Old Freddy Walker is Moor Beer Company’s best-known beer, a multi-award-winning old ale that’s been made in Bristol since the brewery’s early days and is still revered by cask ale judges and drinkers alike. Moor’s Bermondsey Vaults & Tap Room on Enid Street pours it as one of the anchor dark beers on the Mile.
Old Freddy Walker at a glance
| Brewery | Moor Beer Company, 71 Enid Street, Bermondsey, London (brewed in Bristol) |
| Style | Old Ale |
| ABV | 7.3% |
| Size | 330ml |
| Condition | Unfiltered, unfined, unpasteurised, vegan friendly |
| Where we found it | Moor Beer’s Bermondsey Vaults & Tap Room on Enid Street |
How it tastes, by the numbers
At 7.3% ABV, Old Freddy Walker is one of the stronger beers on the whole route, and it’s brewed the way Moor does everything: unfiltered, unfined and unpasteurised, so what’s in the glass is closer to how it left the tank than a beer that’s been processed for stability.
The full review
Moor’s own tasting notes call it ‘Christmas cake in a glass, all year round’, and that’s not far off: expect rich vine fruit, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt character, full-bodied in a way that makes it feel closer to a dessert than a session pint.
The lack of filtering and fining shows in the body: it’s naturally hazy and has a soft, rounded texture rather than the sharper carbonation of a filtered beer, which suits an old ale style built around malt richness rather than crispness.
At 7.3%, this is a beer to treat with respect on a long crawl, it’s rich enough that one glass genuinely satisfies, and strong enough that a second changes your afternoon. Best treated as a considered stop rather than a quick round.
‘Christmas cake in a glass, all year round’: rich vine fruit, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt, unfiltered and unfined for a soft, naturally hazy body.
- A genuine, multiple-award-winning icon of the old ale style, not a one-off seasonal experiment
- Rich vine fruit, chocolate and dark roast character that rewards slow drinking
- Unfiltered, unfined and unpasteurised, giving it a naturally soft, rounded body
- Vegan friendly, which isn’t a given for a beer this rich and malt-forward
- At 7.3%, it’s not a beer for pacing through several arches on the same afternoon
- The rich, dessert-like character won’t suit anyone after a cleaner, drier dark beer
- As an occasional Moor release rather than a permanent taproom fixture, availability can vary
Who it is for
Old Freddy Walker is for anyone who wants a rich, warming dark beer to finish a long session, ideally the last stop on the Mile rather than an early one given the strength. It’s less suited to anyone after a light, crisp dark beer or a quick session pint.
Old Freddy Walker FAQs
What is Old Freddy Walker by Moor Beer?
Old Freddy Walker is Moor Beer Company’s 7.3% multi-award-winning Old Ale, brewed unfiltered, unfined and unpasteurised, and poured at their Bermondsey Vaults & Tap Room on Enid Street.
What does Old Freddy Walker taste like?
It’s rich and full-bodied with vine fruit, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt character, described by the brewery as ‘Christmas cake in a glass’.
How strong is Old Freddy Walker?
It’s 7.3% ABV, one of the stronger beers on the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
Where can I buy Old Freddy Walker?
Moor’s Bermondsey Vaults & Tap Room on Enid Street pours it on the Mile; check Moor Beer’s own shop for current bottle availability, since it isn’t always in stock.
Where to buy Old Freddy Walker
Moor Beer’s Bermondsey Vaults & Tap Room on Enid Street is the most reliable place to find it fresh on the Mile; check their online shop for bottle availability, since this one rotates rather than staying permanently in stock.
Moor Beer’s Old Freddy Walker is a small-batch UK taproom release not sold through US delivery apps. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine is a comparable US-available strong ale.
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The verdict
Old Freddy Walker deserves its reputation as one of the great modern old ales: rich, warming and full of dark fruit and chocolate character, with the natural, unfiltered body that Moor Beer is known for. Treat it as a considered last stop on the Mile rather than a quick round, and it more than earns its place.