Larkins 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.

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		21 May 2024	First rate, keeping superb head and lacing until the end
Dosser		07 Sep 2023	Lovely pint. First pint on my way back from Crete. 2 hours ago.
Philip Pirrip		05 Sep 2023	Top form

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Apr 2024	First rate in every way. Delicious
Philip Pirrip		01 Sep 2023	Could really have done with a Tally Ho! tonight!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Aug 2023	Ran out
Philip Pirrip		14 Aug 2023	Been on a few days, not helped by having 2 porters available at same time
Philip Pirrip		11 Aug 2023	A rather bitter porter holding good head and lacing
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jul 2023
Philip Pirrip		22 Jul 2023	Good enough, lacked something compared with, say, Tally Ho! Rather thin for its ABV

The Real Ale Way, West Wickham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		23 Jun 2023	A rare find, alas soon lost head and lacing. Guess been on a few days

The Wheatsheaf, Bough Beech, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		11 Dec 2022	An autumnal classic:dried fruit,raspberries.

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		14 Mar 2020	A cheering sight.Dried fruit,bitter chocolate.
Wittenden		26 Jan 2019	Exemplorary.Bible back,roast,raspberries.On tiptop form.
Wittenden		10 Nov 2018	First sighting of this iconic beer for the season. Muscular and dry.Magic.
Wittenden	Not Tried	15 Mar 2018	Sorely tempted.
Wittenden	Not Tried	01 Feb 2018
Wittenden	Not Tried	06 Jan 2018
Wittenden		15 Dec 2017	My first sighting of this iconic Porter this year.Roasty,bitter chocolate and mercifully no caramel.

The Real Ale Way, Westerham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		12 Dec 2019	A delight I have not tasted for some years as Larkins is very much a local beer not travelling far from its home

Castle Inn, Chiddingstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	10 Mar 2019
Wittenden		06 Feb 2016	In cracking form, just off a five.The right level of austerity, tempered by raspberries.Very drinkable:a classic.
Wittenden	Not Tried	03 Jan 2015
Wittenden		29 Nov 2014	Hints of greatness, but sour notes predominating.Taken off during the session.
Andrew	Not Tried	10 Feb 2007

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		22 Dec 2018	Probably not quite ready, a bit oily on the tongue. Still, great to find this iconic Kent beer here.

Queens Arms, Cowden Pound, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		21 Feb 2015
HSB		12 Dec 2014

The Rock, Chiddingstone Hoath, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		03 Jan 2015	Dry,roasty,raspberries.A classic.
James		22 Nov 2008	Wonderful taste with the burnt chocolaty caramel coming from the chocolate malt, and the large volume of hops used to brew it, but not at all heavy, it doesn’t taste like a 5.2. A great beer.
Andrew		10 Feb 2007	The best Larkin's porter I've ever had. It had milky alcohol with toasted malt and subtle acrid bitter finish.

The Royal Oak, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		16 Dec 2014	On excellent form.
Pedro		26 Feb 2011
thebrewingman		13 Jan 2010	In excellent condition. It just slipped down. A shame I was driving or else I would have had another one.
JeffnJo		10 Feb 2009	Well served, smooth, creamy, tasteful as ever.

Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		07 Feb 2014	Hint of green wood but lovely roasted moreish liquorish
Mick		07 Feb 2014	Larkins Porter. Nothing else to say.
Philip Pirrip		07 Feb 2014

The Padwell Arms, Seal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Tobes		30 Nov 2013

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2013, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		01 Feb 2013	Complex, fruit, sweet, sour, milky. It's Larkins!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Feb 2013

Good Intent, West Farleigh, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		22 Dec 2012	Super drink

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2012, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		06 Apr 2012	Awesome. I could have 'scooped' but, hey, why on earth would I when this was on!

The Chequers, Laddingford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		12 Feb 2012
Pedro		11 Feb 2012

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2012, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		03 Feb 2012	ok bit a bit sweet for me. preferred the Elland

1st Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		23 Oct 2011	An A1 dark type, and rarely seen.
Martin the Mildman		22 Oct 2011	A benchmark classic porter against which others should be judged. Sweetish malt flavours of chocolate and toffee balanced by bitter hoppiness leading to a fruity finish. My score 17/20.

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick	Not Tried	04 Jun 2011
Andrew		01 Jun 2011	Ha ha ha ha ha. This is THE best porter in THE best pub.
Ken		12 Apr 2011	Pure nectar from the man reputed to talk to his hops to get the best out of them
Andrew		08 Apr 2011	Oh yes. The Daddy of Porters is back. Just stunningly good. Stunningly good. Initial flavours are fruity with hints of burnt perspex. The main body is milk powder, roasted malt, slightly sour, slightly acidic. The finish is of acrid milk. Just lovely.
Mick		08 Apr 2011	Andrew said it all really. Sublime.
Blair		06 Apr 2011	The perfect porter, end of.
Andrew		05 Dec 2008	The almighty Larkins Porter. Superb. Hint of smoke, lovely burnt malt and spicy flavours.
Mick		05 Dec 2008	Superb, dark black/ruby and with a perfect white head. Even better than last night. Rich roast malt, chocolate and caramel with the hops coming through. I can't believe this is 5.2%. I may have to come back tomorrow to see how it is changing
Andrew		06 Feb 2008	I love this beer. ...and this pint was on top form.
Ian	Not Tried	02 Dec 2006
Andrew		02 Dec 2006	Very very dark red brown in colour. Smelt of apple peel. Black currents and applecore flavours in the front of the mouth with acrid burnt sugar at the back. If you run it down the middle of the tounge there's a lot of raspberry in it. Basically this beer is brillant.
Andrew		31 Dec 2005	This is such a good beer. Lots of rich burnt chocolate flavours with a very smooth finish
Andrew		02 Dec 2005	Dark red black in colour. The aroma is of coffee and milk and the initial taste is sweet and milky but quickly followed by a tart bitter burnt coffee flavour. The finish is sweet acrid and burnt with the mouth left buzzing.
Ian	Not Tried	07 Apr 2005
Ian		22 Mar 2005	Lots of different flavours from the malt, coffee and chocolate amongst them. A stunning mouthful
Andrew		13 Mar 2005	Well I've nothing new to add about this beer. It's great
Andrew		29 Jan 2005	What can I say that I haven't said before. Fantastic
Andrew		22 Jan 2005	This stuff is just fantastic. It just doesn't taste like a 5.2% beer. The caramel and burnt malt balance is perfect and I just love drinking it
Andrew		15 Jan 2005	Every time I have this it gets better and better. The ballance between burnt malt and caramel is fantastic and this now rates as one of my favourite beers of all time
Andrew		31 Dec 2004	Very caramely and burnt. Loverly but I probably wouldn't want more than half a pint of it

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hopmonster		21 Mar 2011	Had the last pint!

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2011, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		04 Feb 2011	Light, sweet, tart

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2010, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		03 Apr 2010
Andrew		02 Apr 2010	Watery top soil flavours dominated this usually superb beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2010, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		05 Feb 2010	Sometimes beers can get over hyped and you expect too much of them and they don't deliver. Well, this is the opposite. It lives up to the hype and high scores. Sublime. Really smooth and easy drinking, yet full of flavour. Mouthfeel and swallow are both perfect.

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		11 Dec 2009	Couldnt get me off this !
Blair		12 Nov 2009	Fantastic porter, a burned almost smoky taste to it. This is how dark beers should be made.
Blair		11 Dec 2008	This is what a porter should taste like! Lots of roasted malt and a little smoky, stunning beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		01 Feb 2008	Slightly sweet and sour. Milky with a pleasant roastyness. Had this twice

Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		10 Feb 2007	Decent porter with some choc and coffee. Bit watery and not as grainy as it could be. Reasonably full.
Andrew		10 Feb 2007	Rich burnt malt with silky body and subtle burnt finish. Not as good as it was at the Rock though

The Lobster Pot, West Malling, Kent