lucky to get the only bar stool. Lots of Liefmans bottles going down.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Havercake Ale | 4.70 | | I have never had this TT beer before - superbly sharp hoppy with lips and mouth aftertaste lingering |
| Old Cross - Cascade | 3.80 | | New cask on - handwritten ABV amendment to 3.8% for this brew |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | Looked very lively with huge heads being served |
| Mighty Oak - Old Nick's Nog | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Auld Fang Syne | 3.90 | Not Tried |
23 Oct 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2012 | 3.60 | | A cracking pint. A dry bitter that just went down like the Carlsberg (!!) in the film Ice Cold in Alex |
| Old Cross - Festival | 3.80 | | Such a contrast to the Oak Nouveau which preceded it - malty bittersweet |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Relaxed atmosphere here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | | New cask on. I am getting perplexed by the caramel dominance in the taste of this best bitter |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Venom | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Old Cross - Gertcha! | 3.90 | Not Tried |
27 Aug 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
2150 to 2250 hours visit. A gem of a pub for relaxed atmosphere, quality of beer, the pork pies and the display cabinets of collectors' bottled beers from Courage Imperial Russian Stout, Bass Royals, 1981 Royal Wedding Ales and Thomas Hardy ales.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilkley - Lotus IPA (was 5.6%) | 5.50 | | A wow beer which smears the lips with hop oils. VERY dry aftertaste |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | | In fine condition - yet another golden ale but are they not bloomin' ubiquitous? |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Golden Valley Wheat Beer | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Old Cross - OXT'ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
12 Jun 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
2115 hours visit. What can one say? A classy joint. CAMRA values obvious. On site micro brewery. A gentle hubbub of voices mainly seated. Just a little disconcerted to see Shepherd Neame represented when the beer scene offers so much variety now.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - Cascade | 4.00 | | Citrus and zesty - came back for more |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Shepherd Neame - Diamond Jubilee | 3.80 | Not Tried | Pub blackboard carried the ABV - pumpclip did not seem to do so - is brewery breaking some sort of law with this |
| Mighty Oak - Snake in the Glass | 3.50 | Not Tried |
03 Mar 2012 (HSB)
Mid-afternoon Saturday. Most tables taken. First visit. Impressed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cross - Cascade | 3.80 | |
About the Old Cross Tavern
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 3 |
| 24 |
| 13 |
| 4 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1JA.
Fairly small freehouse in St Andrew Street, with its own brewery. Around 5-6 beers served, usually one from the brewery and some local and national guests. Has a total of 8 handpumps on the bar but rarely all in use at one time. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2012 and 2018.
We have visited this pub 21 times, seen 68 different beers and tried 34 of them.
Postcode: SG14 1JA