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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Downton - Moonstruck |  | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 5 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 4 |
| Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale | | 1 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter |  | 1 |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | | 1 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | | 1 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 2 |
| Sambrook's - Mustang | | 1 |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Citra | | 1 |
| Downton - Honey Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cronx - Entire Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Wandle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Theakston - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship (was 4.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Sidekick | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Sea Fury | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pilgrim - Saracen Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Summer Sun | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Number One | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Courage Best Bitter (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - All Roads | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Orange Zeus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Navigator | Not Tried | 0 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Dragon's Fire | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Bogus Buffalo A.P.A. | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
19 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | First rate with an almost Guinness-like creamy head |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Good but have had better |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - DB Number One | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Butcombe - Original | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - All Roads | 4.00 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Just the ale I hoped would be on |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Had it all - great stuff |
| Sharp's - Sea Fury | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Butcombe - Original | 4.00 | Not Tried |
11 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Too many Sambrook's to be a good choice tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sambrook's - Mustang | 5.10 | | An APA that had little head or lacing |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Wandle | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship (was 4.5%) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
09 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | First out a new cask - I thought a bit green |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | | Broken yeasty head - did not enjoy |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | | First out a new cask - rather fresh |
| Downton - Honey Blonde | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Cronx - Entire Porter | 5.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I walked in to order |
30 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downton - Moonstruck | 5.50 | | Smooth and well balanced nightcap |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | 3.80 | | Always worth a try - quite dumbed down bitterness |
| Hop Back - Citra | 4.00 | | Not the best of the Citra single hoppers but good condition |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Dragon's Fire | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Bogus Buffalo A.P.A. | 4.80 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Creamy headed Tally Ho! |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Tasty foil to the Tally Ho! |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - The Rev James Original | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Navigator | 4.10 | Not Tried |
22 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | In fine form |
| Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA | 4.60 | | 4½* Superbly balanced - top spot here tonight |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | Really spot on, just pipped for top spot tonight by the SH Greensand |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | 4.40 | Not Tried |
17 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale | 3.80 | | First rate condition but the harsh bittering not to my palate |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Good enough |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Orange Zeus | 4.80 | Not Tried |
12 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | 4½* Near perfect and head and lacing until the end, to boot |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | I am beginning to prefer this to the ubiquitous Palmers IPA here |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pilgrim - Saracen Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Summer Sun | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Courage Best Bitter (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | 4.00 | Not Tried | Brewed at Marston's Burton-on-Trent or is it really. Anyway all Carlsberg now |
05 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Tally at its best |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | With its unique twang |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Sidekick | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 281 |
| 169 |
 | 23 |
 | 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 222 times, seen 315 different beers and tried 106 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA