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Rifle Volunteers (Goacher's)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale |  | 8 |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | | 4 |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 7 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford
Visits Details
07 May 2018 (ChrisE)
About 5pm and I had travelled on the last bus of the day from Sittingbourne to Maidstone, this pub does not normally open until 5pm on a Monday but I was pleased to notice that it was open as I was about to walk past. It was good to see Polly the landlady back home after a recent illness, a good atmosphere in here today. I was told that they intend to open all day on Bank Holiday Mondays in the future.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
30 Apr 2018 (ChrisE)
For me, no visit to Maidstone is complete without a visit to the Rifle, I arrived at opening time with just time for one pint before heading off to the railway station.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
20 Apr 2018 (ChrisE)
Friday lunchtime and very busy indeed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried |
24 Mar 2018 (ChrisE)
Saturday evening, planned engineering works on the railway meant that I stayed for thirty minutes longer than originally intended.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
22 Mar 2018 (ChrisE)
Two visits today, first one at evening opening and later for last knockings after going out for a meal. Some of the people that were in the pub at opening time were still there at 11pm.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
03 Mar 2018 (ChrisE)
Saturday evening from opening time, my first visit since the new tenants took over and I am pleased to say that nothing has changed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
12 Jan 2018 (Magnus Greel)
1630 arrival for our Friday Evening Group's venue for January, our group soon joined by later arrivals we took over half the pub. Our hosts Matt & Gina kindly opened early for us as a request from ChrisE.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 |  | Wasn't tempted by owt else so stuck with this for the duration, faultless as always here. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2017 (ChrisE)
Wednesday evening and busy. People were still discussing the recent article in the Times about Ramsgate Spoons.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried |
31 Oct 2017 (ChrisE)
Tuesday, soon after evening opening, it was reported to me that I had been seen on a number 71 bus earlier in the day and that people wondered what I was up to, I had to admit that I had ventured in to the Pippin. Most of the conversation involved slagging off a certain food critic for the Times newspaper. I have never heard so much support for Spoons as there has been since that article.
Matt and Gina will be leaving the pub in March 2018 after three years at the Rifle, I wish them luck for the future.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | Not Tried | Not quite ready, but should be on tomorrow. The Dark should be available until the Gold Star returns. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | Not available, and all casks returned to the brewery, I was told that there appears to have been a problem with the latest batch and many pubs in the area have had to send it back. |
14 Jul 2017 (ChrisE)
A good friendly crowd in tonight. Somebody ordered a Starlight which apparently meant a half of Gold Star mixed with a half of Fine Light, those of us who remember drinking in the keg days would never order a Starlight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
About the Rifle Volunteers
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 260 |
| 520 |
 | 97 |
 | 20 |
 | 6 |
The pub is found in Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1EU.
One of two Goacher's tied pubs. Decor has not been updated for some time, but that adds to the joy of this quiet pub. Light, Mild and Stout on regularly. If you like Goacher's, then come here. Also, if you like a quiet pub with no airs or graces that serves well crafted beers then this is your place. The long standing licensee of nearly 37 years (Alan) left in late February 2015 bringing a phase of the pub to an end. Pub closed for a week then re-opened under new tenants, Matt and Gina who were themselves replaced by Alex and Polly in February 2018. The 3 original handpumps have now become 4. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2016, CAMRA West Kent Pub of the Year 2016, CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year 2016.
We have visited this pub 550 times, seen 10 different beers and tried them all.
Postcode: ME14 1EU