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The Mermaid (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Oakham - CitraExcellent2
Slater's - Black IPAExcellent1
North Cotswold - Hung, Drawn 'N' PorteredExcellent1
Dancing Duck - SeductionExcellent1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Eon's Milk StoutExcellent1
Mighty Oak - Oarsome AleGood1
Batemans - Salem PorterGood1
Tring - Mansion MildGood1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Stour Valley GoldGood1
Tring - Mercy DashGood1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Ashes AleGood1
Leighton Buzzard - Golden BuzzardGood1
Brentwood - Marvellous Maple MildGood1
Wyre Piddle - Piddle ExpressGood1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Azza March HareGood1
Hydes - Hits The SpotGood1
Wold Top - Wolds Way Pale Ale (superseded by 4% version)Acceptable1
Castle Rock - MeadowsweetAcceptable1
Alehouse - Sauvin So GoodAcceptable1
Anglo-Dutch - Summer KolderAcceptable1
Milestone - Cromwell's BitterAcceptable1
Alehouse - What's My Age Again '09?Poor1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Essex BeastNot Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - TigerNot Tried0
White Horse - Wayland SmithyNot Tried0
Adnams - Southwold BitterNot Tried0
Tring - BlondNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Mermaid, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Visits Details

10 Mar 2023 (Magnus Greel)
This month's venue for our Friday Evening Group, a couple of us arrived a few minutes before noon to discover it had already opened and another of us inside just waiting for the barman to finish up opening duties.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20ExcellentIn top form and most needed to wash away the horrific Golden Buzzard flavours.
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Eon's Milk Stout5.00ExcellentNourishing and satisfying.
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Stour Valley Gold4.20GoodLight and hoppy with an uncomplicated bitter kick.
Leighton Buzzard - Golden Buzzard4.10GoodA complex combination of disgusting biscuit, low grade earth and battery acid (how I imagine it would taste).
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Azza March Hare3.90GoodSlight sweetness with just a hint of malts made for a refreshing cooking bitter.
18 Mar 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening meet up of our Friday Evening Group. An award winning pub with superb service and beer. Other beers details lost in this server's website crash.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20Excellent
Slater's - Black IPA5.00Excellent
01 Mar 2014 (thebrewingman)
Lunchtime visit. A few in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
North Cotswold - Hung, Drawn 'N' Portered5.00Excellent
Dancing Duck - Seduction5.20Excellent
Brentwood - Marvellous Maple Mild3.70Good
Tring - Blond4.00Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Essex Beast6.20Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
12 Oct 2013 (thebrewingman)
Reasonably busy with locals and football supporters going to the match down the road. Blackboard had 12 ciders on it and said cider pub of the year but I'm not sure whether this was local or national. I can't remember the rest of the beers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Batemans - Salem Porter4.70GoodA good porter but did not inspire me.
22 Aug 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
Beer festival in progress so fairly busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Ashes Ale4.60GoodShown as 4.2% here, this was a well balalnced pale ale with good hop and malt character. My score 15/20.
Wyre Piddle - Piddle Express4.30GoodCaramel/toffee malt flavours with a little hop balance. My score 15/20.
Mighty Oak - Oarsome Ale3.70GoodPale, hoppy but well balanced bitter. My score 15/20.
Tring - Mercy Dash3.80GoodFestival special, a mid brown well balanced bitter. My score 15/20.
Hydes - Hits The Spot4.10GoodVery malty golden ale. My score 15/20.
Anglo-Dutch - Summer Kolder4.00AcceptableVery pale beer with a dry hop character and dry finish. My score 14/20.
Milestone - Cromwell's Bitter4.00AcceptableMid brown bitter with some malt taste and a dryish finish. My score 14/20.
Castle Rock - Meadowsweet4.40AcceptableStrange aroma of minted peas, very strong hop taste of pine needles. Not particularly to my tsate but an interesting beer. My score 14/20.
Alehouse - What's My Age Again '09?3.70PoorRather sour tasting mid brown bitter with a tart finish. My score 9/20.
15 Jul 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
A handful of locals in on a quiet Wednesday early evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tring - Mansion Mild3.70GoodMalty and fruity with a little roast to start then a bitter finish. My score 15/20.
Alehouse - Sauvin So Good4.00AcceptableGrassy aroma, then intense fresh cut grass taste. A little too intense for my taste. My score 14/20.
07 Jul 2007 (Ian)
Mid Saturday afternoon and there was a mad guide dog for the blind there that thought that everyone's bag was the most interesting thing in the world. 6 handpumps and an excellent jukebox playing Barenaked Ladies (well it did after I put it on).
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wold Top - Wolds Way Pale Ale (superseded by 4% version)3.60AcceptableGold, disappearing white head. Some citrus hop, bit muddy and confused. Great hop citrus on finish
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Tiger4.20Not Tried
White Horse - Wayland Smithy4.40Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried

About The Mermaid

The pub sign. The Mermaid, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent6
Good11
Acceptable5
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3RL.

Single room pub with L shaped bar in Hatfield Road. Simple, basic pub. Dartboard, garden at rear, breweriana pictures, mirrors and signs on cream wall and lots of exposed worn wood. An award winning pub for its cider/perry range and quality, 7 handpumps.

We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 27 different beers and tried 22 of them.

Map location

Postcode: AL1 3RL