Wantsum Black Pig

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.

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		10 Oct 2026	2nd beer of this visit: A good foamy head and lasting lacing on this dark porter from brewing set up in 2009, in Hersden near Canterbury, before in 2017 moving to a rustic spot at St Nicholas Court Farm in St Nicholas at Wade, sitting on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, and the brewery taking its name from the old Wantsum Channel. A dry dark fruited first hit on this porter so-named as a nod to the old Spanish Armada and when the locals used to call those doomed, blackened enemy ships "Black Pigs" when the wreckage came bobbing up on the coastline near Deal. A maltiness rising from its British malts lending a biscuit-like foundation including Crystal malts behind its caramelized sweetness, roasted chocolate malts, and smoky malts throwing down deep notes of ash, espresso and bitter cacao. A prevailing hoppiness with dark fruits rising from its traditional Phoenix lending a crisp bitterness and British Fuggles hops behind its woody and earthy herbal notes. Wild floral flavours abounding for me along with sweet toffee. A dry roasty cocoa bitterness sliding downwards having tamed the heavy sugary weight of the grain on this Kentish porter as dark as a coal-miner's trousers. Served in very good nick with long-lasting conditioning.
Dosser		30 Jul 2019	Superb pint and temperature
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	14 Jun 2019
Dosser		07 Jan 2018	Top beer
John B	Not Tried	06 Jul 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Jan 2013

The Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	18 Jul 2026
Jack William	Not Tried	23 Sep 2022
ChrisE		10 Jun 2021
Andrew		17 Sep 2020	Porter-like, or maybe dark-mild.

Wantsum Brewery (and Brewery Tap), St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent

The Garden House, Norwich, Norfolk

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	21 Feb 2026
Wittenden		14 Feb 2026	Delicious “Baltic” Porter. Black to dark red. Winter fruit.
Wittenden	Not Tried	20 May 2018
Wittenden		02 Dec 2017	Bible black 'Imperial Russian Porter'.Dry, dried fruit.Hadn't been greatly impressed by Wantsum Beers hithertofor:this is good stuff.

The Dog & Duck, Plucks Gutter, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		11 Jan 2026
Jack William		07 Sep 2025	Don’t often go for the darker beers. This was in fine form, well rounded. Very moorish.

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		30 May 2025	Past its best
Philip Pirrip		27 Jul 2023	Held no head nor lacing - came out flat
Philip Pirrip		27 Jan 2023	Beer board showed this as 5%, Wantsum's website says 4.8%
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Jul 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Jul 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Sep 2019
Philip Pirrip		24 May 2019	New cask on today, seemed rather fresh as the good head upon delivery soon dissipated
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Dec 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Sep 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Aug 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Aug 2017

Bricklayers Arms, Beckenham, Greater London

The Anchor Inn, Wingham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		14 Nov 2024	Well rounded, malty but pleasantly free of acidity from coffee, fruit, etc, flavours.

Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		02 Nov 2024	Ice cold beer, flat and lacking condition. Rumour this place is closing for a refurbishment later this month. Needs a reset considering its the world's biggest spoons.
Dosser		18 Nov 2022
Dosser		17 Jul 2022	Nice
Dosser		04 Jun 2022	Nice but ive had better
Dosser		20 May 2021	Lacking condition. Have they tweaked this? Similar elsewhere.
Dosser		14 May 2021	Great pint with a massive head.2.49 a pint.
Dosser		22 Sep 2019
Dosser		05 Aug 2018	Top pint
Dosser		01 Mar 2018	Very good condition

The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		26 Oct 2024	A good pint to start with at £4.10 a pint.

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

Artillery Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		31 Dec 2023	Smooth
Dosser		29 Dec 2023	Went down a treat
Dosser		07 May 2021	Pin on to try this one out

The Ewe & Lamb, Rolvenden Layne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		30 Nov 2023	Baltic Porter on the pump clip.Dark,dry:dried fruit.

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		16 Nov 2023	Good pint for my first in a while.
Dosser		30 Jan 2016	Doesnt get better than this..
ChrisE	Not Tried	05 Oct 2011
Blair		08 Feb 2011	This beer has improved steadily since I first tried it and thought it was pretty mediocre, now it's a lovely beer. Roasted malt, a little fruit in there and a bit of smoke, great body to boot.

Sonder (formerly The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse; The Thirty-Nine Steps Alehouse), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		22 Apr 2023	Went down well.

The Flying Horse, Boughton Lees, Kent

Hoptics (formerly The Real Ale Way), West Wickham, Greater London

The Catherine Wheel, Newbury, Berkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		08 Apr 2022	A rich nutty complex porter with hints of coffee and chocolate.

The Peter Cushing, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		17 Feb 2022	A superb pint of pig.
Andrew	Not Tried	28 Nov 2013
Andrew	Not Tried	06 May 2013

The Monument, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		10 Dec 2021

Petham Pint, Petham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		09 Jul 2021	Top condition- very drinkable.
Jack William		14 May 2021	Easy supping - not quite as much body as I expected.

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		07 Oct 2020	Large taster measure and this was in lovely form with complex tastes

The Mechanical Elephant, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		06 Jul 2020	Lovely. How long till the PC police want a name change? lol
beery steve		09 Jan 2019
Dosser		31 Jan 2016	Not in the same class as the Conqueror the other night.

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		11 Mar 2020	A delicious dark beer.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

The Black Dog, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		06 Feb 2020	£4 a pint and good.
Wittenden	Not Tried	14 Sep 2019
Archie14	Not Tried	02 Sep 2018
Wittenden	Not Tried	11 Aug 2018
Wittenden	Not Tried	26 Nov 2016
Tobes	Not Tried	07 Mar 2015
Dosser		08 Jun 2014
Archie14	Not Tried	08 Mar 2014
Andrew		08 Mar 2014	Nice raisen flavour with hint of liquorish.
Philip Pirrip		02 Oct 2013

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		13 Sep 2019
Dosser		10 May 2018
Dosser		18 Jul 2017	Smooth and the right temperature

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

The Real Ale Way, Hayes (SE London), Greater London

Old Bay Alehouse, Minnis Bay, Kent

This Ancient Boro', Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		26 May 2019

12 Degrees (a.k.a. RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees), Rochester, Kent

Yard of Ale, St Peter's, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		22 Jul 2018	Fine pint

The Golden Lion Hotel, Rochester, Kent

Hair of the Dog, Minster (Thanet), Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		10 Mar 2018	Quality. £3.

The Jolly Fisherman, Hastings, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		26 Nov 2017

The Dolphin, Hastings, East Sussex

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

The John Wallis (formerly Man of Kent), Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		02 Dec 2015
ChrisE		10 Jul 2015	One of my favourite Wantsum beers.

Hill Tap Top (formerly The Portrait), Sidcup, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		30 Oct 2015	Decent, fruity Porter with a little bit of roasted malt character.

Ales of the Unexpected, Westbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		11 Jun 2015	Superb

The George & Dragon, Fordwich, Kent

Montefiore Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	24 Mar 2014
Blair		03 Feb 2010	Roasted malt and maybe a hint of chocolate. The flavours are good but I thought it was a little bit watery and not quite full-flavoured enough.

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Astor Community Theatre, Deal, Kent

The Society Rooms, Maidstone, Kent

The Leading Light, Faversham, Kent

The Old Brewery Tavern, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		27 Apr 2013	Good beer. Bit cold though.

The Flying Boat, Dartford, Kent

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Nov 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Nov 2012
Dosser		29 Jan 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	27 Jan 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	25 Jan 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Apr 2011
Ian		13 Nov 2010	Still one of the best Wantsum beers. Some roast but quite juicy. A stout a porter a dark ale? I have no idea.
Angie		13 Nov 2010	superb beer
Pedro		12 Nov 2010	super black beer !

Robin Hood, Blue Bell Hill, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		24 Jun 2012	A decent dark un'.

The West Gate Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		09 Apr 2012	Really rich and full-bodied. Cracking beer and possibly beer of the day for me.
Alenomore	Not Tried	27 Dec 2011
Martin the Mildman		24 Dec 2011	Sweetish and quite fruity dark brown porter with a devloping roast malt and bitter hop finish. My score 16/20.
Blair		22 Oct 2010	Tastes better than when I first had it but still a tad watery. Has all the qualities you want in a porter just needs to amp it up a bit.

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Dec 2011
Pedro		28 Oct 2011

Six Bells, Woodchurch, Kent

The Phoenix, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		17 Dec 2010	Nice black smokey beer. Probably my favourite from this brewer.

The Thomas Ingoldsby, Canterbury, Kent

The Parrot (Young's), Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		20 Mar 2010	Best Wantsum beer I have had. Good choc and coffee flavours. Lovely porter style beer. Good flavour, excellent finish.
Brian		08 Jan 2010	Said excellent may just have been good, but it was the first pint for a week. Had a couple. It's black, roasty malt with bitter finish. A bit thin perhaps, no real punch, but had 2 without noticing. Good stuff really.