Kent Kent Golding Bitter or KGB

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	Not Tried	12 Aug 2025
Hogan Sampling		12 Aug 2025	Now its third day on and still very good. This Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling, came with still good head and lacing and almost lasting throughout. A very dry bitter first bite. Aided by its Golding and Fuggles hops, a moreishly dry hoppiness climbing up. A malty note or two playing out and still got that lovely dry oily hoppy aftertaste! Almost a touch of resin to my taste buds from its hoppy oiliness like the Greek wine, Retsina. Very moreish and so once again stuck with it apart from a half of a new stout just on to end on.
Philip Pirrip		11 Aug 2025	Slight loss of condition since yesterday
Hogan Sampling		11 Aug 2025	Only its second day on. Head and lacing, still very good, and lasting, good. A very dry oily first bite from this Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling. A fruity bitterness veering up. Its Golding and Fuggles hops lending hoppy infusions with a gentle bitterness bobbing up and down. A very palatable dry hoppiness sliding down my hatch and lingering in my cakehole. As on Sunday, intensely moreish and so stuck with it but for half a stout for my tide to go out on.
Philip Pirrip		10 Aug 2025	Reasonable head and lacing
Hogan Sampling		10 Aug 2025	First day on and wonderful. One of my favourite local microbreweries is this one from Birling, north of West Malling. Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout its performance. A very bitter first bite. A lovely hoppiness rising ably assisted by its Golding and Fuggles hops. A malty note or two joining in to aid its voyage down my appreciative hatch! Very moreish and so stuck with it apart from a half of stout to end on.
Hogan Sampling		24 May 2025	Good head and lacing on this Birling-based bitter from north of West Malling in Kent but this did not last and neither did the beer. I recall getting the last one out of the barrel but it was still drinkable. A dry bitter first hit. A fruit-infused bitterness rose up. A touch of sourness presented itself in the aftertaste and was not its good self being the last out of the barrel!
Hogan Sampling		23 May 2025	Fresh on this evening and very good head and lacing presented on this Birling-based bitter from north of West Malling in Kent. A moreishly dry hoppy first hit. A pleasant bitterness rising up and shining in the mouthfeel. A lively hoppiness almost exploding on the palate with a full helping of Goldings and Fuggles hops tap dancing throughout their sensory show on the taste buds. A dry hoppy fruitiness then presented itself in the aftertaste. Very moreish and also aided by those Kent malt flavours and so stuck to it!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Jan 2025
Philip Pirrip		12 Jan 2025	Unusual slight haze
Hogan Sampling		30 Jun 2024	Was very close to last if not last out of barrel and so no longer the perfect pint it had been the day before.

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		18 May 2025
Jack William	Not Tried	15 May 2025

Copper Pottle, Beltinge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		29 Mar 2025	Very good head and lacing on this Birling-based bitter, south-west of Snodland, in Kent. A dry first hit from those wonderful Golding and Fuggles' hops used in its making. A hoppy and pleasantly fruity mouthfeel with a moreishly dry hoppiness lingering.
Jack William	Not Tried	02 May 2024
Andrew		05 Apr 2024	Leafy with very bitter finish

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		24 Feb 2025	Fine condition, peak head and lacing

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		15 Feb 2025	In fine form was this hoppy bitter from Birling in Kent with plenty of head and lacing. A very dry mouthfeel lingering with all the hoppiness from the Golding and Fuggles hops. Very moreish!
Philip Pirrip		10 Aug 2024	Vicious bitterness just as I wanted

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		01 Oct 2024	KGB at its very best

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		12 Sep 2024

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

The Radius Arms, Whyteleafe, Surrey