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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 - Tally Ho! |  | 5 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 5 |
| Downton - Quadhop | | 1 |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | | 1 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 2 |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord Dark (was Ram Tam) | | 1 |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | | 1 |
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Long Man - Inn Keeper |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salopian - Firkin Freezin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Aldhurst Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Warlock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cellar Head - Session Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Cornish Best (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Trooper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Long Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Downton Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Courage Directors (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - London's Burning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Number One | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
20 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
A total re-run of yesterday, late visit until close and same beers on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Top form |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Long Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Downton Dream | 4.80 | Not Tried |
19 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close. The relaxed kick out time permitted the stacking of 2 pints.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | New cask on tonight |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Long Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Downton Dream | 4.80 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Delicious and condition spot on |
| Downton - Quadhop | 3.90 | | Well balanced bittering |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried |
13 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | 4.20 | | Fine form to round off the evening |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Slight sweetness |
| Long Man - Inn Keeper | 4.80 | | Did not enjoy. Something not quite right, whether in pub's control or not I do not know. Had a caramelly flavour not expected |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Aldhurst Original | 3.50 | Not Tried |
08 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | | Full-on dose of liquorice |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Good but not quite up there |
| Dorking - DB Number One | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - London's Burning | 4.50 | Not Tried |
05 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Spot on |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | 4.20 | | Peak condition albeit not a style to my liking as a sort of Irish Red |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Nothing wrong with it particularly but it was a heavy going ale tonight, as one other customer remarked too |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - London's Burning | 4.50 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Boot-fillingly moreish |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | 3.70 | | A most satisfactory substitute for the Palmers IPA which was not ready to serve tonight |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Courage Directors (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | 4.80 | Not Tried |
28 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | 4.00 | | A half in prime condition |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | 2 quickest pints as was so moreish |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Trooper | 4.70 | Not Tried |
24 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Simply - as it should be |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord Dark (was Ram Tam) | 4.30 | | Still Ram Tam to me. Good to be reunited with this ale again after a few years |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale | 3.90 | | Only a half but passed muster as good. An uninspiring brand however |
| Exmoor - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Cornish Best (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Trooper | 4.70 | Not Tried |
15 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Basic good cellarmanship in action |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Not just a whacking body to this but superb head and lacing to boot |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Firkin Freezin | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Warlock | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Cellar Head - Session Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 260 |
| 115 |
| 15 |
 | 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 184 times, seen 271 different beers and tried 85 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA