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Old Red Cow (Pubs of Distinction )

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - GalaxyExceptional1
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - SouthExcellent1
Ilkley - Summer (superseded by 4% version)Good1
Crouch Vale - GalenaGood1
Buxton - Moor TopNot Tried0
Dark Star - RevelationNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
Dancing Duck - GoldNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Windsor KnotNot Tried0
Picture 1. Old Red Cow, Smithfield, Central London

Visits Details

10 Jul 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Busy in the little tap room, and apparently full upstairs. This pub would benefit from displaying a price list – some of the options are top price bracket.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - South4.70ExcellentUnsurprisingly, this turns out to be a murky, unfiltered, very hoppy beer. Orangy/amber in colour. Served under a light gas pressure, but both temperature and carbonation are perfectly acceptable here. It comes at a price.
Ilkley - Summer (superseded by 4% version)3.90GoodAmber-coloured, dryish and quite malty with some good citrus hops.
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot4.00Not Tried
Dancing Duck - Gold4.70Not Tried
18 Jun 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Quiet on a Monday evening, with a bit of a studious beer geek atmosphere in the Tap Room.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - Galaxy7.20ExceptionalThis beer served on keg dispense – and crazily expensive. Almost clear, golden colour. Wonderfully fragrant hoppy nose. Initial herbal hop taste fading to a bitter hop finish. Outstandingly good.
Crouch Vale - Galena4.10GoodA golden, single hop beer with a fruity smell and an easy-drinking fruity hop taste plus a little mustiness. Spoilt by being served too warm.
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot4.00Not Tried
Buxton - Moor Top3.60Not Tried
Dark Star - Revelation5.70Not Tried

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About the Old Red Cow

The pub sign. Old Red Cow, Smithfield, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional2
Excellent13
Good6
Acceptable1
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Smithfield, Central London, EC1A 9EJ.

One of the ancient Smithfield taverns in Long Lane; the present building dates from 1854. In the twentieth century it was a small, single bar Watney’s pub with an upstairs restaurant, aimed squarely at the market workers from Smithfield Market across the road. In 1997 the pub was acquired by Shepherd Neame. The pub moved upmarket, but trade declined and it closed in 2006. It had a short-lived incarnation in 2007 under the name Long Lane, but gained a new lease of life when it re-opened in 2011 as the sister pub to Bermondsey’s Dean Swift. The small downstairs bar is now a Tap Room, showcasing a wide range of beers, whilst the larger upstairs bar has gastro pretentions. Operator went into liquidation March 2020 - lease for sale. Subsequently reopened 2021.

We have visited this pub 12 times, seen 42 different beers and tried 23 of them.

Map location

Postcode: EC1A 9EJ