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Picture of Hop Beer Shop
Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Saturday, 19th June 2021
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Hop Beer Shop, Chelmsford

Pub added by Aqualung .
173 Moulsham Street
Chelmsford
CM2 0LD
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of Hop Beer Shop (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about Hop Beer Shop

A small micropub that was apparently the first in the county of Essex. Much of the space was taken by the bar and stillage area, with a large fridge adjacent to it. This left space for just 3 or 4 tables.

We were lucky to grab one. As with most micropubs, conversation is encouraged, whilst you can also enjoy a dose of people watching on the busy Moulsham Street.

With one ale just being changed, the 3 available when we entered were Crouch Vale Citra, Tring Ridgeway & Colchester Jack Spitty's. Bishop Nick Divine was later added. Ciders and perries were Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees, Bertie's Obsession, Rich's Legbender, Lilley's Mango Cider & Rhubarb Cider, Weston's Old Rosie & Abrahall's Thundering Molly.

A decent micropub. The only drawback was the lack of any dark beers. I believe the one that had just gone had been a dark one. Nevertheless, this is worthy of any Chelmsford crawl.

On 13th October 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about Hop Beer Shop

Easily reached from the city centre, this is a very typical micropub that has been getting plenty of acclaim from CAMRA since opening a couple of years ago. It’s a classic shop converted micro and it even shares a rather attractive entrance porch with a neighbouring knick-knacks shop and has retained its window dressing area, now displaying beer bottles and the like. Inside we find the usual compact bare boarded room with cream panelled walls and interior windows looking out to the small passage between the neighbouring shop. There are drinking ledges with high stools to the left and a row of high tables, benches and stools to the right and under the front window. The pub is at pains to point out its dog friendly credentials and I noticed a small dog statue near the entrance with a welcome sign for canine companions, whilst the scatter cushions on the benches had a dog (and bear!) design. The walls have been decorated with some kitsch beer themed signs and the aforementioned CAMRA certificates, whilst the servery is to the rear of the room and there is a series of shelves to the right of it which effectively act as a bottle shop for those wanting take-outs. As you might expect, the ceiling is mostly hidden under a vast pump clip collection and hops fringe the whole room. A few pavement tables were also available as overspill.
The beers are all listed on a big board above the counter and are served on stilage from the temperature-controlled room behind. Options on this visit were Crouch Vale Simcoe, Tring Kellet, Wibblers Crafty Stoat and RCH PG Steam. The obligatory lone barman served up a pint of the Simcoe which was cracking and certainly worthy of all the attention CAMRA have been giving this place.
I generally find micropubs are a good addition to a town or city’s pub scene, adding a bit of variety plus an improved chance of some top quality ale and that certainly seems to be the case with this place. It had the usual warm welcome, decent ale selection and high standards of quality and gave a crawl dominated by some rather similar back street boozers a welcome extra dimension.

On 6th November 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about Hop Beer Shop

This was the first micropub / bottle shop in Essex that opened in November 2014.
It was previously a music shop, although the address is listed on the UK Pub History site as once having been the Coopers Arms.
Inside it really is a rather small thin wooden floored room containing just two solid tall tables with narrow bench seating along the walls around them, two small ledges made from barrels and a wooden bookcase filled with bottles from local breweries but also including some celebrated foreign names. There is also a small fridge containing assorted bottles.
The cold room looked like it had the capacity for around eight casks, up to four of which are served at one time. The owner admitted that he knew absolutely nothing about cider, so unlike other micropubs they don't currently sell it, although he did say he had been meaning to visit the Essex Cider Shop up the road for some advice.
On offer were Wibbler's Polar Bear, RCH East Street Cream, Fat Cat Marmalade Cat and Dark Star Art of Darkness which replaced Skinner's Skilliwidden that hadn't completely cleared. I went for the Skilliwdden (£3.30) which the owner offered to replace after a while (he was tied up sorting out a delivery which had arrived just before opening time). I declined as I don't believe it would have tasted any better even if it was completely clear. Why are so many of the beers from Cornwall really boring? I then had a Marmalade Cat (£3.30) which was a much better beer in excellent condition.
This is a fairly typical micropub although it does seem alarmingly small and seating is very limited. The owner is very friendly and chatty making it well worth a visit.
Opening times are Monday to Saturday 12:00-21:00.

On 27th January 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Aqualung .
Chelmsford, 0.8 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Ingatestone, 6.16 miles, 1 hr 58 min walk (show)
Hatfield Peverel, 6.87 miles, 2 hr 12 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for Hop Beer Shop, Chelmsford
19th Jun 2021, 10:28
Picture submitted by peter ashworth approved
 
19th Jun 2021, 10:24
Picture submitted by peter ashworth

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Car Park : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Child Friendly : No last updated 06 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
  • Darts : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 06 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
  • Function Room : No last updated 20 October 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Hot Food : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Jukebox : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Karaoke : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Live Music : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Micropub : Yes last updated 17 March 2015 by David McNally
  • Pinball : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Pool Table : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 13 January 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Real Cider : Yes last updated 20 October 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 17 January 2015 by Aqualung .
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