The Berry (Free House)
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Visits Details
16 Nov 2012 (Ian)
After work on a Friday evening and it was busy and buzzing. 10 handpulls on now for the weekends. Great chat with Chris and a bloke at the bar who knew his stuff about beer. I even got 3 German beers in bottle that I'd not had before. Really great pub. All the beers I had were in perfect condition and temperature which is testament to Chris' excellent cellaring techniques.
Dark Star / Magic Rock Collaboration - Rock Star | 6.00 | | Collaboration brew with Magic Rock. Big American style brown ale. Perfect for me. Lots of hops, lots of brown malt. |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | God I love this beer. I could drink it every day |
Worsthorne - Old Trout | 4.50 | | It's what a brown best bitter should be. Malty, hoppy and bitter. Just shows what you can do if you do this popular style well. |
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Excellent condition, but there was some diacetyl from the brewing process. Nothing to do with Chris or how it was served |
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Dark some choc some Harvey's yeast character. |
Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
Box Steam - Funnel Blower | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Brewers - Loco IPA | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
05 Sep 2012 (HSB)
Walked here after a session in the Just Reproach. Good atmosphere and an excellent choice of beers.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
11 Aug 2012 (Stephen Harris)
A rather down-at-heal pub, fully focussed on its beer and cider. Quiet at lunchtime, but time for some beer talk at the bar. I like to think that my Great-Grandfather may have drunk in here when he was an Army Bandmaster.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | A pale beer with light, biscuit malt and a floral hop presence. |
Canterbury Brewers - Stout Engenius | 4.10 | | A black stout of extreme roastiness. Perhaps a little thin for the style. |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Arkell's - Kingsdown Special Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
12 Jul 2012 (ChrisE)
An afternoon visit, and the pub was doing good business.
Elland - Midsummer Night's Porter | 4.50 | | |
Ossett - Field of Dreams | 4.20 | | |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
Box Steam - Piston Broke | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Brewers - 2012 | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
18 May 2012 (Ian)
I was thinking about where I wanted to give my hard earned cash for a hard week's work and I couldn't think of anywhere better than this pub. Good bunch of locals and visitors. Thanks to Chris for running such a good pub.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | I haven't had a pint of this in too long a time. The aroma of yeasty goodness was lovely. |
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Crisp hoppy and I had 2 pints |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | 6.00 | | Just a half, but this was really good. Lovely malty depth |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft Top | 3.50 | | Liquorice up front, biscuit in mouth and this edge of damson jam. |
Kent - Enigma | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
29 Apr 2012 (Pedro)
Afternoon - all beers £3-10/pint except Harvey's at £3-00
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
Bridge of Allan - Glencoe Wild Oat Organic Stout | 4.50 | | |
Vale - Artful Bodger | 4.10 | | |
Plain Ales - Fools Gold | 4.40 | | |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Saltaire - Empress IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
17 Feb 2012 (Ian)
Winter Beer Festival. Stillage set up in the cellar. Great event. Sat with some guys I randomly met and got a recipe for some homebrew. Thanks Steve.
Kent - Beyond the Pale | 5.40 | | Clear pale gold with lasting white head. Looks good. Looks in good condition. Touch of yeast on aroma. Some citrus intense hop on aroma. Its a tasty strong blond ale. Good leafy hop on finish. Aroma has a little farmyard on the yeast. Hops on finish are good. Pretty good but I would rather have a touch more malt backbone. Hoppy as hell. Some sweet alcohol. |
Liverpool Craft - Tane Mahuta | 4.40 | | Hazy coper gold colour. Lasting white head. Very good nick. Herbal hoppy aroma which is attractive. Good mouthfeel. Nit huge bitterness but some lovely fruit flavours that are quite subtle. Good dry finish. Very tasty. |
Redemption - Little Chief | 4.20 | | Hoppy as hell and beer of the festival for me. |
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter Cheer | 4.40 | | Good malts on this and good deep fruits. |
Ha'Penny - London Stone | 4.50 | | Copper brown no real head. Some biscuit some stony yeast. Good biscuit on end. Not keen on yeasty aroma flavour. Fine |
London Fields - Love Not War | 4.20 | | Brown slight haze. Lasting beige head. Some farty yeast. Quite malty in the mouth. Decent malt and biscuit in mouth. I mean it is a bitter that isnt that bitter on the finish. Some dry tingle. |
Botanist - Kew Green | 4.80 | | Orange cloudy beer. Thin white head. Raspberry fruity flavour. Odd wheat beer. Clearly has a bit of fruit. Honey beer. Oddly ok. Interesting |
Botanist - Night Porter | 5.00 | | Very deep ruby colour. Thin beige head. TCP medicinal aroma and flavour. Some blackcurrant. But not good |
21 Dec 2011 (ChrisE)
Lunch time and quite a few in. I had a good chat with Chris behind the bar who informed me that they will be installing some additional handpumps soon, and that they have four firkins from the Ripple Steam Brewery in the cellar.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Cotleigh - Red Nose Reinbeer | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Plain Ales - Maids-A-Milk-in | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Salopian - Sleigh Rider | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Cottage - Vixen | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
13 Jun 2011 (ChrisE)
Monday morning about 11:30, and just time for a quick one before catching a 'bus to Worth. I was extremely tempted to have some more beers, and wait one hour for the next 'bus.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Excellent, a shame that I had to rush it. |
Potbelly - Beijing Black | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Wolf - Lupus Lupus | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - Raspberry Wheat Beer | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 | Not Tried | I ordered this, but it ran out whilst being poured. |
25 May 2011 (Ian)
Chris Twittered that Acorn Simcoe IPA was on. What is a hophead gonna do? The power of social media and good beer.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Cask handpull. Beautiful one of the best pints of this I have had. Hoppy as hell. |
Acorn - Simcoe IPA | 5.00 | | Realy good Simcoe bite |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dragonhead | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
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