The White Swan (Free House)
We believe this pub is CLOSED
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Visits Details
10 Feb 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Much clearing up completed even before my late arrival.
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 |  | |
| TicketyBrew - Botanical Pale | 3.50 |  | Refreshing enough but too thin. Called a gin-inspired pale ale with junipers, citrus peel, coriander and cardoman. Might have succeeded with much more spice content in a more fully bodied ale |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
01 Feb 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Tempted in by an e-mail for Monday Club members saying all residual beer festival beers were £2.50 pp tonight. Illuminating conversation with the founder of the CAMRA SE London branch back in 1974 - he ought to write all this history up.
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPA | 7.40 |  | Superb but with headbanger qualities too |
| Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hawkshead - Great White | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Ringmaster | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| TicketyBrew - Jasmine Green Tea | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Malz | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Smokescreen | 5.50 | Not Tried | Selling well tonight |
| Bad Seed - Salted Smoked Maple Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
31 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Good feed on gratis cheese board.
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPA | 7.40 |  | A meal in a glass but proceed with caution |
| TicketyBrew - Jasmine Green Tea | 3.80 |  | Gravity dispense on the open bar floor. Gone flat so no mouthfeel |
| Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hawkshead - Great White | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Ringmaster | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Malz | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Smokescreen | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bad Seed - Salted Smoked Maple Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
29 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. First day of a three day beer festival with 6 casks on stillage out on the open bar floor.
| Arbor Ales - Smokescreen | 5.50 |  | In great nick, a good one to finish the night off with |
| Magic Rock - Dark Arts | 6.00 |  | On gravity dispense. Very heavy so, as running short of time to get a third pint in, added a dash of lemonade and it went down a treat |
| Bad Seed - Salted Smoked Maple Ale | 4.30 |  | On gravity dispense, with the look of Thatchers Cheddar Valley cider, you know the orange red one, I was a little worried. Allegedly unfined but, anyway, not a hint of maple. They might learn a lesson or two from Kent which did a superb Maple Wheat Ale last year. A second of this murky brew was not to pass my lips |
| Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hawkshead - Great White | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Rock - Ringmaster | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| TicketyBrew - Jasmine Green Tea | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Malz | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
26 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. End of pub quiz as I arrived. The pub is having a small beer festival this coming weekend.
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bengal Lancer | 5.00 |  | In a cask on the counter top. A raw edged bitterness. Popped some ice in to bring down the temperature |
| Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Cronx - Anglo-American Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
19 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Dogends of pub quiz in operation.
| Wadworth - 6X | 4.10 |  | Should have sent this murky, obviously end of cask back |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 |  | Not up to scratch. Cask on open counter under bright lights. Beer warm, flat and unappetising |
| Tap East - Coffee in the Morning (has been 5.7% too) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - Fusilier | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
17 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. A nourishing gratis cheeseboard was feeding a small group of the masses.
| Wadworth - 6X | 4.10 |  | |
| Butcombe - Bitter (or Original Beer) | 4.00 |  | On last knockings of the cask |
| Tap East - Coffee in the Morning (has been 5.7% too) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
12 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Arrived just as quiz was ending.
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 |  | Had been off sale then put on again after the syphon was lowered. Hazy and not as good as the other day |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 |  | Hazy and getting tired |
| Tap East - Coffee in the Morning (has been 5.7% too) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Tap East - Tonic Ale | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Zephyr | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Cloak & Dagger | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
09 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. A slow wind down after the live act stopped.
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 |  | Probably the first Citra ale and certainly always the best |
| Dark Star - Partridge Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tap East - Tonic Ale | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Cloak & Dagger | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
02 Jan 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close.
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 |  | Not what it was |
| Wild Beer Co. - Millionaire | 4.70 |  | Fuller bodied than the stronger Vocation |
| Vocation - Cloak & Dagger | 5.90 |  | |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Joshua Jane | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| McMullen (sometimes latterly brand badged as Rivertown or Whole Hop) - Bootwarmer | 5.00 | Not Tried | What is this misleading nonsense of calling itself Whole Hop Brewery and hiding the McMullen provenance |
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