Wantsum Becket's Brown Ale

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 Pub at Solley’s, Ripple, Kent

The Oxted Inn, Oxted, Surrey

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		11 Apr 2026	This chestnut coloured brown ale from St Nicholas-at-Wade near Canterbury, Kent, and just within Thanet, and not far from Birchington-on-Sea where I was just up the road from at Ramsgate/Broadstairs for the Gadds’ Easter beer festival the Saturday before, came with superb head and lacing and lasting all the way. A very malty bitter first hit. A dry bitterness rising from the traditional English hop varieties used for their brown ales, namely East Kent Goldings aiding its bittering powers alongside earthy, honeyed, and spicy notes, and Challenger hops used alongside Goldings for its bittering finish with herbal hints. Touches of hazelnut, chocolate and coffee were afforded by its Crystal Malts, lending its sweetness, and Chocolate Malt behind its corresponding flavours. A malty note or two prevailing but a fruitiness doing battle assisted by hedgerow berries in on the mix. A dry bitterness paddling out. It suitably aided the curry on its downwards’ journey and the brown ale was in fine fetter!

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		19 May 2023	Unusual dark ale but in top notch condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 May 2023

This Ancient Boro', Tenterden, Kent