Wantsum More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%)

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 Chapel, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		25 Oct 2025	Given often a low footfall early afternoon for my Saturday visits, I sought a taster of this "hoppy modern bitter" and this revealed a hint of vinegar but not overly. So bravely I went for a pint of this Kentish bitter brewed at St Nicholas-at-Wade, south-west of Birchington-on-Sea. Its head and lacing was very good. Its lacing lasted too to the end of the pint glass. It commenced with a very dry bitter first bite. A good fruited bitterness climbing up and a dry but slightly citrusy fruitiness winning over. Described as a modern bitter by the brewery, there is though no reference to where its hops are from. A malty note or two also presenting on its final paddle out to sea. Had it here before on earlier visits this year and several times at least and the bitter then was better and minus the ever so slightly vinegary hint. Cannot beat its price at £3.30 a pint and it even beats Gadds' taproom prices of £4.00 a pint a couple of weeks back.
Hogan Sampling		16 Aug 2025	This chestnut-coloured bitter is now a regular here from earlier recent visits and from the St Nicholas-at-Wade microbrewery just outside Birchington-on-Sea. A good price of £3.40 a pint and only its second day on. A sample did not disappoint. A pint was duly served. Head and lacing, very good indeed, and lasting very well. A malt-infused bitter first bite. A pleasant hoppiness rising assisted by its Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops lending it a fruitiness. A maltiness winning over for my taste buds with a moreish bitterness sailing off on this now sunny afternoon. The brewer, Wantsum set up in 2009, has won Silver & Bronze in the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates' Independent South East Beer Award of 2024.
Hogan Sampling		02 Aug 2025	This chestnut-coloured bitter is now evidently a regular from the St Nicholas-at-Wade microbrewery just outside Birchington-on-Sea as was also on three weeks ago. This one I sampled as intended a pint as sold at such a good price of £3.40 a pint. A sample did not disappoint and indeed the barman told me it was fresh on that day. A pint was duly served. Head and lacing, very good indeed, and lasting very well. A malt-infused bitter first bite. A moderately hoppy bitterness rising up aided by its Centennial, Chinook, Citra hops lending fruit and floral infusions. A malty note or two bobbing up and down. A superbly moreish bitterness sailing off into the sunset on this largely calm and sunny day. The brewer, Wantsum, set up in 2009 and has won Silver & Bronze in the SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) Independent South East Beer Award 2024.
Hogan Sampling		12 Jul 2025	Very good head and lacing and lasted throughout its matinee performance on this bitter from St Nicholas-at-Wade, just south-west of Birchington. I do like a beer that also looks the part as if on stage. A moreishly dry bitter first bite with a hint of citrus. A fruit-infused hoppy bitterness, aided by its Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops, rising. A malty note or two playing along before sailing off into what has become a sunny afternoon after all! I discovered this once climbing back out of this ancient chapel building. Just a mere £3.40 a pint. I had to check this out afterwards and Real Ale Finder dot com confirmed I was charged the correct price. Certainly the cheapest in years and not even the Gadd's Easter beer festival could compete on price at £4.00 a pint this year. This discounts the odd Spoons I have ventured into of course!

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		18 Apr 2025	It was okay. I then mixed it with some Hofmeister and that pepped it up a bit.

Ales & Antiques, Tankerton, Kent

The Handsome Sam, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		02 Aug 2024	A chestnut coloured bitter providing malt and roasted grains balanced by fruit and floral hop bitterness with a hint of citrus. Now @ 3.7%

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Aug 2019	Malty chestnut ale
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Aug 2015

One Green Bottle, Battlesbridge, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		21 Jun 2019

The Pilots' Rest (formerly The Flying Sheep Micropub), Sheerness, Kent

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip		24 Jun 2018

The Tickled Trout, Wye, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor	Not Tried	04 May 2016
Trevor	Not Tried	10 Feb 2016
Trevor	Not Tried	28 Jan 2016
Trevor	Not Tried	19 Jan 2016
Trevor		11 Jan 2016
Trevor		17 Nov 2015	Flavourful and in good condition
Trevor	Not Tried	30 Jul 2015
Trevor		02 Jul 2015	Nice flavour and good condition
ChrisE		30 Jun 2015

Rack of Ale, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		26 Aug 2015

The Two Halves, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		03 Aug 2015	Full taste for 3.5%
Dosser	Not Tried	02 Aug 2015	In 3 pubs in margate today!!

Turneround, Margate, Kent

Harbour Arms, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	01 Aug 2015
ChrisE		25 Jun 2013

Hair of the Dog, Minster (Thanet), Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		11 Jun 2015

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 May 2015	Full taste for a low abv

Admiral Owen, Sandwich, Kent

Bell & Crown, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		13 Jan 2015

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

The Phoenix, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	23 Sep 2014
Andrew	Not Tried	19 May 2011
Andrew		28 Mar 2011	Great session beer.
Andrew	Not Tried	06 Aug 2010
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Aug 2010
Alenomore	Not Tried	23 Jul 2010
Ian	Not Tried	22 Jul 2010
Andrew	Not Tried	09 Jul 2010
Andrew		29 Jun 2010	Cloudy with bits floating in it but even still it was a tasty pint. It's has quite a rough, unsophisticated hop that I'm getting to like the taste of.

The Society Rooms, Maidstone, Kent

The Peter Cushing, Whitstable, Kent

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Aug 2013	Full flavoured for its abv
John B	Not Tried	06 Jul 2013

The Kings Arms, Offham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		05 Aug 2013

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Dec 2012
Philip Pirrip		01 Nov 2012	Good first beer here
ChrisE		17 Nov 2010	A good tasty session bitter. Slightly lacking in condition but very enjoyable.
beery steve		16 Nov 2010

The Chambers, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		30 Nov 2012	Light beer on OK form

Jolly Drayman, Gravesend, Kent

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		11 Aug 2012	Nasty, sour, darkish beer. Should not be like this and I could not finish my half.

King Ethelbert Inn, Reculver, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		11 Aug 2012	Really excellent. Tart fruit, lemon rind and some grapefruit
Andrew		13 May 2012	Good condition for this quality beer.

The Eight Bells, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		12 May 2012	Really good in here tonight. I had a good number of pints of this, and did not bother to look at the rest of the selection of ales.
Andrew	Not Tried	04 Feb 2011
Ian	Not Tried	27 Jan 2011

George & Dragon, Headcorn, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	15 Apr 2012
Pedro		14 Apr 2012

The Old Brewery Tavern, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		04 Feb 2012
Martin the Mildman		27 Dec 2010	Served too cold so difficult to ascertain much of what was going on. Quite bitter with some hop flavours and not much malt I think. My score a somewhat generous 14/20.

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser	Not Tried	04 Dec 2011
Alenomore	Not Tried	04 Dec 2011
Pedro		04 Dec 2011
Pedro		03 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	02 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	30 Nov 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Oct 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Oct 2011
Pedro		21 Oct 2011
Dosser	Not Tried	20 Oct 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	19 Oct 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Oct 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Apr 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	28 Jan 2011
Dosser	Not Tried	22 Nov 2010
Pedro		21 Nov 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	19 Nov 2010
Angie	Not Tried	23 Oct 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Oct 2010
Alenomore	Not Tried	20 Oct 2010
Alenomore	Not Tried	17 Oct 2010
Angie	Not Tried	28 Jun 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	28 Jun 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	26 Jun 2010
Dosser	Not Tried	24 Jun 2010

The Saxon Shore, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		31 Jul 2011	Hint of Wantsum flavour coming though but probably a little tired.

3rd K&ES Railway Beer Festival 2011, Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman	Not Tried	18 Jun 2011
oz11		18 Jun 2011

Dartford Working Men's Club, Dartford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		14 Aug 2010	A typical Wantsum beer, a little hazy but very enjoyable pint.

Kent Beer Festival 2010, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		24 Jul 2010

The Red Lion, Hythe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		29 Jun 2010	Amber coloured, slightly eggy.

Lenham Working Mens Club, Lenham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		22 May 2010
Pedro		21 May 2010

The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		16 May 2010	My kind of beer; brown, earthy hop, malty body. What a beer should be.

The Parrot (Young's), Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		10 Apr 2010	This was weird. It was like drinking a rustic beer in that it had real farm yard flavours about it with a hint of sulphurous-eggy spells. Tasted of toasted sunflower seeds and of a liquidised farm-yard. It was cloudy and not in great condition but even so it just had something about it.

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2010, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		02 Apr 2010	Copper colour, slight haze, bubbly beige head. Eggy farty Burton snatch of an aroma. Not great in mouth. Not great condition either. But it's kinda ok.
Alenomore		02 Apr 2010	Another new one from Wantsum.