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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson - Nelsons Blood |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | | 3 |
| Hop Fuzz - The American |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 2 |
| Kent - Beyond the Pale | | 1 |
| Nelson - Powder Monkey | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Hengist |  | 2 |
| Kent - Cobnut | | 2 |
| Wantsum - 1381 |  | 2 |
| Hop Fuzz - The English | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.
Visits Details
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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson - Powder Monkey | 4.40 | | Best beer of the first visit. Fresh and hoppy |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | |
| Wantsum - 1381 | 3.80 | | Seemed tired |
| Kent - Beyond the Pale | 5.40 | Not 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
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | I 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 Pale | 5.40 | | I 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 - 1381 | 3.80 | | Now 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 Monkey | 4.40 | Not Tried |
25 Nov 2012 (Alenomore)
12:00 visit. Having read a local review about this earlier in the week, a visit today just had to be done. Met up with a mate, Shepway Blade, and we had a good drink. Nice place, intimate, very smart, nicely fitted out and was soon full up on this visit. Friendly and enthusiastic owners. LocAle is the theme. To the people of Folkestone, you are truly blessed to have a bar like this new one to visit. I'll be back....
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson - Nelsons Blood | 6.00 | | A decent big un'. One of Nelsons flagship ales.. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | 4.90 | | In top condition. Genuine 5#. A rich, deep dark un'. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | | In top condition. |
| Hop Fuzz - The American | 4.00 | | Good clean tasting ale. |
23 Nov 2012 (Ian)
Friday evening on the way home and a good buzz of different people in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | 4.90 | | Lots of choc, malt, character, smooth, complex, great condition, so drinkable. This beer was almost my downfall. But delightful. |
| Nelson - Nelsons Blood | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Hengist | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2012 (ChrisE)
Friday lunch time and quite busy. I had a good chat with Neil the landlord about pubs in Ashford and Hythe.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | 4.90 | | Magic |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Superb condition. |
| Wantsum - Hengist | 5.00 | | |
| Nelson - Nelsons Blood | 6.00 | Not Tried |
22 Nov 2012 (Ian)
Thursday lunchtime. A sprinkling of people in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Deepish brown bitter. |
| Nelson - Nelsons Blood | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Hengist | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 | Not Tried |
21 Nov 2012 (Ian)
First time visit to the latest Micropub in east Kent. Sat chatting with Neil the landlord and the bloke who used to serve me coffee in a cafe in Ashford. I can see myself coming here a couple of times a week on the way home.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - Hengist | 5.00 | | I still think Wantsum can be a bit hit and miss. This was fine, quite malty worty on the aroma. |
| Hop Fuzz - The English | 4.00 | | Been on since Saturday so losing a bit of condition, but still a decent brown bitter. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The Firkin Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 26 |
| 80 |
| 69 |
| 42 |
 | 2 |
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 117 times, seen 248 different beers and tried 165 of them.
Postcode: CT20 2AY