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The Handsome Sam (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Incubus |  | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Jester | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 1 |
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | | 1 |
| Kent - Rogue 2 | | 1 |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket (superseded by 4.8% entry) | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | | 1 |
| Long Man - Rising Giant | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | | 1 |
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Chislet - Hoplands | | 2 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | | 1 |
| Chislet - Island Road | | 1 |
| Stag (Kent) - Rambling Roebuck | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Redhouse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Anchor Bay IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Old Man | Not Tried | 0 |
| Romney Marsh - Golden Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - VE80 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Spike Island | Not Tried | 0 |
| Chislet - Lakes View | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twisted Wheel - Evil Thieves | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
22 Apr 2026 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon and busy, barmaid ushered us to the only free table and delivered our beers soon after the order was placed. Still basic and unpretentious after all these years.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Jester | 4.00 | | A crisp nutty brown ale finished with a refreshing hoppy depth. |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried |
18 Mar 2026 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon - just a couple of other customers in. Good reminiscing about beer festivals.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried |
16 Dec 2025 (Jack William)
Late lunchtime, just the one other customer but we had a good chat (about tree cutting mainly).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Man - Rising Giant | 4.80 | | |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried |
18 Sep 2025 (Andrew)
A swift visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Golden brown colour. Rich syrupy beer with strong leafy hop bite. |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Chislet - Lakes View | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Twisted Wheel - Evil Thieves | 5.10 | Not Tried |
08 May 2025 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon - just the one other customer in. Pleasant enough.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale | 5.00 | | Good bod, fine condition not quite the bitter hoppiness I expect from an APA, rather sweet. |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Romney Marsh - Golden Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - VE80 | 3.80 | Not Tried |
13 Feb 2025 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon. A few locals in. Very pleasant. .
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social | 3.80 | | Vey light but with a distinctive bitternes. (Marked up as Twisted Wheel brewery - not sure if this the correct entry - no doubt Mr P will advise) |
| Chislet - Island Road | 4.50 | | |
| Stag (Kent) - Rambling Roebuck | 3.80 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Jack William)
Saturday lunchtime - stop 2 on a tour of Whitstable with my daughter. Just the one other customer in - but warm and friendly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chislet - Hoplands | 3.80 | | Very nice pale ale in sparklingly clear condition. |
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Anchor Bay IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Having devoured a plate of freshly prepared fish and chips in a cafe/take-away in the high street which seems just as good as I remember it from 8 years earlier, it was time for my first visit and early evening to this busy little micropub. A warm welcome and prompt service greeted me.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | In very fine condition was this Seasider Pale with some maltiness and moreish, hoppy flavours. |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | 4.60 | | A fine head on this best bitter with a sweetish mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste. |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket (superseded by 4.8% entry) | 4.30 | | On board described as 4.3%. Fine conditioning and lacing with a very hoppy mouthfeel and aftertaste. |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | 4.00 | | Fine head and very bitter mouthfeel. |
02 Aug 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon to early evening, right hand table occupied with a large group luckily the left side had just been vacated hence we swooped and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | A chestnut coloured bitter providing malt and roasted grains balanced by fruit and floral hop bitterness with a hint of citrus. Now @ 3.7% |
| Chislet - Hoplands | 3.80 | | A session pale ale with a traditional British malt bill and the addition of some New Zealand hops to bring out some gentle grapefruit notes. |
| Chislet - Island Road | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2022 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit to meet an old friend. Busy - partly because the pub now has a couple of tv screens showing World Cup football (albeit with the sound muted). What would the micropub purists make of this I thought. Mr P. P. ?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | | Probably the finest pint of this ale I’ve had. Full bodied and top condition. H |
| Kent - Rogue 2 | 6.00 | | Actually Rogue 3, same strength. A poky little number. |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | | Pleasant enough and in excellent condition. |
About The Handsome Sam
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 28 |
| 28 |
 | 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4HJ.
Edge of town centre Micropub which opened on Tuesday 4th November 2014 in a former antiques shop. Located in Canterbury Road just by the railway overbridge. Named after the owner's cat which died exactly 4 years before the pub opened. High ceilinged room which retains some original wooden beams with a temperature controlled cellar room at the back from which real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a 2 level stillage - this is called the Beer Tent. High tables and bench seats and stools provide the seating. Hops adorn the 2 front bay windows. Unisex toilet at the right rear. Closed Mondays.
We have visited this pub 35 times, seen 99 different beers and tried 52 of them.
Postcode: CT5 4HJ