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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) |  | 9 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Coconut Porter | | 1 |
| Whitstable - Kentish Reserve | | 1 |
| High House Barn (formerly High House Farm) - Auld Hemp |  | 1 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 1 |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Muirhouse - Stumbling About | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotleigh - Albatross | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Revelation | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Dry Hop Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Oyster Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Birthday Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Moondance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Marston Moor Mongrel's The Dog Father | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Winter Ruby | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Hole Hearted | Not Tried | 0 |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Poachers Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| RCH - Steam Lovers | Not Tried | 0 |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Kings IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pilgrim - Luperc Alia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Itchen Valley - Itchen Valley Bitter (aka IVB) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Magpie - Monty's Firkin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Pale Beauty | Not Tried | 0 |
| Amber Ales - Chocolate Orange Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Huell Melon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moncada - Notting Hill Amber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Windswept - Weizen | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Festival | Not Tried | 0 |
| Worsthorne - Blackthorne Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
12 Oct 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close. Some pretty brutal boxing bouts on TV.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High House Barn (formerly High House Farm) - Auld Hemp | 3.80 | | Interesting bitter flavours |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 |  | |
| Windswept - Weizen | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Worsthorne - Blackthorne Stout | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Cotleigh - Albatross | 5.00 | Not Tried |
25 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Mainly male clientele enjoying a superb beer venue.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | The fact of the matter is .... who needs more than this mid brown English bitter for total happiness? Superb. |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Superb nightcap |
| Itchen Valley - Itchen Valley Bitter (aka IVB) | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Pale Beauty | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Huell Melon | 4.40 | Not Tried |
07 Feb 2015 (ChrisE)
Late afternoon on a Saturday and fairly busy. Just time for a quick pint before heading off to a nearby party. I have not attempted to list all the beers that were on offer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | 4.00 | Not Tried |
28 Feb 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. A drinking chum, Parrot, had walked in before me off the same tram.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitstable - Kentish Reserve | 5.00 | | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| RCH - Steam Lovers | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Kings IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pilgrim - Luperc Alia | 4.80 | Not Tried |
01 Feb 2014 (ChrisE)
Late afternoon pint whilst on my way to a party. A fair crowd in and sport on the television, which was not obtrusive. A really good atmosphere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | A good traditional bitter in superb condition. |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Oyster Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Moondance | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - DB Winter Ruby | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Poachers Moon | 4.10 | Not Tried |
10 Jan 2014 (ChrisE)
Very busy indeed, a group of us met up here for the evening and made it even busier.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Sells very well in here. |
| Dark Star - Coconut Porter | 5.00 | | |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Festival | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Muirhouse - Stumbling About | 5.20 | Not Tried |
29 Aug 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until the final bell tolled. Top notch fast and friendly service for local and stranger alike.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | A simple formula from Palmers - make the imbiber want another and ............ |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Nightcap - tongue rasping bitterness then Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz |
| Whitstable - Kentish Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Magpie - Monty's Firkin | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Amber Ales - Chocolate Orange Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Moncada - Notting Hill Amber | 4.90 | Not Tried |
05 Feb 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Stayed longer than intended after a heavy Chinese eat as much in Croydon centre.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 |  | Simply 5 star can say no more |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | 5.40 | Not Tried |
09 Jun 2012 (oz11)
Late afternoon after Beckenham beer fest, killing time until train from Croydon. Busy, people watching the Euro football.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | |
| Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Hole Hearted | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
05 May 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit. May be old hat to mention it but this house was the one, to my mind, that gained most from the smoking ban. They must move Palmers by the drayload to this venue. Also concentrates on Surrey and Sussex brews.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Revelation | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - DB Dry Hop Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Birthday Beer | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Marston Moor Mongrel's The Dog Father | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 5 |
| 268 |
| 141 |
| 19 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Addiscombe, Greater London, CR0 7AA.
Small low ceilinged pub close to Addiscombe Tram Stop in Bingham Corner, Lower Addiscombe Road. This pub is a regular outlet for Palmers beers. In November 2012 Palmers awarded the pub a certificate for having sold a total of 1,000,000 pints of Palmers Best Bitter (IPA) exceeding any other of its free trade outlets and in later years further greatly exceeded here and similarly certificated with 1,250,000th in 2019. 6 handpumps dispense the real ales and always at least 2 ciders served by a walk to the ground floor cellar, the latter of late not being real ones however. Beers in the cellar and due to come on are listed on a wallboard. Changed hands in 2016 with slight change of name from Claret Free House to Claret & Ale but little else has changed. 6 handpumps. Regular winner of the local CAMRA branch Borough Pub of the Year award. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 202 times, seen 295 different beers and tried 96 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA