Downlands (formerly South Downs) Best

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 Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		13 Sep 2025	Very good head and lacing and lasting. A mildly fruited first hit on this bitter from Small Dole, north of Shoreham-by-Sea, and with the brewing set up in 2012. A hoppy bitterness rising from its Admiral, Perle, Galena and Challenger hops. A gentle fruited note or two getting in on the act and a hint of caramel and toffee joining in. A moreishly dry bitterness playing out. Very quaffable!

Star & Garter, Bromley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Jul 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Jun 2025
Philip Pirrip		17 Aug 2024	In lovely condition but I could not work out where its unique flavour originates

Twelve Hundred Postcards, Hastings, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		28 Jun 2025	Good head and lacing on this West Sussex best bitter from Small Dole, north-west of Brighton. A bitter first hit. A hoppy note or two coming to the fore aided by its Admiral, Perle, Galena and Challenger hops. A fruity bitterness rising up and lasting.

The Queen's Head, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Aug 2024	Hanging on somehow
Hogan Sampling		29 Aug 2024	5th night on from Sunday so proves a lot of people still away. Still a good head but a slight sour taste.
Hogan Sampling		27 Aug 2024	Still holding its carbonation after first trying two days earlier. Very sweet mouthfeel and so the caramel and toffee flavouring cannot be missed.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Aug 2024
Philip Pirrip		25 Aug 2024	Rather wet dog in flavour and little condition
Hogan Sampling		25 Aug 2024	Minus a head. Slightly malty mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Mar 2022	Presumably got to sell one to each of 72 people
Philip Pirrip		08 Mar 2022	Tasting notes say this typical of the style! Awful poured flat, lifeless, heavy on caramel, no off flavours but a chore to drink. Then when back home noted my previous comments on this beer "Beaten into submission about a third way down a pint glass so left it for slops. Over toffee-ish and poured flat and lifeless". A trend forming?
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Mar 2022	On at very end of session
Philip Pirrip		03 Jan 2022	Beaten into submission about a third way down a pint glass so left it for slops. Over toffee-ish and poured flat and lifeless
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Nov 2021
Philip Pirrip		12 Nov 2021	Real let down. Wet dog flavour and poured quite flat. Chore to finish
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Aug 2021
Philip Pirrip		05 Aug 2021	Uninspiring basic mid brown job
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Mar 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Nov 2018

Hand in Hand, Brighton, East Sussex

The Great Eastern, Brighton, East Sussex

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

The Lanes, Dover, Kent

Rochford Beer & Cider Festival 2017, Rochford, Essex

The Open Arms, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		27 Oct 2017	Trad bitter in good condition.

The Radius Arms, Whyteleafe, Surrey

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		12 Dec 2015

The Lyric, Soho, Central London

The Black Dog, Whitstable, Kent