Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter

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		26 Feb 2026	5th day on and tired
Hogan Sampling		26 Feb 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Now its fifth night on but spotted a fellow regular downing this and so gave this Kentish porter from just south-west of Canterbury, at Chartham, another go. Still full of its flavours but as you would expect, now minus much of its former creamy head. A head nevertheless presented and its lacing lasting almost with the aid of a few decants. Still that dry malty note on its first bite from its Maris Otter malts. Its single Kazbek hops from the Czech Republic presenting a hint of pineapple, passion fruit, peach and watermelon to delight my taste buds. Its maltiness winning over with subtle chocolatey notes derived from its chocolate rye alongside hints of toffee, raisins and red berries from its caramel and crystal rye. Still that same dry bitterness prevailing as on Sunday when first tried and on its sailing downwards. Surprisingly still good for so many days on but without much of that lively conditioning it first came with.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Feb 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	24 Feb 2026
Philip Pirrip		22 Feb 2026	New cask on today. Reasonable head and lacing
Hogan Sampling		22 Feb 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on today was this Kentish porter from just south-west of Canterbury, at Chartham. The Sunday hours start from 1pm and so it could have been well established for my late evening tasting and then pint of this. Superbly creamy on its head with a lacing lasting all the way. A dry malty note on its first bite from its Maris Otter malted barley. Fruit flavourings ambling up derived from its single Kazbek hops from the Czech Republic and known for hints of pineapple, passion fruit, peach and watermelon. A maltiness prevailing with a chocolatey hint and subtle notes of sherry derived from its rye and where caramel and crystal rye aid touches of toffee, raisins and red berries, while chocolate rye aids cocoa and coffee flavours. A very dry bitterness on the final voyage downwards. Very moreish and so hope to sample again a day or so on.
Hogan Sampling		22 Dec 2025	Now the third day on for this Kentish porter, brewed just outside Canterbury at Chartham, with noticeably less head and lacing on being poured and with its lacing not lasting. A bitterness in its first bite. A fruity bitterness rising alongside that same spicy note from its fruity Kazbek hops. Still subtle hints of sherry and porter. A malty fruitiness abseiling out. Other regulars also on it but we were all agreed that it was past its best on just its third day.
Philip Pirrip		22 Dec 2025	A fall from yesterday's grace having become flat in the glass
Philip Pirrip		21 Dec 2025	By far best of the evening
Hogan Sampling		21 Dec 2025	Second day on for this Kentish porter, brewed just outside Canterbury at Chartham, with head and lacing still to die for once again. A bitter but mildly fruited first hit with a hint of chocolate leaping up. A dark fruited sweetness emerging with a bitter dryness giving way to a spicy note from its fruity Kazbek hops. A dry, malty flavouring pervading with subtle hints of sherry and porter bobbing up in this fruity concoction. A maltiness tinged with fruitiness hanging on for its final descent. Still very moreish and was proving very popular among other regulars, too!
Hogan Sampling		20 Dec 2025	Fresh on like the Kent bitter and an impressive foaming top to this Kentish porter, brewed just outside Canterbury at Chartham, and lacing clinging on all the way throughout its stunning performance. A very bitter and mildly fruity first bite from this dark porter. A malty and dark fruited sweetness rising. A bitter dryness pervading with a spicy note leaping up from its Kazbek hops noted for their sweet fruited flavourings, suggestive of pineapple, passion fruit, peach and watermelon. A dry, porter-like, flavouring veering up with a sherry note bobbing along. A dry malty bitterness paddling out. Very palatable indeed!

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		20 Dec 2025	2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting superb head and lacing and lasting for its sailing out on this Chartham-brewed rye porter from south-west of Canterbury itself. A spicy malted first bite from this creature. Lashings of maltiness climbing up with a caramelised fruitiness winning over aided by its Kazbek hops, originally bred in the Czech Republic and a cross between the traditional Saaz hop and a wild male variety. Spicy hints of Christmas cake with a malty sweetness slithering out.

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

The Coopers Arms, Rochester, Kent

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent