Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) The Reeve's Ale

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
Hogan Sampling		02 Jan 2026	Only two supped as ran out after that. The first bitter from the Chartham-based brewery, south-west of Canterbury, presented good head and lacing and lasting. The second struggled on that front with much head and lacing not lasting. My comments below are only applicable to the first pint supped as flavours were diminishing by the second. A very dry malty first hit from its nutty malts. A hint of tartness rising in its fruity bitterness aided by its berry fruited hops. A lingering dry bitterness evident on its way out.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Jan 2026
Philip Pirrip		09 Oct 2025	Maltier more than bitter. Rather flat in glass made it a little unappetising
Hogan Sampling		09 Oct 2025	Now the third night on for this Kentish bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Not as lively as when first sampled on Tuesday but still displaying a good head and holding its lacing to the end. A very dry bitter first bite. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising with a touch of malty nuttiness shining through with hints of berry flavours. A dry bitter maltiness playing a good hand of cards before saddling up for its final descent.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Oct 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Oct 2025
Hogan Sampling		07 Oct 2025	Fresh on this evening was this bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing good when served but not holding on well to its lacing. A dry bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising and every so often an almost involuntary fruity kick from no doubt its berry-infused hops. A dry and nutty malty note or two veering up before ebbing downwards with a very bitter finish.
Hogan Sampling		06 Jun 2025	Fresh on and so good head and lacing from this bitter from Canterbury, just outside and south-west, and nearer Chartham. A fruity bitter first hit. A berry, rather than beery, fruit-infused hoppiness rising up in the mouthfeel. A mildly malty aftertaste with the odd nut or two in the mix. Not overly flavoursome so one sufficed for me.
Hogan Sampling		14 Feb 2025	Good head and lacing on its first night on with this Canterbury-based bitter. A very bitter first hit. A malty mouthfeel but not sweet despite the tasting notes mentioning berry fruits from the hops. A pleasantly dry, bitter and malty aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Jul 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	23 Jul 2024
Philip Pirrip		21 Jul 2024	Not the crispness I expected. Quite a chore to finish
Hogan Sampling		21 Jul 2024	Extremely moreish and in fine form with a berry fruit and nutty, malty taste.
Philip Pirrip		31 Mar 2024	Uninspiring but good condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Dec 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Apr 2023
Philip Pirrip		16 Apr 2023	First out of new cask, fresh but good
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip		23 Jan 2023	Run of the mill with no redeeming features
Philip Pirrip		17 Oct 2022	Could have done with a bit more condition
Philip Pirrip		04 Aug 2022	Drank rather without noticing
Philip Pirrip		13 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Oct 2021
Philip Pirrip		16 Aug 2020	First two out of new cask, delicious rather fruity mid brown bitter
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	05 Dec 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Dec 2018

Carpenters Arms, Coldred, Kent

The Bouverie Tap, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		04 Jan 2025	Heavy burnt sugar bite

The Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

This Ancient Boro', Tenterden, Kent

Bell & Crown, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Dec 2023
Andrew		04 Dec 2018
Andrew		28 Jan 2011	I had a cold so it wasn't easy to taste beer. ...but what I did detect was some soft nutty malt with some nettley hops. Seemed like a good beer.

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Ales of the Unexpected, Westbrook, Kent

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		19 Nov 2022	Good but needed more condition to bring the very best out of it
Philip Pirrip		22 Jan 2022	Great head and condition
Philip Pirrip		08 Feb 2020

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	30 Mar 2022
Magnus Greel		22 Aug 2018	Just a taster was enough - ok but coppery and nutty

The Hidden Treasure, Dymchurch, Kent

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		09 Aug 2019	Nutty malty traditional English bitter

A New Day Festival 2019, Mount Ephraim, Hernhill, Kent

King Ethelbert Inn, Reculver, Kent

The Kentish Belle, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Red Lion, Snargate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		04 May 2017	Copper coloured bitter in good condition

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

The Bouncing Barrel, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	27 Jan 2017
Andrew	Not Tried	29 Oct 2016
Baymart		26 May 2014

The Lanes, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		10 Dec 2016
ChrisE	Not Tried	18 Dec 2015
Brian	Not Tried	16 Dec 2015
ChrisE		09 Jun 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Jun 2015

Prince of Ales, Rainham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		04 Jun 2016	Last half out of cask, flat as a pancake but not off

The George & Dragon, Fordwich, Kent

Turneround, Margate, Kent

The Tickled Trout, Wye, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		31 Jul 2015
ChrisE		31 Jul 2015
Trevor		30 Jul 2015	A copper coloured ale with a nutty flavour in good condition.
ChrisE	Not Tried	05 Jun 2014
HSB	Not Tried	05 Jun 2014
Philip Pirrip		05 Jun 2014	Right temperature and well conditioned
Jack William	Not Tried	31 May 2014

Harbour Arms, Margate, Kent

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		14 Jul 2015

The Red Lion, Hernhill, Kent

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian	Not Tried	31 May 2014
Philip Pirrip		13 Nov 2013

The Blue Pigeons, Worth, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		11 Jan 2014	Toasted, sweet chestnut, hint of orange. Nice

The Tankerton Arms, Tankerton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 Mar 2013	Rather cloying

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	24 Oct 2012
Alenomore	Not Tried	21 Oct 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Oct 2012
Dosser	Not Tried	20 Oct 2012
Dosser	Not Tried	23 Jun 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Jun 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Jun 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Jun 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	15 Jun 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	02 Apr 2012
Dosser	Not Tried	24 Feb 2012
Dosser	Not Tried	22 Feb 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Feb 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	17 Dec 2011
Alenomore		16 Dec 2011
Pedro		16 Dec 2011
Dosser	Not Tried	14 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	14 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	13 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	16 Oct 2011
Angie	Not Tried	14 Oct 2011
Alenomore		14 Oct 2011	A welcome rare brewery visitor up this way, and not a bad ale.

Hare & Hounds, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore	Not Tried	07 Oct 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	16 Sep 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	14 Sep 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	09 Sep 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	07 Sep 2012
Pedro		06 Sep 2012

The Queens Head, Mereworth, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		02 Sep 2012	This weeks guest ale. In top condition too.

East Cliff Tavern, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		27 Aug 2012	Tip top condition.
Alenomore		25 Aug 2012	Another very good LocAle type.

Blakes of Dover, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		16 Jul 2012

Plough & Harrow, Oad Street, Kent

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Leas Lift Beer Festival, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		23 Sep 2011

The Foundry Brew Pub, Canterbury, Kent

The Tiger Inn, Stowting, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		30 Jul 2011

Kent Beer Festival 2011, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		22 Jul 2011
Alenomore		22 Jul 2011

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		07 Jun 2011

The Three Mariners, Hythe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		30 May 2011	Always thought of this as a brown ale as it is so malty. Just a little lacking in mouthfeel fullness but then I am super critical of condition. Good malty flavour though

Cherry Tree, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		27 Dec 2010	Good quaffable well balanced bitter. My score 15/20.
Ian		27 Dec 2010	Good best bitter with some earthy hop. Mid brown bit of amber. Decent brown bitter in very good nick