The Compass Alehouse (Free House)
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Visits Details
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not so crammed as of late for my mid-evening visit. Usual friendly, prompt service.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 |
10 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. In the backroom admired the Gravesend Regatta pre-war winning boatbacks on the wall - superb bits of history and art. First visit since the Covid pandemic and just got the last stool to perch on.
Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 |  | First rate, full bodied and bitter to boot |
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 |  | Vicious bitterness just as I wanted |
Kent - Juice Junkie | 5.00 |  | A bit flat but for me a juiciness too far |
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
02 Dec 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Early afternoon and standing room only I met up with the rest of our group for a few before heading off to Upminster on a preserved RM or RT on today's Ensign running day.
Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 |  | Delicious peppery dry bitter fare didn't touch the sides.. |
Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 |  | Dry hoppy with a citrus punch but just a tad resinous for my liking. |
Kent - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
Tonbridge - Winter Solace | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
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