The Haywain (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]

Visits Details
15 May 2025 (Jack William)
Lunchtime. 13 of us cyclists and Kevin kindly opened the beer festival early for us to try - and we duly did! Quite cold outside, even under the marquee- but a really good session. Beer festival on until this Sunday.
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | Glorious mouthfeel, silky and rich. |
| Three Acre - Galaxy's Rain | 3.40 |  | What a surprise - low in ABV but high in flavour and body. |
| Kent - Super Dellic | 4.50 |  | Very good, full flavour despite the straw colour. One their single hop brews. In top condition. |
| Long Man - Rye Red Ale | 4.00 |  | Super red ale with that rye bite to it. |
| Triple fff - Black Velvet | 4.20 |  | Ah - coffee and smoke. |
| Musket - Trigger | 3.60 |  | From the bar - a good start inside to warm me up. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Battle Axe | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Touch | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Crouch | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Muzzleloader | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Pilcrow Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | Marked up at 3.7% |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Golden Sands IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Olicana | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Timeball | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
27 Mar 2025 (Jack William)
Late lunchtime- a swift one to get some flavour on the way back from Pluck’s Gutter. Didn’t disappoint.
The beer festival will be on here over the weekend of 15 to 18 May.
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 |  | Top form. |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
20 Mar 2025 (Jack William)
Lunchtime cycle meet. Warm and sunny in the garden. A good range of well kept ales on, although nothing too punchy (fortunately as it was all going down so well!)
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 |  | This really was in top condition, light and refreshing but good body for a 3.7 |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 |  | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
12 Mar 2025 (ChrisatSturry)
Warm welcome as always, sunny so sat outside with my cycling group.
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 |  | lightly hopped, malty |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
20 Feb 2025 (Jack William)
Lunchtime cycle meet. Pub filling up quickly with drinkers and diners just after noon opening. Very welcoming as always.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | 4.00 |  | Fresh on, the taster tempted us. Rich and chocolatey with enough of a beige coloured head to stick a flake in. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 |  | |
| Dorking - DB One Best | 4.20 |  | Full bodied, malty best bitter. |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
29 Dec 2024 (Jack William)
Back for a Sunday cycle meet. Very friendly welcome.
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 |  | Solid best bitter. |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | 4.00 |  | Came up rather cloudy but tasted ok. Landlord was very attentive but we insisted it was drinkable. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
19 Dec 2024 (Jack William)
Lunchtime. 3rd Thursday cycle meet. 12 of us in attendance. Landlord Kevin was pleased enough to see us that he gave us two pint bottles of a Christmas Ale from the Greyfriars Brewery to try. From some sort of religious sect I believe, I pray that they keep brewing - it was Xmas puddingly gorgeous. Two beers changed while we were here - I think we helped the turnover a bit.
| Kent - Christmas Session | 3.70 |  | So good but hardly seasonal except for the hint of satsumas. |
| Dorking - Festive Porter | 4.00 |  | Badged as a “Chocolate Orange Edition” but I got so much vanilla notes that I wanted to put a flake in it and call it a 99. |
| Long Man - Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Southwold Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
21 Nov 2024 (Jack William)
Cycle meet - 13 of us rather swamping the “grumpy old gits club” corner by the bar. Gadds 5 being replaced by a Musket ale when I noted the beers.
| Dorking - DB One Best | 4.20 |  | Solid traditional best bitter. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
03 Nov 2024 (ChrisatSturry)
Warm welcome as usual, fairly busy but fully staffed.
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 |  | Chocolate & coffee, very nice |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 |  | Full body, biscuity |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
17 Oct 2024 (Jack William)
Lunchtime cycle meet. 17 of us outside in the sun supping and playing conkers. Good beer range.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's | 4.00 |  | Great body and flavour. |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | 4.00 |  | Trad bitter in good nick |
| Musket - Flash in the Pan (Kentish Green-Hopped Ale) | 4.00 |  | A bit hazy and not the hop hit of some green-hopped beers. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]