The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)
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Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.
Visits Details
02 Dec 2024 (Jack William)
Early evening - nice to see a micro open on a a Monday. A few locals in. Had a good chat with a wee Scotsman called Jed.
Brighton Bier - Catcher | 4.50 | | Well balanced APA in top condition, good hoppy notes. |
Wiper and True - Milkshake Stout | 4.50 | | Marked up as 4.8 ABV.
superb body and condition but very sweet. |
4T's - Raging Bull | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
12 Sep 2024 (Jack William)
Afternoon - a few regulars in. The landlord was engaging and allowed us to bring in toasted sandwiches from across the road.
Vocation - Boundary | 4.80 | | A collaboration “ Vocation and Friends”. Juicy, full bodied pale.Almost clear despite being unfined. A delightful pint. |
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | |
Brew York - Lendal | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
12 Oct 2023 (Jack William)
Bus pass outing. 9 of us, good session. The first time I had noticed the lounge area to the rear and the original green glazed tiling high in the main bar along with some original meat-hanging metalwork from the previous incarnation as a butchers and greengrocers.
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | We finished the barrel off - very good. |
Kent - Green Dwarf | 3.70 | | |
Bristol Beer Factory - Phantasy | 4.40 | | Described as a “hyper progressive session IPA”. It was pleasant. |
Kent - Green Ernest | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
15 Jul 2023 (Andrew)
Last pub of the day. Not been before. Busy and pleasant.
Kent - Simply the Best | 3.80 | | Nice |
Wiper and True - Hoppy Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Bristol Beer Factory - Session Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Citra Hopped Premium Pale | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
16 Jun 2023 (Jack William)
Early afternoon. A few punters in, including a local CAMRA member - I didn’t think to ask him if he’d know Chris Excel until I left.
4th beer Neptune Ag*** at 4.6%
Kent - Kashmir IPA | 5.00 | | Unfined, lingering aftertaste. |
Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | | |
Blue Bee - Hillfoot Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
14 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit. My first to the pub's third venue in same street, I never liked the second one and still think this one is not so authentic and to my liking as its first incarnation over the road.
Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Basic bitter, did not inspire and soon lost condition and went flat in the glass |
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Neptune - Sea of Dreams | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Marble - Thasos | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
09 Mar 2023 (Jack William)
Bus-pass group lunchtime visit. Our first time in the new premises. The decor is more up market, the ales good. The landlord wants this to be known as an Alehouse now rather than a Micropub. It didn’t make a lot of difference to us to be fair. Good session and a bit of banter with some regulars.
Dark Revolution - Velveteen | 4.80 | | A superb chocolate milk stout. Beautiful head. Quite sweet, as you’d expect. |
Kent - Loral | 4.50 | | |
Salopian - Ways and Means | 3.60 | | A fine pale ale in good condition. Described as “aromas of pineapple and mango, biscuity malt, light sweetness.” |
28 Feb 2022 (Dosser)
3 beers on. Different clientele to the Sam peto. 3 ales on. Lots of cans.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Ruin | 5.00 | | So medicinal. Sort of flavour that shouldn't be in a beer. Good but not my sort of beer. Off to Thornbridge next week so see what their beers are like in Derbyshire. £3.80 a pint. |
13 Jan 2022 (Jack William)
Bus-pass, 2nd Thursday outing. We swelled the customer numbers by 450%. Excellent, beers albeit three of a similar nature - but well varied in strength. An excellent session with a very pleasant and helpful young lady putting up with us all.
Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | | As good as the rest - with a bit more punch. |
Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | Couldn’t fault it. |
Bristol Beer Factory - Notorious | 3.80 | | A perfect start. |
Kent - Mad Cow | 7.40 | Not Tried | On keg - went down well with our octogenarian. |
07 Dec 2021 (Jack William)
To Folkestone with a couple of friends to tick a couple of places off my wish list. Dived in here first form the bus station to get out of the rain.
Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Three perfect pints for us. |
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Blue Monkey - BG Sips | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Admiral & Amarillo Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
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