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The Compass Alehouse (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter |  | 2 |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Sleigh Rye'd | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Mallinsons - Citra | | 1 |
| Redemption - Hopspur |  | 1 |
| Saltaire - White Christmas | | 1 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | | 1 |
| Northdown - Buck | | 1 |
| Saltaire - Best | | 1 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Mighty Mosaic Pale Ale | 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 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Kazbek | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Project Babylon Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A suitable pitstop on the way back from Broadstairs as a need to change trains unlike when going in the morning when they run a direct one for you during the summer months. Busy as always for my mid-evening clamber into this little micro just up from the station and the usual friendly prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northdown - Buck | 4.80 | | Funny how Thanet often follows me back when I pop into The Compass midway between Broadstairs and London. This Margate ale, I was advised by one of the couple running their micro, tastes better than it looks. This Amercian wheat beer did indeed taste not too bad! Good head and lacing and lasting. A touch of ginger-infused hoppiness on its first hit for me. An orange-peel-infused fruitiness rising up on my taste buds along with a dry bitterness. A lingering fruitiness was aided by its Citra and Galaxy hops in the mix and being dry-hopped with Huell Melon, giving it its aromas of melon, wild strawberry and peach. The brewer describes it as a foggy yellow American wheat and indeed it was as hazy as it could be without it having the consistency of a thick soup! A half comfortably sufficed between trains. |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Mighty Mosaic Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Fifth and final visit of the outing to this little micro nearest the station and not too busy to squeeze into and survey the four cask beers on. Out of four, one pale, one wheat beer, one bitter already tried at The Three Pillars, and one stout. Opted for another pale to follow on from the Spoons' pale. Warm friendly service from the couple running this ever-popular micro.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | 3.80 | | This Bristol session pale came with very good head and lacing and lasted. A dry hoppy first hit. A pleasant hoppiness on the palate, with tropical fruitiness with hints of stonefruit rising up and also aided by the Idaho 7 hop, delivering citrus and orange notes. A hoppy moreish dryness lingering. |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Northdown - Buck | 4.80 | Not Tried |
19 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not quite rammed for our mid-evening pitstop at this fine micro in changing trains from Broadstairs to London at Gravesend. Usual friendly welcome and prompt service from the couple running it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | | Thanet following me on my journey back to London in getting this Manston-based amber bitter, south-east of Birchington-on-Sea, and from Shivering Sands set up in 2020. Good head and lacing. A dry bitterness was the first hit. A gentle spicy fruitiness in the mouthfeel and a dry bitterness lasting. |
| Gun - Project Babylon Pale Ale | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried |
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 |
About The Compass Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 78 |
| 49 |
 | 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 77 times, seen 246 different beers and tried 114 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1AA