Northdown Bitter Seas

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.

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		19 Sep 2026	Served with lasting head and lacing on this amber-coloured bitter from the local Northdown Brewery established in 2018 just inland from Margate, Kent, making it the town's first working brewery in 50 years. A dry fruited first hit from being dry-hopped with New Zealand hop varieties, Pacific Jade and Rakau behind for me flavours of stone fruit and nuts. A hoppy fruitiness rising from its Northdown and Fuggles hops in the mix from the start of the brew lending earthy and herbal hints. A distant maltiness rising lending light toffee infusions from its speciality malts such as Chestnut & Caramel Malts also behind its deep caramel sweetness to balance out the heavy bittering hops, and alongside its traditional British pale base malt such as Maris Otter aiding a bitter-sweet flavouring. A dry hoppiness sailing out with a fruited wave or two. Served in very good nick.

Three Daws, Gravesend, Kent

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		27 Jun 2026	2nd beer of this visit: This Margate-brewed Kentish amber coloured best bitter came with very good head and lasting lacing as fresh on into my visit and brewed by Northdown Brewery, a craft brewery established in 2018. A superb bitter hoppy fruitiness on its first bite. A hint of caramel and biscuit rising from its English pale ale malts that are also aiding its toffee flavours. Local hops from Thanet as in Northdown and Fuggles lending earthy, herbal flavours to shine through. This was later added to in the dry hopping with New Zealand hops, Pacific Jade and Rakau, to give it a punch of stone fruit and floral notes and a subtle nuttiness for me. A good touch of maltiness kicking in from some toffee malt before its sail downwards. Served in top-notch condition.

The Brickfield Micropub, Swalecliffe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		15 Mar 2025	Flat and thin. Turns out it was the penultimate pint in the cask.
Jack William	Not Tried	27 Nov 2024

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		17 Feb 2025	Basic bitter in good form

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Two Sawyers, Woolage Green, Kent

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		26 Apr 2022