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 River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
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	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

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 Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		28 Mar 2025	First rate, head and lacing held

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 Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
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 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