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The Smithfield (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Oakham - Bishops FarewellExceptional2
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)Exceptional1
Townhouse - Barney's Vanilla StoutExcellent1
Spire - RavenswoodExcellent1
Chin Chin - Waimea RiverExcellent1
Blue Monkey - AmarilloExcellent1
Buxton - Special Edition DownfallGood1
Brass Castle - Hazelnut MildGood1
Northumberland - Wor BobbyGood1
Full Mash - WarlordGood1
Salamander - Sixpot StoutGood1
Foxfield - Knuts AleGood1
Nutbrook - Dun WokkinGood1
Foxfield - Yellow MountainGood1
Whim - Hartington IPAGood1
Durham - ExodusAcceptable1
Tower - BulldogAcceptable1
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - SolsticeAcceptable1
Whim - Arbor LightAcceptable1
Muirhouse - Colombus 42Acceptable1
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - Blonde Pale AleAcceptable1
Brass Monkey - MandrillAcceptable1
Oakham - CitraAcceptable1
Hopshackle - Dark Wheat BeerPoor1
Marston's - BassNot Tried0
Hook Norton - Old HookyNot Tried0
Enville - Saaz (aka Czechmate, Wheat, White)Not Tried0
Whim - Flower PowerNot Tried0
Blue Monkey - B G SipsNot Tried0
Headless - KSANot Tried0
Adnams - Mosaic Pale AleNot Tried0
Nightjar (formerly Slightly Foxed) - Bear HugNot Tried0
Bad Seed - Stage HandNot Tried0
Good Chemistry - High PlainsNot Tried0
Lenton Lane - PangeaNot Tried0
Problem Child - IsolationNot Tried0
Stancill - CougarNot Tried0
Blue Bee - Life In A GlasshouseNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Smithfield, Derby, Derbyshire

Visits Details

25 Mar 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Early afternoon fairly busy with a more mature clientele enjoying a lunchtime pint in this basic drinkers pub. I would add peaceful to my comment however loud unnecessary music being played thwarted any chance of this.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Chin Chin - Waimea River3.90ExcellentMercifully the intense resinous hit became bearable after around 33.3% of the way through it.
Brass Castle - Hazelnut Mild4.20Not Tried
Nightjar (formerly Slightly Foxed) - Bear Hug5.60Not Tried
Bad Seed - Stage Hand4.20Not Tried
Good Chemistry - High Plains4.60Not Tried
Lenton Lane - Pangea4.80Not Tried
Problem Child - Isolation4.50Not Tried
Stancill - Cougar4.50Not Tried
Blue Bee - Life In A Glasshouse6.00Not Tried
25 Mar 2022 (ChrisE)
Saturday day time and a number of elderly gentlemen who appeared to be using their bus passes to visit pubs. Strong support for National Bass Day in here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brass Castle - Hazelnut Mild4.20GoodPerfectly well kept but definitely not to my taste. I wished I had gone for the Bass instead.
24 Nov 2016 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon 2 others in. Industrial estate location opposite a busy bus garage. Looks very different now to Ian's 2009 photo.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20Acceptable
Marston's - Bass4.40Not Tried
Whim - Arbor Light3.60Not Tried
Whim - Hartington IPA4.50Not Tried
Adnams - Mosaic Pale Ale4.10Not Tried
25 Feb 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
A few locals and beer festival refugees in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Muirhouse - Colombus 424.20AcceptableGolden ale with a very dry, hoppy flavour and dry hoppy finish. My score 14/20.
04 Sep 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
The 4th Smithfest Festival being held here today. Steady stream of visitors coming and going.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Spire - Ravenswood3.60ExcellentNew low strength mild style beer from Spire, very malty with a roast coffee flavour evident. Low hop rate but full of flavour. My score 16/20.
Buxton - Special Edition Downfall4.30GoodWell balanced best bitter with malt and hop flavours combining to give a clean tasting brew. My score 15/20.
Full Mash - Warlord4.40GoodGood balance between hop and malt in this golden beer. My score 15/20.
Nutbrook - Dun Wokkin4.40GoodMalty copper coloured ale with lots of biscuity malt and a little bitterness in the finish. My score 15/20.
Durham - Exodus3.70AcceptablePale golden ale with a dry citrus hop character. My score 14/20.
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - Solstice3.80AcceptableGolden ale with strong hoppy and citrus flavours with a dry, bitter finish. My score 14/20.
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - Blonde Pale Ale3.90AcceptableVery pale and bitter beer with rather one dimensional hop bitterness. My score 13/20.
Tower - Bulldog4.50AcceptableIt is believed this beer is brewed at Tower. Amber coloured with a piney hop flavour and grainy malt in the finish. My score 13/20.
05 Sep 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
Beer festival in progress outside at the back, smattering of locals and visiting beer samplers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Blue Monkey - Amarillo3.80ExcellentInteresting contrast of tastes, this was dark red/brown in colour with powerful fruity flavours from the hops, balanced beautifully by roast and biscuity malt flavours. My score 17/20.
Townhouse - Barney's Vanilla Stout4.50ExcellentThe normal stout with added vanilla. Makes the base stout which was quite bitter and roasty a lot more sweeter. My score 16/20.
Northumberland - Wor Bobby4.00GoodMalty bitter with some hop character. My score 15/20.
Foxfield - Knuts Ale2.60GoodLow in alcohol but not on taste, lots of hoppiness with good malt balance. My score 15/20.
Foxfield - Yellow Mountain4.10GoodWell balanced pale beer. My score 15/20.
Salamander - Sixpot Stout4.20GoodFairly bitter stout from hops rather than roast malt. Quite thin for a stout. My score 15/20.
Brass Monkey - Mandrill4.20AcceptableQuite a bitter beer. My score 14/20
Hopshackle - Dark Wheat Beer5.20PoorSour and bitter, not off. Red/brown in colour. Not to my taste at all. My score 9/20.
01 Sep 2009 (Dubbel)
Bizarrely located on an industrial estate in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Nice pub, quiet on our visit but this was the day after a bank holiday weekend. Excellent selection and quality of beer and an old, friendly pub dog. This was the pick of the Derby bunch for me.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Bishops Farewell4.60ExceptionalSplendid. Sharp hoppy grapefruit palate. Condition perfect. Wonderful beer.
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)3.40ExceptionalGorgeous. Massively hoppy. Shines bright as a button through the sparkler.
Whim - Hartington IPA4.50GoodSweet, malty IPA. Not really an IPA but still a decent beer. Biscuity malts dominate.
Whim - Arbor Light3.60AcceptableThin & forgettable. Drinkable in a 50 degree Saharan mirage kind of way.
14 Jul 2009 (Ian)
Another very relaxed pub in Derby, again where I could see myself spending a fair amount of time. Uses lined glasses.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Bishops Farewell4.60ExcellentGlorious. Love the hops and body on this beer.
Marston's - Bass4.40Not Tried
Hook Norton - Old Hooky4.60Not Tried
Enville - Saaz (aka Czechmate, Wheat, White)4.20Not Tried
Whim - Hartington IPA4.50Not Tried
Whim - Flower Power5.30Not Tried
Blue Monkey - B G Sips4.00Not Tried
Headless - KSA3.70Not Tried

About The Smithfield

The pub sign. The Smithfield, Derby, Derbyshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional2
Excellent5
Good9
Acceptable8
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 2BH.

Down along the River Derwent in Meadow Road, a pub with two large bars, which has recently had a major refurbishment to bring it up to modern standards. Dartboard area plus a juke box.

We have visited this pub 8 times, seen 38 different beers and tried 24 of them.

Map location

Postcode: DE1 2BH