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The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tomos & Lilford - Summerhouse |  | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 1 |
| Tomos & Lilford - Chocolate Porter |  | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 1 |
| Northdown - Pale Ale Mary | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Slave to the Money | | 1 |
| 3 Piers - Brewhouse | | 1 |
| Northdown - Merry Margate | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On |  | 1 |
| Northdown - Magic Dragon | | 1 |
| The Working Hand - Lucky Crown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Northdown - Muggy Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Piers - Chocolate Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Deeply Vale - Beyond the Storm | Not Tried | 0 |
| Breakwater - North Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Breakwater - Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Breakwater - Dover PA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - All These Vibes | Not Tried | 0 |
| Breakwater - Samphire Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
03 Jun 2021 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon before the bus back to Canterbury. The landlord is still very enthusiastic despite the last 15 months or so of COVID restrictions. A good few customers scattered within.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northdown - Pale Ale Mary | 4.00 | | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | | Unfined, very light - not to my taste really. |
| Kent - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2020 (ChrisE)
Thursday soon after opening. A most enjoyable visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | |
| Northdown - Merry Margate | 3.80 | | A new beer for me. A nice session ale. |
| Tomos & Lilford - Chocolate Porter | 4.90 | | A tad too sweet and chocolaty for me. |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | 4.60 | Not Tried |
01 Sep 2020 (ChrisE)
Early afternoon and full to social distancing capacity. A very popular boozer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomos & Lilford - Summerhouse | 3.60 | | A good refreshing pint. |
21 Aug 2020 (ChrisE)
Early afternoon and just a couple of others in the bar when I arrived so there was no problem with social distancing. This was my visit since the pub changed hands and changed its name, still a very good boozer and I was pleased to hear that Peter and Kathryn who ran the Mash Tun still pop in here occasionally.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | In good condition but a tad cooler than I would have liked it. |
| Pig & Porter - Slave to the Money | 4.10 | | Advertised on the board as Slave for the Money but I will let them off. Again a tad cooler than I would have liked. A very good measure in an oversize glass. |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Northdown - Muggy Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried |
29 Feb 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit to see the new layout and ambience. Its ads call it a Modern Micropub but with 6 keg lines and a live amplified solo guitarist (who I think was very good) I judge it to be a modern bar in its new incarnation. I noted the demotion of the pulpit from bar counter to side table by the wall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northdown - Magic Dragon | 5.50 | | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Breakwater - Samphire Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| The Working Hand - Lucky Crown | 3.80 | Not Tried |
21 Feb 2020 (Jack William)
Afternoon- the place was very lively. Nice feel to it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | |
| Breakwater - Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Breakwater - Dover PA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - All These Vibes | 5.30 | Not Tried |
23 Jan 2020 (Jack William)
Late afternoon- busy. Very enthusiastic guvnor explaining his strategy of offering a wider selection of drinks from the previous incarnation of this place. It seems to be working.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Piers - Brewhouse | 4.00 | | |
| 3 Piers - Chocolate Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Deeply Vale - Beyond the Storm | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Breakwater - North Star | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 36 |
| 31 |
| 5 |
 | - |
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 37 times, seen 115 different beers and tried 67 of them.
Postcode: CT16 1JH
This pub was formally know as the The Mash Tun.