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History: Home > Simple Simon's
Change in Pub Status
This pub has changed substantially and we are now adding visits to its new page, the The Parrot (Young's)
Simple Simon's (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Hop Garden Gold |  | 1 |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | | 1 |
| Hogs Back - Santa's Wobble (aka Still Wobbling) | | 1 |
| Nelson - Friggin in the Riggin | | 2 |
| Grand Union - Autumn Ale | | 2 |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | | 2 |
| Weltons - Sussex Pride | | 1 |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | | 2 |
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid |  | 5 |
| Weltons - Yule Be Sorry | | 1 |
| Grand Union - Best | | 1 |
| Grand Union - Stout | | 2 |
| Hogs Back - Winter Ale | | 1 |
| Nelson - Cat O' Nine Tails |  | 3 |
| Grand Union - Honey Porter | | 1 |
| Weltons - Old Cocky | | 1 |
| Grand Union - Liberty Blonde | | 1 |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's |  | 1 |
| Weltons - Kid & Bard |  | 1 |
| Marston's - Bass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Weltons - Haka | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Rip Snorter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Grand Union - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nelson - Pieces of Eight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
12 Jan 2008 (Ian)
Don't remember getting here to be honest. Got a table nice and easy, and enjoyed the atmos.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Winter Ale | 4.40 | | After saying at lunchtime that no one makes a beer in the style of Goachers Dark, this beer proves me wrong. Very deep ruby colour with thin dark beige head. It’s like an old ale I suppose, has some sour fruit, but has a noticeable hop sting on end. A rather good malty damsony beer. Really decent and excellent finish. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried |
20 Dec 2007 (Ian)
It was my work's team meal and I got into Canterbury 30 minutes before. Just time for a quick livener then before the meal. Pretty busy and cosy with all handpumps up and running.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weltons - Yule Be Sorry | 5.00 | | Amber with disappearing head. Quite tingly harsh hop in the mouth and on the swallow. Like souped up sherbert. Very drinkable strong bitter. Good, subtle hop aroma. Nice sting in mouth. |
| Grand Union - Honey Porter | 4.90 | | Not as good as per usual, some dark malts and fruit. |
| Weltons - Old Cocky | 4.30 | | Gold, thin beige head. Earthy perfumey bitter. bit of interesting peach on the aroma and nice hops. Walnutty too towards the finish. Fine. |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Grand Union - Liberty Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Grand Union - Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Grand Union - Stout | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2007 (Andrew)
We sat at the back by the fire (with everyone else in the pub) and ended up chatting to a man who'd met Haile Selassie. Brain left early as he'd had a late one the night before and needed a kip.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Union - Best | 4.10 | | Distinctive fruity malt with a nice rough hop |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | | Fruity and syrupy with mellow hop finish |
| Grand Union - Liberty Blonde | 4.20 | | Pale and zesty but little depth |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - Rip Snorter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried |
08 Dec 2007 (Blair)
Popped in for a couple before I got the train back. The staff were much better this time round.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Hop Garden Gold | 4.40 | | Lovely fresh tasting bitter. Really enjoyed this one. |
| Hogs Back - Santa's Wobble (aka Still Wobbling) | 7.50 | | Very strong and heavy, but still easy to drink. Wouldn't risk 2 though. |
01 Dec 2007 (Blair)
Discovered this pub today and what a gem it is. Gorgeous building on the outside and just as nice on the inside. 7 ales on on my visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | | Malty and delicious. On great form. |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | | Once again on great form, lovely ale, had to have a second. |
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid | 3.70 | | Sweet and refreshing, good session bitter. |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | | Bland and watery. Pointless really. |
| Nelson - Cat O' Nine Tails | 4.40 | | Really did not like this, it wasn't off but had the overwhelming taste of fag ash, not sure if it's meant to taste like this. |
| Nelson - Friggin in the Riggin | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Nelson - Pieces of Eight | 3.80 | Not Tried |
24 Nov 2007 (Andrew)
Here with Ian, Martin and Brian. I got totally hammered on 5 pints. No idea how that happened. Anyway, as Ian said, this is the best pub in Canterbury for beer choice. It also has a lovely interior.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid | 3.70 | | Liked this -I think. I remember thinking afterwards that it was good. It was the last pint I had so to be honest I don't remember much about it except it was excellent. |
| Nelson - Friggin in the Riggin | 4.70 | | Liked this one. Rich red fruit and malt. Good tart hop |
| Grand Union - Autumn Ale | 4.40 | | Floweryness with eartyness and a certain astringency - at least I think that's what I though. |
| Grand Union - Stout | 4.80 | | Tasted of lactose and was powdery. Martin's pint a bit later on was much better |
| Nelson - Cat O' Nine Tails | 4.40 | | Rich with a battery tartness to it. |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried |
24 Nov 2007 (Ian)
So is this not only the best pub in Canterbury, but the best pub in East Kent? In terms of beer selection, yes, I think it would have to be. Here with Andrew, Martin and Brian. We even got some free chestnuts roasted on the open fire. Superb. I even had a pint of Biddenden cider for the first time in 12 years.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Union - Autumn Ale | 4.40 | | Chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Fruity malt and pepper hop aroma. Bit of toffee in the mouth. Good condition. Aggressive leafy nettle hop on end which I could still taste halfway through the next pint of Nelson beer. |
| Nelson - Friggin in the Riggin | 4.70 | | Good red fruits on the malts with a touch of vanilla. Good likeable bitter. |
| Grand Union - Stout | 4.80 | | Good powdery dark choc, like Green & Blacks choc. |
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid | 3.70 | | Everyone else thought that this was good. Perhaps I expect more hop from my golden ales. Fine, tasty and easy drinking. |
| Nelson - Cat O' Nine Tails | 4.40 | | Orange borwn colour with thin off white head. Bit dusty on the hop side. Some sweetness form the malt. Bit more dusty earthy hop on finish. |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried |
31 Oct 2007 (Andrew)
Here for Adrian's goodbye lunch. Hang-on he's only moving 10m away. Anyway it was fairly quiet except for 2 blokes moving a pile of logs from outside the front door, though the pub to the garden 1 at a time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid | 3.70 | | Bit too cold. Rich oatiness with a hint of strawberry with a straw mellow bitter finish. |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried |
27 Oct 2007 (Brian)
The general rule is : if you're in Canterbury and only having one then go here. If you're on a crawl then end up here. You can't go wrong.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | | Normally this is served too cold here, but this time it wasn't. It's a dear pint but in my opnion well worth it. This was tart, with burnt rubber aroma. A deep chocolate malt taste and a sweet caramel finish. It's lovely but not one for a session. |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | There were plenty of other beers on as well (five or six), but I can't remember what they were. |
19 Oct 2007 (Andrew)
Came for a meal with Jane and my parents. What an excellent dinning room they have. It's upstairs and is a medieval hall. The food was excellent, generous and reasonably priced.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Golden Braid | 3.70 | | A touch too cold but excellent. Fresh, hoppy and dry. |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | | A touch too cold. Excellent malt and fruity flavours. |
| Weltons - Sussex Pride | 4.00 | | Dark black-brown colour. Thin head. Lots of roasted coffee and hints of bitter chocolate. Some peatyness too |
| Weltons - Kid & Bard | 3.50 | | It had gone off so they swapped it for something else |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Simple Simon's | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Weltons - Haka | 3.50 | Not Tried |
About the Simple Simon's
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 3 |
| 34 |
| 26 |
| 29 |
| 5 |
The pub is found in Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2AG.
Old building with a lovely bricked garden.
We have visited this pub 48 times, seen 67 different beers and tried 47 of them.
Postcode: CT1 2AG