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The Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Foxfield - Encounter |  | 1 |
| Boggart - Mud Brawler | | 1 |
| Stroud - Gegarang Village Sumatran Coffee Ale | | 1 |
| Stealth (formerly Kennet & Avon) - Dundas Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Summit | | 1 |
| Mallinsons - Comma |  | 1 |
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | | 3 |
| Sunny Republic - Hop Dog | | 1 |
| Cotswold Lion - Drover's Return | | 1 |
| Potbelly - Hop Trotter | | 1 |
| Stroud - Baughan to Ride |  | 1 |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Firefly | Not Tried | 0 |
| Leeds - Yorkshire Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exeter - Avocet Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-Age | Not Tried | 0 |
| Great Heck - Amish Mash | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - New England Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stroud - Ding Dong | Not Tried | 0 |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Chieftain | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Healey's - Golden | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kissingate - Black Cherry Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| North Cotswold - Winter Solstice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Liverpool Organic - Honey Blond | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Pacifica IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sunny Republic - Beach Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Great Heck - Topaz IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Fort Smith | Not Tried | 0 |
| Leeds - Leeds Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bollington - White Nancy | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lyme Regis - Revenge | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oldershaw - Heavenly Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Welbeck Abbey - Priesthills | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Genesis | Not Tried | 0 |
| Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - Citra (also badged as The Citra) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuggle Bunny - Chapter 3 Orchard Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Vice Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Beeston - Old Stoatwobbler | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tudor - Skirrid Welsh Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Golden Duck - Lunny's No 8 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallinsons - Bravo | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
19 Oct 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Forest - Summit | 5.00 | | |
| Mallinsons - Comma | 4.50 | | Harshly sour |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kissingate - Black Cherry Mild | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Pacifica IPA | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Great Heck - Topaz IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried |
22 Jun 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Quiet and seemed to be de rigeur to order a glass of tap water with a drink - not me though. Stroud is lucky to have this place.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | 4.50 | | |
| Stroud - Gegarang Village Sumatran Coffee Ale | 6.90 | | Looked like and mainly tasted like ............ coffee |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | On 2 of the 12 handpumps |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Firefly | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Exeter - Avocet Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Great Heck - Amish Mash | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Chieftain | 4.30 | Not Tried |
22 Sep 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Small World as recognised by a man visiting from Faversham.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boggart - Mud Brawler | 4.40 | | A warming porter with vanilla |
| Stroud - Baughan to Ride | 4.20 | | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - Citra (also badged as The Citra) | 4.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Fuggle Bunny - Chapter 3 Orchard Gold | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Vice Beer | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tudor - Skirrid Welsh Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mallinsons - Bravo | 4.10 | Not Tried |
21 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Fair sized crowd spread around.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Lacking much condition. A victim of warm weather |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Liverpool Organic - Honey Blond | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Fort Smith | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Lyme Regis - Revenge | 5.30 | Not Tried | Taster was tepid |
| Welbeck Abbey - Priesthills | 4.20 | Not Tried |
30 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Warm even in the front lobby and welcoming fire in main hall. Impressive range of real ales on at this "funny time of year".
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foxfield - Encounter | 4.00 | | Almost 5*. Excellent dry bitterness |
| Potbelly - Hop Trotter | 4.10 | | Sweetish end of the bitter market |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | Most popular beer tonight so it is on 2 handpumps |
| Leeds - Yorkshire Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-Age | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - New England Best | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Stroud - Ding Dong | 4.20 | Not Tried | Pipes being lovingly cleaned in readiness for this to come on |
| Healey's - Golden | 3.60 | Not Tried | Just about to come on as line in last stages of cleansing |
19 Sep 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. A couple of new breweries here for me.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stealth (formerly Kennet & Avon) - Dundas Best Bitter | 4.20 | | Seemed average on first sips but grew on me into a fine best bitter |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Citra | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Stroud - Baughan to Ride | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Beeston - Old Stoatwobbler | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Golden Duck - Lunny's No 8 | 4.80 | Not Tried | The fuzziest pumpclip I have ever "seen" |
24 Jun 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Only one in. Good chat with proprietor about the mysteries of the past uses of the building - these are many and various.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotswold Lion - Drover's Return | 5.00 | | A dark ale |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Leeds - Leeds Best | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Bollington - White Nancy | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oldershaw - Heavenly Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Genesis | 4.70 | Not Tried |
25 Mar 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening - very quiet but friendly bar staff offered unsolicited tasters. Most customers hogging the real fire in the main bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud - Budding Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Felt a tad tired or first out for a while |
| Sunny Republic - Hop Dog | 5.50 | | Fruity with kohatu hops |
| Butcombe - Gold | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| North Cotswold - Winter Solstice | 4.50 | Not Tried | Taster was of a dark brown non porter non stout beer. American hops and Belgian yeast |
| Sunny Republic - Beach Blonde | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece | 4.40 | Not Tried |
About The Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 6 |
| 5 |
| 2 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2HA.
Grade II listed building, a former nightclub (Bar Nine) and before that town hall meeting rooms that was converted into a pub in late November 2012 by a proprietor known for running Good Beer Guide pubs elsewhere before. In John Street in the semi-pedestrianised middle of the town centre. Entrance is via a long hallway into the bar area which is a high bar with white counter top and a brightly lit back bar showing off the wine and spirits selection. Equipped with 12 handpumps several of which carry cider. High ceilings throughout - the one in the main bar is of glass panels. Seating is a mix of scrubbed top tables and upright backed chairs, settees, pews and pouffes. There are several open fires for use in most of England's year or so it seems!! Feels as if it is popular with the younger crowd in Stroud. Wine list is provided and simple warm food. Disabled toilet in ground floor entrance corridor, Gents and Ladies up a steep flight of steps from the entrance doors. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2014, 2015 and 2016.
We have visited this pub 8 times, seen 48 different beers and tried 11 of them.
Postcode: GL5 2HA