Tonbridge TSB Special Brew

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 Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		04 Sep 2026	Good full bodied malty bitter - old style I'd say
Hogan Sampling		04 Sep 2026	Came with lasting head and lacing on this deep bronze Kentish Special Best Bitter from brewing established in 2010 in Tonbridge before expanding and relocating to its main premises in East Peckham, Kent, north of Paddock Wood, in 2014. A very dry hoppy first bite with copious conditioning rising. A fruited bitterness with dark fruit flavours and a subtle spiciness from its local Kentish leaf hops, Challenger, Endeavour and Fuggles. A malty note joining in from its British-grown malted barley lending a sliver of treacle toffee and dried fruits before the slide downwards. Served in very good nick.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Dec 2025
Hogan Sampling		04 Dec 2025	Second night on for this East Peckham special brew, north-east of Tonbridge. A dry bitter first bite. A spicy bitterness rapidly climbing with a good maltiness winning over with hints of treacle toffee and dried fruits. A healthy bitterness prevailing and a malty note giving directions on its descent. It has the consistency of a good soup which is no doubt why it took me almost 45 minutes to devour 2 pints. Certainly not quaffable for that reason and one of the slowest at this time of day to sink down for a long time! Strangely palatable it was though.
Philip Pirrip		03 Dec 2025	Held reasonable head and lacing
Hogan Sampling		09 Nov 2025	2nd one tried on this visit: Third day on and still exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting on this Tonbridge special brew from just outside East Peckham and north-east of Tonbridge itself. Only my second tasting of this auburn special best bitter following Saturday evening and here a modest half. An ever so sweet bitter first bite from this beast of a special brew. A sweet maltiness rising from its treacle, toffee and dried fruit flavourings. A spicy hoppiness paddling out. Not a quaffable ale compared to their Capel Pale but good all the same.
Philip Pirrip		09 Nov 2025	Good condition but tasted very malty home brew
Hogan Sampling		08 Nov 2025	Second day on and good head and lacing and lasting on this Tonbridge special brew from just outside East Peckham and north-east of Tonbridge. A very malty first bite. A sweet bitterness rising with a malty note or two firing up from its launch-pad of treacle, toffee and dried fruits. A spicy and malty sweet bitterness slithering downwards.