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The Six Bells (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tring - Mansion Mild |  | 1 |
| Tring - Ridgeway Bitter | | 1 |
| Vale - Old Toby - Ep02 (Badged as ABC - Aylesbury Brewhouse Company) |  | 1 |
| Oakham - JHB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Wychert | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Trelawny | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
26 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
First visit of the outing: Ticking over with mainly diners in evidence in this sprawling ancient 17th-century pub in the village of St Michael’s and about a 15-minute walk from the centre of St Albans and can be approached through Abbey grounds and the Verulamium Park, with its lake, Verulamium Museum and the Roman Theatre. Prompt, attentive service and plenty of seating to choose from. An impressive 5 five real ales on: Tring’s Ridgeway, the pub’s house beer labelled St Michael’s Pale as brewed by the Vale Brewery, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Oakham JHB and Hog Back’s Tongham Tea.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tring - Ridgeway Bitter | 4.00 | | A very respectable head and lasting lacing on this English session bitter from a brewery founded in 1992 in Tring, West Hertfordshire, with this beer being its inaugural brew in late 1992 before relocating In 2010 to a larger, purpose-built facility at Dunsley Farm, just off London Road in Tring. A dry hoppy first hit. A bitter and slightly sweet-fruited hoppiness rising from its Styrian Goldings hops, and sometimes blended with traditional English varieties like Goldings and Challenger. A hint of maltiness joining in from its UK malts, including locally sourced Maris Otter barley milled on-site, lending a bready, biscuity and caramel flavouring for me. A dry earthy, herbal hoppiness prevailing before ebbing downwards with the odd red fruit bobbing up with hints of lemon and green tea. Served in top nick. |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | Not Tried |
16 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
1st stop on this visit to St Albans: Busy for the early afternoon arrival and coinciding with the South Herts CAMRA’s weekend of celebrating mild ales with 16 venues participating by putting at least one mild ale on. Prompt friendly service at the bar in this quaint 17th-century timber-framed pub. I was especially not disappointed with the mild from Tring on alongside 5 other real ales. The pub has been superbly preserved with its ceiling beams on show and a very imposing fireplace is to your right as you face the bar. A welcome seat to be had opposite some fellow real ale drinkers away from the small crowd standing and supping at the bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tring - Mansion Mild | 3.70 | | 1st beer of this visit: Presented with a supremely creamy top and with its lacing lasting all the way on this mild from Tring in West Hertfordshire, in the Chiltern Hills, and roughly 20 miles north-west of St Albans. While St Albans boasts Roman roots near the centre of the county, Tring sits right on the western border, just a stone's throw from Buckinghamshire. Though Tring was historically a hub of brewing, it suffered a 50-year dry spell where no beer was produced locally until in 1992 the Tring Brewery Company was set up and revived the town's liquid heritage. This handsomely served mild is named after Tring Park House, a local landmark mansion originally built in 1685 to a design by Sir Christopher Wren and frequently visited by King Charles II. A very dry bitter first hit. A dry malty bitterness rising and emanating from its dark roasted malts, crystal malt and biscuit malt. A hoppy fruitiness of hedgerow berries from its restrained British hops aiding a subtle spiciness. Sweet caramelised biscuity flavours from its dark roasted malts prevailing before its final descent with a lingering dry bitterness. Very moreish indeed. Served in top form. |
| Vale - Old Toby - Ep02 (Badged as ABC - Aylesbury Brewhouse Company) | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing presented and lasting on this smoked porter brewed by the Aylesbury Brewhouse Company, stylised as ABC, and which is owned and operated by Buckinghamshire’s Vale Brewery at Brill, some 41 miles slightly north-west from St Albans, and Thame is the closest historic market town, situated just 7 miles south in neighbouring Oxfordshire. One brew per month is produced and never repeated and this is marked as Ep02 on the pump clip, referring to episode 2. A smoky bitter first hit from being wreathed in beechwood smoke. A very dry bitterness rising from being hopped with Northern Brewer. A malty hoppiness winning over with waves of chocolate, roast coffee and dried fig caressing my taste buds. Brewed with Chevallier heritage malt lending it a chocolatey, caramel-infused flavouring. A dry malty bitterness paddling out. Served in very good condition. |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Wychert | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Trelawny | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The Six Bells
Summary of Beer Scores
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| 2 |
| 1 |
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The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4SH.
This historic, independently owned pub at 16-18 St Michael's Street is full of character, featuring a beautiful 17th-century timber frame. It is situated in the scenic St Michael's neighbourhood, roughly 0.6 miles from the city centre and Abbey. Because it sits right on the edge of Verulamium Park, it makes a convenient stop when visiting the Roman Theatre or Verulamium Museum. The venue is well-known for being dog-friendly and offers a comfortable covered patio outside. Guests can enjoy home-cooked meals lunchtimes and evenings, alongside special themed food nights held on one or two Thursdays each month. During our visit in May 2026, the bar featured six real ales, sourced predominantly from local microbreweries. Real cider is also served from a hand-pull throughout the summer. While historical documents trace an alehouse called "Le Bell in Saint Michaels" to this location in 1596, most of the standing timber structure was built in the 1600s.
We have visited this pub twice, seen 8 different beers and tried 3 of them.
Postcode: AL3 4SH