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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Siren Craft - Love of WorkExceptional1
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Excellent1
Great Heck - Proverbs 31:7Excellent1
Breakwater - MongrelExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea ShellsExcellent1
Kent - MosaicExcellent1
Squawk - Oat Pale AleExcellent1
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Root ThirteenExcellent1
Kent - OlicanaExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderGood1
Gloucester - CascadeGood1
Arbor Ales - Shangri-laGood1
Alchemy - Tropic ShakeGood1
Breakwater - The MogulGood1
Oakham - CitraGood2
Breakwater - Hellfire CornerGood1
Great Heck - Shankar IPAGood1
Moor - Nor'HopGood1
Dark Revolution - DeviantAcceptable1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - ÜberHopNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk StoutNot Tried0
Redemption - Rock the KazbekNot Tried0
Ghost - ReaperNot Tried0
Kent - CobnutNot Tried0
Gun - Velo DogNot Tried0
Brighton Bier - Heydaze PaleNot Tried0
Dark Star - SunburstNot 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

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.
03 Apr 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 9pm close plus quite a bit. One stout yeoman impressed by answering one of my mumbling questions about Viv Stanshall before I could spurt it out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells4.70ExcellentReally most flavoursome. Gadds' seems to do no wrong
Oakham - Citra4.20AcceptableOK but lacking a crispness of mouthfeel that I have had with the beer
Brighton Bier - Heydaze Pale4.00Not Tried
11 Jan 2017 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening and a few others in, unfortunately this was near the end of our crawl today so I was in no fit state to appreciate it!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Excellent
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not Tried
Gun - Velo Dog5.00Not Tried
26 Aug 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 10pm close. Nice relaxed quiet atmosphere at day-end (for some). Front of building is scaffold clad for roof renovations.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20Good
Great Heck - Shankar IPA5.90GoodPretty vicious hop bittering from 4 hops with dry hopping with 3
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Root Thirteen3.60Not Tried
Ghost - Reaper4.40Not Tried
04 Mar 2016 (Ian)
Lively Friday evening crowd. Some good laughs to be had.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Siren Craft - Love of Work3.60ExceptionalBeautiful condition beautiful hops passion fruit and peach. Utterly drinkable
Arbor Ales - Shangri-la4.20GoodDecent golden ale
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50Not Tried
Redemption - Rock the Kazbek4.00Not Tried
19 Jan 2016 (ChrisE)
Evening visit prior to catching a train from Folkestone Central station.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Great Heck - Proverbs 31:74.50ExcellentThe second time that I have found this beer today.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - ÜberHop5.20Not Tried

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About The Firkin Alehouse

The pub sign. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional26
Excellent78
Good65
Acceptable41
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 112 times, seen 235 different beers and tried 158 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT20 2AY