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Halfway House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Summer Wine (SWB) - Zenith Pale AleExceptional1
Goacher's - Gold StarExceptional1
Fyne - AvalancheExceptional1
Goacher's - Real Mild AleExcellent1
Green Jack - Mahseer IPA (superseded by 5.8% version)Excellent1
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers BitterExcellent1
Tonbridge - CoppernobExcellent1
Rother Valley - Well SprungExcellent1
Rother Valley - SmildExcellent2
Black Paw - Black Paw IPAExcellent2
Goacher's - Fine Light AleExcellent1
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Dragon's AleExcellent1
Newmans - Red Stag BitterExcellent1
Westerham - Special Bitter Ale "1965"Excellent1
Coastal - HandlinerExcellent1
AllGates - CaliforniaExcellent1
White - IPAGood1
Saltaire - South Island PaleGood1
Castle Rock - Diamond Reign Jubilee AleGood1
Keltek - Golden LanceGood2
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter AleGood1
Nelson - Midshipman MildGood1
Rother Valley - MildGood2
Wantsum - ImperiumAcceptable1
Royal Tunbridge Wells - RPAAcceptable1
Greene King - Tolly Cobbold Tolly English AleNot Tried0
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs BitterNot Tried0
1648 - Gold AngelNot Tried0
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Cornish Knocker AleNot Tried0
Wychwood (now brewed at Marston's and Banks's before that) - Ushers 1824Not Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Market PorterNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Ebony MoonNot Tried0
Nelson - Splice The MainbraceNot Tried0
Weltons - Our EnglandNot Tried0
Weltons - Trouble & StrifeNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold TopNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Flagship IPANot Tried0
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPANot Tried0
Cottage - S&DNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)Not Tried0
Picture 1. Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Visits Details

01 Aug 2012 (ChrisE)
Almost two hours on the bus from Ashford but worth the effort. Busy with a good mix of people but still plenty of room to sit in comfort.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80GoodMalty copper coloured best bitter.
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Acceptable
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPA3.60Not Tried
Cottage - S&D4.40Not Tried
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special)4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Tolly Cobbold Tolly English Ale2.80Not Tried
04 Jun 2012 (oz11)
Fourth pub of the day. Beer festival in progress. Only listed beers drunk, many others were available.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fyne - Avalanche4.50ExceptionalBest beer of the day.
Saltaire - South Island Pale3.50Good
Castle Rock - Diamond Reign Jubilee Ale4.10Good
Black Paw - Black Paw IPA5.00GoodAmerican style IPA.
03 Jun 2012 (Alenomore)
Our "chauffeur" found this so we stopped. New to me and a surprise with a big beer festival going on? A stack of ales available, in the pub, and outside in the huge garden. Partook of several samples, but only the (new) Black Paw was noted today, which was superb.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Black Paw - Black Paw IPA5.00ExcellentNot heard of this brewery. A big, solid, good tasting IPA.
01 Apr 2012 (Wittenden)
Our first visit to this award winning pub.We sat in the sun in the Adults Garden with our son who'd just run in the Paddock Wood Half Marathon, enjoying the antics of a Spaniel X Colly, and discussed ways of keeping fit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Gold Star5.10ExceptionalGrand golden premium bitter:stone fruit,biscuit malt,undying embrace of Kent Goldings.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70ExcellentEarthier than I remember it,more pear than orange.Great stuff.
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale4.80Not Tried
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Flagship IPA4.20Not TriedHalfway to Paradise-is this Goacher's Special House Ale? and something from Wells and Young were also available, together with Chiddingstone Cider.
26 Aug 2011 (thebrewingman)
First day of their beer festival.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Summer Wine (SWB) - Zenith Pale Ale4.00ExceptionalA suprb IPA with loads of hop coming through.
Newmans - Red Stag Bitter3.60Excellent
Coastal - Handliner4.00Excellent
AllGates - California3.80Excellent
Green Jack - Mahseer IPA (superseded by 5.8% version)5.00Excellent
11 Aug 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Another trip by vintage coach for the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Smild3.80ExcellentQuite sweet and fruity dark brown mild. Good malt character and low hop rate. The finish is quite fruity. My score 16/20.
18 Jun 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
A few locals and diners in mid afternoon on a showery Saturday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Smild3.80ExcellentSweetish with caramel and chocolate notes and a lightly toasted cereal malt flavour. My score 16/20.
29 Apr 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Kent & Sussex beer festival starting this day. A selection of beers of interest shown below.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Real Mild Ale3.40ExcellentSlightly bitter chocolate malt and hints of coffee. Low hoppiness, some fruitiness and a good malty finish. My score 16/20.
Rother Valley - Well Sprung4.30ExcellentDeep golden in colour, with an excellent grainy malt character with good hoppy balance. The finish is of cereal and malt. My score 16/20.
Tonbridge - Coppernob3.80ExcellentGood quaffing session bitter. Full flavoured with good balance of hop and malt. My score 16/20.
Nelson - Midshipman Mild4.00GoodDark brown mild with good malt character with slight roastiness. A little earthiness in the finish. My score 15/20.
White - IPA3.60GoodIn the style of a certain Suffolk brewer, but much better with a good balance of hop and malt flavours and a good hoppy finish. My score 15/20.
Wantsum - Imperium4.00AcceptableDeep golden bitter with quite a sharp, piney hop character. Dry, hoppy finish. My score 14/20.
Royal Tunbridge Wells - RPA5.20AcceptableQuite bitter with bitter hop flavour and some malt. Finish is dry and hoppy. My score 14/20.
Tonbridge - Ebony Moon4.20Not Tried
Nelson - Splice The Mainbrace4.50Not Tried
Weltons - Our England3.80Not Tried
Weltons - Trouble & Strife5.10Not Tried
16 Apr 2011 (ChrisE)
A busy Saturday lunchtime with lots of people enjoying the garden. I sat at the bar and enjoyed a few pints.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - Special Bitter Ale "1965"5.00Excellent
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Excellent
Keltek - Golden Lance3.80GoodPale and lemony. Well kept but not really to my taste.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Cornish Knocker Ale4.50Not Tried
1648 - Gold Angel5.00Not Tried
Wychwood (now brewed at Marston's and Banks's before that) - Ushers 18243.60Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Market Porter5.00Not Tried
12 Apr 2011 (thebrewingman)
Fairly quiet Tuesday lunchtime. I'm glad I went because I discovered they are having an extra beer festival from 29 April to 2 May featuring 60 Kent and Sussex beers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Excellent
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Dragon's Ale4.50Excellent
Keltek - Golden Lance3.80GoodNot too much body or flavour.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Westerham - Special Bitter Ale "1965"5.00Not Tried
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
1648 - Gold Angel5.00Not Tried
Rother Valley - Mild3.60Not Tried

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About the Halfway House

The pub sign. Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent85
Good43
Acceptable10
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7AX.

This is a beautiful pub set in the heart of the Garden of England and is in Horsmonden Road. Winner of the CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year in 2006. It has a multi-room interior with lots or wooden beams, wood floors and furniture. This is how you would expect a country pub to be, full of nooks and crannies. All real ale is served on gravity from casks behind the single wooden bar. There is a large garden at the rear. Runner up CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year 2012.

We have visited this pub 47 times, seen 184 different beers and tried 95 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN12 7AX