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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 - IPA (Best) |  | 7 |
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | | 1 |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | | 2 |
| Downton - Quadhop | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 3 |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | | 2 |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | | 1 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 2 |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord Dark (was Ram Tam) | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Long Man - Inn Keeper |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - London's Burning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cellar Head - Session Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - DB Number One | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Winter's Coming | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Pacific Gravity | 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 (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Cornish Best (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Trooper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | 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 |
Visits Details
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 (now brewed by Hogs Back) - 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 |
10 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Everything it should be |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | | A fine ale but a little bit of haze not encountered on previous occasions |
| Salopian - Firkin Freezin | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Warlock | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Cellar Head - Session Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Pacific Gravity | 4.20 | Not Tried |
08 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit, curtailed arrival delayed by massive Catford area roadworks and bus diversion.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | | Spot on with full body |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | 3.70 | | Better than the IPA tonight |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Seemed more bitter than usual |
| Cellar Head - Session Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Winter's Coming | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Pacific Gravity | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 268 |
| 141 |
| 19 |
 | 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 202 times, seen 295 different beers and tried 96 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA