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Iron Pier Brewery & Taproom (Iron Pier Brewery)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Heritage: Porter (19th Century) | | 1 |
| Three Brothers - Bitter Ex | | 1 |
| Indie Rabble - Space Ship |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Frost Fair | | 2 |
| Three Blind Mice - Don’t Mention The Newts | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Mosaic | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | | 2 |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Rudolph | | 1 |
| Black Hole - Milky Way |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
02 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of this outing: It was the second day of Iron Pier’s bank holiday weekend beer festival with some 12 guest beers from other breweries from across England as well as 5 of their own. All beers were on from the list of some 6 I chose apart from one on the list which did not turn up by all accounts. Very busy on our mid-afternoon arrival to this Northfleet brewery and adjacent taproom, set up in 2017 and so bringing back brewing to the Gravesham borough for the first time in nearly 90 years and named after the Town Pier in Gravesend and the world’s oldest surviving cast iron pier. The bar queue was not too long given the numbers attending and rather than beer tokens, it was simply cash or card. Our party of two to start with managed to find a table and so we took it in turns to return to the bar and opting to get two halves on each visit to save extra time queuing. We were shortly after joined by another two real ale enthusiasts from London and all comfortably seated in the outside marquee.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | | 5th beer of this visit: Very good head with a creaminess to-die-for on this American Brown Ale and lasting. Its malt bill of Low Colour Maris Otter, Munich, Crystal, and Chocolate malts aiding its deep black-brown hue. A dry bitter first hit from being heavily hopped on this collaboration between Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, and Track Brewing Company in Manchester. A malty but slightly fruited bitterness emerging. Its Willamette hops lending hedgerow fruits and red berries. A citrusy edge rising from its Columbus hops. A dry bitter liquorice flavouring lingering on in the finish. Served in top form. |
| Three Brothers - Bitter Ex | 3.70 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this light amber session bitter, formerly known as "The Ex-Wife," and from a family-run microbrewery based in Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham in North East England and set up in 2016. A dry bitter first hit. A dry fruity bitterness rising with a lively hoppiness and likely to be derived from such English hops such as Fuggles, East Kent Goldings, Challenger or Target to aid that dry, earthy fruitiness. A caramelised maltiness emerging and winning over from its caramel and toffee malts, creating a lingering sweetness on my taste buds. A very dry bitterness paddling out. In very fine fettle! |
| Indie Rabble - Space Ship | 4.00 | | 4th beer of this visit: Came with good head and lacing and almost hanging on to the end on this Windsor-brewed amber-hued best bitter from Berkshire, operating out of one of the railway arches on the Windsor Beer Mile. A dry bitter first hit. A malty caramelised sweetness with a roasty, bready and toffee-infused flavouring rising from its Chocolate and Crystal malts. A gentle hoppy peppery bitterness from its East Kent Goldings hops parachuting out. A touch too sweet for me, but presented in good form. |
| Three Blind Mice - Don’t Mention The Newts | 4.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this slightly hazy New England Pale Ale from Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, and set up 2014. A dry fruited first hit from being heavily dry-hopped. A veritable fruit cocktail rising aided by its dry-hopped Strata, Citra and Cryo Pop hops. A feast of tropical, stone fruit and citrus fruits winning over. A not overly sweet flavouring pervading aided by its soft malt base. A dry bitterness on the finish. In good nick. |
| Black Hole - Milky Way | 6.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Head and lacing on being served but lost it soon after on this hazy wheat beer from Little Eaton, Derbyshire, and founded in January 2007. It originally started in the old Ind Coope bottling plant in Burton-on-Trent before moving to its current site in 2017. A spicy fruited first hit. A tropical fruitiness rising with distinct honey and banana touches derived from its wheat and barley malt bill. Its blend of English hops are likely to be Goldings and Fuggles that are traditional for this style and are used in other core Black Hole Brewery beers to provide similar and here aiding its dry spicy finish. Perhaps towards the end as not a lot of conditioning about it and with no head and lacing beyond a few minutes after being poured. |
04 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet for my early evening visit with no-one seated in the marquee area with its portable heaters just outside. Not overly busy on the inside and warm, friendly and prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Heritage: Porter (19th Century) | 5.10 | | Having tried a half earlier in the Jolly Drayman for the first time anywhere, it was time to try it at source at the brewery's taproom. I was not disappointed in the least. Just as moreish! Very good head and lacing. A first hit of roasted barley. It had a very dry and a slightly creamy mouthfeel. There was a hint of chocolatey flavours and a bitterness lingering. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing. A bitter and hoppy first hit. A moreishly dry mouthfeel with a pleasant bitterness lingering. |
| Iron Pier - Frost Fair | 5.00 | | A collaboration with Tap East based in Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, East London. Good head and lacing on this ESB. A first hit of spice. A touch of honey in the mouthfeel and the odd blackberry. A very moreishly dry aftertaste. |
| Iron Pier - Mosaic | 4.20 | | Good head and lacing. A hoppy, fruity first hit. A dryish mouthfeel with a touch of apple in the aftertaste like a good dry cider. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Surprisingly the least busy I have seen it all the year over some 6 or so visits from the start of the year onwards and for this late afternoon trip to it. One of our party could not be prised out of the 3 Pillars to join us here as a fair good walk it is to this Northfleet brewery. Prompt, friendly service for my flight of 3 thirds. We were the only ones outside in the heated marquee.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Rudolph | 4.60 | | Good head and lacing on this lightly-coloured ale from this independent brewery between Long Crendon and Haddenham and east of Oxford. A slightly fruity mouthfeel with a dry, hoppy aftertaste. |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | | Good head and lacing. A hoppy and lightly fruity first hit. Fruity throughout with a dry, oily, hoppy mouthfeel lingering. |
| Iron Pier - Frost Fair | 5.00 | | Good head on this ESB and lacing throughout. A first hit of bitterness and maltiness with a pleasantly dry lingering aftertaste. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
5th visit of the day to local real ale venues in and around Gravesend. Busy for early evening and as is the norm on a Saturday. Warm welcome and prompt service and a bench to be seated on after the 20 minute walk from Gravesend itself and via The Earl Grey and Six Bells also in Northfleet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing. A very bitter, bitter. A touch of maltiness in the mouthfeel with a lingering dryness. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About the Iron Pier Brewery & Taproom
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| 1 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Northfleet, Kent, DA11 8RU.
Iron Pier Brewery’s taproom opened in the May Industrial Estate, May Avenue in January 2018 when its brewery produced its first ever beer. It is believed to be only the second to operate in Gravesend since Russell's was taken over by Truman's in the 1930s. Plenty of seated accommodation outside and on the inside overlooking this small micro-brewery itself. Up to six Iron Pier cask beers available, as well as a variety of key-keg beers. Also offers a selection of gins, wine, bottled beer and soft drinks. 3 regular beers are their Iron Pier Bitter, Iron Pier Perry Street Pale and Iron Pier Wealdway IPA. On Saturdays, from our visits' observations, there is often a food truck parked just outside of the taproom’s internal entrance. It holds at least one annual beer festival and where other breweries’ beers are also present.
We have visited this pub 4 times, seen 15 different beers and tried 11 of them.
Postcode: DA11 8RU