PubsandBeer
The Bull (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) |  | 4 |
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | | 1 |
| Pictish - Brewers Gold | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 1 |
| Marble - Dobber | | 4 |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | | 2 |
| Marble - Summer Marble |  | 1 |
| BrewDog - 77 Lager | | 2 |
| Pitfield's - 1839 India Pale Ale | | 1 |
| BrewDog - Edge | | 2 |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | | 1 |
| Pitfield's - 1792 Imperial Stout | | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead Extra | | 1 |
| Marble - Ginger Marble | | 2 |
| Saltaire - Cascade Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Summer Meltdown | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples |  | 1 |
| Durham - Black Velvet | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | | 2 |
| Art Brew - Tempest Stout | | 1 |
| BrewDog - Devine Rebel | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Redbrick | | 2 |
| Atomic - Fallout | | 1 |
| BrewDog - Dogma |  | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | | 1 |
| Marble - Honey Bee | | 2 |
| Purity - Mad Goose | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) |  | 1 |
| Saltaire - Sub-Lime Blonde | | 2 |
| Pictish - Alchemists Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - JHB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Black Pearl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Crouch Vale - Summer Breeze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hylder Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
13 Aug 2009 (Dubbel)
Speculation rife over the lineup of super special beers in the wings for the special West Kent Pub of the Year presentation on 20th August Garrett being very coy about it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Star of the show. King of beers. Floral, fruity, hoppy, thirst-quenching. Perfection. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Light, subtly hopped session ale. At first it's all a bit underwhelming but really grows on me a lot through the pint. |
| Dark Star - Summer Meltdown | 4.80 | | Lovely stuff, pale & hoppy with a backlash of ginger that tickles the tongue without burning the throat. |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Aug 2009 (Dubbel)
A really pleasant visit with my lil' bro'. Sat in the sun-drenched back garden putting the world to rights with Garrett and a couple of the locals quaffing off some immense Marble beers. Set up the weekend beautifully.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | Possibly even better than yesterday. An outstanding bitter with crisp, fruity hops and really enjoyable interesting malts. Could have happily supped on this forever more. |
| Marble - Dobber | 5.90 | | See 06 August. |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | 4.60 | | Goddammit. This was as light and refreshing as you would expect but still hasn't recaptured that glittering form of April. As such, I can't help but be slightly disappointed when it's anything less than sheer perfection in a glass. |
| Marble - Ginger Marble | 4.50 | | Still the most brutal ginger beer I've had the pleasure to tackle. Jnr quipped "Imagine if all Ginger Beer [soft drinks] tasted like this". Indeed. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
06 Aug 2009 (Dubbel)
Opening day of the Marble showcase and the beers were flowing at a right old pace. First barrel of Pint drained by 7pm. The three I sampled were just amazing. Good company in the form of the hosts and jolly regulars. For me, this is what pubbing is all about.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Dobber | 5.90 | | What a beer! Amber ultra-IPA, massive hops & marmalade palate. You can smell the potent alcohol before it hits your lips. Awesome beer from a brewery and a pub at the very top their respective games. |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | Deep golden, packed with flavour, hoppy & punchy with some scrumptious malts. Excellent bitter. |
| Marble - Summer Marble | 4.50 | | Gorgeous again. Straw gold, sweet fruity palate, lemon & berries poke through. A harsh dry bitterness rounds it off beautifully. Clever clever guys these Marble folk. |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Summer Breeze | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
03 Aug 2009 (Dubbel)
Glorious evening sunshine and a cracking pint. Just a little warmup to tomorrow's GBBF...
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead Extra | 5.80 | | This was delicious. Shiny bright gold, aggressive hops, a greater complexity than its little sibling and a really tasty spicy edge. |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Black Pearl | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | 4.20 | Not Tried |
17 Jul 2009 (Dubbel)
Laid back visit with James T doing the driving. Had a good chat with Garrett and Lynne and marveled at the amazing beer on offer. Great to see Marble Pint as a semi-permanent at the moment.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pictish - Brewers Gold | 3.80 | | Truly fantastic. Super-refreshing, sweet and hoppy. Simply delightful. |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | 4.20 | | Seems to morph every time I come back to it. Thought it poured a bit darker than previous. Gorgeous roast coffee bean flavours and an earthy dry quality. |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | | Picture of clarity. Definitely my beer of the year 2009. |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | 4.20 | Not Tried |
12 Jul 2009 (Dubbel)
After a drawn out Sunday afternoon at a car dealership, we were starving and feasted on colossal trench rolls stuffed with roast pork and apple sauce and lamb and mint, with roast tatties on the side. Oh, and guess what? The beer was pretty good too!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | | I can't not order this whenever I see it on. Just so crammed full of fruity juicy hop flavours, astounding for a sub 4%-er. |
| Art Brew - Tempest Stout | 4.60 | | Grassy, peaty stout with an added interesting but hard to place flavour in there. |
| Atomic - Fallout | 5.90 | | Amber, fruity boozy punch-like quality. Quite drinkable for strength. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pictish - Brewers Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hylder Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried |
26 Jun 2009 (Dubbel)
End of the working week. Where else better to wind down and ease my way into the weekend?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | | I love this beer! Chocked full of fruity bittersweet marvellousness. Blew away everything else on the bar. |
| Durham - Black Velvet | 4.20 | | Decent mild. Roasted, toasted. |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | 4.70 | | Not mouthfillingly flavourful like it has been. Something amiss. |
| Purity - Mad Goose | 4.20 | | Sulphurous nose eludes to a heavily hopped beer. Palate is a little disappointing in comparison. Nothing wrong but nothing too memorable. |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pictish - Alchemists Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
06 Jun 2009 (Andrew)
First time for me. After a 1.5 hour train ride and a walk across the fields it was good to finally reach the Bull. The inside wasn't too busy as most people were in the garden. The beer festival being held was well supported and some of the beers had already gone. Spent most of the time chatting to Ian, and later Dubbel, on various random subjects.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | | Light gold colour. Marigold dry hop flavour. Grapefruit and elderberry flavours too. Dry grapefruit hop finish. |
| Saltaire - Cascade Pale Ale | 4.80 | | Soft, floral, pink grapefruit hop, and bitter |
| Pitfield's - 1792 Imperial Stout | 9.30 | | Rich, oily, tart, bitter, wood resin, chilly heat, sherry oak, sourness in the background and some blackberry. |
| Pitfield's - 1839 India Pale Ale | 7.00 | | Rich, slight bubblegum flavour, soft, rose perfume. |
| BrewDog - Edge | 3.20 | | Coffee, inside of a 70's games room, grapefruit. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | 4.20 | | Cardboard, tart, gooseberry flavours. Should have had my mate, No.7, instead |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Very buttery (i.e. stuffed full of Diacetyl) for a beer that isn't suppose to be. Not the pubs fault; a brewing problem |
| Saltaire - Sub-Lime Blonde | 4.00 | | In good condition but clearly a comedy beer. Could have been a glass of Lemonade and lime. |
06 Jun 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
My first visit to this pub, for the "Best of the Best" festival. Suitably impressed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrewDog - Edge | 3.20 | | Lots of fruit and malt, good body for its strength. |
| BrewDog - 77 Lager | 4.90 | | Should get 4.5 stars if there was such an option. Just the right balance of hops and malt in the mouth, then hops kick in at the finish. |
| Marble - Dobber | 5.90 | | Very hoppy but with fruity sweetness rather than dry bitterness. Long hoppy finish. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Redbrick | 4.90 | | Well balanced in the mouth, fairly dry finish. |
| Marble - Honey Bee | 4.80 | | Slightly caramelly and not a lot of honey evident, making a quite sweet beer with a hint of dry hop. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | 6.00 | | Not overkeen on this, quite a dry, bitter malty taste and a very dry almost astringent finish. |
06 Jun 2009 (Ian)
As I sit here at home enjoying Singapore noodles from the local Chinese, I reflect upon a brilliant day. Ok so yes, it took around a 3 hour return journey to get to The Bull by train, but it was worth it. Sat with Andrew and Dubbel and chatting with Garratt and other locals about beer for an afternoon was one of the best times I've had. Best of the Best weekend. Well it lived up to its billing some great beers and a great pub that is also popular with cyclists.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | 4.10 | | Now I had this twice and loved it each time. Good condition, much better than Reading BF last year. More flavoursome on the hops and less metallic. Unfortunately it ran out otherwise I would have had it again. Best hops of the day |
| Marble - Ginger Marble | 4.50 | | Had this twice so it must have been good. Maybe not as intense as at the Newcastle Arms when I had it, but the earthy ginger is just so intense just great stem ginger flavour over a good pale ale base. |
| Pitfield's - 1792 Imperial Stout | 9.30 | | Black colour. Sour dark bitter choc aroma. Amazingly intense experience in the mouth. Like being slapped with a liquorice police baton. Intense sourish liquorice flavour. Some whisky malt flavours. Bit of heat. Bit of nut quality. Thick and oily in mouth. It leaves you in a very calm place. |
| Marble - Dobber | 5.90 | | Orange gold colour. Lots of nettley leafy hop with some resin on aroma. Very nettley aroma, very intense. For a UK beer amazingly hoppy. Very green leafy hop but this is just so dominating. Really quite amazingly hoppy for a UK beer. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples | 4.00 | | No where as good as at Coach & Horses but still a very good brown bitter. Lots of fruit salad and good mid malts. Very drinkable |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Having this beer in Kent is a real treat. Bit hazy and according to Haddonsman (beer blogger from Derby) the brewery isn't quite settled at the moment preparing on the move to Bakewell and some yeast problems too. Having said that the hops are unbelievably aggressive. Pale grapefruit aroma, but then on the finish the b nettle hop almost strips the tongue. Anyone who loves Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc or Loire S Blanc should get themselves a mini keg of this stuff. The fruit is sublime |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | 6.00 | | Slight haze on a reddish amber beer with no real head. I'm guessing this is a try at a recreation of a pre WWI strong mild. Not overly syrupy but very malty and only slight hop presence. Slightly dry on the grainyness on the swallow. I can't pinpoint why I like this beer but I do. Not showy on the alcohol. Yes decent fruit, yes good mouthfeel, bit ersatz I suppose the sum is better than the constituent parts. Good beer. |
| BrewDog - 77 Lager | 4.90 | | Didn't have the diacetyl that it does in the bottles that I've recently, still has great hop and great drinkability for a cask conditioned lager. |
| BrewDog - Devine Rebel | 12.50 | | syrupy malty barley wine. Better than in bottle. Very malty syrupy, decent hop dryness on finish. A defintie experience beer. Grew on me. Bit too syrupy though. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Redbrick | 4.90 | | Gold/copper colour with no real head. Some earthy hop on aroma. OK mid malts in mouth with some fruit. Decent hop on end. Drinkable but lacking the usual Thornbridge big hit. |
| BrewDog - Dogma | 7.80 | | Previously known as Speedball. It's a spicy/veg beer, base beer is a toffeeish beer. It's a good beer but not to my taste. Condition is good, perfect almost, I just don't like the spicy beers. Bit too much tea, too spicy, but great condition. |
| Saltaire - Sub-Lime Blonde | 4.00 | | Lime cordial dominates on this beer from aroma to flavour to finish. I mean it's just too much on the lime. Well served and in good condition but difficult to take this beer seriously |
| Marble - Honey Bee | 4.80 | | Very pale gold, no real head. Diacetyl on aroma. Bit actic on aroma too. Very buttery diacetyl in mouth. Can't really taste the honey on this, just too buttery for me. |
About The Bull
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 62 |
| 156 |
| 68 |
| 14 |
| 5 |
The pub is found in Horton Kirby, Kent, DA4 9DF.
Outstanding genuine freehouse. Ever-changing selection of guest ales and ciders, many rare to the area served in consistently excellent condition. Regular beer festivals, discos, BBQs and various other events. Monthly brewery showcase (1st weekend of the month) with at least six ales from one particular enterprising brewery. Friendly atmosphere and great home-cooked food (Tues-Sun) made with locally-sourced ingredients. Gravesend & Darent Valley CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008 and 2009 and West of Kent Pub of the Year 2009.
We have visited this pub 91 times, seen 200 different beers and tried 156 of them.
Postcode: DA4 9DF