Goacher's 1066 Old 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 Paper Mill, Sittingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		12 Apr 2024	Venous
Jack William		09 Jan 2020
Jack William		14 Feb 2019	Absolutely superb.
Archie14		03 Mar 2018
Archie14		02 Nov 2014	Had a small sample. hic!
Archie14		28 Mar 2014	Stunning and the last cask of the season :)
Archie14	Not Tried	19 Jan 2014

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Feb 2024	Still excellent but slight loss of edge after 2 days
Philip Pirrip		20 Feb 2024	Exceptional condition and flavours, alas only time for two
Philip Pirrip		31 Dec 2023	7th day on tap and tiring
Philip Pirrip		28 Dec 2023	I hoped this would still be on. Been on tap for 4 days and still in lovely condition
Philip Pirrip		23 Nov 2023	Very last half out of the cask. I was offered the choice to accept or reject. Still good but naturally had lost something from its high earlier in the week
Philip Pirrip		20 Nov 2023	That slight improvement on yesterday's as the cask is vented through use
Philip Pirrip		19 Nov 2023	It's back for this winter. A glorious tastes hit
Philip Pirrip		23 Feb 2023	Still holding up well after some days on tap
Philip Pirrip		21 Feb 2023	Top form as yesterday
Philip Pirrip		20 Feb 2023	First day on and a heady ale with superb depth
Philip Pirrip		25 Nov 2022	Can't be more than a drip left in the cask
Philip Pirrip		24 Nov 2022	Last knockings from the cask
Philip Pirrip		23 Nov 2022	Near end of cask and after 3 nights consecutively of 5* now tiring significantly. That is real ale for you!!
Philip Pirrip		22 Nov 2022	3rd day running in perfect condition
Philip Pirrip		21 Nov 2022	Up there - top of the shop
Philip Pirrip		20 Nov 2022	The holy grail is back. Exceptional ale in exceptional condition. Little local difficulty when I was served Goacher's Dark in error, believing it was 1066, but I was not duped for very long!!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 May 2022	Ran out as I entered the bar!
Philip Pirrip		20 May 2022	Well tired now
Philip Pirrip		19 May 2022	Tiring a bit - no loss of flavour but its oooooooomph has faded
Philip Pirrip		18 May 2022	Immaculate 4th day running
Philip Pirrip		17 May 2022	Third consecutive night of perfect 1066
Philip Pirrip		16 May 2022	Simply as perfect as yesterday's
Philip Pirrip		15 May 2022	Wow. Had been kept for further cask ageing at the pub. A surprise appearance on the beer board - no pre-warnings! Beautiful head, lacing and condition. Can't be bettered
Philip Pirrip		27 Mar 2022	Almost last out of cask and I felt suffering for this
Philip Pirrip		04 Feb 2022	Aged at the pub, smooth mouthfeel, no harshness, nectarous
Philip Pirrip		29 Dec 2019	Nearing end of cask with some deterioration from its excellent high point
Philip Pirrip		26 Dec 2019	Perhaps had one more than I should have
Philip Pirrip		24 Dec 2019

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		18 Feb 2024	Malty, toffee, molasses, rich n smooth.

Red Lion, Snargate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		06 Jan 2024	Lovely and creamy. Goachers at its best
Philip Pirrip		29 Feb 2020	Lovely woody old ale
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	29 Feb 2020
ChrisE	Not Tried	08 May 2019
ChrisE		29 Dec 2017
ChrisE	Not Tried	24 Jun 2017
Philip Pirrip		04 May 2017	Allegedly near the end of the cask but enough for us in near perfect condition
Philip Pirrip		19 Feb 2017	New cask was nice and cool having come out of the cellar room earlier today
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 Dec 2016
Philip Pirrip		18 Dec 2016	Pre-warned it was running out. On the second pint (the last out of the cask) Kate observed my glass had a "white gathering" at the bottom so I did not drink with my eyes
ChrisE		10 Dec 2015
ChrisE		25 Jul 2015	Wow
Philip Pirrip		21 Jul 2015	The dog's, as a beer
Ian		10 Jan 2015	Strong fruity lovely.
Alenomore	Not Tried	02 Nov 2014	My friend tried this and another pint to be sure...
Pedro		23 Jun 2012
Alenomore		23 Jun 2012	Goachers best ale. A1.
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 Dec 2011
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 Dec 2010
Ian		19 Jun 2010	I mean what can I say? The most interesting and characterful beer here. Rich alcohol soaked fruit aroma. Full in mouth. Hint towards sour on the finish. Really amazing.
Ian		19 Feb 2005	Excellent mixture of flavours in this typical old ale
Andrew	Not Tried	19 Feb 2005

Pig's Ear Beer Festival 2023, Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		30 Nov 2023	On cask classic old flavours. Some early sourness. Malty. So drinkable. Not top notch but pretty good

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		01 Apr 2023	I marked 4½* yesterday but today really can not see a single fault in this unbeatable dark strong ale, superbly kept and presented. Almost certainly should have marked yesterday as a 5 too
Philip Pirrip		31 Mar 2023	4½* Superb after a few days on
Philip Pirrip		28 Mar 2023	Been held back 3 or so months and now first day on. Unrivalled condition
Philip Pirrip		21 Jan 2023	Been on a full week now and little loss of condition since its 5* score then
Magnus Greel		20 Jan 2023	I managed to chew my way through this syrupy malty gloop with relative ease.
Philip Pirrip		14 Jan 2023	Kept a while on site and simply superb
Philip Pirrip		20 Dec 2022	5* full stop - on since Friday but still in peak condition
Philip Pirrip		19 Feb 2022	Holding up superbly after a week on
Philip Pirrip		16 Feb 2022	As on Saturday the perfection that is achieved rarely in ale. Lots left in the cask too!
Philip Pirrip		12 Feb 2022	A great beer anyway but enhanced to peak condition by being conditioned at the pub for a couple of months before serving. A credit to the brewery and to pub cellarmanship
Philip Pirrip		13 Dec 2021	As perfect as on Saturday and, if anything, just a little more woody
Philip Pirrip		11 Dec 2021	Glorious for taste, condition and encroaching numbness
Philip Pirrip		04 Nov 2020	As yesterday this 11 month old (stored here) was exceptional. Tempting and resulting in a take-away for Lockdown home consumption
Philip Pirrip		03 Nov 2020	Nectar and perfect. 11 month old cask fresh on, smooth and innocently belying its true strength. Damn curfew closing time
Philip Pirrip		05 Mar 2020	On a week and as good as ever. Just the one today thanks as it was not helping my crossword prowess
Philip Pirrip		26 Feb 2020	4½* as near perfect as you can get and astounding to find another beer of the same quality here tonight too
Philip Pirrip		21 Dec 2019	4½* As glorious as yesterday
Philip Pirrip		20 Dec 2019	4½* Simply superb
Philip Pirrip		27 Apr 2019	Stored on site for several months before today. Glorious, so a 4½* score is well due
Philip Pirrip		23 Feb 2019	Still on top form despite being on for more than a week and nearing end of cask, little loss of condition was apparent
Philip Pirrip		16 Feb 2019	Kept for just shy of 3 months before serving. An absolute No. 1 delight
Philip Pirrip		14 Dec 2018	4½* To me the very best of the winter old ales

Marden Village Club, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		05 Mar 2023	It doesnt get better than this.

The Little Gem, Aylesford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Dec 2022
ChrisE	Not Tried	01 Apr 2022	Selling well today. My fried tried this and she said it was superb.
ChrisE	Not Tried	17 Mar 2022

Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		28 Dec 2021	On gravity dispense.
ChrisE		23 Dec 2021	On gravity dispense.
ChrisE		03 Jan 2020	On gravity dispense.
ChrisE		04 Jan 2019	On gravity dispense from the bar. A really enjoyable pint.
ChrisE		18 Dec 2016	On gravity dispense and my half pint was a gift from the previous landlord. Beer in top notch form although not to everybody's taste.
ChrisE	Not Tried	14 Dec 2016	A pin on the bar and as is so often the case these days a "coming soon".
ChrisE		09 Dec 2015
Dosser		10 Jan 2015	In great form. I would have expected nothing less. The huge crowd were drinking mainly this and at £3.20 excellent value.
Dosser		04 Jan 2013
Pedro		04 Jan 2013
Pedro		07 Jan 2012
Pedro		06 Jan 2012	11 month old pin - superb newer polypin of old also pretty good !
Pedro		07 Jan 2011	But was very cloudy !
Pedro		09 Jan 2010
Pedro		08 Jan 2010

This Ancient Boro', Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	29 Feb 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Feb 2020	Pity not enough time to sample this
Wittenden		31 Jan 2019	Pleased to find this;fruity and austere.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2020, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		07 Feb 2020	One of the best beers today
Andrew		07 Feb 2020	Had a few too many of these.
Philip Pirrip		07 Feb 2020	Reliably superb

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		16 Dec 2019	£4 a pint and superb.
Philip Pirrip		10 Dec 2013	I could count our brain cells being destroyed as multiple orders were placed
Philip Pirrip		11 Dec 2012	Woody - almost if not the last one out

The Lanes, Dover, Kent

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2019, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		01 Feb 2019	Quite the business

The Kentish Belle, Bexleyheath, Greater London

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		14 May 2018	Aha - in a pin on the counter top, tilted a bit but how far? The Guv doused the towels on top with some water when I showed interest. Came out pretty end of cask but still full on with its woody flavours and no off tsstes. Given a discount for it being near the end, nice honest touch
Philip Pirrip		26 Aug 2015	Depending on your view not the best quicky pint or is the best quicky point! I was more than happy
ChrisE	Not Tried	15 Feb 2011	A pin on gravity dispense, I would have tried one if it had not been so early in the day.
Ian		23 Jan 2010	Funnily not quite as good as at the Pig's Ear Beer Festival just before Xmas. Maybe just a touch warm on the bar, could do with having a couple of beer towels doused with cold water over it. Completely drinkable though, with great malts, good fruit and no hint of 6.7% ABV
Andrew		23 Jan 2010	From a pin on the bar. No sourness which was a shame but rich, moreish, molasses, slightly burnt, bit of brown sugar and raisins. I stuck with this all night.
Blair		14 Mar 2009	My last pint of the night and I was a little bit scared of it. Very rich with molasses and fruitcake. Complex and intriguing old ale. Remember finishing it but then nothing until I woke up in the morning.
Blair		11 Dec 2008	Now this is an old ale! Very rich, dominated by raisins and other dried fruit. Didn't notice the strength but I don't remember much after this pint.
Andrew		09 Dec 2006	Fermented raisens with a molases and dark sherry bite to it. Wonderful and on gravity.

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2018, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		31 Mar 2018	Quality
Andrew		30 Mar 2018

Shipwrights Arms, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		03 Feb 2018	My first meeting with this legendary Old Ale.Unctuous,raisins and tart plums:Granny's dark old sherry.
Philip Pirrip		21 Jan 2016	One word applies - superb
Philip Pirrip		21 Jan 2016	On the Guv's suggestion we had a mixed Mild / 1066 mixed to 5% and it became a superb porter
Andrew		29 Dec 2015	Dry with hints of raisins and a big roasted warming finish.
Andrew		11 Jan 2015	Goacher's Old stands out as a beacon in the sphere of beer. This was just stunningly good. Superb condition and flavours that you could write a poem about.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2018, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		03 Feb 2018
Philip Pirrip		02 Feb 2018

Kent Beer Festival 2017, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		20 Jul 2017	Mmmmm

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2017, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		14 Apr 2017	Just so good. Had a couple of these.

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		11 Feb 2017	Superb

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2017, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		03 Feb 2017	One word - superb

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 Feb 2016	A heady brew which leads one to float out into the Gravesend nighttime air

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2016, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		05 Feb 2016	superb
Philip Pirrip		05 Feb 2016	One word - superb

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		21 Mar 2015	Say no more! The devil's brew tonight
Ian		29 Apr 2014	Is there a better beer brewed in Kent? Over 20 years I would have to say no. Massive thanks to Neil for keeping this cask since the winter. Amazing liquorice port flavours some hop dryness on the finish. Can still taste it on the finish on the train half an hour later. Just a touch of sourness. But like sour dark plums. Awesome.
Ian		06 Dec 2013	4 pints and I was more or less drunk. Great beer

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2015, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		07 Feb 2015	Consistently brilliant
oz11		07 Feb 2015
Philip Pirrip		06 Feb 2015	Surprisingly slow sales during my tenure of serving

Marquis of Lorne, Gillingham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Dec 2014	Deceptively smooth and easy drinking and at £3.20 pp too

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		08 Feb 2014	Funny I had it last night and didn't think that much of it I mean it was ok but didn't arrest my attention. Bit of tannin. Some pepper hop on the finish. Sweetish. Good though.
Andrew		07 Feb 2014	Ah-ha, as Alan Partridge would say.
Philip Pirrip		07 Feb 2014	Superb barley wine of the old school

The Phoenix, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		21 Dec 2013	Malty fruity. Outstanding. Made me want to stay here
Andrew		21 Dec 2013	Great condition. Raisen and rich chewy roasted. Great.
Brian		21 Dec 2013	Made a bold (i.e.stupid) move and started the day with this. Was superb though, dark and spicy and warming.

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		29 Mar 2013	The condition on this was extraordinary. I usually go for beers at about 3.8% but when you see Goacher's old on that's the exception. Man this was great.
Andrew		22 Apr 2011	Top stuff

The Royal Paper Mill, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	02 Feb 2013
Pedro	Not Tried	10 Jan 2013
Pedro		21 Sep 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	03 Aug 2012
Pedro		03 Mar 2011	But was £3-75
Pedro		05 Feb 2011

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2013, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		01 Feb 2013	Woody and exceptionally moreish. Went back for seconds later

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		02 Jan 2013
Pedro		01 Jan 2013
Dosser		01 Jan 2013	Beer of the night.
Pedro		31 Dec 2012
Angie		22 Jan 2011	A little strong for this lady but did the trick.
Ian		21 Jan 2011	Still one of the best beers I've ever had. Strong, yes. Malt and molasses. Still some hop on the end, bit of bite. Hint of purple sourness on the finish. Really good condition. Just that fruity sour syrupyness developing on the finish already. Unbelievable beer.
Pedro	Not Tried	16 Jan 2011
Dosser		16 Jan 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	03 Apr 2010
Pedro		02 Apr 2010	crackin'
Pedro	Not Tried	31 Mar 2010
Pedro		30 Mar 2010
Dosser		28 Mar 2010	Just superb
Angie		17 Jan 2010	Excellent ale, just a little strong for a lady. On gravity.
Pedro		16 Jan 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	22 Dec 2009
Pedro		18 Dec 2009	The south-east regional winner was abolutely supreme !...But beware a premium beer at a premium price !...but worth it !

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		27 Dec 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	29 Dec 2011

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2012, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		06 Apr 2012	Awesomely good. Had 1.5 pints of this - which is going some for me at a beer festival where I usually just have halves of things.

Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		02 Mar 2012	Fruity as hell and just that full malty flavour. Some dryness on finish

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2011, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		04 Feb 2011	Smooth, alcoholic, hint of sourness, hint of smoke. A "Box of Delights" beer.

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2010, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Apr 2010	Had to de-gas it a bit but then the wonderful moreish malts with their roasted tang and slightly sour finish kicked in.

The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded), Wittersham, Kent

1st K&ES Railway Beer Festival 2009, Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		27 Jun 2009	Like drinking a glass of toffee, but with raisins thrown in. Really interesting and complex beer. You just keep discovering new flavours. Great stuff.
Ian		26 Jun 2009	Sour, Stilton cheese, dark fruit, just a little down on condition, but that could have been the warm temp. Great levels of malts. Almost speechless. Just incredbile rollercoaster of a beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2009, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		06 Feb 2009	As Ian said, the best beer here. Rich with a hint of plum skin. Toasted straw and astringent with a hint of cob nut. Martyn decanted it too with made it even better.
Ian		06 Feb 2009	Smells of stilton and sweaty socks and some really good sourness. That is good. Most distinctive beer here. Again I bottled this and drank it on the way home.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		01 Feb 2008	Engine oil with no sourness to it. Powerfull stuff

The Chambers, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		05 Apr 2007	Currently the best Kent beer in Kent? Yes, I think so. The malt, the sourness, the chocolate are heavenly. Stuns you and enlivens the tongue like the best sour dark cherry thing you could imagine.

The Dering Arms, Pluckley, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		23 Jan 2007	For a strong winter beer it's got the lot, strength, malt, dark fruits. The blackcurrant, blackberry are excellent with a slight sour/dry edge on the finish.
Andrew		23 Jan 2007	Wonderfull marinated cherries with a sherry oak sweet tart bite. Needs just a touch more sourness to be outstanding but, by heck, this is a good beer.
Ian		06 Jan 2007	Now I give out 5/5s very sparingly these days. Very deep brown with touch of russet and lasting beige head. Roasted nuts, coffee, strong dry malt and touch of syrup on the aroma. Some hop too. Gorgeous in mouth, exquisitely full, light choc malts and roasted nuts. Toasty more than dark roast. Some juicy dark fruits. Finish is dry, full and juicy with dry toast coming through most. The longer it oxygenates, the sourer the fruit becomes. Damson, sour dark plum, sour dark cherry, sour blackberry. All wonderful. Give it another couple of hours in the cask and it will be even more wonderful.
Ian		23 Dec 2006	More sour than I remembered, but with a fullness and that distinctive Goacher's flavour. Took me nearly an hour to finish a pint. Great stuff.
Andrew	Not Tried	23 Dec 2005
Ian		23 Dec 2005	Slightly sour. If I didn't know that this is supposed to have these flavours, I would have said that it was off. But this was exceptional stuff. Black with fluffy beige head, lots of dark fruit and liquorice, burnt malts and this underlying sourness. Spectacular
Ian	Not Tried	21 Jan 2005
Ian	Not Tried	11 Jan 2005
Ian		24 Dec 2004	Not as good as the last time I visited
Andrew		24 Dec 2004	Like engine oil. Good goacher's taste but too strong from me
Ian		17 Dec 2004	Perfect mix of burnt caramel and fruity malt balance the high alcohol level of this winter warmer

Rare Breeds Beer Festival 2006, Woodchurch, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Jun 2006	Big sour and burnt acrid malt flavours dominate. This is kind of beer that rips your heart out and thrusts it back down your throat. Wonderful
Ian		02 Jun 2006	Now this is a proper old ale. Deep ruby with lasting beige head. Toffee and sour liquorice aroma. Intense sourness for a UK beer. Thick and syrupy in mouth. Good hop. Superb balance. Bit too much syrupy toffee, but still gorgeous.

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2006, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		14 Apr 2006	Rich, dark syrupy oily beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2006, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		04 Feb 2006	Lovely, 6.7%, but no real hint of that in the glass. Smooth and herby.