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The Compass Alehouse (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Sleigh Rye'dExcellent1
Shivering Sands - Ribersborg StoutExcellent1
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGBExcellent1
Mallinsons - CitraExcellent1
Marble - Manchester BitterExcellent1
Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk StoutExcellent1
Tonbridge - Easy Street PaleExcellent1
Five Points - XPAGood1
Kent - Starry NightGood1
Tonbridge - RusticGood1
Rooster's - London ThunderGood1
Kent - Juice JunkieGood1
Saltaire - BestGood1
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Good1
Kent - Brewers ReserveGood1
Redemption - HopspurGood1
Saltaire - White ChristmasGood1
Three Acre - Azacca HazeNot Tried0
Saltaire - TitusNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Apparition StoutNot Tried0
Buxton - StackedNot Tried0
Rooster's - BuckeyeNot Tried0
Kent - Green GiantNot Tried0
Kent - No Kinda PlanNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - GalvaniseNot Tried0
Kent - Tech NoirNot Tried0
Redemption - Pale AleNot Tried0
Brew York - Fairytale of Brew YorkNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Got The Face OnNot Tried0
Kent - PorterNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Funky Claude PorterNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Winter SolaceNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk StoutNot Tried0
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)Not Tried0
By The Horns - HopadelicNot Tried0
Kent - MandarinaNot Tried0
Kirkstall - JasperNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Visits Details

11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not so crammed as of late for my mid-evening visit. Usual friendly, prompt service.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Redemption - Hopspur4.50GoodGood 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 Stout4.50Not Tried
By The Horns - Hopadelic4.30Not Tried
Kirkstall - Jasper3.40Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mallinsons - Citra3.80ExcellentVery good head and lacing. A lightly hoppy mouthfeel on this session pale from Huddersfield. A moreishly dry hoppiness coming through and lingering.
Saltaire - Best4.40GoodGood 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 On4.50Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter5.00Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Sleigh Rye'd4.40ExcellentDescribed 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 Night4.20GoodI 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 Ale3.80Not Tried
Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York4.90Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Saltaire - White Christmas4.80GoodGood head and lacing on this IPA from Shipley, near Bradford. A hoppy mouthfeel with a pleasantly dry aftertaste.
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Galvanise5.10Not Tried
Kent - Tech Noir6.10Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40GoodVery 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 Plan4.90Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Galvanise5.10Not Tried
Kent - Tech Noir6.10Not 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!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00GoodA 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 Thunder4.20GoodServed 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 - Buckeye3.50Not Tried
Kent - Green Giant6.00Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - XPA4.00GoodGood head and lacing. A hoppy, bitter mouthfeel with hints of mango and passionfruit no less.
Saltaire - Titus3.90Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout4.40Not Tried
Buxton - Stacked5.20Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Marble - Manchester Bitter4.20ExcellentIn very fine form with hoppy, fruity flavours and a lingering bitterness.
Kent - Heaven Scent Exotic Milk Stout4.60ExcellentWonderful rich, creamy head with vanilla and coconut hints in the flavouring.
Kent - Mandarina4.50Not Tried
Three Acre - Azacca Haze3.40Not TriedDescribed 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout4.70ExcellentFirst rate, full bodied and bitter to boot
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10ExcellentVicious bitterness just as I wanted
Kent - Juice Junkie5.00GoodA bit flat but for me a juiciness too far
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)3.40Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale3.90ExcellentDelicious peppery dry bitter fare didn't touch the sides..
Kent - Brewers Reserve5.00GoodDry hoppy with a citrus punch but just a tad resinous for my liking.
Kent - Porter5.50Not Tried
Tonbridge - Winter Solace4.80Not Tried

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About The Compass Alehouse

The pub sign. The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent76
Good46
Acceptable10
Poor-

Website.

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 72 times, seen 237 different beers and tried 111 of them.

Map location

Postcode: DA12 1AA