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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) |  | 1 |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | | 2 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 2 |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | | 2 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 8 |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | | 1 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 2 |
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord Dark (was Ram Tam) | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale |  | 1 |
| Cellar Head - Flapjack | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Westerham - Pacific Gravity | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salopian - Firkin Freezin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Warlock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cellar Head - Session Pale Ale | 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 |
| Dorking - Black Noise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Grasshopper Kent Red Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Courage Directors (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Extra Pale Ale XPA (was 3.8% | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Vanguard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - London's Burning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Mercer's Ale Belgian Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cellar Head - Session Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Winter's Coming | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
01 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Two fellows on the next table having continuous well balanced arguments on all topical political matters, but never agreeing on anything.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Spot on |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | There is always a twang to Larkins Pale I can not identify as to where it might come from |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cellar Head - Flapjack | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Vanguard | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Mercer's Ale Belgian Blonde | 5.00 | Not Tried |
30 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Good enough |
| Cellar Head - Flapjack | 4.70 | | A taster tempted me to have a half |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Grasshopper Kent Red Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Vanguard | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Mercer's Ale Belgian Blonde | 5.00 | Not Tried |
27 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Less certain travel there and away, with local tram line closed for a week.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | 4.00 | | 4½* The very best of the 2023 green hop Kentish ales I have tried. Superb condition |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | 3rd tub on tonight, this one freshly on - 3rd out of this cask too |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Black Noise | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Grasshopper Kent Red Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Extra Pale Ale XPA (was 3.8% | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 273 |
| 148 |
 | 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 209 times, seen 304 different beers and tried 99 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA