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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 - 200 Premium Ale |  | 3 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 8 |
| Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Ossett - Butterley | | 1 |
| Otter - Bitter | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 4 |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest |  | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 2 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 2 |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | | 1 |
| Robinsons - Trooper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Harlequin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Twin Coast | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Leveson Buck | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - North Downs Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pilgrim - Progress Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Yet again - spot on |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Harlequin | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | 4.30 | Not Tried |
12 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | | Often disappointingly presented elsewhere but not here |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Simply time ran out to have more |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pilgrim - Progress Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale Ale | 3.70 | | Good basic bitterness |
| Ossett - Butterley | 3.80 | | Mildly bittered Yorkshire ale |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Sensed it might be well down the cask |
| Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - North Downs Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | 4½* The best Palmers IPA in a long time. As near perfect as one hopes for. One to drown in |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | 4.50 | | Dry bitterness. Initial head and lacing did dissipate pretty soon |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest | 4.40 | | Good bitterness but one was enough |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As expected in fine form |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | So lucky to have this as an all year round ale |
| Wantsum - Turbulent Priest | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Leveson Buck | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident | 3.40 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Totally spot on |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Good but had better |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | A bit under par |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | 3.00 | Not Tried |
11 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As yesterday - spot on |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | As yesterday great creamy head and lacing - a fine drop |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As always a little doubt about exactly what this ale should taste like |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | 3.00 | Not Tried |
10 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Spot on form |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Creamy and smooth on the palate |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | Rather cloying, condition good but did not enjoy |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Twin Coast | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Summer Legend | 3.00 | Not Tried |
04 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Spot on |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Slightly sourer hopping than I recall |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Good but had better |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Trooper | 4.70 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Creamy headed |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Full bodied |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | 4.10 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 282 |
| 172 |
 | 24 |
 | 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 224 times, seen 317 different beers and tried 107 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA