| Who | Score | When | Notes |
|---|
| Philip Pirrip |  | 11 Jun 2026 | Tired |
| Hogan Sampling | | 11 Jun 2026 | 1st beer of this visit: For being its sixth day, this dark amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, now presented still very good head and lacing which bares testimony to its robustness in its enduring longevity. Still that dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness giving way to a toffee-caramel sweetness emerging with the likes of Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. Its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger lending a dry herbal bitterness. Touches of a lightly fruited hoppiness with hints of dark autumn fruits, plum and fig, doing battle with spicy orange and sharp marmalade notes. Remarkably robust for being so long on although now without much of its conditioning. |
| Philip Pirrip | Not Tried | 09 Jun 2026 | |
| Hogan Sampling |  | 09 Jun 2026 | 1st beer of this visit: Fourth day on for this pleasantly old-fashioned tasting dark amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A very dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising with not much of a detectable malty note although a hint of toffee-caramel sweetness emerging with the likes of Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A dry herbal bitterness prevailing aided by its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger. A very lightly fruited hoppiness paddling out with touches on my tongue of dark autumn fruits like plum and fig, contrasted with notes of spicy orange and a sharpness from marmalade flavourings. Served still in very good form. |
| Philip Pirrip | | 07 Jun 2026 | Very lively and met my taste expectations |
| Hogan Sampling |  | 07 Jun 2026 | Second day on for this amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A very dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising. An ever so mildly sweet note from its hint of toffee-caramel from its likely Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A dry herbal bitterness from its mix of local Kentish hops and likely to be Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger. A very lightly fruited hoppiness paddling out with from fruits such as plum, fig and spicy orange contrasted by a sharp marmalade hit to it. Served still in very good form. |
| Hogan Sampling | | 06 Jun 2026 | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on literally was this amber-coloured Birling-brewed Kentish bitter from north of West Malling and exhibiting a lasting head and lacing throughout. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry hoppy floral fruitiness rising from its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger, and giving rise to flavours of dark fruits such as plum and fig. A gentle bitterness winning over. Nothing really sweet about this bitter apart from the merest hint of toffee-caramel sweetness from its likely Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A fruity kick to it on its passage downwards aided by hints of spicy orange and a sharp marmalade flavouring caressing my tongue. Served in top condition with plenty of mouthfeel. |
| Hogan Sampling | | 19 Feb 2026 | 1st beer of this visit: Third night on and now not displaying a good head with its lacing unable to last on this bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, Kent. A dry bitterness to kick off with. A fruity hoppiness rising from its local Kentish varieties such as Goldings and Fuggles used but now with a sharpness emerging but not quite vinegar yet. Still hints of dark fruits with a subtle sweetness from its caramel malt. A dry hoppiness lingering. Certainly not in the same condition as when presented two nights earlier. |
| Philip Pirrip | Not Tried | 18 Feb 2026 | |
| Philip Pirrip | | 17 Feb 2026 | All the bitterness of a traditional bitter. |
| Hogan Sampling | | 17 Feb 2026 | Fresh on and displaying very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this traditional bitter so-named from Birling, north of West Malling, Kent. A dry bitterness to kick off with. A fruity hoppiness from local Kentish varieties such as Goldings and Fuggles rising through my open goal with hints of dark fruits such as plum and fig colliding. A subtle sweetness from its caramel malt tackling well. A moreish hoppiness ending the game for my taste buds with a dry fruited hoppy note or two being sent off and whistling downwards. |
| 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 |