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Lower Red Lion (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Sureshot - Stop The Pigeon |  | 1 |
| Alehouse - Balance & Poise | | 1 |
| Nene Valley - Green Hop | | 1 |
| Milestone - North Rock |  | 1 |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | | 1 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Mild | | 1 |
| Oakham - Davy Jones | | 1 |
| Brown Cow - Harry's Hops & Glory | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Live & Let Die |  | 1 |
| Cottage - Captain Jack |  | 1 |
| Tring - By George | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Special English Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Shear Fright | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Basic Witch - Pumpkin Spiced Latte Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Coley's - Hazy - XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Blonde Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Route 1 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - White Rat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - JHB | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Tribute | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Roaring | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
16 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd stop on this visit to St Albans: Busy for my mid-afternoon arrival but a welcome seat to be had in their main bar area serving their selection of 5 real ales. Prompt friendly service as is the custom from their attentive staff.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Mild | 3.60 | | Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this mild from Symondshyde Farm, located between St Albans and Hatfield and roughly 4 to 5 miles east of St Albans city centre. A dry bitter first bite with a hint of earthy hops. A lightly malty bitterness rising with toffee and sweet caramel infusions from its toffee malt and alongside its specialty dark crystal and roasted malts. A hoppy bitterness coming to the fore from its subdued British hops. Slightly thin on flavour methinks on sliding out but served well in terms of its lasting head around the side of the glass. |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Special English Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - White Rat | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship Session IPA | 3.40 | Not Tried |
18 Apr 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Eighth and final stop on this St Albans’ visit: Busy for our early evening arrival but one free table to be seized in the main bar area of this ancient two-roomed pub but afforded exterior seating as well in a rear yard and covered area housing its pop-up festival bar. Prompt, friendly service at both bars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sureshot - Stop The Pigeon | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: A good creamy head and lacing and lasting all the way on this stout from this Manchester brewery set up in 2020. A dry malty first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising aided by its dry hopping using Belma hops, an American dual-purpose hop variety renowned for its unique, fruit-forward flavours, most notably for its strawberry aroma. It was accompanied by hints of melon and pineapple on my taste buddies. A chocolatey note or two emerging from its blend of specialty malts with hints of roasted coffee, sharp cacao* and toasty biscuit also coming to the fore. A citrusy fruity bitterness winning over with subtle hints of orange and grapefruit. A dry sweetened fruitiness paddling out. Served in top form. *Cacao is a minimally processed, raw form of the seeds from the Theobroma cacao tree and the base of chocolate products. |
| Tring - Side Pocket for a Toad | 3.60 | | 1st beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this Tring-based Hertfordshire straw-coloured golden ale* from Dunsley Farm, and where brewing in the town recommenced after a 50-year absence in 1992. A very pleasantly hoppy first hit. A fruited hoppiness rising aided by its exclusive American Cascade hops lending citrus and floral notes. A malty touch for good measure care of its UK malts and primarily malted barley. A moreishly dry hoppiness prevailing before the sail downwards. Served in good nick. *It takes its unusual name from an old Hertfordshire expression meaning "of no use," and like the phrase, "as useful as a chocolate teapot," also conveys! |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Blonde Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Route 1 | 3.60 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
10th visit of the outing: A rather strange two-bar grade II-listed pub of 17th century origins in one of St Albans' most picturesque streets by all accounts. I say strange because it was more a restaurant than a pub where tables were laid out for dining and with reserved signs on, for example, from 7.30pm. I was here just before that but decided not to intrude by sitting down even though the diners were yet to be in evidence. Two roaring fires made for a medieval banqueting-hall feel about the two seating areas split up by the central bar. I heard one customer complain to the bar staff that they were too hot and their reply was, we have no other form of heating. The staff were courteous to me and helpful in serving me without undue delay of any sort. The local CAMRA branch regard it thus: "An early champion of CAMRA's values in the cask ale revival movement and continues to this day stocking quality cask beers." Indeed, on my visit there were 5 interesting cask ales on. Not a place for "real" children as they are strictly not admitted regardless of age, but by contrast, dog-friendly and which I put to the test with my own faithful hound.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nene Valley - Green Hop | 4.20 | | Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout my short visit on this green hopped ale from the Oundle-based brewery, south-west of Peterborough, which went into full brewing mode from 2012 after some earlier experimental brews. A juicy hoppy first bite. An oily note or two rising with a moreish hoppiness aided by its fresh Cascade hops lingering to tantalise my taste buds before drifting majestically on its onward downwards journey. Very moreish but a place to get to comfortable in as must make way for all those diners about to arrive. A strange mix to have a gastropub with so many rather interesting real ales on and all at the same time as well! |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Special English Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Shear Fright | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Basic Witch - Pumpkin Spiced Latte Porter | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Coley's - Hazy - XPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
01 May 2014 (HSB)
13:00 Large group in right hand bar, one other person in left hand bar. Many years since I was last here. Food much greater role than before.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Davy Jones | 5.00 | | |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Roaring | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - By George | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Jul 2007 (Ian)
Came here early lunchtime on my St Albans crawl. By far the best of the pubs in the town. I chatted with the barman about beers in America and also with one of the locals. I had a very good reasonably priced cheese and pickle sandwich. All the beers kept and served well. This pub cares about beer clearly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alehouse - Balance & Poise | 4.40 | | This is amber with bubbly beige head. Good sharp pale grapefruit aroma. Rather amazing in the mouth. The hops on the finish are just stunning. OK so a better malt structure would be good, but this hoppy finish is almost startling. |
| Brown Cow - Harry's Hops & Glory | 4.10 | | Gold, no head. Good citrus hop aroma, touch of grapefruit. Little bit of rubber, but otherwise very pleasant. Tasty, plenty of character. Fruity and juicy with decent grapefruit tang on end |
| Milestone - North Rock | 4.00 | | Quite a malty toffeeish beer. You know what? I rather like it. Good hops on end. Bit of choc. Something like a chocolate lime. |
| Mighty Oak - Live & Let Die | 4.90 | | Gold, lasting white head. Pleasant easy drinking strong golden beer. Not amazing, but competent. Some pear drop. |
| Cottage - Captain Jack | 4.50 | | Deep chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Bit of vinegar maybe. Dullish. Some dull malt, bit of plum fruit, some dryness on finish. |
About the Lower Red Lion
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| 1 |
| 1 |
The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4RX.
In a really lovely part of St Albans west of the abbey. Central bar serves smaller public bar and larger saloon. 9 handpumps. Wood panelling, stone fireplace in public bar. Terrific pub and well worth its reputation. Rambling beer garden at rear.
We have visited this pub 5 times, seen 24 different beers and tried 10 of them.
Postcode: AL3 4RX