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The George (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Harvey's - Armada AleExcellent1
Adnams - Southwold BitterExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent1
Wadworth - St. George & the DragonGood1
Moorhouse's - Pendle Witches BrewGood1
Plain Ales - Sheep DipGood1
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Dragon SlayerGood1
Plain Ales - Arty FartyGood1
Adnams - BroadsideGood2
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood5
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Black Dragon MildGood1
St. George's - ShakesbeerGood1
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost AleGood1
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - BitterGood3
Woodforde's - Nelson's RevengeGood1
Titanic - Port & StarboardAcceptable1
Arundel - St GeorgesAcceptable1
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - KeeloverAcceptable1
Hadrian and Border - FlotsamAcceptable1
Coach House - Farrier's Best BitterAcceptable1
Coach House - St George's AleAcceptable1
Coach House - Gunpowder Strong MildPoor1
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)Not Tried0
Gale's - Trafalgar AleNot Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Beacon Hill (was Beacon)Not Tried0
Hook Norton - 303AD (aka Generation)Not Tried0
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled HenNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Goacher's - Special House AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. The George, Bethersden, Kent
Picture 2. The George, Bethersden, Kent

Visits Details

24 Apr 2013 (ChrisE)
The bus from Tenterden was full of screeching school children so we decided to alight at Bethersden and try the newly re-opened butchers shop opposite, plus have a couple of pints in here. We had a good chat with the lady behind the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodO.K. but not moreish.
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Good
Goacher's - Special House Ale3.80Not Tried
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
06 Feb 2013 (ChrisE)
Mid afternoon visit, I sat in the public bar and chatted with a few of the regulars.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Plain Ales - Arty Farty3.90Good
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
14 Nov 2012 (Trevor)
Only a few in when we visited at lunchtime. However the OAP meal was very good with pleasant service too.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Plain Ales - Sheep Dip3.80GoodThought that I ought to try this and it was nothing like its name might suggest with a zesty start tending to a dry hoppy finish.
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
19 Oct 2012 (Trevor)
Only 3 others in when we arrived for our lunchtime celebration meal with a friend on this very wet Friday. We all had the Dover Sole special which was excellent and the service was good as well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentVery good condition rich dark brown bitter with a smooth toffee flavour.
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
30 Jan 2011 (ChrisE)
Opening time on a Sunday lunch time, the pub soon became quite busy. We enjoyed some very hot roast potatoes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40GoodA tasty session ale.
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
30 Jan 2011 (Ian)
Here with a minibus of local Camra chaps. Pub opened a bit early for us and supplied us with roast potatoes. Relaxed village local.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40ExcellentFresh yeasty and hoppy and enormously drinkable
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodLovely Harveys aroma. Good flavour. Decent condition
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
09 Dec 2010 (ChrisE)
Early afternoon, a good crowd of locals at the bar, and music from the 1950s and 1960s being played on the juke box. The landlord placed a large bowl of chips on the bar for general consumption.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentHarveys as it should be.
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70ExcellentIn very good condition.
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
09 Mar 2010 (Wittenden)
Good village pub, with reputation for excellent food. The locals invited me into their conversations.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentAll this talk of gold and hoppy-this knocks most of them into a cocked hat!
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood then at Banks's) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter3.70Not Tried
20 Apr 2007 (Ian)
Their 4th St George's Day festival. I hadn't been on the first day before and the beers were very fresh and all in excellent condition. It was a lovely spring evening with the marquee in the garden containing the stillage and beer plus some seating and the area for the band.
BeerABVScoreNotes
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Dragon Slayer4.50GoodI thought this used to be stronger than 4.5%. On its day one of my favourite golden beers. This was a little muted and hazy, but still with decent hop kick. Drinkable.
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Black Dragon Mild4.30GoodRuby with disappearing beige head. Not so much a mild, more a dark best bitter. Bit more roasted malt, touch of charcoal and decent hop finish. Very nice mild although it isn't a mild.
St. George's - Shakesbeer4.30GoodSherberty hop aroma, standard bitter in mouth, some spice/herb/sherbert hop on end. Fresh tasting and I rather liked it.
Wadworth - St. George & the Dragon4.50GoodAmber with lasting beige creamy head. Herby earthy hop, slighty yeasty. Hey, it's an English bitter. Some good hedgerow fruit. I would miss this type of beer though if I couldn't have it again.
Adnams - Broadside4.70AcceptableVery yeasty fruity version. Fruits are christmas cakey, but lifted by the yeastiness. But still the malty fruit comes through. Just lacks something.
Coach House - St George's Ale4.90AcceptableStraw coloured with bubbly white head. Slightly sweet golden ale. Bit sickly. Hop is citrusy and pleasing, but the pale malts are a bit sickly. I mean it's fine and in decent condition. Sub Hop Back Summer Lightning.
Arundel - St Georges4.60AcceptableI mean I don't have anything against English bitters and this is a not bad version, some decent malt fruit, but seriously, give it a bit more character fellas.
21 Oct 2006 (Ian)
I've been to the St George's Day and Summer beer festivals here and enjoyed them both, so I decided to come out here for their Trafalgar Day beer festival. The 400 bus conveniently goes from Ashford town centre and drops off right outside this pretty pub in the very attractive village of Bethersden. After a brief stroll around the churchyard, I settled myself into the saloon bar as the weather looked a bit grim and the beers were out in a marquee in the garden. 14 beers on offer from Waverley TBS. Music, Morris men and a BBQ were also on offer across the weekend. The marquee had hay bales to sit on and this created a very nice atmosphere. A group of cyclists from West Kent arrived to have lunch too. A good festival at a pub that does something a bit different.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50ExcellentOne of my favourite Harvey's beers. I love the mix of Harvey's yeast with the marmalade fruit and dry hop finish. Excellent.
Adnams - Broadside4.70GoodBit yeastier than I remember. Good fruity malt in mouth still. Hoppy finish. Not as full or with such dominant flavours as I remember.
Woodforde's - Nelson's Revenge4.50GoodClear copper colour, thin off white head. Yeast and herby hop aroma. Lovely hop actually. Moderate malt juicyness in mouth. Earthy hop finish. Nice mix of yeasty aroma, malt fruit in mouth and hop dryness on end. Good bitter.
Moorhouse's - Pendle Witches Brew5.10GoodCopper colour with lasting off white head. Attractive malt/hop balanced aroma. Full in mouth, juicy, moderate malty fruit. Balanced drying hop finish. Excellent premium bitter. Very drinakble.
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale5.40GoodDeep dark brown/ruby with tan head. Dark malt aroma, choc, but also hop too. Nicely full in mouth. Nicely roasted malt. Doesn't drink it's strength. Good dark strong beer.
Coach House - Farrier's Best Bitter3.90AcceptableOrange/copper colour with no head. Some bitterness, bit watery, some dry hop on finish. Fine, if not exciting
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Keelover4.20AcceptableClear copper colour, thin off white head. Flowery earthy hop aroma. Bit of fruit. Fine in mouth. Bit of muddy dryness on end. OK bitter, with nice subtle aroma.
Hadrian and Border - Flotsam4.00AcceptableI believe that this is my first beer from this brewery. Pale copper with beige head. Bit rubbery on aroma, bit of smoke. Earthy bitter. Fine. OK, slightly citrusy. Hop finish is quite nice.
Titanic - Port & Starboard4.20AcceptableHazy gold, lasting bubbly white head. Decent hop aroma, but then just a bit muddied, maybe not quite ready yet. Quite rich in mouth, like a lot of Titanic beers, but a bit of green apple too. Decent hop finish. Will be very drinkable in a day or two.
Coach House - Gunpowder Strong Mild3.80PoorBit of diacetyl spoils what is a good mild. Butter/caramel over a bitter burnt malt.
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)4.10Not Tried
Gale's - Trafalgar Ale4.20Not Tried
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Beacon Hill (was Beacon)3.80Not Tried
Hook Norton - 303AD (aka Generation)4.00Not Tried

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About The George

The pub sign. The George, Bethersden, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent9
Good27
Acceptable26
Poor5

Website.

The pub is found in Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AG.

Two bar pub in The Street, in a pretty Kent village south of Ashford, located not far from the C of E church. Lounge bar on the left has tables for food as well as seating at the bar. Public bar has the stillage for the gravity dispense beers and also a pool table and juke box. Low ceilings lined with hops add to the cosy feel. Large beer garden to the side. Three handpumps plus the gravity beer. Selection of regional brewers. This pub closed for business on Sunday 18th October 2020. Future unknown. Good news December 2022 - successful local community buy-out with hope to reopen late spring 2023 and did re-open on Friday 26th May 2023 to great local fanfare. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2025.

We have visited this pub 23 times, seen 71 different beers and tried 56 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN26 3AG