PubsandBeer

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Larkins Porter

PubAddressLast Visit Seen
Nelson ArmsTonbridge, Kent21 May 2024
Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)Addiscombe, Greater London12 Apr 2024
The Real Ale WayWest Wickham, Greater London23 Jun 2023
The WheatsheafBough Beech, Kent11 Dec 2022
Larkins' AlehouseCranbrook, Kent14 Mar 2020
The Real Ale WayWesterham, Kent12 Dec 2019
Castle InnChiddingstone, Kent10 Mar 2019
The Bull InnBenenden, Kent22 Dec 2018
Queens ArmsCowden Pound, Kent21 Feb 2015
The RockChiddingstone Hoath, Kent03 Jan 2015
The Royal OakTunbridge Wells, Kent16 Dec 2014
Fuggles Beer CafeTunbridge Wells, Kent27 Feb 2014
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014Dover, Kent07 Feb 2014
The Padwell ArmsSeal, Kent30 Nov 2013
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2013Dover, Kent01 Feb 2013
Good IntentWest Farleigh, Kent22 Dec 2012
Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2012Margate, Kent06 Apr 2012
The ChequersLaddingford, Kent12 Feb 2012
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2012Dover, Kent03 Feb 2012
1st Spa Valley Railway Beer FestivalTunbridge Wells, Kent23 Oct 2011
The Butchers ArmsHerne, Kent04 Jun 2011
Bull InnWest Malling, Kent21 Mar 2011
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2011Dover, Kent04 Feb 2011
Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2010Margate, Kent03 Apr 2010
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2010Dover, Kent05 Feb 2010
The Man of Kent Ale HouseRochester, Kent11 Dec 2009
White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008Dover, Kent01 Feb 2008
Halfway HouseBrenchley, Kent10 Feb 2007
The Lobster PotWest Malling, Kent27 Aug 2005

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.

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
Philip PirripExcellent21 May 2024 First rate, keeping superb head and lacing until the end
DosserExcellent07 Sep 2023 Lovely pint. First pint on my way back from Crete. 2 hours ago.
Philip PirripExcellent05 Sep 2023 Top form

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

WhoScoreWhenNotes
Philip PirripExcellent12 Apr 2024 First rate in every way. Delicious
Philip PirripGood01 Sep 2023 Could really have done with a Tally Ho! tonight!
Philip PirripNot Tried15 Aug 2023 Ran out
Philip PirripGood14 Aug 2023 Been on a few days, not helped by having 2 porters available at same time
Philip PirripGood11 Aug 2023 A rather bitter porter holding good head and lacing
Philip PirripNot Tried25 Jul 2023
Philip PirripGood22 Jul 2023 Good enough, lacked something compared with, say, Tally Ho! Rather thin for its ABV

The Real Ale Way, West Wickham, Greater London

WhoScoreWhenNotes
Philip PirripAcceptable23 Jun 2023 A rare find, alas soon lost head and lacing. Guess been on a few days

The Wheatsheaf, Bough Beech, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
WittendenExcellent11 Dec 2022 An autumnal classic:dried fruit,raspberries.

Larkins' Alehouse, Cranbrook, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
WittendenExcellent14 Mar 2020 A cheering sight.Dried fruit,bitter chocolate.
WittendenExceptional26 Jan 2019 Exemplorary.Bible back,roast,raspberries.On tiptop form.
WittendenExcellent10 Nov 2018 First sighting of this iconic beer for the season. Muscular and dry.Magic.
WittendenNot Tried15 Mar 2018 Sorely tempted.
WittendenNot Tried01 Feb 2018
WittendenNot Tried06 Jan 2018
WittendenExcellent15 Dec 2017 My first sighting of this iconic Porter this year.Roasty,bitter chocolate and mercifully no caramel.

The Real Ale Way, Westerham, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
Philip PirripGood12 Dec 2019 A delight I have not tasted for some years as Larkins is very much a local beer not travelling far from its home

Castle Inn, Chiddingstone, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
Jack WilliamNot Tried10 Mar 2019
WittendenExcellent06 Feb 2016 In cracking form, just off a five.The right level of austerity, tempered by raspberries.Very drinkable:a classic.
WittendenNot Tried03 Jan 2015
WittendenAcceptable29 Nov 2014 Hints of greatness, but sour notes predominating.Taken off during the session.
AndrewNot Tried10 Feb 2007

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
WittendenGood22 Dec 2018 Probably not quite ready, a bit oily on the tongue. Still, great to find this iconic Kent beer here.

Queens Arms, Cowden Pound, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
thebrewingmanExcellent21 Feb 2015
HSBGood12 Dec 2014

The Rock, Chiddingstone Hoath, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
WittendenExceptional03 Jan 2015 Dry,roasty,raspberries.A classic.
JamesExceptional22 Nov 2008 Wonderful taste with the burnt chocolaty caramel coming from the chocolate malt, and the large volume of hops used to brew it, but not at all heavy, it doesn’t taste like a 5.2. A great beer.
AndrewExceptional10 Feb 2007 The best Larkin's porter I've ever had. It had milky alcohol with toasted malt and subtle acrid bitter finish.

The Royal Oak, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
thebrewingmanExceptional16 Dec 2014 On excellent form.
PedroExcellent26 Feb 2011
thebrewingmanExceptional13 Jan 2010 In excellent condition. It just slipped down. A shame I was driving or else I would have had another one.
JeffnJoExceptional10 Feb 2009 Well served, smooth, creamy, tasteful as ever.

Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
thebrewingmanNot Tried27 Feb 2014

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
AndrewExcellent07 Feb 2014 Hint of green wood but lovely roasted moreish liquorish
MickExcellent07 Feb 2014 Larkins Porter. Nothing else to say.
Philip PirripExcellent07 Feb 2014

The Padwell Arms, Seal, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
TobesExcellent30 Nov 2013

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2013, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
MickExcellent01 Feb 2013 Complex, fruit, sweet, sour, milky. It's Larkins!
Philip PirripNot Tried01 Feb 2013

Good Intent, West Farleigh, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
PedroExcellent22 Dec 2012 Super drink

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2012, Margate, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
AndrewExceptional06 Apr 2012 Awesome. I could have 'scooped' but, hey, why on earth would I when this was on!

The Chequers, Laddingford, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
PedroExcellent12 Feb 2012
PedroExceptional11 Feb 2012

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2012, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
IanGood03 Feb 2012 ok bit a bit sweet for me. preferred the Elland

1st Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
AlenomoreExceptional23 Oct 2011 An A1 dark type, and rarely seen.
Martin the MildmanExcellent22 Oct 2011 A benchmark classic porter against which others should be judged. Sweetish malt flavours of chocolate and toffee balanced by bitter hoppiness leading to a fruity finish. My score 17/20.

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
MickNot Tried04 Jun 2011
AndrewExceptional01 Jun 2011 Ha ha ha ha ha. This is THE best porter in THE best pub.
KenExceptional12 Apr 2011 Pure nectar from the man reputed to talk to his hops to get the best out of them
AndrewExceptional08 Apr 2011 Oh yes. The Daddy of Porters is back. Just stunningly good. Stunningly good. Initial flavours are fruity with hints of burnt perspex. The main body is milk powder, roasted malt, slightly sour, slightly acidic. The finish is of acrid milk. Just lovely.
MickExceptional08 Apr 2011 Andrew said it all really. Sublime.
BlairExceptional06 Apr 2011 The perfect porter, end of.
AndrewExceptional05 Dec 2008 The almighty Larkins Porter. Superb. Hint of smoke, lovely burnt malt and spicy flavours.
MickExceptional05 Dec 2008 Superb, dark black/ruby and with a perfect white head. Even better than last night. Rich roast malt, chocolate and caramel with the hops coming through. I can't believe this is 5.2%. I may have to come back tomorrow to see how it is changing
AndrewExceptional06 Feb 2008 I love this beer. ...and this pint was on top form.
IanNot Tried02 Dec 2006
AndrewExceptional02 Dec 2006 Very very dark red brown in colour. Smelt of apple peel. Black currents and applecore flavours in the front of the mouth with acrid burnt sugar at the back. If you run it down the middle of the tounge there's a lot of raspberry in it. Basically this beer is brillant.
AndrewExceptional31 Dec 2005 This is such a good beer. Lots of rich burnt chocolate flavours with a very smooth finish
AndrewExceptional02 Dec 2005 Dark red black in colour. The aroma is of coffee and milk and the initial taste is sweet and milky but quickly followed by a tart bitter burnt coffee flavour. The finish is sweet acrid and burnt with the mouth left buzzing.
IanNot Tried07 Apr 2005
IanExceptional22 Mar 2005 Lots of different flavours from the malt, coffee and chocolate amongst them. A stunning mouthful
AndrewExceptional13 Mar 2005 Well I've nothing new to add about this beer. It's great
AndrewExceptional29 Jan 2005 What can I say that I haven't said before. Fantastic
AndrewExceptional22 Jan 2005 This stuff is just fantastic. It just doesn't taste like a 5.2% beer. The caramel and burnt malt balance is perfect and I just love drinking it
AndrewExceptional15 Jan 2005 Every time I have this it gets better and better. The ballance between burnt malt and caramel is fantastic and this now rates as one of my favourite beers of all time
AndrewExcellent31 Dec 2004 Very caramely and burnt. Loverly but I probably wouldn't want more than half a pint of it

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
HopmonsterExceptional21 Mar 2011 Had the last pint!

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2011, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
AndrewGood04 Feb 2011 Light, sweet, tart

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2010, Margate, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
PedroExcellent03 Apr 2010
AndrewAcceptable02 Apr 2010 Watery top soil flavours dominated this usually superb beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2010, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
IanExceptional05 Feb 2010 Sometimes beers can get over hyped and you expect too much of them and they don't deliver. Well, this is the opposite. It lives up to the hype and high scores. Sublime. Really smooth and easy drinking, yet full of flavour. Mouthfeel and swallow are both perfect.

The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
DosserExceptional11 Dec 2009 Couldnt get me off this !
BlairExceptional12 Nov 2009 Fantastic porter, a burned almost smoky taste to it. This is how dark beers should be made.
BlairExceptional11 Dec 2008 This is what a porter should taste like! Lots of roasted malt and a little smoky, stunning beer.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008, Dover, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
AndrewExcellent01 Feb 2008 Slightly sweet and sour. Milky with a pleasant roastyness. Had this twice

Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
IanGood10 Feb 2007 Decent porter with some choc and coffee. Bit watery and not as grainy as it could be. Reasonably full.
AndrewGood10 Feb 2007 Rich burnt malt with silky body and subtle burnt finish. Not as good as it was at the Rock though

The Lobster Pot, West Malling, Kent

WhoScoreWhenNotes
IanNot Tried27 Aug 2005

Larkins Porter

5.20% ABV.

We have tried this beer 67 times.

We have given this beer an average score of Excellent to Exceptional.

Other Larkins beers.