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The Handsome Sam (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
St Austell - Big JobExceptional1
Four Candles - CitraExcellent1
Kent - PaleExcellent2
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
St Austell - Proper JobExcellent1
Kent - ProhibitionExcellent2
St Austell - HSDExcellent1
St Austell - HoptasticExcellent1
Rother Valley - BluesExcellent1
Rother Valley - Wealden BitterExcellent1
Tonbridge - American PaleGood1
Mighty Oak - Berry XmasGood1
Mighty Oak - Fall's GoldGood1
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Good1
Milton - PegasusAcceptable1
Milton - JustinianNot Tried0
Lincoln Green - Little JohnNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Silver EagleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Not Tried0
Mighty Oak - HSBBNot Tried0
Rother Valley - Cinque Ports PaleNot Tried0
House Beer - Handsome Sam Best BitterNot Tried0
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled HenNot Tried0
Kent - Brewers ReserveNot Tried0
Rother Valley - Copper AleNot Tried0
Tonbridge - RusticNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Cascade IPANot Tried0
Adnams - Ghost ShipNot Tried0
Kent - Session PaleNot Tried0
Moorhouse's - White WitchNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Firebrick Red AleNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Silver SurferNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Trusty HuskyNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Handsome Sam, Whitstable, Kent
Picture 2. The Handsome Sam, Whitstable, Kent

Visits Details

19 May 2019 (Wittenden)
Mid afternoon on a cloudy Sunday.Several in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Prohibition4.80ExcellentThundering APA.
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00Not Tried
Kent - Session Pale3.70Not Tried
Tonbridge - Firebrick Red Ale4.50Not Tried
05 Apr 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Mid to late evening busy with a few folk milling about by the entrance however we managed to perch at the table adjacent to the bar. Excellent atmopshere we stayed far longer than planned as got involved in a conversation about motorbikes with a couple alongside us.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Proper Job4.50ExcellentI'd like to see this more available on cask
St Austell - Hoptastic4.20ExcellentAptly named box ticking ale..
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Good
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Cascade IPA6.20Not Tried
08 Nov 2018 (Jack William)
Early lunchtime - our party of 4 doubled the customer numbers. Pleasant as usual - only issue was that the beer board did not include the brewery name.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Big Job7.20ExceptionalAbsolutely wonderful. A full bodied, lip-smacking ale in top condition.
Rother Valley - Blues5.00ExcellentA very nice smokey porter.
Mighty Oak - Fall's Gold4.00GoodFresh but rather cool - rather pleasant hoppy flavour came through as the beer warmed up.
Rother Valley - Copper Ale4.10Not Tried
02 Sep 2018 (Archie14)
I was planning on attending the Faversham Hop festival and caught the train from Queenborough where vast numbers of people where waiting to board the train to the hop festival. All groups were armed with trays of Fosters, cheap cider and bottles of Vodka. The train journey from here to sittingbourne then to Faversham was hell! It was at this moment I decided to not get off the train and instead head to whitstable, what a wise and good move. The Handsome Sam, was both welcoming and relaxing, with a hand few of drinkers just chatting.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Prohibition4.80ExcellentNot had this for ages and wow! What’s wonderful pint, clean crisp with that distinctive character you get from a premium ale, very much like Hopback Summer lightening.
10 Jun 2018 (Wittenden)
Early on a Sunday afternoon.Affable clientele of a certain age: I fitted in well.My first visit, though we pass by regularly.A capital micro.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Pale4.00ExcellentBarley straw,rasping,raspberries.Yum.
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Kent - Brewers Reserve5.00Not Tried
10 Mar 2018 (Andrew)
Pub 5. Really nice pub. The rugby was on and the pub was quite busy. We got given a bowl of complimentary peanuts which was great.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Pale4.00ExcellentReally tasty beer.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
House Beer - Handsome Sam Best Bitter3.80Not Tried
09 Nov 2017 (Jack William)
Early lunchtime on a Whitstable micro tour. One of our party of six was celebrating his 71st birthday. The landlord did the first round for £3 a pint as a treat and joined us for some jolly local banter. Nice.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Four Candles - Citra4.10ExcellentBeautiful.
Tonbridge - American Pale5.00GoodLovely flavoured beer - first out the barrel and just a little hazy or would have scored higher.
Mighty Oak - HSBB3.80Not TriedHouse bitter (Handsome Sam’s Best Bitter) - a good seller apparently and rated well by 3 of our party.
Rother Valley - Cinque Ports Pale4.40Not Tried
30 Jun 2017 (ChrisE)
This was pub number one of what was originally going to be a tour of Whitstable and Herne Bay but ended up just being Whitstable. My first visit to this pub and I was pleasantly surprised to find it full at just after Noon. For some reason every beer that we had was charged at £3 although they ranged from £3.20 to £3.50 on the price list. There was a house beer named HSSB (Handsome Sam Special Bitter) at 3.8% which I believe is brewed by Mighty Oak, this ran out before I could try one. It was nice to see pictures of the Maunsell Forts on the wall.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent
St Austell - HSD5.00Excellent
Rother Valley - Wealden Bitter3.70ExcellentFirst one from a new cask. good.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not TriedThis ran out.
29 Sep 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening. Pretty well patronised.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Milton - Pegasus4.10AcceptableOK but early promise soon dissipated at it went flat. In fact ran out a few minutes later
Milton - Justinian3.90Not Tried
Lincoln Green - Little John4.30Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Silver Eagle4.50Not TriedWhen will MO reach its millionth different beer name? And in how many different recipes?
04 Dec 2015 (Andrew)
3rd pub in work's Christmas tour. Busy with our main party already here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Berry Xmas3.90GoodBlack and nice to drink
Adnams - Ghost Ship4.50Not Tried
Moorhouse's - White Witch3.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Silver Surfer4.10Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Trusty Husky4.20Not Tried

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About The Handsome Sam

The pub sign. The Handsome Sam, Whitstable, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent23
Good18
Acceptable5
Poor-

The pub is found in Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4HJ.

Edge of town centre Micropub which opened on Tuesday 4th November 2014 in a former antiques shop. Located in Canterbury Road just by the railway overbridge. Named after the owner's cat which died exactly 4 years before the pub opened. High ceilinged room which retains some original wooden beams with a temperature controlled cellar room at the back from which real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a 2 level stillage - this is called the Beer Tent. High tables and bench seats and stools provide the seating. Hops adorn the 2 front bay windows. Unisex toilet at the right rear. Closed Mondays.

We have visited this pub 26 times, seen 74 different beers and tried 41 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT5 4HJ