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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)Excellent9
Palmers - Tally Ho!Excellent5
Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale AleExcellent1
Titanic - Plum PorterExcellent1
Ossett - ButterleyExcellent1
Shepherd Neame - Late RedGood1
Palmers - Copper AleGood1
Wantsum - Turbulent PriestGood1
Palmers - 200 Premium AleGood1
Surrey Hills - Shere DropGood2
Larkins - PaleGood2
Wadworth - 6XGood1
Adnams - Southwold BitterGood1
Anarchy - Blonde StarNot Tried0
Robinsons - TrooperNot Tried0
Sharp's - Twin CoastNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Summer LegendNot Tried0
Exmoor - GoldNot Tried0
Exmoor - AleNot Tried0
Titsey - Leveson BuckNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - ShamrockNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - Golden Best (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident Not Tried0
Dorking - DB Number OneNot Tried0
Wantsum - Black PigNot Tried0
Dorking - All RoadsNot Tried0
Titsey - Gower WolfNot Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by ChocolateNot Tried0
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother RabbitNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - EvolveNot Tried0
Dorking - Pilcrow PaleNot Tried0
Titsey - North Downs GoldNot Tried0
Hop Back - Summer LightningNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Picture 1. Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

Visits Details

08 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Pilgrim - Surrey Original Pale Ale3.70ExcellentGood basic bitterness
Ossett - Butterley3.80ExcellentMildly bittered Yorkshire ale
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20GoodSensed it might be well down the cask
Westerham - Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate4.50Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve4.10Not Tried
Titsey - North Downs Gold4.20Not Tried
27 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20Excellent4½* The best Palmers IPA in a long time. As near perfect as one hopes for. One to drown in
Shepherd Neame - Late Red4.50GoodDry bitterness. Initial head and lacing did dissipate pretty soon
Wantsum - Turbulent Priest4.40GoodGood bitterness but one was enough
Wantsum - Black Pig4.80Not Tried
Titsey - Gower Wolf4.00Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock4.50Not Tried
23 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20ExcellentAs expected in fine form
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50ExcellentSo lucky to have this as an all year round ale
Wantsum - Turbulent Priest4.40Not Tried
Titsey - Leveson Buck3.70Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock4.50Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Trident 3.40Not Tried
16 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20ExcellentTotally spot on
Surrey Hills - Shere Drop4.20GoodGood but had better
Larkins - Pale4.20GoodA bit under par
Exmoor - Ale3.80Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Harviestoun - Summer Legend3.00Not Tried
11 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20ExcellentAs yesterday - spot on
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50ExcellentAs yesterday great creamy head and lacing - a fine drop
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20GoodAs always a little doubt about exactly what this ale should taste like
Exmoor - Gold4.50Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
Harviestoun - Summer Legend3.00Not Tried
10 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20ExcellentSpot on form
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50ExcellentCreamy and smooth on the palate
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70GoodRather cloying, condition good but did not enjoy
Larkins - Pale4.20Not Tried
Sharp's - Twin Coast3.90Not Tried
Harviestoun - Summer Legend3.00Not Tried
04 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20ExcellentSpot on
Surrey Hills - Shere Drop4.20GoodSlightly sourer hopping than I recall
Larkins - Pale4.20GoodGood but had better
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Robinsons - Trooper4.70Not Tried
31 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50ExcellentCreamy headed
Palmers - 200 Premium Ale5.00GoodFull bodied
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20Not Tried
Anarchy - Blonde Star4.10Not Tried
27 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wadworth - 6X4.10GoodFirst of a new cask - disappointing with no distinguishing feature(s)
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20Good
Palmers - Copper Ale3.70GoodGood head
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not TriedRan out as I ordered - no luck tonight
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50Not TriedOh dear. Inspired me as I walked in to see it on but as I ordered it was just taken off sale as had run out. Ouch! Should have gone on it upon entering
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit4.00Not Tried
Dorking - Pilcrow Pale4.00Not Tried
20 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Palmers - Tally Ho!5.50ExcellentAs good as yesterday's and why I had come back for more
Titanic - Plum Porter4.90ExcellentJust the right plum flavouring
Palmers - IPA (Best)4.20Not TriedNew cask came on near closing time
Timothy Taylor - Golden Best (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Dorking - DB Number One4.20Not Tried
Dorking - All Roads4.00Not Tried

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About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)

The pub sign. Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional5
Excellent248
Good105
Acceptable15
Poor1

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 172 times, seen 263 different beers and tried 82 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CR0 7AA