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White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014 (CAMRA Beer Festival)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Acorn - BouclierExcellent1
Adur - Steyning SpecialGood1
Allendale - WolfGood2
Art Brew - Monkey IPAExcellent1
Ascot - Anastasia's Exile StoutGood2
Blue Monkey - Ape AleExcellent1
Cairngorm - Santa's SledgehammerGood2
Cheddar - Goat's LeapExcellent1
Coniston - Infinity IPAExceptional2
Dark Star - Over The MoonAcceptable1
Dark Star - RevelationExcellent2
Derby - Old IntentionalGood1
Elland - 1872 PorterExcellent1
Flipside - Russian RoubleGood2
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleExcellent3
Hastings - American Pale AleExcellent2
Hopdaemon - Over the TopGood1
Kent - Twelfth NightExcellent1
Kirkstall - Black Band PorterGood1
Larkins - PorterExcellent3
Longdog - Lamplight PorterGood1
Maxim - MaximusGood1
Mordue - MakarovGood1
Oakham - AttilaExcellent1
Old Cannon - Gunner's DaughterGood3
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Snow TopExcellent1
Penzance - TrinkGood2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster StoutExceptional1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - East Kent India Pale AleExcellent2
RCH - FireboxAcceptable1
Ripple Steam - Black IPAAcceptable1
Salopian - Black Ops Imperial StoutExcellent2
Salopian - Hollybush Winter AleGood1
Stonehenge - RudolphGood1
Sunny Republic - Cherry Chocolate PorterAcceptable1
Sunny Republic - St Wite's AleUndrinkable1
Wantsum - GolgothaGood1
Wentworth - Black SabbathGood3
Westerham - Double StoutExcellent1
Acorn - GorlovkaNot Tried0
Arkell's - Ball and ChainNot Tried0
Ashover - Coffin Lane StoutNot Tried0
Atomic - WinterNot Tried0
Ballards (now a sub-brand of Greyhound) - Lost in SpaceNot Tried0
Big Lamp - EmbersNot Tried0
Black Hole - Milky WayNot Tried0
Broughton - Old JockNot Tried0
Burton Bridge - Old ExpensiveNot Tried0
Castle Rock - Screech OwlNot Tried0
Cottage - GoldrushNot Tried0
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - ! BeerNot Tried0
Fyne - Sublime StoutNot Tried0
Goacher's - Gold StarNot Tried0
Goddards - Duck's FollyNot Tried0
Goose Eye - Pommie's RevengeNot Tried0
Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B.Not Tried0
Hammerpot - Madgwick GoldNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - StormstayNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Green DaemonNot Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Kings IPANot Tried0
Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught)Not Tried0
Loddon - Forbury Lion Strong I.P.A.Not Tried0
Lymestone - Stone DeadNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London PorterNot Tried0
Mauldons - Black AdderNot Tried0
Milestone - Game KeeperNot Tried0
Milton - CyclopsNot Tried0
Moles - Mole CatcherNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Dark Side of the MooNot Tried0
Rother Valley - ExitNot Tried0
Rudgate - IPANot Tried0
Salisbury - WynterNot Tried0
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney BlastNot Tried0
Westerham - Audit AleNot Tried0
Whitstable - Kentish ReserveNot Tried0
Picture 1. White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

Visits Details

08 Feb 2014 (oz11)
Morning arrival. Nothing particularly outstanding but a pleasant day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stonehenge - Rudolph5.00Good
Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter5.50Good
Derby - Old Intentional5.00Good
Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer5.60Good
Kirkstall - Black Band Porter5.50Good
Maxim - Maximus6.00Good
Adur - Steyning Special5.50Good
Wentworth - Black Sabbath6.00Good
Sunny Republic - St Wite's Ale5.00UndrinkableChanged with good grace.
08 Feb 2014 (Ian)
Back to clear up the remaining beers I need. Quiet Saturday early session lots of the beers have gone. Best I have felt on a Saturday here
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20ExceptionalSmoked sausage. Dark chocolate the only truly outstanding beer of the festival.
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentFunny I had it last night and didn't think that much of it I mean it was ok but didn't arrest my attention. Bit of tannin. Some pepper hop on the finish. Sweetish. Good though.
Salopian - Hollybush Winter Ale5.50GoodEsb meets Pacific northwest hops
Mordue - Makarov6.40GoodHides the alcohol well. Good mid red to dark fruits. Decent hop on the finish.
Longdog - Lamplight Porter5.00GoodChocolate smooth in the mouth. Very drinkable
Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter5.50AcceptableFruity premium bitter.
Flipside - Russian Rouble7.30AcceptableLiquorice and tar start dark chocolate finish
07 Feb 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Superbly run festival and everyone so well behaved given strength of the beers. A credit to the organisers. The condition of every beer I had was top notch.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentSuperb barley wine of the old school
Larkins - Porter5.20Excellent
Westerham - Double Stout5.50Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Snow Top6.00Excellent
Kent - Twelfth Night7.40ExcellentA proper barley in every sense
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - East Kent India Pale Ale6.50ExcellentOily
Penzance - Trink5.20Excellent
Mauldons - Black Adder5.30Not Tried
Goacher's - Gold Star5.10Not Tried
Cottage - Goldrush5.00Not TriedRan out
Stonehenge - Rudolph5.00Not Tried
Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter5.50Not Tried
Goddards - Duck's Folly5.20Not Tried
Milton - Cyclops5.30Not Tried
Broughton - Old Jock6.70Not Tried
Salopian - Hollybush Winter Ale5.50Not Tried
Burton Bridge - Old Expensive6.50Not Tried
Moles - Mole Catcher5.00Not Tried
Goose Eye - Pommie's Revenge5.20Not Tried
Derby - Old Intentional5.00Not Tried
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - ! Beer5.00Not Tried
Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B.5.50Not TriedRan out
RCH - Firebox6.00Not Tried
Big Lamp - Embers5.50Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Green Daemon5.00Not TriedRan out
Loddon - Forbury Lion Strong I.P.A.5.50Not Tried
Hammerpot - Madgwick Gold5.00Not TriedRan out
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Blast6.00Not Tried
Whitstable - Kentish Reserve5.00Not TriedRan out
Ashover - Coffin Lane Stout5.00Not Tried
Westerham - Audit Ale6.20Not Tried
Acorn - Gorlovka6.00Not Tried
Oakham - Attila7.50Not Tried
Castle Rock - Screech Owl5.50Not TriedRan out
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Stormstay5.00Not Tried
Allendale - Wolf5.50Not Tried
Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer5.60Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20Not Tried
Elland - 1872 Porter6.50Not Tried
Art Brew - Monkey IPA6.40Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Kings IPA5.20Not Tried
Milestone - Game Keeper5.20Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter5.00Not Tried
Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught)5.20Not Tried
Lymestone - Stone Dead6.60Not Tried
Fyne - Sublime Stout6.80Not Tried
Blue Monkey - Ape Ale5.40Not Tried
Salopian - Black Ops Imperial Stout7.50Not Tried
Rother Valley - Exit5.70Not Tried
Kirkstall - Black Band Porter5.50Not Tried
Maxim - Maximus6.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Revelation5.70Not Tried
Atomic - Winter5.50Not Tried
Cheddar - Goat's Leap5.50Not Tried
Rudgate - IPA5.20Not Tried
Black Hole - Milky Way6.00Not Tried
Sunny Republic - St Wite's Ale5.00Not Tried
Ripple Steam - Black IPA5.80Not Tried
Ascot - Anastasia's Exile Stout5.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Dark Side of the Moo7.00Not TriedWrongly described as Dark Star's Over the Moon in the programme but that would be a 3.8% mild not a 7%er!
Coniston - Infinity IPA6.00Not TriedRan out
Wantsum - Golgotha5.50Not Tried
Adur - Steyning Special5.50Not Tried
Flipside - Russian Rouble7.30Not Tried
Sunny Republic - Cherry Chocolate Porter5.50Not Tried
Wentworth - Black Sabbath6.00Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Over the Top5.20Not TriedRan out
Hastings - American Pale Ale5.40Not TriedRan out
Acorn - Bouclier5.00Not Tried
Mordue - Makarov6.40Not Tried
Longdog - Lamplight Porter5.00Not Tried
Arkell's - Ball and Chain5.00Not Tried
Ballards (now a sub-brand of Greyhound) - Lost in Space8.00Not Tried
Salisbury - Wynter5.00Not Tried
07 Feb 2014 (Mick)
Arrived about 13-30 so avoided the queues. I like this festival. Nice to meet Andrew and Ian again.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExcellentLarkins Porter. Nothing else to say.
Art Brew - Monkey IPA6.40ExcellentSo drinkable. 6.4%, really?
Dark Star - Revelation5.70ExcellentI love this beer, super hops backed by a good malt profile.
Cheddar - Goat's Leap5.50ExcellentNice hoppyIPA, nice bitter finish.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - East Kent India Pale Ale6.50ExcellentJust what an IPA should be.
Wentworth - Black Sabbath6.00ExcellentNice stout, chocolate and coffee.
Hastings - American Pale Ale5.40ExcellentNice hoppy APA. Rounded and full bodied.
Salopian - Black Ops Imperial Stout7.50GoodNice full bodied stout.
Ascot - Anastasia's Exile Stout5.00GoodNice stout, a little thin perhaps.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Acceptable7.0% ?? thought this was 3.8. Not keen a bit harsh, maybe it just clashed with the previous beer. Not the OTM I know.
07 Feb 2014 (Brian)
Nicely busy all session. Met up with quite a crowd in the end.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Coniston - Infinity IPA6.00ExceptionalReally nice, a proper golden IPA in excellent condition
Oakham - Attila7.50ExcellentJust orangeade really. Bit juicy citrus flavours without a hint of 7.5%. They should give this to school kids who behave themselves.
Elland - 1872 Porter6.50ExcellentExcellent as usual. Got confused looking for something from Dark Star that didn't exist, that was actually something from Old Dairy with the wrong name...ended up with this as you can't go wrong.
Dark Star - Revelation5.70ExcellentExcellent fruit and hop balance.
Allendale - Wolf5.50GoodFirst one of the day. I liked it.
Ascot - Anastasia's Exile Stout5.00GoodSmokey and sour a bit thin in the mouth but good nevertheless.
Flipside - Russian Rouble7.30GoodI liked this but don't remember too much about the detail.
RCH - Firebox6.00AcceptableGreen apples, not good, drinkable though but a bit too fresh.
07 Feb 2014 (Ian)
Sat with Brian Pete and Andrew and Chris and eventually Martin
BeerABVScoreNotes
Coniston - Infinity IPA6.00ExcellentLovely crystalline fruit tangerine. Best beer of the day so far
Acorn - Bouclier5.00ExcellentNettle hop dry hoppy biscuit. Lovely
Wantsum - Golgotha5.50GoodGood chocolate and dark plums and damson
Wentworth - Black Sabbath6.00GoodOily dark chocolate. Good
Hopdaemon - Over the Top5.20GoodFresh grapefruit
Hastings - American Pale Ale5.40GoodLovely tangerine
Allendale - Wolf5.50AcceptableMilk chocolate and fruit
Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer5.60AcceptableLots of toffee
Ripple Steam - Black IPA5.80AcceptableNot huge hop but ok chocolate malt.
Sunny Republic - Cherry Chocolate Porter5.50AcceptableLots of cherry and milk chocolate neither sweet nor sour
Penzance - Trink5.20AcceptableI like the aroma. But the flavour is a touch of bleach.
07 Feb 2014 (Andrew)
Long queue to get in; popular place. Here with Ian Martin Pete and Brian. Good to see Chris and Mick too. Busy with good atmosphere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExceptionalAh-ha, as Alan Partridge would say.
Salopian - Black Ops Imperial Stout7.50ExceptionalWow. Deep black with copper head. Think of a 1970's new-build housing estate, liquidised and put in a glass. Not over powering but strong powdery port like in nature with hints of mushrooms. Smokey. Has this leached lead. Smokey and the Bandit rubber.
Larkins - Porter5.20ExcellentHint of green wood but lovely roasted moreish liquorish
Blue Monkey - Ape Ale5.40ExcellentReally nice. Light pale deep rose and hint of pepper
Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter5.50GoodLots of rose and melon. Slight, watery, rose petal finish

About the White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014

The pub sign. White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent22
Good21
Acceptable9
Poor-

The pub is found in Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL.

21st anniversary of this winter festival held in the atmospheric Maison Dieu Town Hall. A 2 day (Friday and Saturday) festival with 75 beers which are all Winter and strong ales on gravity, all 5.0% abv or higher, at a flat rate £1.50 per half and £3 per pint.

We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 76 different beers and tried 40 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT16 1DL