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Carpenters Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Dark Star - Hophead DryExcellent1
Pig & Porter - Penhurst Pale AleExcellent1
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey RoyalGood3
Grainstore - Red KiteGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderGood1
Grainstore - Cooking BitterGood1
Pig & Porter - Oatmeal StoutGood1
Goddards - Duck's FollyGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Good2
Leeds - Leeds BestGood1
Rockin Robin - Blizzard of OzGood1
Long Man - Copper HopAcceptable1
Rockin Robin - Hoppin RobinAcceptable1
Batemans - Autumn FallNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Slow Black StoutNot Tried0
Picture 1. Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent
Picture 2. Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Visits Details

12 Feb 2016 (Jack William)
Early evening - fires in both bars - needed. A few in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead Dry3.80ExcellentIf the beer hadn't been quite so cold I may have rated this excellent. Gorgeous brew - I hope Dark Star keep it on for the Summer.
05 Feb 2016 (Jack William)
early evening - Colin a bit overwhelmed by a rush of about a dozen customers. Soon calmed down - and he offered some samples from Rockin Robbin Brewery.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey Royal4.50Good
Rockin Robin - Blizzard of Oz4.50GoodJust a sample of this from a plastic container - but it was well received by the tasters - look forward to it on tap soon.
Grainstore - Red Kite3.80Good
Rockin Robin - Hoppin Robin3.70Acceptabletaster - bit bland
29 Dec 2015 (Jack William)
1730 - just one other in - but conversation flows well and in half an hour a dozen are in, all chatting - gets my vote for pub of the year.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goddards - Duck's Folly5.20GoodOut the barrel, near the end and lacking some life - but a good flavoursome pint.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not TriedJust on as I was leaving - looked bright and lively.
Pig & Porter - Slow Black Stout5.10Not Tried
19 Nov 2015 (Jack William)
Mid evening - a dozen in making this cozy. Just back from the real ale dessert of Tenerife so this was most welcome.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Good
Pig & Porter - Oatmeal Stout5.10GoodLiquorice and chewy.
16 Oct 2015 (Jack William)
17:30 Friday. Just Colin the landlord and John with whom I had a fascinating conversation about South Africa. Coal fire just being lit. Officially opens at 1800 on a Friday still as Coldred folk party late at the weekend of course. 1700 opening in the week still and all cask beers still £3 a pint. Was alos a ruby ale on but I didn't note which one.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentSpot on for one of my favourite beers under 4.0 ABV.
17 Sep 2015 (Jack William)
Early evening - a handful in including a brewer from the Pig Porter brewery (Sean or possibly Shaun). He agrees that the Pale Ale is not very pale and also informs us that the Penhurst name will be dropped soon - too confusing with Penshurst which is very near to where the brewery now is having moved to Tunbridge Wells from East Sussex ( near Penhurst).
BeerABVScoreNotes
Pig & Porter - Penhurst Pale Ale4.50ExcellentFruity and full bodied - but reddish, not pale.
Batemans - Autumn Fall4.20Not Tried
10 Jul 2015 (Jack William)
About 5:30 open with a couple in despite the nominal 6:00 opening time on a Friday. Missed PP by a day unfortunately but I fully concur with statement about conversation - it ranged from Wimbledon to half marathons in Helsinki, fresh fish markets in Dubai, the Kent Show and the Test in the short time I was there.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Good
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey Royal4.50Not Tried
09 Jul 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Initial panic as we saw the Guvnor drive past us away from the pub but he had a sub in for half an hour and he re-joined us a way into the session. Conversation is King here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey Royal4.50Good
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Acceptable
16 Jun 2015 (Jack William)
Early evening, me another couple and four dogs. Good chat with Colin the landlord.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Grainstore - Cooking Bitter3.60GoodNice session bitter in very good condition.
Long Man - Copper Hop4.20AcceptableA bit flat - turned out to be the last one out on gravity.
17 Apr 2015 (Jack William)
Very early evening 5:15 pm. Despite on my previous visit noting that the pub is now open at 5 on closer checking of the opening times this only applies Mon-Thurs with 6 pm still the official Friday opening time - of course it is really dependent on when Colin turns up - and he did before 5:20. Despite the uncertainty by 5:30 there were a half dozen more customers. I think it really runs on some bizarre Coldred time related to the sunset.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Leeds - Leeds Best4.30GoodStraight from the barrel - golden but quite malty.
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey Royal4.50GoodHandpump, good body and flavour but first one out and a just little tired or I would have rated it excellent.

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About the Carpenters Arms

The pub sign. Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent85
Good134
Acceptable38
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Coldred, Kent, CT15 5AJ.

In The Green, a rare 2 bar survivor of a traditional village boozer with roaring fires when appropriate. This pub is listed in the CAMRA National Inventory of unspoilt pubs. The pub boasts three skittle teams using the outdoor skittle alley. The landlady, Daphne Fagg (85) had been running the pub for over forty years until she recently passed away and the pub is now run by her son Colin. The pub does not normally open at lunchtimes, except by prior arrangement. Real ales sold via three active handpumps and bartop casks on gravity stillage. Deal, Dover & Sandwich CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2015.

We have visited this pub 139 times, seen 166 different beers and tried 143 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT15 5AJ