Larkins Best Bitter

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.

Old House, Ightham Common, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		04 Jul 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Served with a fine head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter from Larkins Farm in Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge, where the brewing moved in 1990, having been founded in 1986 on the site of the old Royal Tunbridge Wells Brewery in Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. A very dry bitter first hit. A malty bitterness rising from its malted barley and a touch of crystal malt aiding its darker appearance. A hint of biscuity caramel and bready flavours emerging. Its 100% whole hop cones from three traditional Kentish varieties, Goldings, Bramling Cross, and Whitbread Goldings, grown on the brewery's own four-acre farm lending a fruity hoppy sweetness from a mix of summer fruits joining in and lingering. Served in top notch condition.

The Brickfield Micropub, Swalecliffe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		18 Jun 2026	Larkins do caramel-malt really well. Condition was a little flat, but still very drinkable.

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		30 Mar 2026	Bit of a scummy head and lively from being fresh

The Spotted Dog, Smarts Hill, Penshurst, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		23 Aug 2025	Fresh out of the barrel racked up at the Spotted Dog's mini-beer festival of six on stillage, I would suggest as "very lively" was the description from the barmaid as she ably assisted me to sample this Best Bitter from just 3 miles up the road at Chiddingstone. A very bitter first bite. A moreishly hoppy bitterness rising up. A lightly fruity note or two from summer fruits now entertaining my taste buds before the climax of this bitter's performance for me, a dry moreishly malted caramel-infused bitterness shining through for a long-lasting finish.

The Real Ale Way, Hayes (SE London), Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Jul 2022	Rather cloying and lost all condition once half way down the pint glass

The Rock, Chiddingstone Hoath, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		16 Jun 2019	If I could only drink one Best Bitter this would be it.Mellow, reassuring, hedgerow fruit.Classic,and not often seen, unfortunately.
Andrew		10 Feb 2007	Caramel brown peaty low tanin bitter with a wide mouth feel and a low caramel earty bitter finish

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

The Dog & Bell, Deptford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		23 Dec 2016	Quality bitter

Castle Inn, Chiddingstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		06 Sep 2014	I'd not tried this before:dark amber,mellow with robust hoppiness.Hedge fruit.Autumnal.A classic.

Ypres Castle Inn, Rye, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	16 Aug 2014	Went off as he poured it.
Philip Pirrip		20 Sep 2013	Too fresh I reckon so lacking bitterness and head retention

Good Intent, West Farleigh, Kent

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2013, Dover, Kent

The Kings Arms, Offham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		17 Nov 2012

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

Smugglers Ale House (formerly The Black Pig), Hawkhurst, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		03 Apr 2012

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

The Hatch Inn, Colemans Hatch, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor		26 Nov 2011

Rose & Crown, Halstead, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		11 May 2011
Magnus Greel		11 May 2011

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

East Malling Beer & Cider Festival 2010, East Malling, Kent

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ken		11 Jul 2009	A rich mellow fruitfulness unique to the Larkins Brewery. It's claimed, in some quarters, that rather like Prince Charles, Roger has long meaningful conversations with his hops during the growing season.
Glyn		23 Jun 2009	Bit young but still excellent
Glyn		19 Jun 2009	This beer will contend as one of my "best" bitters, full of flavour and packs a punch as well, what more do you want. Can we have some more please?
Glyn		10 Jun 2009
Glyn		20 May 2009	What a find, fruity and full of flavour with a bit of a kick
Blair		14 May 2009	This blew me away. Easily the best bitter I've ever tasted. Fantastically rich and complex. Malty, fruity, chocolatey, it's got it all.

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

Kent Beer Festival 2006, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		20 Jul 2006	Bit lively and fizzy. Dark rich syrup with storng base-bitter finish
Brian		20 Jul 2006	Again nice and fresh. Mid brown bitter with good strength bitterness.

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2006, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		27 May 2006	Cloudy so probably bottom of barrel stuff. Smelt of summer fruits and had a sharp grapefruit bitterness to it. I suspect this is a far better beer than this pint suggested.

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2005, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		27 May 2005	Very good example of a best bitter. Good balance of malt and hops and well constructed with good flavours