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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kent - Beyond the PaleExceptional2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7Excellent1
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)Excellent1
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry TorpedoExcellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Divine ConspiracyExcellent1
Goacher's - Crown Imperial StoutExcellent1
Nelson - Powder MonkeyExcellent1
Spencer's - Galaxy Golden AleExcellent1
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry BlackExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderExcellent2
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopGood1
Wantsum - 1381Acceptable2
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)Acceptable1
Goacher's - Fine Light AleAcceptable1
Nelson - Loose CannonNot Tried0
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good HeavensNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopNot Tried0
Wantsum - Miller's MirthNot Tried0
Kent - ZingiberNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver TopNot Tried0
Kent - KGB or Kent Golding BitterNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Goacher's - Silver StarNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Picture 2. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Picture 3. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.

Visits Details

11 Jan 2013 (Ian)
Friday evening and I was celebrating something. Now selling Ashmore cheese!!!! .
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Divine Conspiracy4.60Excellenti like the estery mashed banana and peach belgian yeast aroma and the hoppy finish. honey is quite muted but balanced
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)3.80Not Tried
09 Jan 2013 (Ian)
after work pint. lovely
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Excellentone of the best pints of this i have ever had
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)3.80Acceptableok golden ale
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
04 Jan 2013 (Ian)
Friday early evening and bumped into Nigel from Camra for a chat.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Spencer's - Galaxy Golden Ale4.70ExcellentGreat condition lots of Australian hops especially on finish. Very drinkable and very tasty
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Acceptablemalty ok
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50Not Tried
Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter4.10Not Tried
24 Dec 2012 (ChrisE)
Full and standing, that means over twenty people in the pub, mostly drinking ale but a couple on mulled wine. Complementary mince pies were served to each customer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Excellent
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry Torpedo4.50Excellent
Nelson - Loose Cannon4.30Not Tried
Kent - Zingiber4.10Not Tried
21 Dec 2012 (Ian)
Busy early Friday evening
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry Torpedo4.50Excellentone of the few proper bitter beers left in britain. could still taste the hops on the train on the way home.
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80Not Tried
Wantsum - Miller's Mirth4.20Not Tried
19 Dec 2012 (Ian)
Early evening and I needed a beer. The pub website is updated daily with what beers are on
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10ExcellentI mean its lovely. Bit too cold maybe. Great condition. So drinkable
Nelson - Loose Cannon4.30Not Tried
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Heavens4.10Not Tried
11 Dec 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Neil the guv is well chuffed to be on the cover of local CAMRA magazine Marsh Marsh.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry Black4.00Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80GoodA bit flat
Goacher's - Silver Star4.20Not Tried
30 Nov 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
2nd evening visit. Crowds had thinned out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Beyond the Pale5.40ExceptionalBest of the evening by far. Excellent but one would find it hard to often fault Kent beers
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Not Tried
Nelson - Powder Monkey4.40Not Tried
30 Nov 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening - first visit to this Micropub. Is true to concept but must observe that noise levels were thunderous making normal conversation fraught. Maybe needs some soft furnishings, curtains or wall ornamentation to dampen the din as some people were almost shouting.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nelson - Powder Monkey4.40ExcellentBest beer of the first visit. Fresh and hoppy
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Good
Wantsum - 13813.80AcceptableSeemed tired
Kent - Beyond the Pale5.40Not Tried
30 Nov 2012 (Ian)
Friday evening and it was nicely bustling and busy, which is good to see in a pub that has only been open for 2 weeks. Already seems to be building up a group of regulars as well as passers by. Good start to the weekend
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30ExcellentI still maintain that Eddie is the best brewer in Kent and this beer shows why. Good malty backbone and flavour, and then the hoppy bitterness kicks in. But it is the overall character of this beer that wins through. More than the sum of its parts.
Kent - Beyond the Pale5.40ExcellentI kept seeing this pure clear gold beer with a thick frothy head being served to other clients, and thought "I must have a bit of that". Best beer of the evening, I had a half and then a pint. Cracking condition. Sweetish pale malt and then lovely hops over the finish. Pretty damn fine beer.
Wantsum - 13813.80AcceptableNow I've had this beer when it's been excellent and had it when it's not been so good which has got nothing to do with whichever pub is serving it, it's to do with how it's been brewed. Sherberty perfumey hoppy beer. Bit too perfumed for me
Nelson - Powder Monkey4.40Not Tried

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About The Firkin Alehouse

The pub sign. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional26
Excellent79
Good67
Acceptable42
Poor2

Website.

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 115 times, seen 244 different beers and tried 162 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT20 2AY