Brewster's Hop a Doodle Doo

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 Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 May 2026	OK but not much condition or bitterness

19th Bexley Beer Festival 2026, Bexley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		08 May 2026	2nd beer of the festival visit: Good head and lasting lacing presented on this copper-coloured bitter from Brewster's Brewery, launched in 1998 in Stathern, a village in the Vale of Belvoir along the Leicestershire/Lincolnshire border. The microbrewery later moved to its current, larger commercial facility in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the end of 2006. A dry bitter first hit on this copper-coloured American pale ale-styled bitter that was originally introduced as a summer one-off session ale in 2004, but became so popular that it is now part of the brewery's permanent line-up. A fruity malty sweetness rising from its four different malts including Crystal and Caramalt, lending it sweet roasted flavours with hints of nuts and caramel. Its three hop varieties, blending classic English and US aroma hops aiding its punchy sharp citrus fruitiness. A malted bitterness paddling out with hoppy notes of spice, and tea-like flavours. Its US Cascade behind its citrus and grapefruit flavours; US Centennial behind its punch of floral flavours, and the English hop, Fuggles, behind its earthy and spicy touches. In top nick.

The New Cross Turnpike, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Feb 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Feb 2022
Philip Pirrip		23 Jan 2018	Past its best

The Watch House, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 Feb 2024	Fresh enough
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Mar 2016

The Edmund Halley, Lee Green, Greater London

Riverhouse Bar & Restaurant (formerly The Alexander Bain), Wick, Highland

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		14 Jan 2020	Inoffensive, smooth mid brown bitter.

The Robert Pocock, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		13 Jan 2020	A sour bitterness and lingering aftertaste

The Gate Clock, Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		29 Dec 2019	Unexpectedly hazy

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Suttons Radio, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		17 Mar 2018

Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate, Kent

Silk Mill Ale & Cider House, Derby, Derbyshire

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

The Prince Rupert, Newark, Nottinghamshire

The Glasshouse, Norwich, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		23 Jan 2016	Not as hoppy as I hoped

Craft Beer Co., Aldgate, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		02 Dec 2015	A very-nice, copper-coloured, full-bodied Bitter with significant hop content.

The Draper's Arms, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2014, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		12 Mar 2014

The Tollemache Inn, Grantham, Lincolnshire

The Duke of Cumberland, Barham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		03 Jun 2011	Full bodied with a good mouthfeel, some malt, nice finish.

The Archibald Simpson, Sean, Worcestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ray		03 Feb 2011	Mid brown hoppy and earthy ale. Dry finish cut through the Lamb Chettinad nicely.

The Muggleton Inn, Maidstone, Kent

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

The Market Porter, Southwark, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		05 Jan 2010	Amber/brown bitter with dry hoppiness right through to the finish. My score 14/20.

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser	Not Tried	16 Nov 2009
Pedro		13 Jun 2009
Dosser	Not Tried	06 Jun 2009

The Samuel Peto, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		22 Jun 2007	Copper colour with lasting off white head. Aroma of strong grapefruit and hop. Very hoppy for a UK bitter, more like an APA, with glittering floral hop on finish. Some American hops I guess from the amount of grapefruit. Malts show moderate juiciness with just enough balance to carry the hops. Man, what an APA at the end of a long week. Lovely and tingly on the finish. Good grapefruit. Barman? Another one of these please.