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The Gardener's Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Crouch Vale - Brewers GoldExcellent1
Wentworth - ChallengeExcellent1
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Stokers StoutExcellent1
1648 - Winter WarrantExcellent1
Mauldons - Silver AdderExcellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent1
Great Heck - Yakima IPAGood1
Mauldons - Suffolk Pride (aka Suffolk Punch)Good1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood3
White - Dark MildGood1
Weltons - Duke's ToastAcceptable1
Boggart - Lamp LighterPoor1
Isle of Purbeck - Purbeck IPAPoor1
Rugby - CementPoor1
Festival - EmeraldNot Tried0
Harvey's - KissNot Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Tring - Tea Kettle StoutNot Tried0
Iceni - Men of NorfolkNot Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Brighton BlondeNot Tried0
Harvey's - PorterNot Tried0
Privateer Beers - Dark RevengeNot Tried0
Cottage - GoldrushNot Tried0
Liverpool Craft - IPANot Tried0
Nottingham - SupremeNot Tried0
Kissingate - Gardenia MildNot Tried0
Green Jack - CanaryNot Tried0
Black Country - English WinterNot Tried0
Cottage - AmbassadorNot Tried0
Fat Cat - India Pale AleNot Tried0
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - JR Best BitterNot Tried0
Cottage - S&DNot Tried0
RCH - Hewish MildNot Tried0
Sharp's - Coaster (or Cornish Coaster)Not Tried0
1648 - Festivale 30Not Tried0
Archers - Crystal ClearNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - West Coast RedNot Tried0
1648 - SignatureNot Tried0
1648 - Ginger No. 1Not Tried0
Hogs Back - England's GloryNot Tried0
Bank Top - Flat CapNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Gardener's Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

Visits Details

09 May 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening which is both windswept and rainswept keeping, I guess, many punters at home.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodOK
Great Heck - Yakima IPA7.40Good£4 pp not bad for abv
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Brighton Blonde3.90Not Tried
Privateer Beers - Dark Revenge4.50Not Tried
Liverpool Craft - IPA5.00Not Tried
Kissingate - Gardenia Mild4.50Not Tried
12 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening. Only customer in but B&HA were at home at the Amex and a rush was expected about 2215 hours.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodFirst one out for a while I'd guess
1648 - Ginger No. 14.20Not Tried
Bank Top - Flat Cap4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Kiss4.80Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Tring - Tea Kettle Stout4.70Not Tried
06 Oct 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
First stop outside the Harveys Brewery - busy with Harveys Hoppers after the annual meet in the brewery yard.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentFirst of the new brew for me
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - JR Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
RCH - Hewish Mild3.60Not Tried
1648 - Festivale 303.80Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - West Coast Red5.00Not Tried
10 Dec 2011 (thebrewingman)
Busy Saturday lunchtime.
BeerABVScoreNotes
1648 - Winter Warrant4.80Excellent
Mauldons - Silver Adder4.20ExcellentGolden and hoppy.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Cottage - Ambassador4.60Not Tried
Fat Cat - India Pale Ale6.40Not Tried
20 Mar 2010 (Pedro)
Afternoon visit
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wentworth - Challenge4.30Excellent
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Porter4.80Not Tried
Cottage - Goldrush5.00Not Tried
Nottingham - Supreme5.20Not Tried
Green Jack - Canary3.80Not Tried
Black Country - English Winter5.50Not Tried
08 Jun 2009 (Ian)
All of us agreed that this was the best pub we went into in Lewes. Pete the barman was very friendly and gave us some free bottles of Elizabethan Ale. Sat with mes at the bar and chatted about beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentBest pint of this all day including at the brewery tap. Fresh at the brewery was excellent too though
White - Dark Mild4.00GoodClear ruby colour, lasting beige head. Sweetish, but dryish at the same time. Really good condition. It's a good solid darkk malty beer.
Isle of Purbeck - Purbeck IPA4.80PoorAmber colour. It's a bit earthy and muddy in the flavours. Not great. Earthy rubber on finish. Not good.
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not TriedHad a sip of Tom's and it was on top form
Iceni - Men of Norfolk6.30Not Tried
25 Apr 2009 (Ian)
Chris Exell and myself decided to catch the train back from Lewes rather than catch the coach back to Herne. This meant that we had a bit more time to visit some other pubs. We started here as it is just around the corner from the John Harvey Tavern. We got seats at the bar and ordered a few drinks. Both of us really like this pub, it is what we think a pub should be.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Stokers Stout5.00ExcellentDeep ruby with lasting beige head, lots of choc charcoal and very dry. Good dark fruit, lovely mouthfeel, dryness. I loved it
Rugby - Cement6.80PoorOdd orange squashy aroma. Bit tired maybe, bit of strong malt. Little hop on finish, alcohol is well masked, rest isn’t that good
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Hogs Back - England's Glory4.30Not Tried
Festival - Emerald4.00Not Tried
14 Nov 2008 (Ian)
On the last leg of our 4 stop journey (St Leonards/Hasting, Eastbourne, Glynde and now Lewes - all by train). We got a table at the rear. Not overly busy, but I like the down to earthness of this pub compared with the rest of Lewes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00ExcellentLovely citrusy grapefruit. Touch of soap, but the hop truly is excellent.
14 Nov 2008 (Andrew)
Very reminicent of the Cornubia in Bristol. Good drinkers pub and the 7th on Ian and my tour of East Sussex.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Boggart - Lamp Lighter4.30PoorMetalic minerals, slightly acidic with an earthy hop. Not nice
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
1648 - Signature4.40Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
16 Jun 2007 (Ian)
Mid Saturday afternoon, but I still had to wait for a seat. This had the feel of a proper pub with proper pub people in it.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mauldons - Suffolk Pride (aka Suffolk Punch)4.80GoodI've had this in bottle, chilled and filtered bought from the brewery which I have to admit I thought was better. The cask version is fuller and sweeter in the malt and perhaps less hoppy.
Weltons - Duke's Toast5.40AcceptableCopper colour wtih thin bubbly white head. Rich strong bitter. Hop on finish is OK. Alcohol is a bit obvious. Some citrus, malts are subdued, bit of golden syrup. OK. Not what I would call drinkable.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Cottage - S&D4.40Not Tried
Sharp's - Coaster (or Cornish Coaster)3.60Not Tried
Archers - Crystal Clear5.00Not Tried

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About The Gardener's Arms

The pub sign. The Gardener's Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent11
Good8
Acceptable5
Poor5

Website.

The pub is found in Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AN.

Lovely small pub just down from the Harveys brewery in Cliffe High Street. The bar to one side is halfway down which creates a front and rear room. Freehouse, independent and superb. Lots of community atmosphere with different events/pub and local teams being advertised. 6 handpumps in front bar and 1 at the rear - the latter used for cider. CAMRA discount for card carrying members.

We have visited this pub 20 times, seen 83 different beers and tried 23 of them.

Map location

Postcode: BN7 2AN