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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kent - OlicanaExcellent1
Breakwater - MongrelExcellent1
Holler (formerly Holler Boys) - LootExcellent1
Kent - MosaicExcellent1
Squawk - Oat Pale AleExcellent1
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Root ThirteenExcellent1
Breakwater - Hellfire CornerGood1
Bristol Beer Factory - Long Summer DaysGood1
Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal StoutGood1
Moor - Nor'HopGood1
Ilkley - Joshua JaneGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3Good1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Tropical SwanGood1
Gloucester - CascadeGood1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PMGood1
Alchemy - Tropic ShakeGood1
Breakwater - The MogulGood1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AstrydAcceptable1
Dark Revolution - DeviantAcceptable1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - EtherowAcceptable1
Kent - CobnutAcceptable1
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - WheelieNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Cast Iron StoutNot Tried0
Ilkley - Ruby JaneNot Tried0
Dark Star - SunburstNot Tried0
Oakham - CitraNot Tried0
Salopian - AutomatonNot Tried0
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)Not 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

30 Jul 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 9pm close. A dramatically different place to its previous incarnation and if I can put my finger on it I think it is because the Guv no longer circulates with at seat service but is ensconced behind a bar counter. Desperately needs some sound baffling provision as it is as echoey as a railway waiting room.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 35.00Good
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Tropical Swan3.50GoodNot as citrussy as I feared, very refreshing actually
Ilkley - Ruby Jane4.00Not Tried
10 Jun 2019 (Dosser)
First visit. 3 ales on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout4.20GoodInteresting flavours, but not my type of beer.
09 May 2019 (Jack William)
Lunchtime - bit disappointed that all 3 ales were from the same brewer. Despite this our group decided to stay for a session.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PM4.50GoodA fruity bitter in sparkling condition.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Etherow4.40AcceptableRather ordinary.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Astryd3.80AcceptableThin and rather cloudy.
10 Sep 2018 (Jack William)
Stop 3, mid afternoon - a few in. We sat in the window seat and watched the world go by.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Holler (formerly Holler Boys) - Loot5.50ExcellentUnfined and very cloudy (I need to get over my prejudice of cloudy beers) - superb grapefruit flavour. Very nice.
Ilkley - Joshua Jane3.70Good Rather bland but good condition.
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout4.70Not Tried
10 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 10pm close. First time in the new premises (next door to the old) and it didn't work for me as well. The Guv is behind a bar counter whereas before he was always out in the middle, this and the different seating layout takes away some of the ambience.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bristol Beer Factory - Long Summer Days5.60GoodGood strong taste but soon last condition and mouthfeel
Kent - Cobnut4.10AcceptableToo chilled and lacking condition or head
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Wheelie4.00Not Tried
12 Jul 2018 (Jack William)
Lunchtime visit - the new premises are a little larger. Nice welcome for our group of 7 - we tried all 3 beers on offer and had some rather good baqueittes from the Sandwich Shop next door but one.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Mosaic4.50ExcellentDelicious.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Good
Alchemy - Tropic Shake4.00GoodBilled as a “ mango milkshake” which was rather offputting. A pleasant fruity flavour.
11 Nov 2017 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening and busy, standing room only however we managed to share a table with a couple of other customers. Rather cramped feel compared to the previous location next door which I preferred.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Root Thirteen3.60ExcellentLight, crisp delicate and thirst quenching pale ale.
Kent - Olicana4.50ExcellentComplex bitterness with citrus and tropical fruit
Breakwater - Hellfire Corner3.90GoodHoppy with citrus and a bitter dryness
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)4.80Not Tried
24 Sep 2017 (ChrisE)
Sunday lunchtime and the last day of operation in the current premises. Neil showed me around the new pub which will open next door the following day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Squawk - Oat Pale Ale4.40Excellent
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
Salopian - Automaton7.00Not Tried
11 Sep 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 9pm close. Quiet but for the heavy footed neighbours above. Plans well advanced to move to the next door building with or without (probably without) the large upturned barrel in the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Breakwater - Mongrel6.10ExcellentAllegedly a brew that went wrong, having intended to be Mogul but with wrong ingredients employed. A heady very tasty beer
Moor - Nor'Hop4.10GoodUnfined and in this case very hazy. Not a style to my taste
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Not Tried
08 Jun 2017 (Jack William)
Lunchtime - good buzz, very friendly and happy for us to get baguettes from two doors down and eat them in the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Gloucester - Cascade4.20GoodMarked up as 4.2%. Very nice fruity malt.
Breakwater - The Mogul5.60GoodWonderful flavour but rather cloudy.
Dark Revolution - Deviant5.60AcceptableDeliberately very cloudy - heavy citrus, grapefruit.

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About The Firkin Alehouse

The pub sign. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional26
Excellent80
Good69
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 117 times, seen 248 different beers and tried 165 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT20 2AY