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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Holler (formerly Holler Boys) - Loot |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bullion IPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Pale | | 1 |
| Stewart - Session Porter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 |  | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Tropical Swan | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PM | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Session IPA | | 1 |
| Oakham - Darker Days | | 1 |
| Kent - Comfortably Plum | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Long Summer Days | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout | | 1 |
| Ilkley - Joshua Jane | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Etherow |  | 1 |
| Kent - Cobnut | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Astryd | | 1 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wiper and True - Milkshake Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Wheelie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Rye Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Krpan & Lemondrop Joined at the Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.
Visits Details
05 Sep 2021 (ChrisE)
Sunday afternoon, I sat on the seats in the bay window, it was impossible to read the chalkboard menu so I had one beer and moved on. I think three cask ales were on offer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Comfortably Plum | 4.90 | | Certainly not excrptional. |
29 Feb 2020 (Magnus Greel)
Final venue for today's tour, standing room only at first until the crowds dissipated thus we purloined tables as and when became available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Session IPA | 4.20 | | Balanced aroma and flavour with a clean finish |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Wiper and True - Milkshake Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried |
13 Feb 2020 (Jack William)
Early doors - nicely busy. Toasted sarnies for lunch cheerfully delivered by the nearby sandwich shop.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart - Session Porter | 4.20 | | Very good, rich chocolatey porter. |
| Iron Pier - Bullion IPA | 5.00 | | Very nice, dry IPA. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Consistent high quality. |
07 Dec 2019 (Archie14)
Quite but definitely the best pub on our visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | | Delicious floral notes for this classic pale. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Krpan & Lemondrop Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
31 Oct 2019 (ChrisE)
Afternoon visit and just two other customers in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Darker Days | 4.80 | | Nice to see a dark beer from Oakham. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Rye Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
30 Jul 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 9pm close. A dramatically different place to its previous incarnation and if I can put my finger on it I think it is because the Guv no longer circulates with at seat service but is ensconced behind a bar counter. Desperately needs some sound baffling provision as it is as echoey as a railway waiting room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Tropical Swan | 3.50 | | Not as citrussy as I feared, very refreshing actually |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | 4.00 | Not Tried |
10 Jun 2019 (Dosser)
First visit. 3 ales on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout | 4.20 | | Interesting flavours, but not my type of beer. |
09 May 2019 (Jack William)
Lunchtime - bit disappointed that all 3 ales were from the same brewer. Despite this our group decided to stay for a session.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PM | 4.50 | | A fruity bitter in sparkling condition. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Etherow | 4.40 | | Rather ordinary. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Astryd | 3.80 | | Thin and rather cloudy. |
10 Sep 2018 (Jack William)
Stop 3, mid afternoon - a few in. We sat in the window seat and watched the world go by.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holler (formerly Holler Boys) - Loot | 5.50 | | Unfined and very cloudy (I need to get over my prejudice of cloudy beers) - superb grapefruit flavour. Very nice. |
| Ilkley - Joshua Jane | 3.70 | | Rather bland but good condition. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried |
10 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 10pm close. First time in the new premises (next door to the old) and it didn't work for me as well. The Guv is behind a bar counter whereas before he was always out in the middle, this and the different seating layout takes away some of the ambience.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory - Long Summer Days | 5.60 | | Good strong taste but soon last condition and mouthfeel |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Too chilled and lacking condition or head |
| Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Wheelie | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The Firkin Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 26 |
| 78 |
| 65 |
| 41 |
 | 2 |
The pub is found in Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AY.
Micropub close to Folkestone bus station which opened in November 2012, no music or slot machines and the use of mobile phones is banned with a fine imposed for disturbing the peace. Same level gravity stillage for real ales and ciders from a separate temperature controlled cellar room. Usually at seat service. In its original location had an impressive pumpclip display of beers sold to date in the unisex toilet all laid out by brewery! Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2014. Moved overnight 24/25 September 2017 from 18 to 20 Cheriton Place into new premises and now with a bar counter to obtain service. Moved a second time to No 21 other side of street in December 2022 now with high stools and tables at front and lower sofas and seating in a snug area towards the rear.
We have visited this pub 112 times, seen 235 different beers and tried 158 of them.
Postcode: CT20 2AY