Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) Kentish 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 River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		28 Mar 2026	1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still exhibiting a very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this clear, amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Chartham, 3 miles south-west of Canterbury city centre. A malted hoppy first hit. A very dry malty bitterness rising with a subtle sweetness from its blend of malts including honey malts. A prevailing hoppiness from local varieties such as East Kent Goldings on the slide downwards. Certainly, no fruits harmed in its making as barely a trace of fruitiness. Still in tip-top condition and very quaffable.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Jul 2025
Hogan Sampling		06 Jul 2025	Fourth night on really and still some head and lacing to start with on this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury. It quickly lost this and so many decants became necessary. A dry malty first bite. A moreish bitterness rising. A dry bitter hoppiness lingering alongside the odd malty note or two playing out. It turned out that this bitter did not see out the following evening and so proved greatly more popular than a bitter before it which took the best part of week.
Hogan Sampling		05 Jul 2025	First night on officially but we have been given the odd pint or two of this since Thursday evening, and just one on Friday. Sill good head and lacing presented and lasting, good. A dry malty first bite on this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury. A gentle bitterness rising up on my palate alongside the merest hint of caramel. A very moreishly bitter dryness prevailing.
Hogan Sampling		04 Jul 2025	Second day supposedly on but not advertised as on, on a blackboard until too late as just after 11pm as on, was this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury. Not as good as its tasting the night before. Was offered it after first bell and as only one pint maximum. Its head and lacing, still good. Lasting, good. A bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising up and a moreish honey-infused dryness lingering.
Philip Pirrip		03 Jul 2025	New cask on, not even advertised on beer boards
Hogan Sampling		03 Jul 2025	Fresh on, not advertised on a blackboard yet, was this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury, and so very good head and lacing to die for and clinging onto the sides of the glass like a limpet. A dry bitter first hit. A hint of fruitiness rising up, with a gentle sweetness aided by its honey malts, and lingering in its moreish bitterness.
Hogan Sampling		07 Feb 2025	Good head and lacing. Still in very good condition and from first tasting the evening before. A dryish and very bitter, bitter mouthfeel. Nothing sweet about it despite the tasting notes mentioning honey malts. Certainly though a maltiness lingering and highly moreish.
Philip Pirrip		06 Feb 2025	Well balanced basic bitter
Hogan Sampling		06 Feb 2025	In very fine form. A head and lacing to die for. A pleasantly hoppy mouthfeel with a dryish bitter aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip		18 Aug 2024	Basic mild bittering
Hogan Sampling		18 Aug 2024	Very moreish and so stuck to it. Malty with a bitter aftertaste and a wonderful head.
Philip Pirrip		26 Nov 2023	Lacking the bitterness promised. Pity I had ordered 2 at last knockings!
Philip Pirrip		13 Oct 2022	Bland, easily drunk without noticing and this was just that
Philip Pirrip		21 Jul 2022	Bordering on poor and alas I had ordered two at last knockings. Real chore to finish them off
Philip Pirrip		20 May 2022	Rather more cloying than yesterday's
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Jan 2022	Came on as last orders passed
Philip Pirrip		29 Oct 2021	I would never have guessed this would prove to be the last out of cask!
Philip Pirrip		28 Oct 2021	Run of the mill but not exceptional
Philip Pirrip		08 Oct 2020	Loss of edge since two days ago
Philip Pirrip		06 Oct 2020	A sweetish brew in very fine form
Philip Pirrip		18 Aug 2019	Good head and lacing

Timber Batts @ The Compasses, Sole Street, Crundale, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		14 Mar 2026	Fresh on and absolutely superb. A bit lively and I was encouraged to sup some so it could be topped up. Great.

Three Daws, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		07 Mar 2026	Very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this Canterbury-brewed dark amber traditional bitter from an award-winning microbrewery established in 2010 in Chartham, located approximately 3 miles south-west of Canterbury city centre. This brewery has a core range of eight "character" beers inspired by the pilgrims in Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales.’ A dry bitter first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising from its traditional British hop varieties as opposed to "New World" fruity styles, and so likely to be a mix of East Kent Goldings lending notes of honey and fresh herbs with a hint of spice, Fuggles lending an earthy and spicy bitterness to the finish, and Challenger for a robust bittering finish. A fruity hoppiness winning over with honey malts lending it a subtle sweetness. Its Pale Ale Malt providing a light bready and biscuity touch to my taste buds; its Crystal Malts contributing faint flavourings of caramel and toffee. A dry bitterness lingering. Served in top condition making it very moreish.

Red Lion, Snargate, Kent

Sonder (formerly The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse; The Thirty-Nine Steps Alehouse), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		11 Oct 2025	This amber best bitter, brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham, presented very good head and lacing and lasting. A fruited bitter first bite. A dry hoppy bitterness alongside honey malt notes jumping up and a very dry bitter fruitiness paddling out on its descent.

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		05 Jul 2025	Deep arboureal flavours.The kind of beer that I thought I enjoyed in the seventies and eighties . In fact it’s a lot better than then.
Wittenden	Not Tried	04 May 2024
Wittenden	Not Tried	20 Jan 2024
Wittenden	Not Tried	04 Mar 2023
Wittenden	Not Tried	30 Jul 2022

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		06 Dec 2024
Jack William		11 Oct 2023	Not really to my taste.
Jack William		23 Oct 2021	Canterbury Ales have improved considerably in recent months in my view.

The Tankerton Arms, Tankerton, Kent

Copper Pottle, Beltinge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		30 May 2024
Andrew		16 May 2024	Good condition. Rough hops and malt. Touch too warm.
Jack William		12 Aug 2021
Jack William	Not Tried	15 Jun 2021

The Rose & Crown, Stelling Minnis, Kent

The George (formerly The Barrow House, The George Inn), Egerton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		17 Jun 2022	Ardent.

The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

Royal Oak, River, Kent

This Ancient Boro', Tenterden, Kent

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Jul 2019