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The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Musket - Gracious |  | 1 |
| Three Legs - Mosaic Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | | 1 |
| Hop Fuzz - American | | 1 |
| Kent - Green Giant | | 1 |
| Kent - Black Gold | | 1 |
| Black Country - Citra Sublime | | 2 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | | 1 |
| Dorking - Platinum ESB | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells |  | 1 |
| Milestone - Lion's Pride | | 1 |
| Kent - Winter Ale | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Das Kölner | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | | 1 |
| Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%) | | 1 |
| Three Legs - New Zealand | | 1 |
| Milestone - Honey Porter | | 1 |
| Musket - Trigger | | 1 |
| Romney Marsh - Amber Ale | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Legs - Pale #2 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Musket - Powder Burn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Musket - Ball Puller | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive (now use 3.4% entry) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Country - Plum Pig | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Country - Chain Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | Not Tried | 0 |
| Northern Whisper - Beltie | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
15 Dec 2023 (Jack William)
One for the road after my liar dice session. Late afternoon, nicely busy. Two ales fresh on since yesterday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Country - Citra Sublime | 4.50 | | |
| Black Country - Chain Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Black Country - Plum Pig | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Gower Wolf | 4.00 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2023 (Jack William)
Bus pass outing to Dover. Just the five of us but a very enjoyable session in this super pub. All ales served in oversize glasses - a full pint and a good head.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Country - Citra Sublime | 4.50 | | |
| Dorking - Platinum ESB | 5.20 | | A good strong bitter, not sure why they name it thus. |
| Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | |
| Black Country - Plum Pig | 4.30 | Not Tried |
22 Nov 2023 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon- just stopped in for a swift one after a pensions meeting. Too many familiar faces and good beer made it difficult to leave.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | |
| Romney Marsh - Amber Ale | 4.20 | | |
| Kent - Winter Ale | 5.50 | |
31 Aug 2023 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit. Lots of familiar faces. Chatted to BR Martin who recalled a visit to the Crown Posada in Newcastle with Chris Excell a good few years back - thanks to this site I was able to tell him that it was probably 7 January 2015 and that Elvis Presley was playing on the vintage record player.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | | A wry good traditional style bitter. |
| Tonbridge - Das Kölner | 4.30 | | |
| Three Legs - New Zealand | 4.80 | | A fruity, unfined pale ale. |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive (now use 3.4% entry) | 3.60 | Not Tried |
11 May 2023 (Jack William)
Second-Thursday bus-pass outing. They opened early at noon for the six of us. A very enjoyable session and the place was very busy by mid afternoon. Danny continues to be a very good host.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Black Gold | 4.00 | | |
| Musket - Gracious | 5.30 | | |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | 5.00 | | Chalked up at 5.4% |
| Musket - Trigger | 3.60 | | A bit hazy, drank well though. |
23 Feb 2023 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit, a raft of familiar faces, lively conversation. Excellent way to while away an hour or so before my train home.
Excellent best bitter from Parkway - Grand Slam - at 4.2%
And a “peanut butter stout” from 4 T’s at 4.8% called Squirrel’s Heaven. I wasn’t tempted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Fuzz - American | 4.20 | | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | Appropriate beer for the time of year. A group of skylarks is an exultation! |
06 Jan 2023 (Jack William)
Late afternoon- pleased to get this excellent pub on my 2023 list already. I knew 3 people and recognised a few more - Network Rail Martin, Polish Tony and oop north Saul. I really must learn people’s surnames sometime!
Talked about the revamped Thirtsy Scarecrow- now Staggered Inn and thought I ought to give it a try.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Legs - Mosaic Pale | 4.50 | | Superb unfined pale ale. |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Powder Burn | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Ball Puller | 4.00 | Not Tried |
13 Oct 2022 (Jack William)
Bus pass Thursday group. Five of us just about doubled the customer numbers for about three hours. The locals were very friendly, Danny the landlord welcoming and still very engaging and enthusiastic about his beers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Green Giant | 6.00 | | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | | |
| Milestone - Lion's Pride | 3.80 | | |
| Milestone - Honey Porter | 4.90 | |
08 Sep 2022 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon- swift one between buses. Nicely busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | 6.20 | Not Tried | Selling well at £4 a pint. |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Three Legs - Pale #2 | 3.70 | Not Tried | #3 same strength |
06 May 2022 (Jack William)
Late afternoon- sunny Dover. Good crowd in - and I bumped into (separately) two old Dovorians who have both recently moved back. Up and coming town, Dover.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Splendid amber ale - recommended by a local. |
| Northern Whisper - Beltie | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 29 |
| 27 |
 | 3 |
 | - |
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 30 times, seen 92 different beers and tried 54 of them.
Postcode: CT16 1JH
This pub was formally know as the The Mash Tun.