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The Ale House (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Foxfield - EncounterExcellent1
Boggart - Mud BrawlerExcellent1
Stroud - Gegarang Village Sumatran Coffee AleExcellent1
Stealth (formerly Kennet & Avon) - Dundas Best BitterExcellent1
Vibrant Forest - SummitExcellent1
Mallinsons - CommaGood1
Stroud - Budding Pale AleGood3
Sunny Republic - Hop DogGood1
Cotswold Lion - Drover's ReturnGood1
Potbelly - Hop TrotterGood1
Stroud - Baughan to RideAcceptable1
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-AgeNot Tried0
Exeter - Avocet AleNot Tried0
Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - New England BestNot Tried0
Great Heck - Amish MashNot Tried0
Butcombe - GoldNot Tried0
Stroud - Ding DongNot Tried0
Burning Sky - AuroraNot Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Healey's - GoldenNot Tried0
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - ChieftainNot Tried0
North Cotswold - Winter SolsticeNot Tried0
Liverpool Organic - Honey BlondNot Tried0
Kissingate - Black Cherry MildNot Tried0
Sunny Republic - Beach BlondeNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk StoutNot Tried0
Saltaire - Pacifica IPANot Tried0
Cotswold Lion - Golden FleeceNot Tried0
Rooster's - Fort SmithNot Tried0
Great Heck - Topaz IPANot Tried0
Leeds - Leeds BestNot Tried0
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
Bollington - White NancyNot Tried0
Lyme Regis - RevengeNot Tried0
Oldershaw - Heavenly BlondeNot Tried0
Welbeck Abbey - PriesthillsNot Tried0
Dark Star - GenesisNot Tried0
Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - Citra (also badged as The Citra)Not Tried0
Marble - Lagonda IPANot Tried0
Fuggle Bunny - Chapter 3 Orchard GoldNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - CitraNot Tried0
Dark Star - Vice BeerNot Tried0
Beeston - Old StoatwobblerNot Tried0
Tudor - Skirrid Welsh BitterNot Tried0
Golden Duck - Lunny's No 8Not Tried0
Mallinsons - BravoNot Tried0
Leeds - Yorkshire GoldNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - FireflyNot Tried0

Visits Details

19 Oct 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Vibrant Forest - Summit5.00Excellent
Mallinsons - Comma4.50GoodHarshly sour
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Kissingate - Black Cherry Mild4.20Not Tried
Stroud - Budding Pale Ale4.50Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Saltaire - Pacifica IPA5.50Not Tried
Great Heck - Topaz IPA6.00Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stroud - Budding Pale Ale4.50Excellent
Stroud - Gegarang Village Sumatran Coffee Ale6.90ExcellentLooked like and mainly tasted like ............ coffee
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not TriedOn 2 of the 12 handpumps
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Firefly3.70Not Tried
Exeter - Avocet Ale3.90Not Tried
Great Heck - Amish Mash4.70Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried
Burning Sky - Aurora5.60Not Tried
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Chieftain4.30Not Tried
22 Sep 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Small World as recognised by a man visiting from Faversham.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Boggart - Mud Brawler4.40ExcellentA warming porter with vanilla
Stroud - Baughan to Ride4.20Acceptable
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried
Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - Citra (also badged as The Citra)4.10Not TriedRan out
Fuggle Bunny - Chapter 3 Orchard Gold5.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Vice Beer4.50Not Tried
Tudor - Skirrid Welsh Bitter4.20Not Tried
Mallinsons - Bravo4.10Not Tried
21 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Fair sized crowd spread around.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stroud - Budding Pale Ale4.50AcceptableLacking much condition. A victim of warm weather
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Liverpool Organic - Honey Blond4.50Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50Not Tried
Rooster's - Fort Smith5.00Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Lyme Regis - Revenge5.30Not TriedTaster was tepid
Welbeck Abbey - Priesthills4.20Not 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".
BeerABVScoreNotes
Foxfield - Encounter4.00ExcellentAlmost 5*. Excellent dry bitterness
Potbelly - Hop Trotter4.10GoodSweetish end of the bitter market
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not TriedMost popular beer tonight so it is on 2 handpumps
Leeds - Yorkshire Gold4.00Not Tried
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-Age4.00Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried
Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - New England Best4.20Not Tried
Stroud - Ding Dong4.20Not TriedPipes being lovingly cleaned in readiness for this to come on
Healey's - Golden3.60Not TriedJust 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stealth (formerly Kennet & Avon) - Dundas Best Bitter4.20ExcellentSeemed average on first sips but grew on me into a fine best bitter
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Marble - Lagonda IPA5.00Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Citra3.90Not Tried
Stroud - Baughan to Ride4.20Not Tried
Beeston - Old Stoatwobbler6.00Not Tried
Golden Duck - Lunny's No 84.80Not TriedThe 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cotswold Lion - Drover's Return5.00GoodA dark ale
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Leeds - Leeds Best4.30Not Tried
Bollington - White Nancy4.10Not Tried
Oldershaw - Heavenly Blonde3.80Not Tried
Stroud - Budding Pale Ale4.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Genesis4.70Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stroud - Budding Pale Ale4.50GoodFelt a tad tired or first out for a while
Sunny Republic - Hop Dog5.50GoodFruity with kohatu hops
Butcombe - Gold4.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
North Cotswold - Winter Solstice4.50Not TriedTaster was of a dark brown non porter non stout beer. American hops and Belgian yeast
Sunny Republic - Beach Blonde3.70Not Tried
Cotswold Lion - Golden Fleece4.40Not Tried

About The Ale House

The pub sign. The Ale House, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent6
Good5
Acceptable2
Poor-

Website.

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.

Map location

Postcode: GL5 2HA