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The Flippin' Frog (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2016)Excellent1
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)Excellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea ShellsExcellent1
Kent - Black GoldExcellent1
Revolutions - The Killing MoonExcellent1
Boutilliers - Smoked Oatmeal StoutExcellent1
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay SocialGood2
Kent - Old JamaicaGood1
Pig & Porter - Red Spider RyeGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver TopGood1
Kent - Dark Horse Liquorice StoutGood1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye PorterGood1
Boutilliers - KölschAcceptable1
Romney Marsh - Rye MildAcceptable1
Whitstable - CitraAcceptable1
Breakwater - Black EnsignPoor1
Mad Cat - Jet Black Stout (previously Meaney's Jet Black Stout)Not Tried0
Musket - MuzzleloaderNot Tried0
Musket - Flintlock Best BitterNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Slow Black StoutNot Tried0
Kent - Brewers ReserveNot Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)Not Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Summer Session Pale AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Cloud SurferNot Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's AleNot Tried0
Kent - ProhibitionNot Tried0
Colchester - Double Drop Oatmeal MildNot Tried0
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Goldilocks is DeadNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Burlington BertieNot Tried0
Breakwater - Cow JuiceNot Tried0
Lister's (latterly brewed at Wantsum) - Westmorland Dark MildNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Emotional BlackmailNot Tried0

Visits Details

27 Apr 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. The Guvs were off for this time of night.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells4.70Excellent
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter4.20Good
Breakwater - Black Ensign3.20PoorOn each occasion this was poured from the cask it had a lively head that disappeared within 30 seconds to a totally flat pint. The barmaid noticed the murk in this mild before I did and suggested I had something else
Mad Cat - Emotional Blackmail4.50Not Tried
14 Apr 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Cosy homely feel.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social3.80Acceptable
Boutilliers - Kölsch5.20Acceptable
Mighty Oak - Burlington Bertie3.90Not Tried
Breakwater - Cow Juice4.20Not Tried
14 Apr 2018 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening. Almost everybody is eating and the food looks and smells great. But I have very limited time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social3.80ExcellentJust my cup of tea this one. Golden, floral hops, quite dry.
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Goldilocks is Dead5.30Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Burlington Bertie3.90Not Tried
Boutilliers - Kölsch5.20Not Tried
Breakwater - Cow Juice4.20Not Tried
Lister's (latterly brewed at Wantsum) - Westmorland Dark Mild3.70Not Tried
04 Nov 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit, only Mrs Frog in situ tonight. 2 groups in playing a card game and a wooden construction poser game.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Revolutions - The Killing Moon4.50ExcellentFresh cask, first out too, of this treacle toffee brown ale in a firkin on the bar counter top
Kent - Dark Horse Liquorice Stout4.90GoodTasty liquorice stout
Kent - Prohibition4.80Not Tried
Colchester - Double Drop Oatmeal Mild3.50Not TriedOn last knockings
17 Aug 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit just after the food had stopped being served. The wooden 2 tier ale cask stillage has been moved through 90° behind the bar counter.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Pig & Porter - Red Spider Rye4.80GoodFresh cask on today, lots of mouthfeel
Romney Marsh - Rye Mild3.20Acceptable
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale3.80Not Tried
08 Jul 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. The Guvs are en vacances. Intense chat with a chap about the state of modern brewing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Old Jamaica5.10GoodDespite the usual shortcomings of cooled cask jackets this was at a quite acceptable temperature and all the flavours came through, good enough to have a second
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Summer Session Pale Ale3.60Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Cloud Surfer4.50Not Tried
02 Jul 2017 (Stephen Harris)
I’ve been to a few of these Micropubs now (some which meet the definition and some which do not) and have liked some more than others. This one is great and I caught it at a good time with live music in the bar. Afterwards I had to question my sanity/sobriety when it took 25 minutes to find Rochester station, which has migrated.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Black Gold4.00Excellent
Boutilliers - Smoked Oatmeal Stout4.40ExcellentI thought this was great. Black and creamy and very smoky.
Kent - Brewers Reserve5.00Not Tried
12 Nov 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Welcome oasis from the damp uninviting weather. Friendly buzz inside. The Guv's cask jacket cooler had failed but the beers were still OK.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10ExcellentIn lovely nick and full of flavour
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50Good
Whitstable - Citra4.40AcceptableNo real Citra hit, perhaps a bit tired
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Slow Black Stout5.10Not Tried
20 Oct 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Failed evening visit with a train delay meaning I arrived as the last were leaving and the keys were jangling for lock up time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
06 Oct 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 10pm close. I have only just noticed the wooden rural looking custom built stillage which replaced the original temprary one. Ciders now kept in a fridge out the back.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2016)4.80ExcellentSpot on
Mad Cat - Jet Black Stout (previously Meaney's Jet Black Stout)4.50Not Tried
Musket - Muzzleloader4.50Not Tried

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About The Flippin' Frog

The pub sign. The Flippin' Frog, Rochester, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent10
Good14
Acceptable13
Poor2

Website.

The pub is found in Rochester, Kent, ME1 1BT.

Cask ale and cider bar / café which opened on 19th December 2015 in the former Pizza Romana premises on a high pavement at the eastern end of the Rochester High Street, really nearer Chatham. Could be a Micropub but for its significantly enhanced hot food offerings. Cunningly named after the flipping of crêpes (pancakes) and the French couple who opened it. The lady partner is an experienced chef. Open view kitchen to the left and a small bar counter in the middle with jacket cooled gravity dispense cask ales on a 2 tier (holding 6 casks) wooden stillage behind the bar. Boxes of cider are kept in a fridge at the rear. 2 KeyKeg beer lines added in 2019. To the right is a wooden slatted walled seating area and there are high tables and seats at the front window. Small rear paved courtyard garden and smoking area. Sells predominantly Kentish cask ales and ciders / perries. Very friendly family welcome at all times. An interesting selection of card, board and tactile poser games is provided. Was closed for much of August and early September 2019 for the licensees' wedding. Reported summer 2020 that pub has been bought by the operators of The Dead Pigeon further along Rochester High Street, with some changes planned before re-opening. In summer 2021 operating (and front fascia signed prominently) as "The Dead Pigeon Collection Point" using the kitchen to supply food for on-line orders and for supply to the Dead Pigeon pub along the road (Dead Pigeon not listed on this site after a request by its owner to have it deleted - reason unknown). The owner has intimated this venue might revert to being a micropub or pub at some time in the future. By July 2022 the venue was operating for some weekends in the rear garden with live music and food but no cask ale. See pub's Facebook page for details of when it is open. Re-opened "rejuvenated" on Friday 12th May 2023 and once again selling cask ale. 1 handpumps now operates, with a back wall of keg taps.

We have visited this pub 23 times, seen 68 different beers and tried 36 of them.

Map location

Postcode: ME1 1BT