PubsandBeer
The Bull (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - IPA |  | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 3 |
| BrewDog - Rip Tide | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brock |  | 1 |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | | 2 |
| BrewDog - Zeitgeist | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Ashford | | 1 |
| Boggart - Rum Porter | | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Ginger Helmet | | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Goldings | | 2 |
| Leatherbritches - Spiced Berry Mild |  | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Dovedale | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Canary | | 1 |
| BrewDog - Chaos Theory | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Dr. Johnson |  | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Dragon Chaser | | 1 |
| Newby Wyke - Bear Island | Not Tried | 0 |
| Newby Wyke - Brutus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| BrewDog - Paradox Arran Edition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - OTT Old Tongham Tasty | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phoenix - Wobbly Bob | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phoenix - White Monk | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phoenix - Arizona | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phoenix - West Coast I.P.A. | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phoenix - Hopsack | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
31 May 2009 (Dubbel)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherbritches - Ginger Helmet | 4.70 | | Light with a mild, sensible infusion of ginger that tingled the tongue but doesn't overdo it. Good sweetness, well balanced. |
| Leatherbritches - Goldings | 3.60 | | Light, refreshing, idyllic. Could drink all day. |
| Newby Wyke - Bear Island | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Newby Wyke - Brutus | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Leatherbritches - Spiced Berry Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 May 2009 (Ian)
Phil Lowry had also made it up to town and he offered me a lift home via the Phoenix beer showing at The Bull. Met up with Garratt, Lynn along with Dubbel and his friends. Pictish hadn't delivered their beers, so there were 6 Phoenix beers on instead.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Ashford | 4.20 | | Kelly from the brewery says this is his favourite Thornbridge beer. I like this very much, lots of very good roasty toasty malts and served in very good nick. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Phoenix - Wobbly Bob | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Phoenix - White Monk | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Phoenix - Arizona | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Phoenix - West Coast I.P.A. | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Phoenix - Hopsack | 3.80 | Not Tried |
01 May 2009 (Dubbel)
A cellar refurb has created space for over 20 casks to be racked and readied. A further 3 to 5 handpumps are due to be installed very soon. Brugse Zot and Fruli complimenting the cask range. World domination is nigh.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Tangy, bittersweet and always awesome. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Magnificent, as ever. Demanded some take out. One of many in the cellar too. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brock | 4.10 | | Black with smooth velvety burnt dark malts and a very subtle chocolate undertone. St Petersburg's little brother - classy and refined. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried |
28 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
Had a good chat with the locals. Garrett mocked me by putting Thornbridge Brock on two minutes after I had walked out of the door!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Remains by far and away the most popular and biggest selling beer in the pub. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Not at its cintilating best. They still have a yeast problem. |
| Leatherbritches - Dragon Chaser | 4.40 | | Pretty basic. Not my favourite from the LB range. |
| Boggart - Rum Porter | 4.60 | Not Tried |
23 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
Lynne was busily preparing for a special St. George's Day medieval feast, complete with tankards, when I arrived after work.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | See March 21. |
| Green Jack - Canary | 3.80 | | Decent session pale, nice shiny amber colour and malts but lacking vital bite from the hops. |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | 4.20 | | Not as heavenly as last time. Marmalade flavours tempered down, some estery banana creeping in. |
| Hogs Back - OTT Old Tongham Tasty | 6.00 | Not Tried |
18 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
Trade was steady on Saturday lunchtime. Garrett was a bit more presentable having finally had time for a haircut and beard trim! Good to see some Green Jack beers on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | See 21 March. |
| Green Jack - Orange Wheat | 4.20 | | Mid-coloured, clear gorgeous fruity wheat ale, none too sweet, with a super rounded hop finish. |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - OTT Old Tongham Tasty | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Green Jack - Canary | 3.80 | Not Tried |
11 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
A rowdy rugby team were in full song in the garden and a wood-burning old skool fire had the place smelling like bonfire night. Managed to snap up a couple of ultra-rare 13% Belgian stouts for future enjoyment. Moules and frites went down a treat with draught Maredsous 6. There is seemingly nothing that this place fails to pull off spectacularly well.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Shimmering gold, biting hops and grapefruit/lemongrass notes. Britain's premier session ale back to its brilliant best. Hurrah! |
| Leatherbritches - Dr. Johnson | 4.00 | | A rather dull brown bitter. Robust enough but didn't do much for me. |
| Leatherbritches - Dovedale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Paradox Arran Edition | 10.00 | Not Tried | |
| Boggart - Rum Porter | 4.60 | Not Tried |
09 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
The Belgian fest was in full swing with six draught beers available (six more to come) and around 30 bottles to work through. After scooping what was 'required' on the bar I dabbled in some tasters (being particularly impressed by the Gordons Scotch Ale, Chimay Blue and Westmalle Dubbel) and polished off some curly Belgian sausages and stoemp.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boggart - Rum Porter | 4.60 | | Huge rum flavours (which I fortunately enjoy) vanilla and bubblegum in there too. Full bodied but just a little flat. |
| Leatherbritches - Dovedale | 4.40 | | Decent brown bitter with burnt malts and unusual hops. |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - IPA | 6.20 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Paradox Arran Edition | 10.00 | Not Tried |
07 Apr 2009 (Dubbel)
Lots of busy bods setting up the marquee in the garden ready for the Belgian Beer Festival starting Thursday. Surprised to see a couple of lingering BrewDog casks containing the leftovers from the weekend's showcase.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - IPA | 6.20 | | Goodness, is it that time of year already? The strong, big hitting copper-blonde IPA returns, fruit salad flavours and buckets of hops certainly let you know you're drinking it and absolutely loving it. |
| Leatherbritches - Goldings | 3.60 | | So glad I came back to this after last week's wrong foot intro. Crisp, straw coloured session beer magnifique. Chewy notable hop finish. No shrinking violet and continues to improve the more you drink it. |
| Leatherbritches - Spiced Berry Mild | 3.80 | | Ruby mild with a brambley aroma, cough syrup palate and spicy, tangy spikey hop finish. A very different drop but well executed. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Paradox Arran Edition | 10.00 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Zeitgeist | 4.90 | Not Tried |
04 Apr 2009 (Ian)
Brew Dog brewery showcase and another brilliant afternoon at the joint best pub in Kent (along with the Butcher's Arms). Lots of beer related banter at the bar, great beers and Garratt holding the whole thing together. I had a couple of bottles of Orval too now that the pub takes beers from CaveDirect. Belgian beer festival 9-11 April and Summer BF 4-7 June.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrewDog - Rip Tide | 8.00 | | Along with Dark Star Imp Stout, this is my favourite cask UK impy stout. Really lovely choc, coffee, wide mouthfeel, bit of intense tar, Belgian dark choc |
| BrewDog - Zeitgeist | 4.90 | | Lovely roasted flavour. Bit of bite on end. Good stuff |
| BrewDog - Chaos Theory | 7.10 | | I think my first time on cask. Bit metallic, tea and toffee, but never my favourite strong IPA |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Espresso Stout | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Paradox Arran Edition | 10.00 | Not Tried | Blended a half with Rip Tide |
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