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The Orange Tree (Gray & Sons)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde MildExcellent4
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent2
Oakham - CitraExcellent1
Dark Star - OriginalExcellent1
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldExcellent1
Harwich Town - Pin-Up Milk StoutExcellent1
Harviestoun - Ruck and MaulGood1
Wibblers - ApprenticeGood1
Red Fox - IPANot Tried0
Elgood's - Beer GogglesNot Tried0
Lees (see also JW Lees) - BitterNot Tried0
Kent - Twelfth NightNot Tried0
Colchester - No. 1Not Tried0
Brains - Bread of HeavenNot Tried0
Skinner's - Hops 'n' HoneyNot Tried0
Batemans - HookerNot Tried0
Isle of Purbeck - BitterNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Front RowNot Tried0
Red Fox - Figgy Pudding PorterNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Enter the DragonNot Tried0
St Peter's - Suffolk GoldNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)Not Tried0
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterNot Tried0
Dark Star - Espresso StoutNot Tried0
Plain Ales - Sheep DipNot Tried0
Goffs - Jouster AleNot Tried0
Maldon - The Hotel PorterNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Orange Tree, Chelmsford, Essex
Michael Croxford

Visits Details

29 Sep 2020 (ChrisE)
Superb. Well organised for compliance with Covid restrictions. Just one member of staff on duty who was brilliant and coping well with table service in both bars. The strictly enforced one way system meant that if you wanted to use the lavatories you had to leave the pub via the right hand bar exit and re-enter via the left hand bar entrance door to get back to where you started. Full marks to this place for doing things properly and still managing to give efficient and friendly service.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Excellent
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Excellent
St Peter's - Suffolk Gold4.70Not Tried
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)4.60Not Tried
02 Jan 2020 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening we sat in the right hand bar a few others sitting at the bar but otherwise quiet. Smell of food unavoidably prevalent this evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentNigh on perfect temperature condition and carbonation
Lees (see also JW Lees) - Bitter4.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Kent - Twelfth Night7.40Not Tried
Colchester - No. 14.10Not Tried
Skinner's - Hops 'n' Honey4.00Not Tried
Isle of Purbeck - Bitter3.60Not Tried
Red Fox - Figgy Pudding Porter4.70Not Tried
29 Sep 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening and fairly busy, we sat in the right hand bar and commandeered a couple of tables. Friendly fast efficient service from the busy barmaid kept waiting times down.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20ExcellentSpot on - all the expected flavours and condition present and correct sir!
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Goffs - Jouster Ale4.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Maldon - The Hotel Porter4.10Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best Bitter3.80Not Tried
Red Fox - IPA3.70Not Tried
Elgood's - Beer Goggles5.00Not Tried
07 Jun 2016 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime and fairly busy back street local.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Excellent
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Espresso Stout4.20Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Plain Ales - Sheep Dip3.80Not Tried
01 Mar 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
A visit from the Thursday night mild drinkers filled up this back street pub quite well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70ExcellentFull flavoured with chocolate malt and toffee dominating. Low hopped with a little fruit in the finish. My score 16/20.
Dark Star - Original5.00ExcellentNear black in colour with a well rounded mix of malty flavours and fruity hop. Falls into the old ale/strong mild category with a full bodied fruit and malt finish. My score 16/20.
Harwich Town - Pin-Up Milk Stout4.70ExcellentVery smooth tasting stout with good bitter roast and chocolate malt flavour with a little hoppiness in the finish. My score 17/20.
Harviestoun - Ruck and Maul3.70GoodGolden with a surprising citrus hop character for a Scottish beer. Good citrus hop finish. My score 15/20.
11 Feb 2012 (HSB)
Lunch stop.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wibblers - Apprentice3.90Good
11 Feb 2012 (ChrisE)
Fairly busy Saturday afternoon, we took advantage of the opportunity to eat here before the kitchen closed at 14:30.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Excellent
Brains - Bread of Heaven4.00Not Tried
Batemans - Hooker4.50Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Front Row3.70Not Tried
Wibblers - Apprentice3.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Enter the Dragon4.50Not Tried
03 Feb 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Numbers swelled this evening by a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70ExcellentSmooth, well rounded and fruity, this ruby/black mild is a classic of its type. My score 16/20.
04 Feb 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Otherwise quiet if it hadn't been for a visit from the London based mild drinkers club.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70ExcellentSweet, malty, fruity and full bodied for its strength. My score 16/20.

About The Orange Tree

The pub sign. The Orange Tree, Chelmsford, Essex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent11
Good2
Acceptable-
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0AS.

Two bar traditional local in Lower Anchor Street, run by an experienced landlord. Mighty Oak beers feature heavily along with other local and national beers. Regularly featured in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide. A refurbishment in 2015 has made the separate public and saloon bars both much larger.

We have visited this pub 9 times, seen 29 different beers and tried 9 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CM2 0AS