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Rose & Crown (Wellington Pub Company)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Castle Rock - Black GoldExceptional1
Saltaire - Raspberry BlondeExcellent1
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)Excellent3
Triple fff - MoondanceExcellent1
Westerham - Sevenoaks Bitter "7X"Excellent1
George Wright - Cheeky PheasantExcellent1
Moorhouse's - Black Cat MildExcellent1
Phoenix - SnowboundExcellent1
Three B's - Stoker's Slake MildGood1
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow HammerGood1
Cottage - Wessex PorterGood1
Westerham - God's Wallop (see now 4% entry)Good1
Newby Wyke - Marie CelesteGood1
Milestone - Tuck's TippleGood1
Hidden - Pleasure IPAAcceptable1
Hidden - AcePoor1
Sharp's - SpecialNot Tried0
RCH - Steam LoversNot Tried0
Cottage - Blower BentleyNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Westerham - Special Bitter Ale "1965"Not Tried0
Broughton - Bramling CrossNot Tried0
Larkins - TraditionalNot Tried0
Picture 1. Rose & Crown, Halstead, Kent

Visits Details

21 Jul 2009 (Dubbel)
Went on a fruitless trip to Sevenoaks with James T and thought it "rude not to" pop our heads round the door on the way back.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10ExcellentHops abundant. Tangy, light & outrageously sessionable. A truly great beer on its day.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40Not Tried
Westerham - Special Bitter Ale "1965"5.00Not Tried
Broughton - Bramling Cross4.20Not TriedMy eyes lit up when I saw this on the board as we arrived. Sadly it came to an abrupt spluttering end as it was pulled.
22 Jun 2009 (Dubbel)
Headed up with a group of workmates. Just about pleasant enough weather to sit outside in the well kept garden.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Newby Wyke - Marie Celeste4.60GoodZesty, hoppy, bitter grapefruit. Slightly hazy but fine.
Hidden - Ace4.20PoorThis really wasn't up to much. Pretty dull and tired.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40Not Tried
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
19 Jun 2009 (Dubbel)
A typically rushed lunch hour visit. Still the best beer battered haddock I've had anywhere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - Sevenoaks Bitter "7X"4.80ExcellentA cracking trad ale, rich in chewy, fruity, tangy malts. Really splendidly balanced. I imagine that this is what beer was like in the olden days.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40Not Tried
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
01 May 2009 (Pedro)
Popped in on way home so only had the one, which was very very good, sorry forgot to note the other beers !
BeerABVScoreNotes
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10ExcellentOften test this one here and today was one of its best tests - shame I couldn't stay for more !
08 Mar 2009 (Dubbel)
With a weekend of excessive drinking and too much junk food behind us, only a midi Sunday lunch at Halstead could provide the necessary vitamin boost. Slices of topside beef as big as your face with five kinds of veg and all the trimmings. A pub that makes you proud to be British.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow Hammer4.20GoodSweet pale malty premium bitter that keeps you interested through the pint.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40Not TriedRumour has it that Bob is doing away with the rotating guest mild and will now stock this permanantly. A shame in my opinion, but understandable if he's having trouble shifting some of the stuff and this is his best seller.
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
Cottage - Blower Bentley5.00Not Tried
27 Feb 2009 (Dubbel)
Headed up to meet a former colleague at knocking off time. Pub has just been recrowned West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year - and well deserved it is too. As if to celebrate, they had one of the best ale lineups I've had here in some time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Castle Rock - Black Gold3.50ExceptionalOutstanding new-style black mild with all the earthy, roasted maltiness upfront tailed by a big fat hoppy finish. Gives Over the Moon a good run for its money and possibly beats it. My thirsty friend took home SIX pints of it.
George Wright - Cheeky Pheasant4.70ExcellentLovely copper premium ale packed with fruity flavour.
Saltaire - Raspberry Blonde4.00ExcellentA confectionary aroma, like a bag of 'bootlaces', poured pale gold with a true raspberry sweet and sharp contrast which interacts brilliantly with the juicy hops. Possibly the perfect summertime beverage? But marked down only because it's February.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
20 Feb 2009 (Dubbel)
I used to nip up here for lunch pretty regularly. It's always a bit of a mad rush to drive up here, eat, drink and fraternise, drive back and return to my desk within the alloted lunch hour. Especially when that lunch is an enormous mound of Whitstable EIPA battered haddock, chunky chips and petit pois. But it's ultimately worth the hassle.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cottage - Wessex Porter4.50GoodDeep dark brown with a persistent lacy white collar, roasted scent and a sweet ripened plum palate. Very fruity.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40Not Tried
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
RCH - Steam Lovers4.70Not Tried
14 Feb 2009 (Dubbel)
I always get a warm feeling of returning 'home' whenever I come here. Friendly regulars populating the front bar, landlord Bob ever the convivial host was pulling pints and tackling the food orders. My huge baton of French stick filled with slabs of beef, lettuce and horseradish was a near steal at £3.60. Posh widescreen TV is a fairly recent addition and was showing Six Nations rugby. Bob seemed grateful for our advice on how to achieve the correct aspect ratio from his Sky box.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40ExcellentBenchmark mild. Very deep brown, gravy stock and yeast extract flavoured malts and a dry earthy finish. Always a must-have whenever it's on here.
Triple fff - Moondance4.20ExcellentCopper gold, crystal clear, big fruity malty malts, detectable orange rind and gooseberries with a lengthy spicy tail. Beer of the day.
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10GoodGolden and fruity but lacking the wow factor that can turn it into a real stunner.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Sharp's - Special5.00Not Tried
19 Dec 2008 (Dubbel)
Lunchtime excursion with a former colleague. Pleased to find landlord Bob's superb trademark Whitstable EIPA-battered fresh Grimsby haddock available. Guest beers were all a little samey in style but served to the usual high quality.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - God's Wallop (see now 4% entry)4.50GoodDeep brown, sweet, sugary malty ale with a hint of seasonal spice.
Milestone - Tuck's Tipple4.20GoodMalty bready brown ale.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Sharp's - Special5.00Not Tried
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not Tried
12 Dec 2008 (Dubbel)
First return to a former favourite haunt for a good couple of months. Warm welcome from Bernie, the consumate professional and perfect gent of a barman. Little has changed apart from a few modest Christmas decorations. Still the same great beer and homely feel. I won't leave it so long next time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Phoenix - Snowbound4.30ExcellentName is about the only seasonal aspect of this beer. Bright golden fruity hopper, lively mouthfeel and a delicious hop finish. Really good.
Three B's - Stoker's Slake Mild3.60GoodSolid hoppy mild with roasted notes and an odd, difficult to place flavour in there somewhere. Is this what they call diacetyl?
Hidden - Pleasure IPA4.90AcceptableThink this had seen better days. Dark amber, VERY strong tasting (blind guess would have but it at about 6.5-7.0%) and a little flat. Confirmed it had been on for 5 days. Would like to try again when fresh.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not TriedHouse beer
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not TriedHouse beer

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About the Rose & Crown

The pub sign. Rose & Crown, Halstead, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent22
Good19
Acceptable7
Poor2

Website.

The pub is found in Halstead, Kent, TN14 7EA.

A lovely Grade II listed flint building in Otford Lane, with two bars. Several bar areas distinct from each other and a small function room. 3 handpumps in public and 3 in saloon bar. Very real ale committed landlord.

We have visited this pub 32 times, seen 95 different beers and tried 35 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN14 7EA