Goacher's Best Dark Ale (aka Original)

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.

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		01 Nov 2024	A rich complex full-bodied ale with high proportions of crystal malt and East Kent Golding hops.
Jack William	Not Tried	01 Nov 2023
Archie14		08 Aug 2021	The original! Great stuff

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	05 Oct 2024	Went off as I approached the bar.
Wittenden		02 Apr 2022	Lovely peppery farmyard ethos.
Wittenden		03 Jul 2021	A dark bitter? We thought it wonderful when it came out in the 80s.Still pretty damn good.
Wittenden	Not Tried	01 Aug 2020

The Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		15 Sep 2024	Superb Goachers for the Goachers drinker. Just lovely. Brilliant condition, smooth, well balanced malty excellence.
Andrew		10 May 2024	Day 6 of being on so pushing it a bit. But still good.
Andrew		08 May 2024	Really nice. Different to yesterday in that it had mellowed a bit
Andrew		07 May 2024	Goachers for the Goachers drinker. Excellent condition, earthy roasted malt with some lovely subtle caramel sweetness.
Andrew		02 Apr 2024	Solid Goachers Dark. I had a few.
Andrew		16 Feb 2024	Came here specifically because we knew this was on. Lovely stuff!
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	23 Jan 2024

Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		22 Jun 2024	Really top notch stuff
Andrew		02 Sep 2022	Wonderful
ChrisE		09 Sep 2021	In top notch condition.
ChrisE		26 May 2021
ChrisE		20 May 2021	A new cask on, superb.
ChrisE		31 Oct 2020
Magnus Greel		31 Oct 2020
ChrisE		22 Sep 2020
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 Aug 2020
ChrisE	Not Tried	28 Jul 2020	This was selling well but ran out as I was about to order one.
ChrisE		14 Jul 2020
ChrisE		18 Jun 2019	Polly informed me that this beer may soon be officially renamed Original.
ChrisE		11 Oct 2018
ChrisE		01 Nov 2017
ChrisE	Not Tried	31 Oct 2017	Not quite ready, but should be on tomorrow. The Dark should be available until the Gold Star returns.
ChrisE		16 Sep 2016
ChrisE	Not Tried	24 Aug 2016
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	26 Jul 2016
ChrisE		25 Jun 2016	Last one from the cask and really excellent.
ChrisE		25 Jun 2016	One of the first from a new cask and just as good as the previous one.
ChrisE		17 Jun 2016
HSB	Not Tried	05 Nov 2015
Philip Pirrip		02 Nov 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	29 Aug 2015
ChrisE		02 Jun 2015
ChrisE		26 May 2015

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		08 Jun 2024	Fresh on. Be cracking tomorrow I should think.
Stephen Harris		11 Aug 2012	Old-fashioned, traditional Kentish beer – all Crystal malt and Goldings hops.
ChrisE	Not Tried	12 Jul 2012	Others in our group drank this and said that it was in superb condition.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Jun 2024	A healthy balance of malt and hops. Would have liked more condition, yet this was a fresh cask on today
Philip Pirrip		22 Feb 2024	A Best Dark in fine form, enough to have 2
Philip Pirrip		20 Jul 2023	Zingy, lots of mouthfeel, good enough to have a second one
Philip Pirrip		02 Jul 2023	A reliable Goacher's ale
Philip Pirrip		23 Apr 2023	Seemed maltier than usual
Philip Pirrip		14 Feb 2023	A workhorse ale
Philip Pirrip		12 Feb 2023	Came on at very last knockings
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Nov 2022
Philip Pirrip		20 Nov 2022	OK could have held a better head and lacing
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Aug 2022
Philip Pirrip		11 Aug 2022	I aver something has changed in the recipe, seems maltier and sweeter than is usual (or used to be)
Philip Pirrip		30 Jun 2022	My favourite all year round Goacher's ale
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip		17 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Feb 2022	Ugh - ran out as I ordered
Philip Pirrip		07 Dec 2021	Sold out same day was put on - mine suffered from being one of last out alas
Philip Pirrip		04 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip		03 Oct 2021	Beer as it should always be
Philip Pirrip		12 Jul 2021	New cask today - great condition. My favourite Goacher's ale when 1066 is not available
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Jul 2021	Came on at closing time, primarily for tomorrow
Philip Pirrip		19 May 2021	As top 'ole as on Monday
Philip Pirrip		17 May 2021	Really lovely nick
Philip Pirrip		21 Nov 2019	Excellent basic bitter, Goacher's at its best (unless it is 1066!!)
Philip Pirrip		16 Oct 2019
Philip Pirrip		09 Jun 2019	Ugh. Totally flat and overly bitter sharp, not the Goacher's Best Dark I know and love. Very nearly did not finish it
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Mar 2019
Philip Pirrip		03 Mar 2019
Philip Pirrip		05 Dec 2018	Professional brew

The Rose & Crown, Stelling Minnis, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	08 May 2024
Andrew		08 Mar 2024	Good condition
Mick		29 Mar 2013	A bit tired, lacking any real condition.
Mick		12 Jan 2013	Very nice, rich and dark with a balanced bitterness, not at all heavy.

The Black Lion, Lynsted, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	13 Mar 2024
Andrew		20 Jan 2024	Dark earthy roasted goodness. Goachers for the Goachers drinker.
Andrew		29 Feb 2020	Rough earthy malt. Goachers for the Goachers drinker.
Andrew		13 May 2017	It was okay but the flavours hadn't come out to play yet.
Andrew		07 May 2017	Very good Dark. Roasted malt and deep Goachers excellence.
Andrew		12 Sep 2015	Less caramel and more toasted sugar than I recall but good enough to have 2 pints.
thebrewingman		11 Nov 2014	Lighter than the title would suggest.
Wittenden		18 May 2013	Wonderful beer! Dark 'n ' earthy, with an underlying wealth of hops. I hadn't drunk this in years, but it is even better than it was in the Smarden Bell in the '80s.
Wittenden	Not Tried	20 Oct 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	29 Sep 2012
Andrew	Not Tried	03 Mar 2012
Andrew		17 Aug 2010	Nice toasted malts. Good Goacher's bitterness. Nice.
Andrew		08 Jun 2009	Roasted malt and syrupy bite. Excellent condition. Good quality Goacher's but then it's Goacher's so I'd expect nothing less.
Ian		12 Jan 2008	First pint was drinkable, but lacked that malty intensity. After that it was plain sailing all the way and Andrew and myself ended the session with 2 pints of it each as it was perfect.
Andrew		12 Jan 2008	Ian's first pint of this was a bit watery but I though I better have it anyway so I ordered it in the next round. My pint was nothing like Ian's previous one. This was the best Goacher's Dark I've had for probably 6 or 7 years. It truely was, "Goacher's for the Goacher's Drinker". Looking at my notes sober I see I wrote, "If I wasn't marrying Jane I'd marry this", a comment that didn't go down too well with Jane at the time I recall.
Andrew	Not Tried	29 Dec 2007	Badged as Goacher's Dark
Andrew	Not Tried	31 Dec 2006	Badged as 'Dark'
Andrew		01 Aug 2006	Badged as 'Dark'. I'm beginning to wonder if Dark and Original are actually different. Anyway this was wonderfully smooth with a dark burnt sugar bite on the end coupled with that tell-tale Goacher's hop finish

Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		03 Feb 2024	Thin body not good condition

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 Dec 2023	Very last pint out of the cask. Still very passable
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Sep 2019
Philip Pirrip		12 Nov 2018	A foaming head
Philip Pirrip		01 Nov 2017	In lovely nick
Philip Pirrip		18 Feb 2016	Beautifully balanced

The Plough, Stalisfield Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		01 Oct 2023	Forty years of earthy goodness.Nostalgia in a glass.

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		18 Nov 2022	Really good stuff
Andrew		15 Jun 2019

Red Lion, Milstead, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		25 Aug 2022	Served in a Goachers glass too!

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		26 Jul 2022	Recently striking me that a woodier taste is coming out in this ale
Philip Pirrip		04 Jul 2022	Lovely nick, oddly more malty than I expected
Philip Pirrip		19 Jun 2021	My favourite Goacher's ale
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 Dec 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Jul 2019

The Little Gem, Aylesford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		17 Mar 2022
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	03 Jan 2022
ChrisE		04 Nov 2021
ChrisE		11 Sep 2021
Philip Pirrip		31 Jul 2021	From gravity cask on bar back shelf. The grail, the mid brown English bitter I had sought all week

Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		11 Dec 2019

The Black Dog, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	24 Aug 2019
Philip Pirrip		22 Aug 2019	Excellent
Wittenden	Not Tried	08 Apr 2017
Philip Pirrip		22 Oct 2015

The Two Halves, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		13 Jun 2019

The Waterworks, Rye, East Sussex

The Paper Mill, Sittingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14	Not Tried	14 Sep 2018
Dosser		15 Feb 2015
Judy G Garland	Not Tried	09 Nov 2013
Archie14	Not Tried	09 Nov 2013

The Chambers, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		10 Aug 2018	Sharp taste and whiff of acetics. Swapped with good grace but was disappointed to see it still sold to others

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		22 Mar 2018
HSB	Not Tried	05 Nov 2015

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		01 Nov 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Apr 2014
ChrisE	Not Tried	22 Mar 2012
ChrisE	Not Tried	16 Jun 2011
Ian		10 Mar 2007	Badged as Goachers Dark. Just not that wide mouth feel you associate with this beer. Not quite roasty/toasty enough for me. Nothing wrong with it, but I know it can taste better.
Andrew		10 Mar 2007	Badged as Goacher's Dark. The first pint of this I had got a 5/5 score but the second only a 3.5/5. Anyway, the beer had good earthy hops with a toasted malt bite to the finish. I liked it a lot.

Rack of Ale, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		03 Sep 2017

Louis Armstrong, Dover, Kent

Ship Centurion, Whitstable, Kent

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	07 Feb 2017
Tobes	Not Tried	21 Aug 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	20 Jun 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	13 Jun 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	06 Jun 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	07 Feb 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	15 Feb 2014
Tobes	Not Tried	14 Feb 2014
Tobes		01 Feb 2014
Bulls	Not Tried	07 Jun 2013
Dosser	Not Tried	05 Jun 2013
Toby	Not Tried	01 Jun 2013
Angie	Not Tried	18 May 2013	Everyone loved this
Pedro	Not Tried	20 Aug 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	19 Aug 2012
Alenomore		19 Aug 2012	Very surprised to see this one here. Very nice too.
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Aug 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	23 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Dec 2011
Angie	Not Tried	31 Jan 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	31 Jan 2011
Pedro		07 Jan 2011
Dosser	Not Tried	06 Jan 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	04 Jan 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Sep 2010
Pedro		29 May 2010
Angie	Not Tried	27 Mar 2010
Alenomore		26 Mar 2010	In tip top condition here.
Pedro		26 Mar 2010
Pedro		25 Mar 2010
Pedro		24 Mar 2010	super
Pedro	Not Tried	31 Jan 2010
Pedro		30 Jan 2010

Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, Dover, Kent

The Thomas Tallis Alehouse, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		22 Apr 2016	Umm Goachers for the Goachers drinker

The Tankerton Arms, Tankerton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		04 Dec 2015	Very nice. Bit fresh. Give it a day or 2 and it'd be top notch stuff
Andrew		08 Jun 2013	Stunning condition and truely Goachers for the Goachers drinker

The Phoenix Tavern, Faversham, Kent

The Lanes, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		08 Aug 2015	On top form.

Yard of Ale, St Peter's, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		12 Jul 2014	Plenty of condition, a very good pint of gravity dispensed ale.

The Windmill, Sevenoaks Weald, Kent

The Yew Tree, Sandling, Kent

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		17 Dec 2013	Full bodied

Old Plantation, Bearsted, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		13 Dec 2013	In fine form
ChrisE		28 Oct 2013	In top form.

Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		12 Oct 2013
Wittenden		10 Sep 2013	Luscious and chocolately:this beer hasn't altered since the 80s, when I enjoyed it at the Smarden Bell. Prime.

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Judy G Garland	Not Tried	02 Oct 2013
Pedro		26 Jul 2013
Pedro		17 Nov 2012
Alenomore	Not Tried	15 Nov 2012	Missed this ale, for one reason or another!
Pedro		15 Nov 2012
Pedro		23 Oct 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	02 Feb 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	28 Oct 2011	in bar
Pedro		09 Jul 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	30 Oct 2010
Pedro		29 Oct 2010
Ian		26 Jul 2008	Andrew and I always say that this beer is Goachers for the Goachers drinker. Look wonderful, clear deep amber with thick bubbly cream head. Tastes fresh. Lovely toasty roasty malt. Rich yet agile. Not quite as intense as the pint at Xmas at the Black Lion, Lynsted, but still very very good. Little bit of milky coffee.

Friars, Aylesford, Kent

Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11	Not Tried	25 May 2013
oz11		27 Aug 2012
thebrewingman		16 Nov 2010

The Bouncing Barrel, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		07 May 2013	In fine condition and held its head so a repeat was called for

The Royal Paper Mill, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		02 Feb 2013
Pedro		10 Jan 2013	Last one out and was offered to change it!
Pedro		21 Sep 2012
Pedro		03 Aug 2012
Pedro		01 Oct 2011
Pedro		14 Jul 2011
Pedro		05 Feb 2011
Pedro		26 Aug 2010
Andrew		22 Aug 2008	Although there was a pump clip on a pump for this the landlady went out the back to pour the beer. It was a bit cloudy and tasted a little out of condition with none of the fresh rich Goachers flavours I associate with this beer. It was drinkable but nothing to write home about.

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian	Not Tried	21 Dec 2012
Ian		19 Dec 2012	I mean its lovely. Bit too cold maybe. Great condition. So drinkable

The White House, Hunton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		04 Dec 2012
Pedro		15 Jul 2012
thebrewingman		01 Jul 2012
Pedro		24 Nov 2011

Leas Lift Beer Festival, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	28 Jul 2012
Ian		27 Jul 2012	drinkable as hell

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Jun 2012	A good half of the Dark
Ian		26 Sep 2009	Is it me or is this lighter in colour than normal? Whatever, it's superb. Great and interessting malts ranging in texture and flavour. Simply one of the best beers in Kent.

The Fox, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		16 Oct 2011	A pleasant surprise and on good form here.
Pedro		16 Oct 2011
Pedro		24 Sep 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Apr 2011
Pedro		12 Feb 2011
Pedro		05 Feb 2011
Pedro		15 Jan 2011
Pedro		23 Dec 2010
Pedro		21 Nov 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	20 Nov 2010

The Rising Sun, Twitton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		29 Apr 2011

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		22 Apr 2011	An excellent beer in mediocre form

East Malling Beer & Cider Festival 2010, East Malling, Kent

The Lobster Pot, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		28 Aug 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	27 Aug 2010
Ian		16 Sep 2005	Badged as Best Dark. Just misses being a 5/5. Reddy brown colour with lasting beige head. Dark malts and Goachers yeast aroma with chocolate and coffee. Grainy throughout with burnt malt flavours which are excellent

Kent Beer Festival 2010, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		24 Jul 2010	The last half out of the barrel and it was still good. Roasted with a hint of red fruit.

King's Head, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		23 Jul 2010	Surpised to see two Goachers ales on here, and very good too.

2nd K&ES Railway Beer Festival 2010, Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore	Not Tried	12 Jun 2010
Pedro		12 Jun 2010

Red Lion, Snargate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		01 Aug 2009	Good, malty, strong tasting Dark. Goachers for the Goachers drinker
Andrew		23 Jun 2007	Badged as 'Goachers Dark'. Toasted roasted ruby brown beer. Slightly sweet with an earthy acrid malt bite

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2009, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		22 May 2009	Superb, dark, rich with toffee/malt and a good hop balance. Could have drunk this all afternoon.

Shipwrights Arms, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	15 Feb 2009
Steve	Not Tried	10 Aug 2007
Andrew		03 Mar 2007	Toasted nutty malt with a good toasted malt bite on the finish.
Andrew		21 Jan 2006	Same peaty over-flavour as the Special. Subtle toasted caramel on finish. Umm... no Goacher's signiture taste of malt and progress hops. My guess is this barrel had only just been tapped so hadn't mellowed yet.
Ian	Not Tried	29 Aug 2005
Andrew		26 Aug 2005	Interesting. Tasted of acetate. Very burnt flavours to start with a slight sweetness and then burnt malt on the finish. Not the usual taste of Goacher's Dark
Andrew		09 Apr 2005	That good old goachers taste but a bit more earthy than usual
Andrew		28 Aug 2004
Andrew		16 Apr 2004

Blakes of Dover, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel		06 Feb 2009	Gravity dispensed, malt-led with some chocolate coming through. Very drinkable but we'd finished on barley wine at the festival so apologies if I'm doing it a disservice.
Brian		04 Feb 2006	Superb. Don't remember much else except the overall impression was lovely.
Ian	Not Tried	01 Feb 2006	Badged as Dark and came on just as I was leaving.

The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne, Kent

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2007, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		25 May 2007	Fine, if a little dull

The Rose & Crown, Perry Wood, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		09 Apr 2007	Badged as "Best Dark". Fresh and clean with a toasted malt bite on the finish.

The Elephant, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		26 Aug 2006	Badged as Goachers Dark. Deep chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Goachers distinctive aroma, good malty flavour. Choc/malt aroma. Bit acidic. Fine but needs a bit more depth

Kent Beer Festival 2006, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		20 Jul 2006	Badged as Goacher's Dark. Quite fizzy. Bit too much sherbert for a ber that's usually a cooked sugar & fuggles hop treat

Rare Breeds Beer Festival 2006, Woodchurch, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Jun 2006	Little bit of malt to start with followed by lots of burnt sugar

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2006, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		27 May 2006	Badged as Goacher's Dark. A dark brown beer. Balding head and a slight goacher's smell to it. Slight attrified burnt treacle taste but not much going on which is a shame as this can be a lovely beer

Sugar Loaves, Hollingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		16 Sep 2005	Badged as Dark. This was off so I had to return it.
Ian		30 Jan 2005	Badged as Goachers Dark this has wonderful dark malty burnt flavours

Kent Beer Festival 2005, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		21 Jul 2005	Badged as Goachers Dark but I think there are the same thing. Anyway it was too lively which was a shame.

Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival 2005, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		27 May 2005	Badged as Best Dark Ale. Dark brown beer. Grainy roasted matl nose, full in mouth with chocolate and caramel malts leading to dry malty finish. Superb dark ale