PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Handsome Sam
The Handsome Sam (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold |  | 2 |
| Four Candles - Citra | | 1 |
| Kent - Pale | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | | 1 |
| St Austell - HSD | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Wealden Bitter | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - American Pale |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Berry Xmas | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Dragon's Flagon | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | | 1 |
| Kent - Cobnut | | 1 |
| Rockin Robin - Reckless Robin |  | 1 |
| Milton - Pegasus | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 1 |
| Milton - Justinian | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lincoln Green - Little John | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Silver Eagle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - HSBB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Cinque Ports Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| House Beer - Handsome Sam Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Rocky Raccoon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Tap Room Tipple | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moorhouse's - White Witch | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Silver Surfer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Trusty Husky | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
10 Mar 2018 (Andrew)
Pub 5. Really nice pub. The rugby was on and the pub was quite busy. We got given a bowl of complimentary peanuts which was great.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | | Really tasty beer. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| House Beer - Handsome Sam Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried |
09 Nov 2017 (Jack William)
Early lunchtime on a Whitstable micro tour. One of our party of six was celebrating his 71st birthday. The landlord did the first round for £3 a pint as a treat and joined us for some jolly local banter. Nice.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Candles - Citra | 4.10 | | Beautiful. |
| Tonbridge - American Pale | 5.00 | | Lovely flavoured beer - first out the barrel and just a little hazy or would have scored higher. |
| Mighty Oak - HSBB | 3.80 | Not Tried | House bitter (Handsome Sam’s Best Bitter) - a good seller apparently and rated well by 3 of our party. |
| Rother Valley - Cinque Ports Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried |
30 Jun 2017 (ChrisE)
This was pub number one of what was originally going to be a tour of Whitstable and Herne Bay but ended up just being Whitstable. My first visit to this pub and I was pleasantly surprised to find it full at just after Noon. For some reason every beer that we had was charged at £3 although they ranged from £3.20 to £3.50 on the price list. There was a house beer named HSSB (Handsome Sam Special Bitter) at 3.8% which I believe is brewed by Mighty Oak, this ran out before I could try one. It was nice to see pictures of the Maunsell Forts on the wall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
| St Austell - HSD | 5.00 | | |
| Rother Valley - Wealden Bitter | 3.70 | | First one from a new cask. good. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | This ran out. |
29 Sep 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening. Pretty well patronised.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milton - Pegasus | 4.10 | | OK but early promise soon dissipated at it went flat. In fact ran out a few minutes later |
| Milton - Justinian | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Lincoln Green - Little John | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Silver Eagle | 4.50 | Not Tried | When will MO reach its millionth different beer name? And in how many different recipes? |
04 Dec 2015 (Andrew)
3rd pub in work's Christmas tour. Busy with our main party already here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Berry Xmas | 3.90 | | Black and nice to drink |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Moorhouse's - White Witch | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Silver Surfer | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Trusty Husky | 4.20 | Not Tried |
22 Oct 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 2nd Micropub I have come across with a TV for the Rugby World Cup. Not listed below but pub was also selling "Blend No. 7" which was a mix of the Mighty Oak Kings and Mighty Oak Tap Room Tipple mixed at time of dispense into a jug at 4.2%.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | |
| Rockin Robin - Reckless Robin | 4.50 | | Too fresh |
| Mighty Oak - Tap Room Tipple | 4.20 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2015 (Tobes)
12pm Took my dad in for a beer on a very rainy bank holiday Monday afternoon. First one's in but by the time we left around 20 in. Very friendly landlord & good conversation. Very well set out IMO as well, i'd take this micro over the Black Dog any day much better set up and much more welcoming host.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | 4.80 | | |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried |
06 May 2015 (Jack William)
8 ish - a few in but quiet. Not the friendliest of micros on this experience. All three ales from the same brewery.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | | crystal clear, but a little flat, nice body and bite for a low strength beer, |
| Mighty Oak - Dragon's Flagon | 4.20 | | Red beer with a nutty taste, very good aftertaste that lingered. |
| Mighty Oak - English Oak | 4.80 | Not Tried |
28 Mar 2015 (Andrew)
First time here. Nice place and friendly. The seating is a homage to the mother of all micro pubs, the Butchers Arms.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | | Dry fruits. Pale gold. Hint of astringency. |
| Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Rocky Raccoon | 4.10 | Not Tried |
20 Nov 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until gone 9. My colleague had a fortuitous opportunity to "interview" Peter Meaney of Mad Cat Brewery. He told us why he had dropped Meaney's from beer names and pub clips.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | | In good form |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | 4.90 | | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | |
| Sharp's - Special | 5.00 | Not Tried |
About The Handsome Sam
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 25 |
| 26 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4HJ.
Edge of town centre Micropub which opened on Tuesday 4th November 2014 in a former antiques shop. Located in Canterbury Road just by the railway overbridge. Named after the owner's cat which died exactly 4 years before the pub opened. High ceilinged room which retains some original wooden beams with a temperature controlled cellar room at the back from which real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a 2 level stillage - this is called the Beer Tent. High tables and bench seats and stools provide the seating. Hops adorn the 2 front bay windows. Unisex toilet at the right rear. Closed Mondays.
We have visited this pub 31 times, seen 89 different beers and tried 49 of them.
Postcode: CT5 4HJ