Kent Cobnut

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 Mole Hole, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		29 Aug 2026	Very good head and lacing presented and almost lasting to the end on this ruby ale from brewing set up in 2010 at Birling Place Farm in Birling, north of West Malling, in Kent. A dry bitter first bite. A hoppy, earthy bitterness rising with dark berry fruit and nutty flavours ascending onto my taste buddies. No actual nuts were harmed in its making by all accounts; just its malts lending nutty undertones from its dark, roasted malts. Its likely hops are East Kent Goldings as widely used in ruby ales lending earthy, honey, light spice, and sweet floral notes that complement its dark, caramelized malts; Fuggles lending a woody, earthy and herbal bitterness; Target, a common English bittering hop historically grown in abundance; and Challenger or Northdown, English dual-purpose hops, behind its slightly fruity, and cedar-like spiciness. A dry, slightly malted fruitiness with hints of toffee and biscuit sailing out. Served in good form.
Hogan Sampling		24 Jan 2026	Very good head and lacing and lasting on this Birling-brewed ruby ale from north of West Malling in Kent. A very dry bitter first bite. A hoppiness scrambling up from its traditional English hop varieties but a closely guarded secret mix that exudes earthy, spicy and subtle floral notes and certainly not too fruity. A good bitter fruitiness scurrying on the taste buds with many a dark fruit in its flotilla such as red berries and plums. A dry fruited maltiness with toasted malt flavours with hints of biscuit and toffee scampering downwards. Named after the Kentish cobnut, a type of hazelnut but certainly not a nutty flavouring to it that I could tell. In better condition than when I supped it back in October of last year.
Hogan Sampling		18 Oct 2025	Good head and lacing on this ruby ale, named after the Kentish cobnut, a type of hazelnut. Brewed in Birling, north of West Malling in Kent, its head and lacing did not last for long on my mere half a pint. A fruity bitter first bite. A dry malty dryness rising with toasted malt flavours leaping up. A hint of nuttiness though no nuts were harmed in its making. A fruited hoppiness with many a dark fruit in its flotilla sailing out.

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Jul 2026	Taken off as I walked in
Philip Pirrip		10 Jul 2026	Bitter and malty brew
Philip Pirrip		14 Jan 2026	As it should be in every way. Very enjoyable
Philip Pirrip		22 Aug 2025	Lost head and lacing quite quickly
Philip Pirrip		11 Apr 2025	Good head and lacing on a tasty brew
Philip Pirrip		31 May 2024	Possibly my favourite Kent Brewery beer. This held head and lacing until the last drops
Philip Pirrip		10 Feb 2023	One of Kent's consistently best ales
Philip Pirrip		10 Sep 2022	Superb - how this pub is not in the Good Beer Guide I think the local CAMRA branch should answer
Philip Pirrip		10 Jun 2022	New cask today, in fine tasty form
Philip Pirrip		11 Mar 2022	In lovely nick
Philip Pirrip		11 Aug 2018	How Cobnut should taste!
Philip Pirrip		10 Mar 2018	New cask on
Philip Pirrip		03 Feb 2018
Philip Pirrip		25 Jul 2015

The Five Bells, Eastry, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		25 Apr 2026	A lovely dark ruby beer, malty and chocolately.

The Magnet (formerly The Magnet Micropub), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		17 Apr 2026	Very moreish, fruity with bitter burnt malt.

12 Degrees (a.k.a. RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees), Rochester, Kent

The Unicorn, Canterbury, Kent

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	18 Oct 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Dec 2017
Philip Pirrip		18 Aug 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Oct 2016

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		19 Sep 2025	Second day on for this Kentish ruby bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and in better form than trying within minutes of its first appearance the evening before. Head and lacing, very good, and this time lasting to the end. A very malty bitterness in its first bite. A pleasantly bitter hoppiness rising but won over by the lasting maltiness playing out with its odd smoky note ably assisted by its sweet molasses. Very moreish and so stuck to it on this session.
Philip Pirrip		18 Sep 2025	New cask today. not as clean tasting as previous Cobnut samples
Hogan Sampling		18 Sep 2025	Fresh on literally was this Kentish ruby bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. Good head and lacing to start with but perhaps because so fresh on, this legged it out of the glass. A very malty first bite. A dry bitterness rising the heights before navigating downwards with a touch of smokiness and sweetness from molasses in on the mix. Very moreish but also like a soup in its very heavy maltiness slowing it down from being readily quaffable!
Hogan Sampling		30 May 2025	Second night on for the second barrel of this ruby ale from Birling in Kent, and north of West Malling, and still maintaining very good head and lacing and keeping to the end. Have not tried much else since its first barrel's appearance last Sunday and so know the script pretty well by now! A malty first hit. A bitter maltiness reigning on the taste buds. A moreishly bitter dryness coupled with a sweetness from those molasses it was made with lingering on. Unusual for two barrels of the same to follow consecutively but certainly a fan of this dark malty bitter!
Philip Pirrip		29 May 2025	Apparently a second cask of Cobnut sold consecutively
Hogan Sampling		29 May 2025	New barrel of this ruby ale from Birling in Kent, north of West Malling, on this evening and so very good head and lacing presented and lasting well without a single decant needed. It has just replaced its twin barrel that was put on Sunday for Charlton FC's victory at Wembley. A superbly malty first hit. A bitterness rising up alongside a subtle sweetness from its molasses flavouring. A bitter and malty-infused dryness lingering.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 May 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 May 2025
Hogan Sampling		27 May 2025	Not as good as when first sampled on Sunday when fresh on but still coming up with plentiful head and lacing in first being poured and almost holding on until the end was this Birling-produced ruby ale from north of West Malling in Kent. Still the same moreishly smokey and malty-infused first hit on its third day on. A pleasant bitterness rising up among the malts and a dry bitter hoppiness lingering. Although the tasting notes suggest sweet in smell, I prefer to taste my beers and did not detect the no doubt sweet molasses at all also in the taste by all accounts!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 May 2025
Philip Pirrip		25 May 2025	Good but had better
Hogan Sampling		25 May 2025	Fresh on from being racked up ready to go the night before. This Birling-based, north of West Malling, Kent, ruby ale's blackboard was displayed just after Saturday's normal closing time of 11pm. It presented superb head and lacing and hung onto this throughout. A dry bitter/malty first hit. A moreish bitterness soon rose up in the mouthfeel and a subtle maltiness lingered on, on the palate. Although said to be sweet in the tasting notes, I did not really detect the sweetness from the molasses, derived from the refining of sugarcane/sugar beet juice into sugar. I did though detect the odd nutty flavour jumping up and down!
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	20 Feb 2025	Went off immediately on arriving and requesting it and following on from its first appearance on Monday 17th February and sampling on 18th.
Philip Pirrip		18 Feb 2025	Usually my favourite Kent ale
Hogan Sampling		18 Feb 2025	Second night on but still full of head and lacing on this ruby ale from Birling, north of West Malling. It must have been a sight to behold on the previous night but sadly missed visiting. A very dry, bitter first hit. Its dry bitterness lingered throughout and I got its moreishly malty flavouring as well.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Nov 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	07 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip		06 Nov 2024	One of my favourite Kent ales
Hogan Sampling		05 Nov 2024	A good head and lacing on this ruby ale. A bitterness in the mouthfeel to die for! Slightly too sweet for my liking with a treacle-infused aroma about it. A very pleasantly malty aftertaste.
Hogan Sampling		05 Oct 2024	Good head and lacing and still had this some 30 minutes after being served at about 10.50pm. A malty first hit and which lingers alongside the dry, bitter mouthfeel.
Hogan Sampling		04 Oct 2024	Fresh on as I was waiting to be served. Superb head and lacing and a malty hit on first sipping and with a bitter lingering mouthfeel. Slightly sweet but not too much.
Philip Pirrip		08 Jan 2024	Getting towards end of cask, in fact ran out several pints later
Philip Pirrip		07 Jan 2024	Great head, lacing, taste
Philip Pirrip		12 Oct 2023	I have had some superb Cobnut pints over the years but this was awful. Only recently put on. Any poured head disappeared in seconds to leave a glass of flat liquid. Real chore to finish although no off flavours present
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Dec 2022
Philip Pirrip		15 Dec 2022	Good but had much better
Philip Pirrip		12 Jun 2022
Philip Pirrip		22 Aug 2021	One of my favourite Kent jobbies
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 Aug 2021
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	04 Sep 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Sep 2019
Philip Pirrip		01 Sep 2019	A good staple
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip		31 May 2018	Kent quality in motion

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	30 Aug 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Nov 2018
Philip Pirrip		19 Apr 2018
Archie14	Not Tried	09 Mar 2018

Mind the Gap, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		16 Aug 2025	Apparently just fresh on. To my reckoning, not yet awake from its slumber and so minus much head and lacing and not lasting on this Birling-based brew, north of West Malling, Kent. I do like the Cobnut ruby ale usually but not quite ready here. A hoppy bitterness rising. A roasted malty note or two it is mustering for sailing down my cakehole with a hint of nuttiness lingering. This ruby ale is named after cobnuts, a type of hazelnut that has been grown in Britain since the 17th century and traditionally in Kent, and they have variously made a cobnut soup or even a ginger cobnut cake.
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	13 Oct 2023

The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		09 Jan 2025

The Penny Farthing, Crayford, Greater London

Tapping The Admiral, Kentish Town, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		13 Aug 2024	Did what it said on the tin..

Copper Pottle, Beltinge, Kent

The George, Bethersden, Kent

The Magdala, Hampstead, Greater London

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		15 Nov 2022	Roasted malts with a a strong nutty kick for this dark brown liquor..
ChrisE		20 Jan 2022
Mick	Not Tried	03 Mar 2012

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

The Yellow Stocks, Sittingbourne, Kent

The Lanes, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Feb 2020
Jack William	Not Tried	23 Jan 2020
Jack William	Not Tried	24 Oct 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Sep 2018
Jack William	Not Tried	13 Sep 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Dec 2017
ChrisE		26 Aug 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jan 2015

The Admiral's Arm, Queenborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		08 Feb 2020	Nice nutty ruby ale

Ypres Castle Inn, Rye, East Sussex

The Steam Packet, Strood, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		06 Dec 2019	Best beer of a Medway evening crawl

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 Oct 2019
Philip Pirrip		04 Dec 2018	Teeny loss of edge since Friday's pint
Philip Pirrip		30 Nov 2018	4th and final excellent ale of tonight's taste journey
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Sep 2018
Philip Pirrip		17 Sep 2018

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Sep 2019
Philip Pirrip		29 Aug 2016

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

The Black Dog, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden	Not Tried	22 Jun 2019
Wittenden	Not Tried	22 Sep 2018
Wittenden	Not Tried	26 May 2018
Joe Gargery		15 Jul 2017
Wittenden	Not Tried	08 Apr 2017
Wittenden	Not Tried	13 Aug 2016
Wittenden	Not Tried	09 Jul 2016

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Apr 2019
Philip Pirrip		04 Apr 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Sep 2016
Philip Pirrip		04 Apr 2016	In great nick right down to the very last ¾ pint out of the cask

King Charles I, Pentonville, Central London

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		10 Aug 2018	Too chilled and lacking condition or head
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	11 Jan 2017
Ian	Not Tried	29 Nov 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Sep 2013
Ian	Not Tried	23 Nov 2012
ChrisE		23 Nov 2012	Superb condition.
Ian		22 Nov 2012	Deepish brown bitter.

Bowl Inn, Charing, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	05 Jun 2018
Jack William	Not Tried	05 Apr 2018
Jack William		04 Dec 2017
Jack William	Not Tried	28 Oct 2017

The Cock Tavern, Ongar (or Chipping Ongar), Essex

The Robert Pocock, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Jan 2018
Philip Pirrip		23 Sep 2017	Can Kent Brewery do no wrong
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Jul 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 May 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 May 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 May 2016
Philip Pirrip		10 Aug 2014
Philip Pirrip		09 Aug 2014	Top notch

Bell & Crown, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		08 Dec 2017	Very nice ruby ale, just right for a cold winter’s day.

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		29 Oct 2017	Quality ale

Harbour Arms, Margate, Kent

Cranbrook Goes Nuts in May, Cranbrook, Kent

John O'Gaunt Inn, Hungerford, Berkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		21 Apr 2017

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

Fez, Margate, Kent

Smugglers' Alehouse, New Romney, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		28 Jul 2016

The Honest Miller, Brook, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		03 Jun 2016	In top condition.

The Cherry Tree, East Dulwich, Greater London

Pelt Trader, City, Central London

Craft Beer Co., Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		14 Nov 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 May 2015
Judy G Garland	Not Tried	09 Oct 2013
Andrew	Not Tried	26 Jan 2013

The White Swan, Charlton, Greater London

The Two Halves, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		01 Oct 2015	Superb dark beer.

The Berry, Walmer, Kent

Bar 96 (formerly Docker Bar; Inn Doors), Sandgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		09 Sep 2015	Being discounted as near end of cask. Full bodied but flat

The Bedford, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		02 Mar 2015

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		16 Dec 2014

The Catford House (formerly Catford Constitutional Club), Catford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		29 Nov 2014	Best example I have had in the current batch of this beer

The Rum Puncheon, Gravesend, Kent

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

The Handsome Sam, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 Nov 2014

One Inn The Wood, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		15 Oct 2014	End of the barrel and swiftly taken off.

The Humphrey Bean, Tonbridge, Kent

The Phoenix, Canterbury, Kent

Ravensbourne Arms, Lewisham, Greater London

Kent Beer Festival 2014, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		19 Jul 2014

Craft Beer Co., Covent Garden, Central London

Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		20 May 2014	Dark and dry.Autumnal.More approachable than other Kent Brewery beers that I've tried.
Andrew	Not Tried	12 Apr 2014

The Alpaca (formerly The New Rose), Islington, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		23 Apr 2014	Dark, heavy, rich and nutty.

Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

The Sovereign of the Seas, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		04 Dec 2013
oz11	Not Tried	18 Sep 2013
oz11		16 Sep 2013
oz11	Not Tried	28 Sep 2012
oz11	Not Tried	27 Sep 2012

The Hope, Carshalton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		31 Aug 2013
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	10 Oct 2012

Orpington Liberal Club, Orpington, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		26 Aug 2013

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway Beer Festival 2013, Sittingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		06 Jul 2013

The Wheel Alehouse, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
John B		06 Jul 2013

The Grape & Grain, Crystal Palace, Greater London

The Hare & Billet, Blackheath, Greater London

The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Leas Lift Beer Festival, Folkestone, Kent

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman	Not Tried	08 Jan 2013
Pedro		06 Jan 2013
Dosser	Not Tried	05 Jan 2013
Dosser	Not Tried	11 Nov 2012
Pedro		09 Nov 2012
Pedro		20 Dec 2011
Pedro		19 Dec 2011
Pedro		19 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Dec 2011
Alenomore		18 Dec 2011	A top ale.
Pedro	Not Tried	28 Oct 2011
Alenomore		28 Oct 2011	A top dark un'. More of this later.
Pedro	Not Tried	27 Oct 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	26 Oct 2011
thebrewingman	Not Tried	25 Oct 2011	My wife scored this excellent.
Pedro		25 Oct 2011
Alenomore		24 Oct 2011	Cant fault this top dark un'.
Pedro		24 Aug 2011	ran out
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Aug 2011
Pedro		20 Aug 2011	seemed near the end

The New Cross Turnpike, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 Nov 2012

The Chequers Inn, Smarden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		25 Sep 2012	Austere:nutty with sharp hops.I think this was past its best,but unfortunately I've never had a beer from this brewery that I've really enjoyed.

East Malling Beer & Cider Festivals 2012 and 2013, East Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		01 Sep 2012

Craft Beer Co., Clerkenwell, Central London

Catford Bridge Tavern, Catford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		05 Aug 2012	Full bodied dark ale in fine form

Robin Hood, Blue Bell Hill, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		24 Jun 2012	Another top ale from the Kent Brewery.

The Bell & Jorrocks, Frittenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		15 Apr 2012
Pedro		14 Apr 2012

Nevill Bull, Birling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		06 Apr 2012
Pedro		04 Apr 2012
Pedro		17 Dec 2011
Pedro		02 Jul 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	23 Apr 2011
Pedro		27 Feb 2011

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		25 Feb 2012	Rich malty and dark.
Mick	Not Tried	28 Jan 2012
Mick		23 Sep 2011	Really nice, dark and malty, some toffee but not cloying, well balanced, so I took some home as well.

Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		09 Feb 2012	Dark, malty and nutty, with some hops in the mix as well.

The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		01 Jan 2012	Dark ruby. Malt driven, with bold rasping hops.My first experience of this intriguing brewery.

Bull Inn, West Malling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		17 Dec 2011

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

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		22 Oct 2011	Unfortunately this beer was suffering from the cold as well, being served from Groombridge platform so all the flavour was tipped towards nutty crystal malt and little balancing hop flavours. Dry nutty finish. My score 14/20 with B for quality (temp).

The Foundry Brew Pub, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		08 Oct 2011

The Bull, Horton Kirby, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		24 Sep 2011	Dark and malty.

Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		04 Jun 2011	A red coloured nutty beer that manages to avoid falling into the crystal malt trap. Good nutty and malty flavours balanced by subtle hop notes. My score 16/20.