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The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - American Pale |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Brewers - Kentish Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Hop Fuzz - English | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | | 1 |
| Three Legs - Hop Plug | | 1 |
| Kent - El Dorado - Single Hop Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Zingiber | | 1 |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Lushingtons | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | | 1 |
| Three Legs - NEIPA |  | 1 |
| Hop Fuzz - Cascade | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Green Manalishi Peter Green Hopped Pale | | 1 |
| Lister's (latterly brewed at Wantsum) - Happy Hound | | 1 |
| Kent - Chinook | | 1 |
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Romney Marsh - Marsh Midnight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Fuzz - Black Udder | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Estate | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Battle Axe | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Torrside - Candlewick | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Time and Tide - Patchwork | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Fuzz - Old Chap English Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Romney Marsh - Marsh Sunset | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
22 Oct 2025 (Jack William)
Lunchtime- just after 1pm opening. Joined a couple of regulars and had a good chat also with a retired local councillor. A very pleasant hour or so.
A Theakston bitter also on chalked up as “Bitter + Bones” at 3.8%
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | | In first class condition. This is currently my favourite ale under 4%. |
| Kent - Green Manalishi Peter Green Hopped Pale | 4.90 | | Good condition and plenty of body; a little “oily” I thought. |
| Romney Marsh - Marsh Midnight | 4.50 | Not Tried |
09 Oct 2025 (Jack William)
Early opening at noon for our group of 9. Danny the perfect host and he even let us start in the recently tapped Gadd’s Green hop which wasn’t on the board. Excellent session.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Lushingtons | 4.20 | | Sparklingly clear, and in top form right to the end of the barrel. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | 4.80 | | Delicious. |
| Three Legs - NEIPA | 5.60 | | A juicy hazy brew with orange notes. Citra and strata hops. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | Replaced the Lushingtons just as we were departing |
| Hop Fuzz - Black Udder | 4.50 | Not Tried |
25 Jun 2025 (Jack William)
Fleeting visit early evening en-route from Folkestone to Canterbury. Good number of regulars in including one playing the piano.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Legs - Hop Plug | 4.20 | | Delicious pale ale with fruity notes and a good body. |
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale | 5.00 | | Just after agreeing with a local that I’d never had a bad pint in this pub and then I tried this rather tired APA. (Still not that bad though) |
| Romney Marsh - Marsh Sunset | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
20 May 2025 (Jack William)
Late afternoon visit. Half a dozen in - most who I recognised. Warm welcome from guv and regulars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | | Fresh on, as good as I remember it. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Fuzz - Old Chap English Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
25 Mar 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening visit, nicely busy. Had a good chat with local, Curly (he wasn’t). 30 mile cycle to get here - it may have affected my scoring - but the beer really was top class.
This has recently got the local POTY award - well deserved - I wish I lived closer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - American Pale | 5.00 | | Absolutely wonderful, and a full pint, with a good head in an oversize glass for £4.20. |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Fuzz - Black Udder | 4.50 | Not Tried |
12 Dec 2024 (Jack William)
Early opening at noon for our bus-pass group of eight. An excellent session and good to see a number of regulars as well.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - El Dorado - Single Hop Pale | 4.50 | | |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | |
| Lister's (latterly brewed at Wantsum) - Happy Hound | 3.80 | | |
| Time and Tide - Patchwork | 5.00 | Not Tried | Popular stout with those that like their ale dark |
05 Sep 2024 (Jack William)
Post pension meeting pint. I introduced two of my colleagues to the pub - they seemed to like it. Early afternoon, pleasantly busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Brewers - Kentish Pale Ale | 5.00 | | Full mouth feel, super pale ale. Marked up at 5.2% |
| Hop Fuzz - Cascade | 4.20 | | Very pale ale, crystal clear. |
| Torrside - Candlewick | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 Aug 2024 (Jack William)
Lunchtime visit - pre-arranged early opening at noon for our group. Filled up nicely after 1 pm.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | | Beautiful pint with that hint of ginger. |
| Kent - Chinook | 4.50 | | |
| Rudgate - Battle Axe | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried |
06 Jun 2024 (Jack William)
Late afternoon visit. A good sprinkling of regulars. Warm welcome from guv Danny as always.
Parkway “One for the road” also on, 3.9
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | 4.50 | | Absolutely delicious. £4.20 a pint. |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Estate | 4.80 | Not Tried |
03 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | 4.20 | | Shows exactly how good gravity dispensed cask ale can be served. Soooo very bitter I forgot it was a wheat beer |
| Hop Fuzz - English | 4.00 | | The last pint of some top notch Kent brewed bitters tonight, this one included |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Fuzz - Black Udder | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 34 |
| 29 |
| 4 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Dover, Kent, CT16 1JH.
In Bench Street in premises previously occupied by Pier Three and The Mash Tun micropubs. Re-opened on Thursday 19th December 2019 and said, in advance, to be run much more like a bar or taproom than a micropub. The proprietor is a former manager of the Breakwater Brewery taproom. Usually 4 cask ales which are dispensed on gravity from a rear chilled room. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2025.
We have visited this pub 34 times, seen 106 different beers and tried 62 of them.
Postcode: CT16 1JH
This pub was formally know as the The Mash Tun.