Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) The Friar's Ale

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	26 Sep 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Sep 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	25 Sep 2025
Philip Pirrip		24 Sep 2025	Loss of condition since yesterday
Hogan Sampling		23 Sep 2025	Fresh on today was this IPA from south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A very dry hoppy first bite. Its dry hoppiness rising from its West Kent hop, Jester, and East Kent Golding hop, lending it notes of honey and thyme. A mild fruitiness rising and a good dry spicy hoppiness sailing out.
Philip Pirrip		23 Sep 2025	Good condition on a boring golden ale
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Jun 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	03 Jun 2025
Philip Pirrip		02 Jun 2025	Little life. A chore to down
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Mar 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Mar 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Sep 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jun 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Jul 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Feb 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Feb 2022	Put on at session end
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Jan 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Sep 2021
Philip Pirrip		10 Sep 2021	Fine form
Philip Pirrip		26 Jul 2021	Turned out to be last out of cask
Philip Pirrip		25 Jul 2021	Still excellent after several days on open stillage
Philip Pirrip		23 Jul 2021	4½* Every so often the planets align with a beer and did tonight with this new cask on today. One to happily drown in
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Aug 2020
Philip Pirrip		15 Aug 2020	Nothing exciting in the taste
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Dec 2019
Philip Pirrip		08 Aug 2019	I believe this is the best beer I have had at the River to date

The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		26 Jul 2025	Very good head and lacing and lasting to the very end on this Kentish session IPA. A fruit-infused hoppy first kick to it from its 100% Kent hops, Jester and East Kent Golding. A dry fruity hoppiness rising up and prevailing throughout. Not overly sweet with its honey-like fruitiness. Its hoppy bitter dryness winning over my taste buds. Very moreish!

The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		21 Jun 2025	Very good head and lacing and lasting and so perhaps not from the same barrel as the week before. A fruity bitter first hit on this Kentish Session IPA, brewed south-west of Canterbury. A bitterness climbing up on the mouthfeel and a hoppy fruit-infusion joining in. A dry hoppiness from its Kent hops, Jester & East Kent Goldings, pervading in the finale.
Hogan Sampling		14 Jun 2025	Good head and lacing and lasting on this Kentish Session IPA, brewed south-west of Canterbury. A fruity hoppiness rising up and delighting the taste buds. A moreishly dry hoppy note or two tap dancing on my tongue and lingering, aided by its Kent hops, Jester & East Kent Goldings.

Bell & Crown, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		04 Jun 2025	Dry, crisp ale with good body.
Magnus Greel		08 Nov 2023
Magnus Greel		12 Oct 2023	Delicious dark fruits and citrus nectar hence it earned my loyalty during our short stay.
Andrew	Not Tried	19 Nov 2022
Jack William		29 Oct 2022

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		21 Dec 2024	Good head and lacing. A dry, fruity first hit. A pleasantly hoppy mouthfeel with a moreishly dry aftertaste.

Earl of Clarendon, Sandgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		06 Nov 2024	Nigh on perfect condition and a joy to drink.

The Tankerton Arms, Tankerton, Kent

Chickenstock, Sittingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		03 Aug 2024	Good condition and flavour but a little hazy.

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	16 May 2024
Jack William		19 May 2023
Brian		23 May 2015	Badged as Friars IPA. Really good golden IPA. Good condition.

Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	24 Apr 2024
Jack William		28 Apr 2023
Jack William		11 Jan 2023
Jack William	Not Tried	28 Jun 2019

The Royal Oak, Blean, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		09 Apr 2024	A good outting.

The Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		25 Oct 2023
Archie14		02 Feb 2020	Lovely no nonsense bitter

The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent

Kipps' Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		19 Nov 2022	First out of a new cask, a tad fresh
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Jul 2019
Philip Pirrip		24 Apr 2015

Copper Pottle, Beltinge, Kent

The Ship Inn, Conyer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		17 Aug 2021	Superb and just £3.50 a pint.

Royal Oak, River, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		05 Jul 2021	Very good nick, a half went down a treat in about a minute flat.

Three Chimneys, Biddenden, Kent

Ship Centurion, Whitstable, Kent

12 Degrees (a.k.a. RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees), Rochester, Kent

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Jul 2019

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		22 Dec 2018	Long fruity hoppy finish.

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Tobes		11 Jul 2015

The Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate, Kent

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		20 May 2015	Mid brown, tropical fruits.Hoppy finish.

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		07 Apr 2015	Lovely traditional bitterness

The Bricklayer's Arms, Putney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		27 Sep 2012	Well-balanced IPA with both English and US hop character.

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		25 Sep 2012	Very nice too.
Pedro	Not Tried	24 Sep 2012
Pedro		23 Sep 2012
Alenomore	Not Tried	21 Sep 2012
Pedro		21 Sep 2012

East Malling Beer & Cider Festivals 2012 and 2013, East Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		01 Sep 2012	A1.
Martin the Mildman		01 Sep 2012	Amber bitter with a strong hop bitterness. Little malt or citrus flavour. Dry, hoppy finish. My score 13/20.
oz11		01 Sep 2012

The Berry, Walmer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		11 Aug 2012	A pale beer with light, biscuit malt and a floral hop presence.

Leas Lift Beer Festival, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	28 Jul 2012
Ian		27 Jul 2012	Yep a decent beer

The Black Robin, Kingston, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		28 Jul 2012	A real IPA, a little biscuit, some spice and good hops. Nice finish.