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The Compass Alehouse (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Citra |  | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - White Milk Stout | | 1 |
| Northdown - Merry Margate | | 1 |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | | 2 |
| Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk Stout | | 1 |
| Wiper and True - Blackberry Porter | | 1 |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | | 3 |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | | 1 |
| Saltaire - White Christmas | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| Five Points - XPA | | 1 |
| Hurst - Hurst 700 Pale-Ale | | 1 |
| Rooster's - London Thunder | | 1 |
| Cellar Head - Citris Paradisi |  | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Pigs in Blankets | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Winter Solace | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Mandarina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Azacca Haze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Titus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Stacked | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Buckeye | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Giant | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Tech Noir | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Yule Log | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Talisman | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the day and the final visit mid-evening and for the outing to Gravesend and Northfleet. It was also heaving but is only the size it is being a small micropub. Warm, friendly welcome and prompt service for the half.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltaire - White Christmas | 4.80 | | Good head and lacing on this IPA from Shipley, near Bradford. A hoppy mouthfeel with a pleasantly dry aftertaste. |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tech Noir | 6.10 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Not as busy as my usual mid-evening visits by a long way for this early afternoon meet-up with some others from SE London on a crawl. Prompt, friendly service by a volunteer, one of a number I am told, who helps out the owners earlier in the day on a Saturday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Very good head and lacing on this lightly hoppy pale ale. Very moreish and thirst-quenching with a sharply bitter mouthfeel and a pleasantly dry aftertaste from this Firle-based brewery between Lewes and Eastbourne in East Sussex. |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tech Noir | 6.10 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
8th visit of the day as closest one to the station and also my favourite micro in Gravesend to end on. As always it was full and buzzing and had not visited since my 5th October train change from Broadstairs to London daytrip and before that on the 22nd June when doing a full day's visit to Gravesend. A warm welcome and prompt service as always. No bar as such, discounting their kitchen counter, and so continental as in table service. A lively crowd in with many a regular who had not forgotten us!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | A very frothy head and froth round the sides of the glass was a welcome sign. A bitter and not sweet mouthfeel was followed by a touch of maltiness. A very dry, moreish aftertaste. |
| Rooster's - London Thunder | 4.20 | | Served with also a welcome head and lacing. Apparently its flavours were first created back in Victorian London. A touch of roasted malt, just 7 types by all accounts, and chocolate in the flavouring. Not sweet was this porter and with a very moreishly dry aftertaste. |
| Rooster's - Buckeye | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Giant | 6.00 | Not Tried |
05 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
A good pit-stop at Gravesend for the change of trains from Broadstairs to London. Busy, lively and positively buzzing as always. Just time for a swift half out of 4 on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing. A hoppy, bitter mouthfeel with hints of mango and passionfruit no less. |
| Saltaire - Titus | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Stacked | 5.20 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
On way back from Whitstable to London, the change of train at Gravesend afforded 30 minutes visit to The Compass. Not been since July. Busy with its regulars and time for two halves. Prompt, friendly service as usual.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | In very fine form with hoppy, fruity flavours and a lingering bitterness. |
| Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk Stout | 4.60 | | Wonderful rich, creamy head with vanilla and coconut hints in the flavouring. |
| Kent - Mandarina | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Azacca Haze | 3.40 | Not Tried | Described as a Milkshake Session Pale |
10 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. In the backroom admired the Gravesend Regatta pre-war winning boatbacks on the wall - superb bits of history and art. First visit since the Covid pandemic and just got the last stool to perch on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | | First rate, full bodied and bitter to boot |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | Vicious bitterness just as I wanted |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | 5.00 | | A bit flat but for me a juiciness too far |
| By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Early afternoon and standing room only I met up with the rest of our group for a few before heading off to Upminster on a preserved RM or RT on today's Ensign running day.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | | Delicious peppery dry bitter fare didn't touch the sides.. |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | Dry hoppy with a citrus punch but just a tad resinous for my liking. |
| Kent - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Winter Solace | 4.80 | Not Tried |
03 Dec 2022 (Magnus Greel)
12pm opening arranged just for our group of a dozen or so before our jaunt over the Thames for an afternoon of vintage buses and beer!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - White Milk Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | |
24 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Fun, frolics and Christmas fun made for the place being standing room only. Soon involved in a Brexit argument with a local!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiper and True - Blackberry Porter | 4.80 | | This was blackboarded as Cellar aged Blackberry & Calvados Porter, with, allegedly, a Calvados infusion added in-house |
| Hurst - Hurst 700 Pale-Ale | 3.90 | | Don't think I've had Hurst ales before. This was a pretty basic bitter |
| Kent - Yule Log | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Talisman | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Pigs in Blankets | 4.30 | Not Tried |
07 Dec 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime and very busy standing room only which isn't difficult here. Despite this the guv done a sterling job ensuring everyone's glasses didn't stay empty for long..
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Does what it says on the tin without the sugar hit |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | In superb condition and temperature brought out the nutty malty flavours |
| Northdown - Merry Margate | 3.80 | | Dry and spicy refreshing golden ale |
| Cellar Head - Citris Paradisi | 4.00 | | Rather sweet and sickly, luckily just a taster |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried |
About The Compass Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 80 |
| 49 |
| 10 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1AA.
Micropub which opened at lunchtime on Friday 26th September 2014. Located in Manor Road just a couple of minutes from the railway station and town centre. A shop conversion from an old dairy which had, most recently, been an estate agency. Real ales and ciders sold on gravity dispense from a largish several tier stillage in a temperature controlled cold cellar room. High tables and bench seating (some incorporating wood from church pews) partition the floor space in the front room. There is further drinking space around the kitchen area and a small yard garden and smoking area at the very back. Unisex toilet. All glasses are lined measure. Closed on Mondays. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2022 and 2024.
We have visited this pub 79 times, seen 253 different beers and tried 115 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1AA