Kent Old Skool

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 Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 Dec 2025	Definitely old school best bitter. We could do with more of these being brewed
Philip Pirrip		28 Mar 2025	First rate, head and lacing held

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		20 Dec 2025	3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on is this Birling-brewed Kentish bitter from north of West Malling. Presenting wonderful head and lacing and lasting steadfastly. A dry hoppy first hit. A bitter hoppiness jumping up which any discerning taste bud could be blown off its feet by, and from such Kent varieties as Fuggles, Target and East Kent Goldings. A caramel sweetness in on the mix aided by hints of dark fruit such as plum and fig. A superb hoppy dryness prevailing throughout its performance before its final hoppy descent with a subtle toasted maltiness. Very moreish and could have easily had another!
Hogan Sampling		11 Jan 2025	Very good head and lacing on this bitter. A very bitter first hit and a slightly malty mouthfeel. A touch of hoppiness in its aftertaste which made it very moreish.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	02 Nov 2024

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		13 Dec 2025	2nd night on for this Birling-brewed bitter, north of West Malling in Kent, and presenting very good head and lacing but not overly lasting. A dry bitter first hit. A good fruited bitterness with hints of plum and even fig rising. A barrage of hops leaping up for a pat or two to make any good dog's tail wag with the likes of East Kent Goldings and Fuggles. There were certainly no aggressive citrus or tropical notes found in this recreated traditional bitter and unlike what you find in modern American-style hopped pales. A very dry, crisp bitterness alongside those subtle fruited plummy notes and from the odd fig or two playing out.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Nov 2025
Hogan Sampling		06 Nov 2025	Now its third night on for this Kent brewed bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. Good head and lacing and the latter really sticking to the pint glass all the way down. This is always immensely pleasing to my eyes! A very bitter and malty first bite. A malty note or two leaping up with just the merest hint of caramel in on its mix. A moreishly dry but ever so slightly fruity hoppiness rising from its Kent Fuggles hops. A good dose of malts rearing up again for good measure but its bitter hoppiness definitely making its mark on its final downwards voyage.
Philip Pirrip		05 Nov 2025	Insufficient condition to carry this one off well
Hogan Sampling		04 Nov 2025	Fresh on was this Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and although a tad woken-up following a Welsh bitter lasting less than two evenings being replaced, it exhibited very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. This was until I tucked into a homemade roll or two, with sliced sausage, on the last couple of pints which impacted on its lacing lasting. A slightly dry fruited first bite. A gentle maltiness rising with a hint of caramel flavouring. Its Kent Fuggles hops lending it a dry fruity hoppiness and winning over its malts. A good helping of bitterness paddling out.
Philip Pirrip		24 Jul 2025	Perhaps a tad too malty. Held very good head and lacing to the end
Hogan Sampling		24 Jul 2025	Its second night on and I missed it sadly on its first night as not out. It equally could have been its first night still as very good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Birling-based traditional bitter north of West Malling. A dry bitter first bite to it. An unmistakable toasted maltiness rising up among the odd happy hoppy note or two playing alongside. Just the merest taste of dark fruits such as plum or fig dancing on my taste buds. A superb bitter hoppiness lingering. To me everything a bitter should be without the sweetness of too much caramel-flavouring or fruit-infused hops in on the mix.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 May 2024	Ran out just as I tried to order
Philip Pirrip		07 Mar 2024	Came at very last knockings, this was first out of the new cask
Philip Pirrip		05 Mar 2023	Basic rather wet dog bitter
Philip Pirrip		26 Nov 2021	A very tasty old style dark bitter. I tried, without luck, to order it initially as a pint of Roan

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		19 Nov 2025	Spot on
Jack William	Not Tried	28 May 2025
Philip Pirrip		14 Apr 2023	Basic bitter, did not inspire and soon lost condition and went flat in the glass

One Inn The Wood, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		15 Nov 2025	1st ale of this visit: Head and lacing to start with but not lasting on this Kentish best bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. A dry bitter first bite. A dry hoppiness rising from its Kentish Fuggles hops. A fruit-infused hop or two certainly tap dancing on my palate before its slide downwards.

The Greyhound, Charcott, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		26 Apr 2025	This Kent bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, came with a frothy head and lacing which lasted well. A hoppy first hit. A moreishly dry bitterness then came to the fore complete with a dark fruitiness and a touch of caramel. There was a superb dry and oily hoppiness and toasted maltiness then lingering.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	26 Apr 2025

Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	30 Mar 2025
Jack William		08 Sep 2024
Jack William		10 Jul 2024	Another fine ale from Kent.
Jack William		03 Oct 2023

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		12 Mar 2025	lightly hopped, malty

Ship Centurion, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		13 Feb 2025	Unusually ordinary for a Kent beer.

The Bouverie Tap, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		17 Aug 2024	I’m rarely disappointed by Kent ales - but this was tired.

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		13 Aug 2024	Everything was right
Philip Pirrip		03 Oct 2023	Excellent condition but not really to my taste

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		08 Feb 2024	Very well balanced traditional bitter, full bodied, great condition.

The Brickfield Micropub, Swalecliffe, Kent

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Smugglers' Alehouse, New Romney, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		15 Jul 2023	Well served. Highly attenuated (a characteristic of their beers for me). Leafy best bitter.

The Cockpit, Chislehurst, Greater London