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Halfway House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Goacher's - Gold StarExceptional1
Fyne - AvalancheExceptional1
Summer Wine (SWB) - Zenith Pale AleExceptional1
Black Paw - Black Paw IPAExcellent2
Rother Valley - SmildExcellent2
Goacher's - Fine Light AleExcellent2
Newmans - Red Stag BitterExcellent1
Cottage - S&DExcellent1
Coastal - HandlinerExcellent1
Swan on the Green - CygnetExcellent1
Greene King - Tolly Cobbold Tolly English AleExcellent1
AllGates - CaliforniaExcellent1
Tonbridge - CoppernobExcellent1
Green Jack - Mahseer IPA (superseded by 5.8% version)Excellent1
Dark Star - Espresso StoutExcellent1
Kent - Black GoldExcellent1
Goacher's - Crown Imperial StoutExcellent1
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPAGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7Good1
Rother Valley - MildGood2
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter AleGood1
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Horsham Best BitterGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Good1
Saltaire - South Island PaleGood1
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)Good1
Castle Rock - Diamond Reign Jubilee AleGood1
Beer Rocks - ScaryAcceptable1
Dark Star - OriginalNot Tried0
Hepworth - Prospect OrganicNot Tried0
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterNot Tried0
Wantsum - 1381Not Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold TopNot Tried0
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Royal Best BitterNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Flagship IPANot Tried0
1648 - Laughing FrogNot Tried0
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPANot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)Not Tried0
Hopdaemon - Golden BraidNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Red RiverNot Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Summer AleNot Tried0
Arundel - StrongholdNot Tried0
Nelson - Nelsons BloodNot Tried0
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Dartford WobblerNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Green DaemonNot Tried0
Nelson - Pieces of EightNot Tried0
Picture 1. Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Visits Details

08 Nov 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Special occasion for me as I attend my 1000th Thursday evening mild drinkers event. Arrived in style by Routemaster bus.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Smild3.80ExcellentSo good, drank this all evening, on top form as ever. My score 16/20.
07 Oct 2012 (Wittenden)
Lunchtime on a sunny October Sunday. We sat in the adults Garden, and discussed how it could be floristically enhanced. I was told that they are all snobs in Brenchley-everyone seemed very friendly today!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Coppernob3.80ExcellentAromatic amber session beer:some hedgerow fruits, a long bitter finish. I could get used to this.
Beer Rocks - Scary4.40AcceptablePale 'n' hoppyish. Some haze. Can't find out much about this brewery.Some sources point to North Yorkshire, some to Wales. OK pint.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not TriedI was sorely tempted
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)4.50Not Tried
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Not Tried
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80Not Tried
30 Sep 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Post sunday lunch and a few diners still in plus a handful of locals.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Smild3.80ExcellentGood as ever with a good mix of caramel and chocolate malt and low hop rate. My score 16/20.
27 Aug 2012 (oz11)
Festival of Kent & Sussex beers. 50 beers on the list, by Monday we were down to about half that number, with many of those being finished during the afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Excellent
Swan on the Green - Cygnet4.20ExcellentListed as 4.2%
Dark Star - Espresso Stout4.20Excellent
Kent - Black Gold4.00Excellent
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Good
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10Good
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Good
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Horsham Best Bitter3.80Good
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50Good
Hopdaemon - Golden Braid3.70Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Red River4.80Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Summer Ale4.00Not Tried
Arundel - Stronghold4.70Not Tried
Nelson - Nelsons Blood6.00Not Tried
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Dartford Wobbler4.30Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Green Daemon5.00Not Tried
Nelson - Pieces of Eight3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Original5.00Not Tried
Hepworth - Prospect Organic4.50Not Tried
Wantsum - 13813.80Not Tried
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Royal Best Bitter4.10Not Tried
1648 - Laughing Frog5.20Not Tried
03 Aug 2012 (Pedro)
Early evening
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Excellent
Cottage - S&D4.40Excellent
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Excellent
Greene King - Tolly Cobbold Tolly English Ale2.80Excellent
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPA3.60Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Horsham Best Bitter3.80Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)4.50Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80Not Tried
01 Aug 2012 (ChrisE)
Almost two hours on the bus from Ashford but worth the effort. Busy with a good mix of people but still plenty of room to sit in comfort.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80GoodMalty copper coloured best bitter.
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Acceptable
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPA3.60Not Tried
Cottage - S&D4.40Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Tolly Cobbold Tolly English Ale2.80Not Tried
04 Jun 2012 (oz11)
Fourth pub of the day. Beer festival in progress. Only listed beers drunk, many others were available.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fyne - Avalanche4.50ExceptionalBest beer of the day.
Saltaire - South Island Pale3.50Good
Castle Rock - Diamond Reign Jubilee Ale4.10Good
Black Paw - Black Paw IPA5.00GoodAmerican style IPA.
03 Jun 2012 (Alenomore)
Our "chauffeur" found this so we stopped. New to me and a surprise with a big beer festival going on? A stack of ales available, in the pub, and outside in the huge garden. Partook of several samples, but only the (new) Black Paw was noted today, which was superb.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Black Paw - Black Paw IPA5.00ExcellentNot heard of this brewery. A big, solid, good tasting IPA.
01 Apr 2012 (Wittenden)
Our first visit to this award winning pub.We sat in the sun in the Adults Garden with our son who'd just run in the Paddock Wood Half Marathon, enjoying the antics of a Spaniel X Colly, and discussed ways of keeping fit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Gold Star5.10ExceptionalGrand golden premium bitter:stone fruit,biscuit malt,undying embrace of Kent Goldings.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70ExcellentEarthier than I remember it,more pear than orange.Great stuff.
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80Not Tried
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Flagship IPA4.20Not TriedHalfway to Paradise-is this Goacher's Special House Ale? and something from Wells and Young were also available, together with Chiddingstone Cider.
26 Aug 2011 (thebrewingman)
First day of their beer festival.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Summer Wine (SWB) - Zenith Pale Ale4.00ExceptionalA suprb IPA with loads of hop coming through.
Newmans - Red Stag Bitter3.60Excellent
Coastal - Handliner4.00Excellent
AllGates - California3.80Excellent
Green Jack - Mahseer IPA (superseded by 5.8% version)5.00Excellent

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About the Halfway House

The pub sign. Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent75
Good28
Acceptable10
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7AX.

This is a beautiful pub set in the heart of the Garden of England and is in Horsmonden Road. Winner of the CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year in 2006. It has a multi-room interior with lots or wooden beams, wood floors and furniture. This is how you would expect a country pub to be, full of nooks and crannies. All real ale is served on gravity from casks behind the single wooden bar. There is a large garden at the rear. Runner up CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year 2012.

We have visited this pub 42 times, seen 168 different beers and tried 78 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN12 7AX