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History: Home > Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) |  | 1 |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | | 2 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 8 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 2 |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | | 2 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 1 |
| Larkins - Green Hop Best | | 1 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord Dark (was Ram Tam) | | 1 |
| Cellar Head - Flapjack |  | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 1 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | | 1 |
| Titsey - Mercer's Ale Belgian Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cellar Head - Session Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Winter's Coming | Not Tried | 0 |
| 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 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mr. Squirrel | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Cornish Best (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Pilcrow Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Trooper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Candlemaker Black IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Black Noise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Courage Directors (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Grasshopper Kent Red Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Extra Pale Ale XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Vanguard | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.80 | 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 - 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 | 3.80 | Not Tried |
20 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Seemed much more bitter than usual |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | | Good condition, but far from being one of my favourite ales |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mr. Squirrel | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Pilcrow Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | 4.10 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 186 |
| 55 |
 | 4 |
 | 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.
We have visited this pub 118 times, seen 197 different beers and tried 54 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA