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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kent - LoralExcellent1
Burning Sky - AuroraExcellent1
Kent - Comfortably PlumExcellent2
Kent - ProhibitionExcellent1
Kent - Tropic AleExcellent1
Kent - ChinookExcellent1
Bristol Beer Factory - NotoriousExcellent1
Kent - Kashmir IPAExcellent1
Dark Revolution - VelveteenExcellent1
Kent - Session PaleExcellent1
Kent - Simply the BestGood1
Salopian - Ways and MeansGood1
Kent - Green DwarfGood1
Bristol Beer Factory - RewindGood1
Bristol Beer Factory - Phantasy Good1
Iron Pier - Perry St PaleGood1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - RuinGood1
Arbor Ales - Talus in WonderlandGood1
Kent - Old SkoolAcceptable1
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)Not Tried0
Blue Monkey - BG SipsNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Admiral & Amarillo Joined at the HopNot Tried0
Kent - Mad CowNot Tried0
Neptune - Sea of DreamsNot Tried0
Marble - ThasosNot Tried0
Blue Bee - Hillfoot BestNot Tried0
Wiper and True - Hoppy PaleNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - Session PaleNot Tried0
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Citra Hopped Premium PaleNot Tried0
Kent - Green Ernest Not Tried0
Picture 1. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Picture 2. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Picture 3. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.

Visits Details

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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Prohibition4.80ExcellentWe finished the barrel off - very good.
Kent - Green Dwarf3.70Good
Bristol Beer Factory - Phantasy 4.40GoodDescribed as a “hyper progressive session IPA”. It was pleasant.
Kent - Green Ernest 4.60Not Tried
15 Jul 2023 (Andrew)
Last pub of the day. Not been before. Busy and pleasant.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Simply the Best3.80GoodNice
Wiper and True - Hoppy Pale4.20Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Session Pale4.20Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Citra Hopped Premium Pale5.20Not 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%
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Kashmir IPA5.00ExcellentUnfined, lingering aftertaste.
Iron Pier - Perry St Pale3.70Good
Blue Bee - Hillfoot Best4.00Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Old Skool4.10AcceptableBasic bitter, did not inspire and soon lost condition and went flat in the glass
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)4.80Not Tried
Neptune - Sea of Dreams4.20Not Tried
Marble - Thasos3.50Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Revolution - Velveteen4.80ExcellentA superb chocolate milk stout. Beautiful head. Quite sweet, as you’d expect.
Kent - Loral4.50Excellent
Salopian - Ways and Means3.60GoodA 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Ruin5.00GoodSo 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Burning Sky - Aurora5.60ExcellentAs good as the rest - with a bit more punch.
Kent - Tropic Ale4.90ExcellentCouldn’t fault it.
Bristol Beer Factory - Notorious3.80ExcellentA perfect start.
Kent - Mad Cow7.40Not TriedOn 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Session Pale3.70ExcellentThree perfect pints for us.
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)4.80Not Tried
Blue Monkey - BG Sips4.00Not Tried
Iron Pier - Admiral & Amarillo Joined at the Hop3.80Not Tried
14 Oct 2021 (Jack William)
Lunchtime- very pleasant session for the 2nd Thursday bus-pass group. 6 of us today. Small, homemade pies are now offered at just £3 each. Went down well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Comfortably Plum4.90ExcellentOn keg. Silky smooth - a very good little chaser for the three paler pints.
Kent - Chinook4.50ExcellentSparklingly clear and absolutely delicious.
Bristol Beer Factory - Rewind4.20Good
Arbor Ales - Talus in Wonderland4.50GoodBilled as hazy - but I would call it murky. Despite this a very fruity, moorish pint.
05 Sep 2021 (ChrisE)
Sunday afternoon, I sat on the seats in the bay window, it was impossible to read the chalkboard menu so I had one beer and moved on. I think three cask ales were on offer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Comfortably Plum4.90GoodCertainly not excrptional.

[More Visits]

About The Firkin Alehouse

The pub sign. The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional26
Excellent77
Good64
Acceptable41
Poor2

Website.

The pub is found in Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AY.

Micropub close to Folkestone bus station which opened in November 2012, no music or slot machines and the use of mobile phones is banned with a fine imposed for disturbing the peace. Same level gravity stillage for real ales and ciders from a separate temperature controlled cellar room. Usually at seat service. In its original location had an impressive pumpclip display of beers sold to date in the unisex toilet all laid out by brewery! Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2014. Moved overnight 24/25 September 2017 from 18 to 20 Cheriton Place into new premises and now with a bar counter to obtain service. Moved a second time to No 21 other side of street in December 2022 now with high stools and tables at front and lower sofas and seating in a snug area towards the rear.

We have visited this pub 111 times, seen 232 different beers and tried 156 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT20 2AY