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Kent Beer Festival 2012 (CAMRA Beer Festival)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Abigale - Gloriously GoldExcellent2
Black Cat - HopsmackExcellent2
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's AleExcellent2
Canterbury Brewers - 2012Excellent2
Kent - Going for GoldExcellent2
Rockin Robin - Mildly RockinGood2
Dark Star - RevelationExceptional1
Mallinsons - Athletes Assemble!Exceptional1
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldExceptional1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster StoutExceptional1
Surrey Hills - Gilt ComplexExceptional1
Acorn - HoptathlonExcellent1
East London (ELB) - Pale AleExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Festiv'AleExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea ShellsExcellent1
Boggart - Rum PorterGood1
Goacher's - Real Mild AleGood1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - GenesisGood1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good HeavensGood1
Mallinsons - Station Best BitterGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Bronze TopGood1
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)Good1
Rockin Robin - Hoppin RobinGood1
Tír Dhá Ghlas - Jimmy's RiddleGood1
Cotleigh - Owlympian GoldAcceptable1
Picture 1. Kent Beer Festival 2012, Canterbury, Kent

Visits Details

21 Jul 2012 (oz11)
Saturday, 1st bus got us there shortly after noon. Not much left from the Kent brewers bar, more to be found at the cringingly named "Pintathlon Bar". With one minor exception beer quality was spot on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Surrey Hills - Gilt Complex4.60ExceptionalDescribed by one of our group as "Jaipur Jr.", and that wasn't as a criticism. Best beer of the session, along with the Revelation.
Dark Star - Revelation5.70ExceptionalTapped a new barrel early afternoon so had to have a half.
Mallinsons - Athletes Assemble!4.10ExceptionalThird best beer of the day, golden and hoppy.
East London (ELB) - Pale Ale4.00ExcellentNicely balanced.
Canterbury Brewers - 20124.20Excellent
Abigale - Gloriously Gold4.10Excellent
Kent - Going for Gold4.40Excellent
Acorn - Hoptathlon4.50ExcellentGolden ale, hoppy with hints of vanilla.
Rockin Robin - Mildly Rockin3.70GoodOne of the Kent beers that was available, and a good way to start the day.
Tír Dhá Ghlas - Jimmy's Riddle4.70GoodNew entry created as this was marked as 4.7%. Malty and dark.
Cotleigh - Owlympian Gold5.00AcceptableThe only beer I didn't get on with. Wet cardboard on the finish made this heavy going.
20 Jul 2012 (Andrew)
Back for the lunchtime session. Walked up with Ian and met Brian and Pete in the queue. Bumped into ChrisE, Pedro and Blair. It rained heavily at the end but other than that it was a perfect day to drink beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Real Mild Ale3.40GoodQuite fresh. Hint of milky roasted malt. Perhaps needed a day to mellow in the barrel.
Rockin Robin - Hoppin Robin3.70GoodBrown bitter. Biscuit malt. Red fruit. Nice
Rockin Robin - Mildly Rockin3.70GoodBlack. Roasted sweet malt with a hint of Turkish delight.
Mallinsons - Station Best Bitter4.20GoodGoldish colour. Strong citrus hop. Touch overpowering on the finish
Abigale - Gloriously Gold4.10GoodLight gold. Peppery. Lemon pith. Interesting.
19 Jul 2012 (Mick)
Back in the barn, came early to get a table. Nice to see so many brewers from Kent. Had a good chat with Andrew and Ian and meet several people from the Butchers. A good evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80ExceptionalReally nice, stunning hops, crisp and fresh< a good session bitter.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20ExceptionalSuperb, rich and dark with hints of coffee toast and caramel, lovely.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Festiv'Ale3.80ExcellentFruity bitter, with good citrus and a long finish
Black Cat - Hopsmack4.00ExcellentNice, full bodied and a good citrus finish.
Canterbury Brewers - 20124.20ExcellentA good bitter, well balanced with a long hoppy finish.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale3.80ExcellentWith a taste to match the gravity this is a well rounded premium bitter.
Kent - Going for Gold4.40ExcellentStrong bitter with a good hop bite.
Boggart - Rum Porter4.60GoodStrong and rich with just a bit to much alcohol on the taste for me.
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60GoodLovely hops, fresh and full flavoured
19 Jul 2012 (Andrew)
Walked up after work with Ian and got our usual place in the cow shed. Beer was all in excellent condition and it got quite busy quite quickly. Had a chat with Mick about pubs up north and about the changing beer range at the Butchers. Good night.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells4.70ExcellentBlond. Light. Cascades? Really nice and in superb condition.
Black Cat - Hopsmack4.00ExcellentWell constructed beer. Copper gold colour. Drying creamy mouth feel. Very earthy grapefruit hop.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale3.80GoodLight gold. Good grapefruit hop bite. Quite aggressive hop finish.
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50GoodRuby colour. Boiled sweet malt flavour. Base bitter finish.
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Heavens4.10GoodLight ruby colour. Chewy. Slight cough sweet flavour. Bit of sherbet.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Bronze Top4.10GoodMalty, rich, sweet. Hint of alcohol. A true-to-brewer's style Old Dairy beer.

About the Kent Beer Festival 2012

The pub sign. Kent Beer Festival 2012, Canterbury, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional5
Excellent12
Good13
Acceptable1
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7BA.

Excellent beer festival held in a cow shed on the outskirts of Canterbury.

We have visited this pub 4 times, seen 25 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: CT4 7BA