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The Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Oakham - CitraExcellent1
Two by Two - Coconut PorterExcellent1
Oakham - DreamcatcherExcellent1
Weird Beard - Safe StoutExcellent1
Shalford - SnowmanExcellent1
Canterbury Brewers - East Kent Red Rye Green HopExcellent1
Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Chilli PorterExcellent1
Oakham - InfernoExcellent1
Big Hand - TelekinesisExcellent1
Brightside - Our TownGood1
Harvey's - Christmas AleGood1
Saltaire - Café CultureGood1
Kent - SimcoeGood1
Scarborough - CitraGood1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - BronxGood1
Whippet - House DoggeAcceptable1
Mighty Oak - AzaccaAcceptable1
King's Head - Crowdie's Oatmeal StoutAcceptable1
Vibrant Forest - Cambrian RootAcceptable1
Blackjack - Sky CityNot Tried0
Mauldons - Eatanswill Old XXXXNot Tried0
Northern Whisper - BlimeyNot Tried0
Green Jack - Ripper TripelNot Tried0
Elland - Lucky DipNot Tried0
Padstow - Padstow May DayNot Tried0
Hellhound - Black ShuckNot Tried0
Milton - Minotaur MildNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Cast Iron StoutNot Tried0
Bishop Nick - EmbersNot Tried0
Farmer's Ales (Maldon Brewing) - Drop of Nelson's BloodNot Tried0
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing SalamanderNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Black ShadowNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - JamboreeNot Tried0
Padstow - St Tudy AleNot Tried0
Liverpool Organic - Liverpool StoutNot Tried0
Bishop Nick - East StreetNot Tried0
Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - LITNot Tried0
Big Smoke - Dark Wave PorterNot Tried0
Arbor Ales - BlorageNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Gipsy Hill - BounderNot Tried0
St Peter's - MildNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Captain BobNot Tried0
Vale - Black Swan MildNot Tried0
Dark Star - Wheat PurpleNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - NightwatchmanNot Tried0
Grain - ThreeOneSixNot Tried0
Scarborough - StoutNot Tried0
Colchester - BrinsopNot Tried0
3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop GunNot Tried0
Moor - Time & SpaceNot Tried0
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Wild RavenNot Tried0
Cathedral Heights - Strait IPANot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - SaigonNot Tried0
Torrside - Red Right HandNot Tried0
Park - Spankers IPA (superseded by 6% version)Not Tried0
Ash Valley - AshNot Tried0
Torrside - Space CadetNot Tried0
Manchester - GanzyNot Tried0
Bexley - Kent Green Hop (Gushmere Fuggles) Pale AleNot Tried0
Clouded Minds - VeraNot Tried0
Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - Statement of Intent V5Not Tried0
Shalford - 1319 MildNot Tried0
Acorn - Secret AffairNot Tried0
Arbor Ales - Basta Rosse (collaboration with Mezzo Passo)Not Tried0
Park - Zythos Pale AleNot Tried0
Oakham - Green Devil IPANot Tried0
Canterbury Brewers - Halfling IPANot Tried0
Coles Family - Nettle AleNot Tried0
Maldon - Born to be MildNot Tried0
Tiny Rebel - Mosaic MilkshakeNot Tried0
Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Pilgrim FathersNot Tried0
Round Tower - LiminalNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - CommandoNot Tried0
Mourne Mountains - Barney's BitterNot Tried0
Mauldons - 225Not Tried0
Track - KarameaNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Ale House, Chelmsford, Essex
Picture 2. The Ale House, Chelmsford, Essex
Michael Croxford

Visits Details

29 Sep 2020 (ChrisE)
Early evening visit and fairly busy but we were shown to a table for six. One way system in operation and customers and staff were adhering to COVID regulations and guidelines. This pub normally has six cask ales on these days, the table service was very good.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Inferno4.00Excellent
Shalford - 1319 Mild3.70Not Tried
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Pilgrim Fathers5.50Not TriedA Black IPA
Mauldons - 2254.50Not TriedHoppy Golden
Northern Whisper - Blimey3.80Not TriedPale Bitter
02 Jan 2020 (Magnus Greel)
Late evening making the most of post xmas and new year hassle, quiet relaxed atmosphere most enjoyable.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shalford - Snowman4.20ExcellentDry subtle fruits in superb condition
Harvey's - Christmas Ale7.50GoodAnother taster, too sickly sweet
Saltaire - Café Culture4.60GoodJust a taster too coffeish for me
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Captain Bob3.80Not Tried
Grain - ThreeOneSix3.90Not Tried
Moor - Time & Space6.00Not Tried
Torrside - Red Right Hand5.00Not Tried
Manchester - Ganzy4.20Not Tried
15 May 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-evening and busy. A lot of people are, like me, refreshing here after a day at the cricket.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Bronx7.20GoodA strong, dry, creamy Irish Stout.
Mighty Oak - Azacca3.90AcceptableA rather sweet, smooth single-hopper.
Mauldons - Eatanswill Old XXXX4.00Not Tried
Padstow - Padstow May Day5.00Not Tried
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout4.70Not Tried
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Salamander4.60Not Tried
Padstow - St Tudy Ale4.00Not Tried
Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - LIT4.50Not Tried
17 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening change of train visit. The train change was not necessary but this place always tempts and beckons when passing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Vibrant Forest - Cambrian Root5.10AcceptableToo warm and little carbonation or mouthfeel
St Peter's - Mild3.70Not Tried
Oakham - Inferno4.00Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman4.50Not Tried
3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop Gun4.30Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Saigon7.10Not Tried
Torrside - Space Cadet5.80Not Tried
Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - Statement of Intent V55.50Not Tried
Park - Zythos Pale Ale3.70Not Tried
Tiny Rebel - Mosaic Milkshake4.20Not Tried
Mourne Mountains - Barney's Bitter3.90Not Tried
30 Apr 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-evening to build up the strength to face the rail replacement bus to Newbury Park from Ingatestone. There is a pub quiz taking place and it has filled every table.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Weird Beard - Safe Stout7.70ExcellentA proper, strong black Stout that is worthy of the name.
King's Head - Crowdie's Oatmeal Stout5.00AcceptableA sweetish, brown-coloured Stout. Punched below its weight.
Milton - Minotaur Mild3.30Not Tried
Farmer's Ales (Maldon Brewing) - Drop of Nelson's Blood3.80Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Jamboree4.80Not Tried
Bishop Nick - East Street4.20Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Blorage5.20Not Tried
07 Jun 2016 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime one other customer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20Excellent
Coles Family - Nettle Ale3.80Not Tried
Maldon - Born to be Mild4.70Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Commando4.30Not Tried
Blackjack - Sky City7.00Not Tried
Elland - Lucky Dip4.10Not Tried
15 Apr 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening, Return visit until just before the last London bound train. Clearly the best ale (and best range of) in town.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Chilli Porter5.90ExcellentGreat end of session heart warmer
Big Hand - Telekinesis6.90Excellent
Liverpool Organic - Liverpool Stout4.70Not Tried
Kent - Simcoe4.50Not Tried
Big Smoke - Dark Wave Porter5.00Not Tried
Gipsy Hill - Bounder4.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Wheat Purple4.20Not Tried
Colchester - Brinsop4.30Not Tried
Cathedral Heights - Strait IPA3.90Not Tried
Ash Valley - Ash4.10Not Tried
Clouded Minds - Vera5.60Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Basta Rosse (collaboration with Mezzo Passo)5.00Not Tried
15 Apr 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Straight in off the train.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Simcoe4.50Good
Liverpool Organic - Liverpool Stout4.70Not Tried
Big Smoke - Dark Wave Porter5.00Not Tried
Gipsy Hill - Bounder4.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Wheat Purple4.20Not Tried
Colchester - Brinsop4.30Not Tried
Cathedral Heights - Strait IPA3.90Not Tried
Ash Valley - Ash4.10Not Tried
Clouded Minds - Vera5.60Not Tried
Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Chilli Porter5.90Not Tried
Big Hand - Telekinesis6.90Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Basta Rosse (collaboration with Mezzo Passo)5.00Not Tried
01 Nov 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening on Sunday and relatively quiet in here. I didn’t record all the beer names.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Two by Two - Coconut Porter5.50ExcellentA very full-flavoured, black Porter.
Scarborough - Citra4.20GoodPale gold in colour. Pretty good Citra flavours but doesn’t quite have the lip-smacking quality of some of its type.
Brightside - Our Town4.00GoodGolden and quite crisp.
Whippet - House Dogge3.70AcceptableA chestnut-coloured, malty, caramel-flavoured standard Bitter.
Green Jack - Ripper Tripel8.50Not Tried
Hellhound - Black Shuck3.90Not Tried
Bishop Nick - Embers3.80Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Black Shadow4.70Not Tried
26 Oct 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening, return visit, until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Dreamcatcher6.90Excellent
Canterbury Brewers - East Kent Red Rye Green Hop4.40Excellent
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
Vale - Black Swan Mild3.90Not Tried
Scarborough - Stout4.60Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Wild Raven6.60Not Tried
Park - Spankers IPA (superseded by 6% version)5.40Not Tried
Bexley - Kent Green Hop (Gushmere Fuggles) Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Acorn - Secret Affair4.50Not Tried
Canterbury Brewers - Halfling IPA3.60Not Tried
Round Tower - Liminal4.50Not Tried
Track - Karamea4.20Not Tried

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About The Ale House

The pub sign. The Ale House, Chelmsford, Essex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional2
Excellent29
Good26
Acceptable7
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1TS.

A specialist beer and cider pub which opened in early 2012 in three railway arches underneath the station. It is very conveniently situated, lying between Chelmsford’s bus and railway stations, moments walk from either. There are various seating and standing areas within, plus external drinking space either side of the railway. Decorated rather frugally. 2 banks each of 6 handpumps not on the front counter but on the back fitting instead, making legibility of the pumpclips quite difficult so the beer details are repeated on overhead blackboards. Large range of ciders served from gravity dispense.

We have visited this pub 31 times, seen 245 different beers and tried 63 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CM1 1TS