PubsandBeer

History: Home > The Haywain

The Haywain (Free House)

[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)Exceptional1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional1
Dark Star - Golden GateExcellent1
Potbelly - Pigs Do Fly!Excellent1
Westerham - Little Scotney Green Hop AleGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7Good1
Burton Bridge - Staffordshire Knot Brown AleGood1
Shepherd Neame - Late RedGood1
Woodforde's - WherryGood1
Hidden - PotentialGood1
Marston's - Burton BitterAcceptable1
Elgood's - Cambridge BitterAcceptable1
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Bombardier (now superseded by 4.1% version)Acceptable1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - East Kent Pale AleAcceptable1
Whitstable - Native BitterNot Tried0
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Heart of OakNot Tried0
Wyre Piddle - PiddlesnerNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Mad BobNot Tried0
Westerham - Finchcocks OriginalNot Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - EquinoxNot Tried0
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at WychwoodNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPANot Tried0
Hopdaemon - IncubusNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Coach House - Innkeepers Special ReserveNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Not Tried0
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - BitterNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew BitterNot Tried0
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - BitterNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Robinsons - UnicornNot Tried0
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)Not Tried0
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Hole HeartedNot Tried0
Whitstable - Oyster StoutNot Tried0
St Austell - TributeNot Tried0
Burton Bridge - Golden DeliciousNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderNot Tried0
Potbelly - Beijing BlackNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ChiswickNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Kent's BestNot Tried0
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark IslandNot Tried0
Burton Bridge - XL BitterNot Tried0
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterNot Tried0
Potbelly - AislingNot Tried0
Batemans - Combined HarvestNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Visits Details

27 Sep 2008 (Andrew)
Jane, Isabel and I arrived mid afternoon and immediately bumped into Brian and Pete so we sat and chatted to them. The beer festival was being held in a large marquee in the garden that housed the beer, a small stage and plenty of seating. An eclectic mix of singers and musicians played during out stay with one chap’s rendition of Strawberry Fields being particularly good I thought. The condition of the beer was really good and the staff were very friendly.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Good"The beer wot I saved". Good condition. Rich and syrupy with sharpish hop finish
Woodforde's - Wherry3.80GoodAs the man serving pointed out before he would serve me, it was a bit cloudy but he said it tasted fine. It was, and it did. It had a hint of lemon to it that made it interesting.
Hidden - Potential4.20GoodIn good condition. Reddish in colour with raspberry flavours and a hint of vanilla. The finish was sharpish.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Coach House - Innkeepers Special Reserve4.50Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not TriedOn at the bar in the pub
Shepherd Neame - Late Red4.50Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not Tried
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Bitter3.80Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
Robinsons - Unicorn4.20Not Tried
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Hole Hearted4.70Not Tried
St Austell - Tribute4.20Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Chiswick3.50Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Batemans - Combined Harvest4.70Not Tried
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Heart of Oak4.50Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Mad Bob4.40Not Tried
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Equinox4.80Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Bombardier (now superseded by 4.1% version)4.30Not TriedOn at the bar in the pub
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50Not Tried
17 Aug 2008 (Brian)
Pretty busy on a Sunday lunchtime. Good, friendly atmosphere and the landlord informed me of their forthcoming beer fest, which will be in it's 3rd year I think.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Marston's - Burton Bitter3.80AcceptableQuite nice if standard brown, reddish beer. A little sulphour, a bit of malt, but a little thin in the mouth. OK.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at Wychwood3.70Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Bombardier (now superseded by 4.1% version)4.30Not Tried
30 Sep 2006 (Brian)
Bramling beer festival, held in marquee in the gardens of the pub. Good selection of ales, live music on a stage made out of hay bales, plenty of seating and a friendly crowd of people on Saturday afternoon. The staff were very friendly and informative - an excellent afternoon session.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10ExceptionalFirst ale that hit me as I was looking at the beer list. Started off with this (it's becoming a bit of a habit). Slightly sweaty hop aroma and with a surprisingly creamy head. Fresh prickly feel in the mouth with the usual excellent citrus twang.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalStunning. Fresh and clear. Pale golden straw colour, with hay in the aroma. Citrus and mangoes and bananas in the mouth. Clean finish. Could have drunk it all day.
Dark Star - Golden Gate4.50ExcellentPale golden colour, thin bubbly disappearing head. Orange citrus aroma, with bitter marmalade feel. Excellent.
Potbelly - Pigs Do Fly!4.40ExcellentGolden ale with intense citrus aroma. Excellent bitter-sweet balance.
Shepherd Neame - Late Red4.50GoodDark fruit aroma. Mid brown, no head. Good bitterness and balance. A bit yeasty but easy drinking.
Burton Bridge - Staffordshire Knot Brown Ale4.80GoodA slight sulphorous aroma. Mid brown clolour with no head. Sour cherries and new carpets in the mouth, followed by bitterness with a hint of caramel. Flinty and slightly sour finish.
Westerham - Little Scotney Green Hop Ale4.30GoodLight brown with a thin white head. Slightly spicy aroma with citrus finish.
Elgood's - Cambridge Bitter3.80AcceptableLast one of the day. It was mid brown with no head. Spice and fruit aroma, but with a thin finish. Not bad, but unremarkable.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - East Kent Pale Ale4.10AcceptablePale golden with thin bubbly head. A bit thin in the mouth, but with good bitter bite. Not particularly memorable.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not TriedListed as Gadd's faithful dogbolter, but I assumed that it was the same as the winter porter.
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)4.10Not Tried
Whitstable - Oyster Stout4.50Not Tried
Burton Bridge - Golden Delicious3.80Not Tried
Potbelly - Beijing Black4.40Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Kent's Best4.10Not Tried
Burton Bridge - XL Bitter4.00Not Tried
Potbelly - Aisling4.00Not Tried
Whitstable - Native Bitter3.70Not Tried
Wyre Piddle - Piddlesner4.30Not Tried
Westerham - Finchcocks Original3.50Not Tried
14 Nov 2004 (Andrew)
Noticed a few pump clips behind the bar which were: Pedigree, John Smiths and Courage Best. He had London Pride on but most people were drinking Guiness. Friendly enough pub with a locals feel
BeerABVScoreNotes
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Bombardier (now superseded by 4.1% version)4.30AcceptableTasted quite hoppy for Bombardier but nice all the same
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried

[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits]

About The Haywain

The pub sign. The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent46
Good53
Acceptable15
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Bramling, Kent, CT3 1NB.

In Canterbury Road, a country pub which features hanging hop bines and a cosy snug. Several letting rooms in the recently refurbished coach house. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2020.

We have visited this pub 44 times, seen 157 different beers and tried 85 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT3 1NB