PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Compass Alehouse
The Compass Alehouse (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk Stout |  | 1 |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | | 1 |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Sleigh Rye'd | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Mallinsons - Citra | | 1 |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | | 1 |
| Redemption - Hopspur |  | 1 |
| Saltaire - White Christmas | | 1 |
| Five Points - XPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | | 1 |
| Rooster's - London Thunder | | 1 |
| Saltaire - Best | | 1 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Azacca Haze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Kazbek | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Titus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Stacked | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Buckeye | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Giant | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Tech Noir | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - Hopadelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kirkstall - Jasper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Mandarina | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual for my mid-evening and final visit of the day in Gravesend. Standing room only in this little micropub. Still managed to get served almost straight away and with just the two owners staffing it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | In fine form was this hoppy bitter from Birling in Kent with plenty of head and lacing. A very dry mouthfeel lingering with all the hoppiness from the Golding and Fuggles hops. Very moreish! |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual busy footfall for my mid-evening visit and friendly and prompt service as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | | In great shape with its head and lacing on display throughout on this dark amber ale from this Thanet-based brewery near Ramsgate in Kent. A spicy first hit. A bitter and hoppy mouthfeel and a moreish bitterness lingering. |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Kazbek | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | 4.30 | Not Tried |
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not so crammed as of late for my mid-evening visit. Usual friendly, prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | | Good head and lacing on this Tottenham amber ale. A very bitter first hit. A fruity mouthfeel. A sweetness of caramel, toffee and honey was left lingering. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| By The Horns - Hopadelic | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kirkstall - Jasper | 3.40 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy for my mid-evening visit but a gallop through the main part at the front to the small kitchen area normally works and as it did again for a stool and a shelf. Warm, friendly and prompt service as always and some light banter to be had.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallinsons - Citra | 3.80 | | Very good head and lacing. A lightly hoppy mouthfeel on this session pale from Huddersfield. A moreishly dry hoppiness coming through and lingering. |
| Saltaire - Best | 4.40 | | Good head and lacing on this Shipley bitter, north of Bradford. A very malty first hit. Slightly sweet and with a spiciness also coming at you. A malty dryness in the aftertaste. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried |
21 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but seen it busier for mid-evening such as the week before when heaving. Friendly, prompt service as always. Good banter to be had with some of the regulars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Sleigh Rye'd | 4.40 | | Described as a festive red ale on the blackboard, it reminded me of some of the autumn reds I had sampled a few months back. Good head and lacing on this Bristol-based red ale. It had a dry first hit and a slight fruitiness in the mouthfeel from its malted rye adding a spiciness. A pleasantly dry hoppy aftertaste and very moreish. Could easily have tried another. |
| Kent - Starry Night | 4.20 | | I had it the week before in the Jolly Drayman and enjoyed so decided to relive that pleasurable tasting experience. Good head and lacing and so not disappointed with its good carbonation and a spicy first hit from this Birling-based winter ale. It was a spice bonanza for me! A pleasant dryness lingered. |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York | 4.90 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the day and the final visit mid-evening and for the outing to Gravesend and Northfleet. It was also heaving but is only the size it is being a small micropub. Warm, friendly welcome and prompt service for the half.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltaire - White Christmas | 4.80 | | Good head and lacing on this IPA from Shipley, near Bradford. A hoppy mouthfeel with a pleasantly dry aftertaste. |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tech Noir | 6.10 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Not as busy as my usual mid-evening visits by a long way for this early afternoon meet-up with some others from SE London on a crawl. Prompt, friendly service by a volunteer, one of a number I am told, who helps out the owners earlier in the day on a Saturday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Very good head and lacing on this lightly hoppy pale ale. Very moreish and thirst-quenching with a sharply bitter mouthfeel and a pleasantly dry aftertaste from this Firle-based brewery between Lewes and Eastbourne in East Sussex. |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tech Noir | 6.10 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
8th visit of the day as closest one to the station and also my favourite micro in Gravesend to end on. As always it was full and buzzing and had not visited since my 5th October train change from Broadstairs to London daytrip and before that on the 22nd June when doing a full day's visit to Gravesend. A warm welcome and prompt service as always. No bar as such, discounting their kitchen counter, and so continental as in table service. A lively crowd in with many a regular who had not forgotten us!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | A very frothy head and froth round the sides of the glass was a welcome sign. A bitter and not sweet mouthfeel was followed by a touch of maltiness. A very dry, moreish aftertaste. |
| Rooster's - London Thunder | 4.20 | | Served with also a welcome head and lacing. Apparently its flavours were first created back in Victorian London. A touch of roasted malt, just 7 types by all accounts, and chocolate in the flavouring. Not sweet was this porter and with a very moreishly dry aftertaste. |
| Rooster's - Buckeye | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Giant | 6.00 | Not Tried |
05 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
A good pit-stop at Gravesend for the change of trains from Broadstairs to London. Busy, lively and positively buzzing as always. Just time for a swift half out of 4 on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing. A hoppy, bitter mouthfeel with hints of mango and passionfruit no less. |
| Saltaire - Titus | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Stacked | 5.20 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
On way back from Whitstable to London, the change of train at Gravesend afforded 30 minutes visit to The Compass. Not been since July. Busy with its regulars and time for two halves. Prompt, friendly service as usual.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | In very fine form with hoppy, fruity flavours and a lingering bitterness. |
| Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk Stout | 4.60 | | Wonderful rich, creamy head with vanilla and coconut hints in the flavouring. |
| Kent - Mandarina | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Azacca Haze | 3.40 | Not Tried | Described as a Milkshake Session Pale |
About The Compass Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 78 |
| 46 |
 | 10 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1AA.
Micropub which opened at lunchtime on Friday 26th September 2014. Located in Manor Road just a couple of minutes from the railway station and town centre. A shop conversion from an old dairy which had, most recently, been an estate agency. Real ales and ciders sold on gravity dispense from a largish several tier stillage in a temperature controlled cold cellar room. High tables and bench seating (some incorporating wood from church pews) partition the floor space in the front room. There is further drinking space around the kitchen area and a small yard garden and smoking area at the very back. Unisex toilet. All glasses are lined measure. Closed on Mondays. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2022 and 2024.
We have visited this pub 74 times, seen 242 different beers and tried 112 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1AA