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The Crosse Keys (Wetherspoon)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Gravity |  | 1 |
| Phoenix - Black Bee Porter |  | 1 |
| Phoenix - Thirsty Moon | | 1 |
| Mauldons - Black Adder | | 1 |
| Weltons - Ewell Sticks | | 1 |
| Mikkeller - Viking's Return |  | 1 |
| Greene King - Abbot Reserve | | 1 |
| Evan Evans - Full Cry | | 1 |
| Grainstore - Ten Fifty (1050) | | 1 |
| Weltons - Sun Oak Clog | | 1 |
| Lincolnshire Craft (formerly Tom Wood's) - Old Timber | | 1 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Autumn Glow |  | 1 |
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Constantine | | 1 |
| Firestone Walker - California Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Steam Beer | | 1 |
| Highgate - Davenport's Irish Whiskey Ale | | 1 |
| Highgate - Red Rogue | | 1 |
| Holden's - Super Nova | | 1 |
| Wadworth - Camrale | | 1 |
| Hydes - Mumbo Jumbo | | 1 |
| Exe Valley - Devon Glory |  | 1 |
| Barons - BlackWattle Original Ale | | 1 |
| Grainstore - Silly Billy | | 1 |
| Burton Bridge - Knot Brown Ale | | 1 |
| Spinning Dog - Mutley's Pit Stop |  | 1 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Sneck Lifter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodforde's - Wherry | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Old Empire IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island | Not Tried | 0 |
| Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Danish Dynamite | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hook Norton - Hooky Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Directors (use Banks's entry now please) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salopian - Oracle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Crystal Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Grand Union - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Leghorn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotleigh - Tawny | Not Tried | 0 |
| Grand Union - Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
02 Jun 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weltons - Ewell Sticks | 5.10 | | Golden strong bitter with smooth mouthfeel and a hint of sweetness, drinks below its strength. My score 16/20. |
| Weltons - Sun Oak Clog | 4.60 | | Pale hoppy strong bitter with good balance. My score 15/20. |
04 Mar 2009 (Ian)
On my way between Liverpool Street and Borough I ended up here. Not sure quite how. They now have flat screens above the bar with the 16-18 beers listed and you order the beer from the pump number, a bit like the Wellington in Birmingham. Oh and you can log onto the Wifi from next door which is quicker and easier to use than the Spoons cloud.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix - Thirsty Moon | 4.60 | | Gold, lasitng beige head. Nice. Lovely rich citrus fruit flavours. very good pink grapefruit and really biting citrus hops on finis. Excellent. |
| Highgate - Davenport's Irish Whiskey Ale | 4.40 | | Copper, disappearing head. Not looking forward to this as I don't generally like beer/whisky blends. This one is ok though, some decent caramel. Hint of whiskey in there somewhere, but quite spicy as well especially on the finish. Fine. Still not my first choice but fine. |
26 Feb 2009 (Ian)
I had about 10 mins spare from coming back from the Brew Dog Zeitgeist launch so as I was on my cycle, I thought I would stop in for one. Not overly busy, but a very good selection of beer which I can't remember.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Constantine | 4.30 | | Copper, thick beige head. Good condition. Bit of earthy caramel on aroma, interesting hops. OK. |
30 Oct 2008 (Ian)
I had met up with Chris_o and Magic_Dave6 from Ratebeer in Borough Market, so we came here to see if we could get any new beers since the previous evening before going to Bank station and going up to Tom's pub in Southgate. Not too busy so we stood at the bar and I suggested beers to anyone who would listen as they came up to the bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydes - Mumbo Jumbo | 4.90 | | Choccy liquorice. Certainly a lot of flavour for a Hydes beer, but the plum and date fruit and liquorice flavours are not to my taste. Good beer, but not in my taste profile. |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Autumn Glow | 4.20 | | The good side of acceptable. Deep attractive russet colour with thin beige head. Not bad, good deep malts, raspberry and sweet cherry. It's alright. |
29 Oct 2008 (Ian)
Last time they had a launch party at this, Wetherspoons flagship London pub, the day before the festival started, so I phoned to make sure they were doing the same thing this time. Which they were. Met up with most of the London Ratebeer.com crew as well as Phil Lowry and the bloke who organised Beer Exposed. I really had a good evening and got home way too late. I like the interior, space and bar layout of this pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikkeller - Viking's Return | 4.50 | | It's pretty good. Lots of malt and hop. Toasty dry finish. Bit of liquorice, it is very very drying on the finish. |
| Firestone Walker - California Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Gold, copper colour, hoppy, but English hoppy aroma, not as big as I expected. Even slightly watery in mouth, bit of ginger hop spice on finish, bit dull really. Not the American Pale Ale, I was really anticipating and looking forward to. |
| Highgate - Red Rogue | 3.80 | | Reddy copper colour with no real head. some red berry fruit on this. Some hop, drying bitterness on end. It's a bitter, slightly sweeter and fruitier in moouth than a standard one, but still a bit dull. Yeasty aroma. |
| Wadworth - Camrale | 4.00 | | Copper colour, lasting thin ivory head. Yeasty slightly farty aroma. It's a yeasty bitter. Some caramel, faint dryness on finish. Average Wadworth beer, i.e. not that good. |
| Barons - BlackWattle Original Ale | 4.80 | | That's a bit startling. Very distinctive, not sure I entirely like it. It's a bit dusty and earthy. Quite full. Not entirely pleasant. toffeeish. |
21 Oct 2008 (Ian)
Stop number 3 on my whistle stop tour of pubs. I spoke to the bar manager who said that there would be a pre-festival event at the pub on Wednesday 29th October the day before the Wetherspoons International Beer Festival starts. Beautiful pub I think, amazing space, keeps the beer well and great central bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exe Valley - Devon Glory | 4.70 | | Chestnut, thin beige head. Aroma of spirits, gin or whisky with some syrupy malt in mouth. Not entirely pleasant. OK, strongish bitter, but a bit too syrupy. |
| Grainstore - Silly Billy | 4.30 | | Gold, lasting beige head. Quite a tasty golden bitter, some herb or spice on this I thought. Slight yeast on aroma, with some sweet citrus hop. Then something like cardomon seeds, something Indian and spicey. Odd. |
| Burton Bridge - Knot Brown Ale | 4.80 | | Pale chestnut, lasting thin ivory head. Perfumed aroma. Some dry/choc malt in mouth. Bit of bleachy aicdity is off putting. OK stab at a brown ale. Some dryness on finish. |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Sneck Lifter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Woodforde's - Wherry | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Old Empire IPA | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Stonehenge - Danish Dynamite | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hook Norton - Hooky Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Oracle | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Crystal Red | 4.40 | Not Tried |
29 Mar 2008 (Ian)
Flagship Wetherspoons pub and still very impressive as you walk in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauldons - Black Adder | 5.30 | | I had a beer and a burger, but there was no Pedigree on so I got my choice of the bar. Lots of festival beers on, but I chose this one as I've been to the brewery. |
| Phoenix - Black Bee Porter | 4.50 | | Black with dark brown edges, lasting beige head. Decent roasted malt, good sting on finish. Charcoal, but juicy, a little sweetness from the honey. Aaarh, now I see it’s got honey in it, it’s obvious. There was something in the swallow I couldn’t identify. But yes definite honey and a tasty beer. |
09 Nov 2007 (Ian)
Mid Friday afternoon and there were a fair few people in. Good 'Spoons with nice architecture and 18 handpumps.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Gravity | 5.10 | | Fantastic grapefruit and a truly great English version of an American Pale Ale. |
| Greene King - Abbot Reserve | 6.50 | | Strong beer with a malty/nutty flavour. Deep amber in colour with lasting thin beige head. Raisin/cranberry aroma. Fruity malt. Alcohol is a little sickly. A good fireside warmer if a little sweet. |
| Evan Evans - Full Cry | 4.30 | | Old gold colour with lasting beige head. Bit of odd coffee to this, some caramel, bit of diacetyl maybe. Very good condition, odd coffee cake flavour with walnuts makes this a very attractive beer to drink. |
| Holden's - Super Nova | 4.10 | | Gold with lasting beige head. Blondish beer with decent earthy hop aroma. Perfectly drinkable but lacks depth. |
| Spinning Dog - Mutley's Pit Stop | 4.00 | | Hazy gold, disappearing white head. Rubbery aroma. OK in mouth. More rubber/bleach on end. Nasty, couldn't even finish a 1/3 pint. |
31 Mar 2006 (Ian)
Friday mid afternoon and nicely busy. Could still get a seat and table though. Well appointed JDW pub with sufficient staff to serve. I was genuinely excited about coming here. It is one of the JDW pubs where the beer is served as it is expected to taste. I feel sorry for non real ale drinkers and the rich array of tastes that they are missing out on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grainstore - Ten Fifty (1050) | 5.00 | | Deep copper colour, thin bubbly beige head. Good fruity malt aroma. Red fruit and toffee in mouth, earthy hop finish with residual juicy fruit sweetness. Hops on nose and finish. Impressed with this, I like the sweet malt and slightly peppery hop finish |
| Lincolnshire Craft (formerly Tom Wood's) - Old Timber | 4.50 | | Deep copper colour with thin beige head. Earthy citric hop aroma. Good malts in mouth, which take on the darkish side. Finish carries on this grapefruit/lemon hop trend with a mix of choc. Never gets sweet though. Really accomplished bitter |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Steam Beer | 4.50 | | Deep chestnut colour with sparse beige head. Oddly malty but metallic beer. Malt in mouth is good and bitterness on end, some choc and grainyness. Feels like a dark malt beer, but the mouthfeel feels light whilst the end is grainy/dry with some caramalised red fruit. Genuinely odd. |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Directors (use Banks's entry now please) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Grand Union - Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Leghorn | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Cotleigh - Tawny | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Grand Union - Special | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The Crosse Keys
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 3 |
| 35 |
| 64 |
| 62 |
| 18 |
The pub is found in City, Central London, EC3V 0DR.
Big and busy JDW pub in the heart of the City in Gracechurch Street. Huge sports screen on one wall. Wonderful building with lots of high ceilings and marble. The lights in particular are worth noting. Oval bar towards the rear serves numerous handpumps (I saw 18) including guest beers not on the JDW usual guest list. This is definitely worth going to if you are in the City during the week.
We have visited this pub 89 times, seen 401 different beers and tried 181 of them.
Postcode: EC3V 0DR