Dark Star Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's

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 White Horse, Chilham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		14 Jun 2026	Much sweeter than before.

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Ales & Blooms (formerly Ales & Antiques), Tankerton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		30 May 2026
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	22 Apr 2026

The Duke William, Ickham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		20 May 2026	Nostalgic citrus hobbies.

Blythe Hill Tavern, Forest Hill, Greater London

Lewes Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		19 May 2026	Zesty hoppy refreshing and flavoursome, lost a mark being served ice cold.

Old House, Ightham Common, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		09 May 2026	1st beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing on this session golden pale now brewed at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, by Fuller’s. A dry hoppy first hit with hints of elderflower and citrus. A fruited hoppiness rising aided by its Cascade hops lending grapefruit and elderflower notes. An added citrusy flavouring is likely to be from Amarillo. Its malted barley lending it honey-sweet malt flavours. A gentle bitterness winning over. A fruity hoppiness sailing out. Served in good nick. 3RD STOP OF MY VISIT TO BOROUGH GREEN AND ITS ENVIRONS (CONTINUED FROM MY MAIN ENTRY FOR THIS VISIT): The governor is by all accounts also a member of The Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood, which predates CAMRA even, and is the UK's oldest consumer-led beer organisation, founded in 1963 at the Rising Sun pub in Epsom and established by seven drinkers who were dissatisfied with the rise of keg beers and gas-pressure dispense. Only my second visit here since this time last year, but I think my next visit again will be sooner than that gap between my earlier visit a year ago in 2025. Only walkable in the evening in daylight I would suggest given the local terrain, steps up to footpaths, tree roots and one busy A-road minus street lamps and pavements to navigate but only for some 10 minutes on the A-road from the footpath around the local Ightham Cricket Club. Only at weekends does this ancient pub which grew out of cottages, and Grade II listed and constructed of Kentish red-brick and tile-hung, open at lunchtime from 12-noon to 3pm, before reopening at 6pm. It does not open on weekdays until 6pm. Changing its spots from a couple of 17th-century cottages, it is reported to have become a beer-house in the mid-19th century but a full licence was only acquired in 1953. A real gem of an old-fashioned pub from a bygone age for its layout and ways!

The Partridge, Bromley, Greater London

The Holly Bush, Hampstead, Greater London

The Gatekeeper (formerly The New Inn), Etchinghill, Kent

The Black Robin, Kingston, Kent

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		21 Feb 2026	Good condition. Hops felt like they weren't the usual ones. I know they used to keep changing the hops in this so I wonder if they've done it again
Jack William	Not Tried	20 Feb 2026
Jack William	Not Tried	29 Jan 2026
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	26 Jan 2026
Jack William	Not Tried	09 Sep 2025

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	15 Feb 2026
Wittenden		10 Jul 2025	In good order, but not a patch on how it once was.
Wittenden	Not Tried	15 Jun 2025
Wittenden	Not Tried	12 Apr 2025
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	11 Nov 2024

The Hop Blossom, Farnham, Surrey

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	05 Feb 2026
Jack William		18 Sep 2025	In top form.
Magnus Greel		18 Jun 2025	Hoppy zesty refreshingly chilled.

Foresters Arms, Horsham, West Sussex

The Parcel Yard, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		17 Jan 2026	Very good head and lacing presented and lasting on this now Fuller's-brewed golden ale in Chiswick. A very fruited hoppy first bite. Its gentle fruitiness prevailing and dominating with hints of grapefruit and lime getting in on the act. A pleasant bitterness rising. A good dose of citrusy flavouring shunting downwards with notable elderflower touches from its Cascade hops. It was all perfectly quaffable but somewhat over-fruited for me!
Magnus Greel		22 Oct 2025	Would've been an easy 4* had it not been served so damn cold!! Grrrr.....

Jolly Drayman, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		20 Dec 2025	Good head and lacing and lasting on this now Fuller's brewed hoppy golden ale in Chiswick, London, but no longer at 3.8% as the pump clip suggests. A very hoppy first bite. A good fruity hoppiness jumping up from its lashings of Cascade hops lending it a citrusy hint among its gentle malts. A subtle floral and elderflower flavouring aiding the abseil down the Christmas tree's branches. Slightly over fruited for my slightly discerning taste buds but I do like to give them a dose of Hophead every now and again to wake them up!
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	18 Oct 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	13 Sep 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	07 Jun 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	15 Feb 2025
Hogan Sampling		08 Feb 2025	Good head and lacing on this golden ale from Dark Star and brewed by Fuller's in Chiswick, London. A very bitter first hit. A dry, hoppy mouthfeel with a slight hint of elderflower in the aftertaste.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	11 Jan 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	04 Jan 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	21 Dec 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	14 Dec 2024
Hogan Sampling		02 Nov 2024	Came with a good head and lacing. A lightly hoppy mouthfeel with a mildly bitter aftertaste.

The Miners Arms, Dunton Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		13 Dec 2025	Very good head and lacing and lasting on this now Fuller’s brewed session golden ale from their Griffin Brewery in Chiswick which now belongs to the Japanese firm, Asahi Breweries, following their January 2019 takeover. A pleasurably hoppy first hit. A dry fruitiness rising with elderflower and citrus flavours. A dry lingering hoppiness pervading aided by its Cascade hops with a bitter aftertaste.

The Anchor Inn, Wingham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		29 Nov 2025

The Cow & Stout (formerly The Quiet Man), Hertford, Hertfordshire

The Crown Inn, Finglesham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		09 Nov 2025	Happy but never sure you want another pint of it.
ChrisatSturry		10 Jul 2025	Citrus hit then becomes quite bland.
Jack William		05 Jun 2025	Condition good and a full pint served. This ale is only a shadow of its former self though. The ABV has been reduced but I also think the other ingredients have also been cut back - it really is a very weak flavoured beer now lacking in body.
ChrisatSturry	Not Tried	13 Mar 2025
Jack William		02 Feb 2025	In very good condition.
Jack William		15 Dec 2024
ChrisatSturry	Not Tried	15 Dec 2024
ChrisatSturry	Not Tried	07 Nov 2024

The Garibaldi, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		01 Nov 2025	This golden ale from the Chiswick-based brewery was literally being pulled up afresh following another cask running dry. Our timing therefore was spot on. It exhibited a truly frothy head and lacing you would have been immensely proud of for aiding covering the windows for the old wartime blackouts. A dry fruity first hit. A fruitiness rising from its citrus, orange, lemon and blackcurrant hoppy notes. A good dose of hoppy bitterness winning over from its blend of English and American hops before ebbing downwards in that sea of frothiness it was supremely holding onto.

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		29 Aug 2025	Nice

The Good Intent, Petersfield, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		09 Aug 2025	Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good, on this Asahi UK-brewed beer from the old Fuller's Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London. A dry fruit-infused first bite. A slightly sweet malty note or two rising and among its dry hoppiness. A citrus-fruitiness winning over and a dry hoppy bitterness sailing off into the early evening sunset.
Hogan Sampling		05 Jul 2025	Came with very good head and lacing and lasting on this Asahi UK-brewed beer from the old Fuller's Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London. A fruit-infused first bite. A slightly sweet maltiness rising and competing with its dry hoppiness. A citrus-infused fruitiness pervading and a dry hoppy bitterness lingering.

Two Sawyers, Canterbury, Kent

The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

The Magnet (formerly The Magnet Micropub), Broadstairs, Kent

The Elgin, Ladbroke Grove, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		22 Feb 2025	Good head and lacing. A dry and fruity first hit. A mildly fruity and dry hoppy mouthfeel and lingering in the aftertaste.

The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Kent

Ship Centurion, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		04 Jan 2025	Was very good.
Andrew		24 Sep 2024	Hugely drinkable. Really happy, and in great condition

Pearson's Arms, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		04 Jan 2025

The Quay (formerly Swan & Harlequin), Faversham, Kent

Bell Inn, St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		28 Nov 2024	Pleasant, hoppy but a little tired.

Rose & Crown, Halstead, Kent