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Rifle Volunteers (Goacher's)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) |  | 3 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale (now use separate 3.4% entry) | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 4 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 7 |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | | 2 |
Michael Croxford
Visits Details
24 Aug 2016 (ChrisE)
No trip to Maidstone would be complete without a visit to the Rifle although I do not always list my visits on this site. I arrived soon after 6pm opening and it was already busy, lots of the canine regulars as well. I had a good chat with one of the local Camra members about 4degrees, Mad Cat and Grammar School Records of Rye.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale (now use separate 3.4% entry) | 3.60 | | |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2016 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening and busy..
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Superb as always. |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale (now use separate 3.4% entry) | 3.60 | Not Tried |
25 Jun 2016 (ChrisE)
Early evening from opening time for about one hour. A good crowd in from the start and busy when we left.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Last one from the cask and really excellent. |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | One of the first from a new cask and just as good as the previous one. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
17 Jun 2016 (ChrisE)
A wet Friday lunchtime. Howard Goacher was behind the bar learning the ropes for when Matt and Gina go on holiday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
10 Feb 2016 (ChrisE)
Lunchtime visit. I was informed that this pub no longer sells keg lager owing to lack of demand. Bottled Becks is available as an alternative for the die hard lager drinkers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Superb pint. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
03 Jan 2016 (Dosser)
Great welcome from Matt and Gina. Pub was packed for most of the day.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Quality |
17 Dec 2015 (ChrisE)
Early evening until late and the pub was busy and welcoming. I had worried for a minute that the pub was closed as it appeared to be in darkness but this was because the window shutters were up which created a comfortable and brighter feeling inside the pub. I was amazed to see a lady order a Babycham and get one served in an original 1960s Bambi glass complete with a glacé cherry on a blue plastic cocktail stick.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | Superb. |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 |  | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
09 Dec 2015 (ChrisE)
It was the Old Ale evening, a good size and good quality real home made steak pie and a pint of 1066 Old Ale for £6. We arrived just after the 6pm evening opening time and the pub was already full and it remained that way at least until I left to catch a late train home just before closing time. Thankfully those nice South Eastern Trains people woke me up at my destination.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | Brought up in a jug from the cellar tonight as only four handpumps in the pub. |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
17 Nov 2015 (ChrisE)
Early evening and comfortably busy. We were pleased to see that the window shutters appear to have been refurbished, I have never seen these up before. Matt and Gina were out so I was unable to get any further details as to what has been done.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried |
08 Nov 2015 (Dosser)
Heard Mr excellent was in town so came here. Now selling 7 times the amount of mild that Alan did.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | |
About the Rifle Volunteers
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 274 |
| 606 |
| 108 |
 | 22 |
 | 7 |
The pub is found in Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1EU.
In Wyatt Street, one of three Goacher's tied pubs. Décor has not been updated for some time, but that adds to the joy of this quiet pub. Light, Mild and Stout on regularly. If you like Goacher's, then come here. Also, if you like a quiet pub with no airs or graces that serves well crafted beers then this is your place. The long standing licensee of nearly 37 years (Alan) left in late February 2015 bringing a phase of the pub to an end. Pub closed for a week then re-opened under new tenants, Matt and Gina who were themselves replaced by Alex and Polly in February 2018. The 3 original handpumps have now become 4. Secluded rear garden. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2016, CAMRA West Kent Pub of the Year 2016, CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year 2016.
We have visited this pub 598 times, seen 11 different beers and tried them all.
Postcode: ME14 1EU