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The Kingston Arms (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Axholme - Eastoft Elderberry StoutGood1
Bartrams - Dark SideGood1
Crafty Beers - Carpenter's CaskExcellent2
Crouch Vale - Brewers GoldGood2
Fox - Plum GoldAcceptable1
Great Yarmouth - Wilbur Wood Finger PrintGood1
Harviestoun - PtarmiganExceptional1
Hellhound - Black ShuckGood1
Hop Back - Summer LightningExcellent1
Moonshine (see also Cambridge Moonshine) - Nightwatch PorterGood1
Nene Valley - BSAGood1
Northumberland - Fog on the TyneAcceptable1
Oakham - JHBGood1
Tydd Steam - Barn AleGood1
Tydd Steam - NeanderthalExcellent1
Tydd Steam - ScoundrelExcellent2
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Adnams - LighthouseNot Tried0
Boudicca - Prasto's PorterNot Tried0
Castle Rock - Harvest PaleNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - AmarilloNot Tried0
Elgood's - Black Dog MildNot Tried0
Elland - NettlethrasherNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Bitter & TwistedNot Tried0
Hop Back - Entire StoutNot Tried0
Hunter's - Pheasant PluckerNot Tried0
Joule's - Slumbering MonkNot Tried0
Magpie - Pica PorterNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde MildNot Tried0
Newby Wyke - England Expects (superseded by 4.6% version)Not Tried0
Otley - O12 Thai-BoNot Tried0
Pin-Up - Autumn AleNot Tried0
Rudgate - Ruby MildNot Tried0
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - JaipurNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Tydd Steam - ArmageddonNot Tried0
Tyne Bank - Silver DollarNot Tried0
Wolf - Golden JackalNot Tried0
Wolf - Straw DogsNot Tried0
Woodforde's - WherryNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Kingston Arms, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Visits Details

14 Oct 2018 (Stephen Harris)
There is a lull in the rain and I risk the short dash here from the Petersfield. Other customers look like they are holed-up for the duration. I make friends with a very large pub cat.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crafty Beers - Carpenter's Cask3.80GoodA very acceptable, light Bitter with Goldings hop character.
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Rudgate - Ruby Mild4.40Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted3.80Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Amarillo5.00Not Tried
Adnams - Lighthouse3.40Not Tried
07 Oct 2017 (Magnus Greel)
Our group of a dozen or so arrived mid morning and already busy so we found a couple of free tables in the patio area outside.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crafty Beers - Carpenter's Cask3.80ExcellentTop notch condition, fruity light and refreshing.
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Woodforde's - Wherry3.80Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Boudicca - Prasto's Porter5.20Not Tried
18 Feb 2016 (HSB)
11:55 The ten of us stood outside looking hopeful so the barman let us in. It was one of our party's 60th birthday and beer was bought.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tydd Steam - Neanderthal4.50ExcellentUsual Tydd Steam standard
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Woodforde's - Wherry3.80Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Hunter's - Pheasant Plucker4.30Not Tried
Joule's - Slumbering Monk4.50Not Tried
Magpie - Pica Porter5.00Not Tried
12 Sep 2015 (Stephen Harris)
I’m in a large group which takes over half of the rear garden within a few minutes of 11am opening. Forgot to claim my CAMRA discount.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00ExcellentEver-reliable pint.
Tydd Steam - Barn Ale3.90GoodGolden and hoppy.
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Woodforde's - Wherry3.80Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Elland - Nettlethrasher4.40Not Tried
Otley - O12 Thai-Bo4.60Not Tried
27 Dec 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening visit. As always when I come here, the pub is very busy. Some classic beers to chose from, although I went with a couple of the more unusual ones. CAMRA discount claimed.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Axholme - Eastoft Elderberry Stout4.50GoodDark. Very fruity and not very stout. But nice.
Nene Valley - BSA3.80GoodThe beer name Blonde Session Ale is sometimes abbreviated to BSA. Golden, with ‘perfumed’ hop tastes. Served just a touch too warm losing crispness.
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Woodforde's - Wherry3.80Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Tyne Bank - Silver Dollar4.90Not Tried
Pin-Up - Autumn Ale4.70Not Tried
05 Dec 2013 (HSB)
18:30 Very busy. Had to stand at the bar. Met an interesting beer and pub enthusiast.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hellhound - Black Shuck3.90Good
Elgood's - Black Dog Mild3.60Not Tried
Wolf - Golden Jackal3.70Not Tried
Wolf - Straw Dogs4.50Not Tried
Tydd Steam - Armageddon5.00Not Tried
25 Jul 2013 (HSB)
12:25 Garden busy pub interior quiet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tydd Steam - Scoundrel4.00ExcellentSecond pint, much better.
Moonshine (see also Cambridge Moonshine) - Nightwatch Porter4.50GoodToo sweet
Tydd Steam - Scoundrel4.00GoodFirst pint out of the pipe.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Rudgate - Ruby Mild4.40Not Tried
Castle Rock - Harvest Pale3.80Not Tried
21 Mar 2013 (HSB)
20:00 Heaving had to stand.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Great Yarmouth - Wilbur Wood Finger Print4.40Good
29 Jan 2013 (HSB)
Not as busy as it can be.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Northumberland - Fog on the Tyne4.10Acceptable
19 Jan 2007 (Ian)
Friday lunchtime and a reasonable crowd in, all enjoying the simple but tasty food. I was here after going to the Bacchanalia off licence round the corner which is a gem. Draught cask conditon beer for take home and a great range of Belgian, German and British bottled beer. Anyway, with 10 beers on, some of my favourites of all time, I was in heaven. The internet access is a real boon, you can look beers up and everything. Helpful locals too, give you tips for other pubs to visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harviestoun - Ptarmigan4.50ExceptionalBest beer of the session. Unbelievably aggressively hoppy. It really feels like licking raw hops. Smooth caramel/toffee malt balances it and gives it a sweetness that gives it great structure. Brilliant beer. Some great tropical fruit flavours too. But that hop is awesome.
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00ExcellentI so want to give this a higher score. One of my all time favourites. Bit of yeast and citrus fruits on aroma. Full in mouth with that slight sweetness from the alcohol and then a smooth malt/hop swallow, with a great lingering herby hop finish with more melon type hops and a certain dryness. Yes, very good beer.
Oakham - JHB3.80GoodIt'll be interesting to see if the quality can be maintained now that they have had to move the brewery. Pale gold beer, lasting white head. Bit yeasty on aroma, citrusy in mouth, but certainly not at its best. Good citric hop finish, but just a bit funky with the yeast running through it.
Bartrams - Dark Side5.00GoodBlack with ruby edges and lasting tan head. There is something like dates in here. Some nuttiness too and liquorice. Molasses on nose and then this really interesting flavour. Instead of going with the normal choc/coffee, this has dark dried fruits and liquorice and molasses. Really extremely tasty. Finish is drying with more dry liquorice flavour. Very tasty beer. Didn’t know it had wheat in until I read the Bartram’s website.
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00AcceptableJust not quite there. Aroma again has a bit of appleness too it. Green apple, which suggests not ready yet. Sherberty hop on finish is excellent, full and creamy. Probably needs another day to be at its best.
Fox - Plum Gold4.60AcceptableGold with lasting white head. Strange to have this after the Bartram Dark Side. Bit of vinegar/citrus/cider, which means it could be getting tired. Not a huge aroma, and then a cidery appley flavour more than plum. Unless of course they are very sour plums you are using. Very sour under-ripe greengages is my guess. Soft in mouth. Finish is pretty drying with more sour plum. Funny, I expected it to be a rich plum beer, but it is far more sour than that.
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Elgood's - Black Dog Mild3.60Not Tried
Newby Wyke - England Expects (superseded by 4.6% version)4.50Not Tried
Hop Back - Entire Stout4.50Not Tried

About The Kingston Arms

The pub sign. The Kingston Arms, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent5
Good10
Acceptable3
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2NU.

Back street pub just off the busy Mill Road heading east out of the city. L shaped pub with a bar with 11 handpulls, 10 beers on and one for cleaning through, no keg so no lager and no keg stout (e.g. Guinness or Murphys). Food is good quality simple pub fayre. Lots of pale wood furniture, yellow and green walls. Patio at the back for better weather. No smoking area at front with good windows that let in natural light. Gem of a pub. Also has 2 free internet terminals for customers. One of the best pubs in the city of Cambridge - little changed over last few years.

We have visited this pub 10 times, seen 40 different beers and tried 16 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CB1 2NU