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White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008 (CAMRA Beer Festival)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Moor - JJJ IPAExceptional2
Hopdaemon - DominatorExcellent2
Oakham - OblivionExceptional1
Acorn - Target IPAExcellent1
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleExcellent1
Larkins - PorterExcellent1
Tring - Colley's DogExcellent1
Abbeydale - Black MassGood1
Darwin - Cauldron SnoutGood1
Derwent - Auld KendalGood1
Iceni - Winter LightningGood1
Kinver - KhyberGood1
Oulton Ales - Roaring BoyGood1
Summerskills - Indiana's BonesGood1
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney BlastGood1
Wickwar - Station PorterGood1
Amber Ales - IPAAcceptable1
Hampshire - Pink ElephantAcceptable1
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Royal OakAcceptable1
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Bête NoireAcceptable1
Matthew's - Hayeswood XAAcceptable1
Spire - Nocturne PorterAcceptable1
Teignworthy - Winter DazeAcceptable1
Wapping - WinterAcceptable1
Shardlow - FrostbitePoor1
Picture 1. White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008, Dover, Kent

Visits Details

02 Feb 2008 (Ian)
I had 6 tokens left over from Friday night, so even though I wasn't in the best of conditon, I went back for Saturday to see Brian. Got there about 11.15 and it was already pretty busy. By 1ish the main hall was full. Music was excellent with flute and piano. Left at 2.30 to get home to see the rugby.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Moor - JJJ IPA9.00ExceptionalStill unbelievably hoppy. Just so much my kind of beer.
Abbeydale - Black Mass6.70GoodVery very dark ruby, thin beige head. Rich toasty aroma, nice malts, choc, bitter espresso. But this is all about the lovely bitter choc in mouth. Rich dark bitter choc, with some hop on finish. Some dark fruits and strawberry jam.
Kinver - Khyber5.80GoodAmber colour with lasting beige head. Good hoppy aroma, grapefruit, and a bit of toffee. Hey, this is pretty tasty. Decent hop, decent toffee, bit of sherbert on finish. Not a lot of depth, but pretty nice.
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Blast6.00GoodGold/copper colour, thin beige head. Several people had this over the 2 days and said it was good. Some fruit. Quite a decent flinty type of beer.
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Bête Noire5.50AcceptableBlack with dark brown edges. Tan head. Coffee powdery aroma with some dark fruits. Fruit is really good. Very fine powder in mouth. Black cherry and plums. Decent.
Teignworthy - Winter Daze5.40AcceptableChestnut colour with thin beige head. Fruity malty ESB. That's alright. Does what you want an ESBto do, malt fruit is well balanced. Drying hop on end could be more prominent, but fine.
01 Feb 2008 (Ian)
Last year really was so good that it was going to be difficult to live up to it. Fairly quiet afternoon, but once the band started Andrew, Phil and myself moved into the hall with all the beer and this is where the fun started. Andrew spent nearly an hour with Tonie Prins from Hopdaemon discussing beer, and I ended up chatting with Eddie Gadd from the Gadd's breweery in Ramsgate, who I could listen to for hours. Meant to leave at 8pm, finally went at 10pm. Most beers in cracking condition. Efficiently run beer festival.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Oblivion5.70ExceptionalIt was brilliant last year and it was again this year. Typical Oakhams fantastic grapefruit aroma. Just my perfect beer.
Moor - JJJ IPA9.00ExceptionalEven though the Oakham's was good, this was beer of the festival for me. A genuine English IIPA. Reddy russet colour with very lasting dark beige head. Big PNW grapefruit aroma. Raspberry/strawberry too. Stunningly well balanced. Malts are syrupy, but not too much so. Then this big hit of hop kicks in. Stunning grapefruit hop. I've not had an English beer like it.
Acorn - Target IPA5.00ExcellentIn memory of Steve Callacher. Gold colour with thin off white head. Herby hop aroma. Decent in mouth and then this lovely herby hop finish. Excellent, really drinkable. Very decent herby hop, decent strong bitter.
Darwin - Cauldron Snout5.60GoodOK Stout.
Wickwar - Station Porter6.10GoodBlack, brown edges with lasting deep beige head. Lovely roasty aroma, bit of smoke maybe, little bit syrupy maybe. Some choc and bit of ashtray. Finish has some syrup, dry malt. some spice from the alcohol. Reasonably nice, but National Winter Beer of the Year?
Hopdaemon - Dominator5.10GoodDrinkable beer, but not as exceptional as 2 years ago.
Derwent - Auld Kendal5.70GoodDecent strong beer, good malts. Phenolic according to Phil. Acidity. But I quite liked it.
Oulton Ales - Roaring Boy8.50GoodCopper colour with lasting bubbly beige head. Some raspberry/strawberry aroma. Decent strong ale. Syrupy. Slightly minty from the alcohol. Drinkable, even at 8.5%
Summerskills - Indiana's Bones5.60GoodRuby colour with a little head. Syrupy malty beer with decent hop. But the fruity syrupy malt dominates. I do like the peppery hop on the finish though.
Matthew's - Hayeswood XA5.30AcceptableRuby colour with lasting dark beige head. Spicey aroma. It's got some dry malt. Not fantastic flavour. But good chewy version of a spiced beer.
Spire - Nocturne Porter5.70AcceptableDeep ruby, lasting beige head. Fairly decent porter. Some dry, slightly roasted malts. Funny little porter. Does everything right, but no real distinctive character.
Amber Ales - IPA6.50AcceptableOrangey brown copper colour with bubbly beige head. Strange IPA, allegedly dry hopped. Gingerish hop, quite toffee/yeasty/bit farty. It's got some candy sugar too. Fine.
Shardlow - Frostbite5.50PoorPale copper colour with lasting off white head. Toasty aroma. Some fruit. Bit of butter/caramel, bit meaty/pate. Bit of sulphur. Not wonderful.
01 Feb 2008 (Andrew)
Got there for opening and found the hall filled up quite quickly this year. Spent a while at the end chatting with people in the main hall. Good beer festival but I should have left earlier.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentEngine oil with no sourness to it. Powerfull stuff
Larkins - Porter5.20ExcellentSlightly sweet and sour. Milky with a pleasant roastyness. Had this twice
Hopdaemon - Dominator5.10ExcellentStrawberry, hint of hay and a touch of lemon. Had this twice
Tring - Colley's Dog5.20ExcellentBrown bitter, soft complex malt with well balanced earthy hops.
Iceni - Winter Lightning5.00GoodPale gold. Doughy grape flavours
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Royal Oak5.00AcceptableBrown beer with oakyness and alchol
Wapping - Winter6.50AcceptableNo condition on this. Cinemon, clove and orange peel.
Hampshire - Pink Elephant5.40AcceptableOrange Gold colour. Sherbert, candifloss and alcohol flavours

About the White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008

The pub sign. White Cliffs Beer Festival 2008, Dover, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional3
Excellent5
Good10
Acceptable8
Poor1

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

The 15th White Cliffs Festival of Winter Ales.

We have visited this pub 3 times, seen 25 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: CT16 1DL