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Five Bells Inn (Pickled Egg Pub Co.)

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)Exceptional2
Kent - CobnutExcellent1
Tonbridge - CoppernobExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent1
Goacher's - Silver StarExcellent1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - GenesisExcellent1
Goacher's - Crown Imperial StoutExcellent6
Cellar Head - Session Pale AleExcellent1
Hopdaemon - Golden BraidExcellent1
Goacher's - Gold StarExcellent1
Tonbridge - RusticExcellent1
Ripple Steam - Original Best BitterGood1
Kent - Spring WheatGood1
Kent - KGB or Kent Golding BitterGood2
Kent - Session PaleGood1
Springhead - The Bees Knees (superseded by 3.9% version)Good1
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers BitterNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Rye Pale AleNot Tried0
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best BitterNot Tried0
First In Last Out (FILO) - Old Town TomNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Hookers Hooch (house beer)Not Tried0
Picture 1. Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent
Picture 2. Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent
Picture 3. Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent

Visits Details

20 Jul 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Mid afternoon and surprisingly busy with folk drinking rather than eating, no doubt that will change in a couple of hours. My first visit and was impressed, although I wouldn't stay for a session here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentRich dark toffee caramel body with chocolate undertones from the Maris Otter, Crystal and Chocolate malts. Balanced with a spicy and fruity bite from the Bramling Cross and Challenger hops.
Cellar Head - Session Pale Ale3.80ExcellentTropical fruit and sweet floral aromas with the intense flavour of gooseberry and green grapes with a light honeyed sweetness leaving a crisp punch and a dry, clean finish.
01 Jan 2017 (Wittenden)
Busy on a murky New Years Day afternoon.We came for lunch, and I enjoyed the revitalising effect of Goacher's Crown Imperial Stout.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExceptionalPretty well perfect.Gentle roast chocolate.Bible black.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter3.80Not Tried
First In Last Out (FILO) - Old Town Tom4.50Not Tried
Tonbridge - Hookers Hooch (house beer)4.00Not Tried
20 May 2014 (Wittenden)
Music night: a warm evening, we sat by the embers of the open fire,enjoying some proper food and debated the attractions of Canada.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Cobnut4.10ExcellentDark and dry.Autumnal.More approachable than other Kent Brewery beers that I've tried.
Tonbridge - Coppernob3.80ExcellentOld school:the sort of beer I wish I'd grown up with.
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Not Tried
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried
12 Apr 2014 (Andrew)
We came for lunch. Well, I came for the beer. This is a local produce pub and that covered the beers too. The pub got busy quickly. Friendly place with good beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Golden Braid3.70ExcellentExcellent condition. Drying. Astringent. Tangy. Lemon & lime bite.
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExcellentAh Goachers. Oily. Roasted with hints of milk chocolate
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00ExcellentGood condition. Grapefruit with red fruit flavours. Brown.
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not Tried
12 Oct 2013 (Dosser)
Expensive pub packed with diners enjoying their posh nosh and not noticing the high prices
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Excellent£3.80 or £3.90 a pint if you got a different person to serve you.The beer was given a different name to confuse but it was definetly Goachers.
12 Oct 2013 (ChrisE)
The lack of public transport means that I rarely get the chance to visit this pub. It is very much food orientated, and the food looked good, as were the beers that I tried.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10Excellent
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExcellentBadged as a house beer.
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Rye Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
10 Sep 2013 (Wittenden)
A pre-return to uni family meal. We sat behind the glowing fire on a busy September evening , reminiscing about chinchillas, amongst other topics, entertained by a good singer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10ExceptionalLuscious and chocolately:this beer hasn't altered since the 80s, when I enjoyed it at the Smarden Bell. Prime.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentPretty much the ideal pale 'n' hoppy. Lot of flavour from comparatively modest ABV.
Goacher's - Silver Star4.20ExcellentStone fruit, long hop finish. Slightly sweet after the Dark.
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Not Tried
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not TriedHad a taste of our son's. Looked and tasted dark brown.
25 Jun 2013 (Wittenden)
Busy on a sunny June evening. A couple of good musicians, good beer and food. If this isn't my favouritest pub in all the world it's a damn close thing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Gold Star5.10ExcellentPale, hoppy in an English, amiable manner: I like it.
Ripple Steam - Original Best Bitter4.10GoodWell balanced saloon bar stalwart. A new brewery for me.
Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter4.10AcceptableTowards the end of the barrel. More malty than hoppy tonight. I try to love this brewery, but perhaps it's not for me!
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Not TriedWent off as I ordered it.
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried
17 Feb 2013 (Wittenden)
Sunday afternoon on a bright February day.The pub was busy with diners: a few walkers and drinkers came in with their dogs as the session progressed. Grand pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExcellentA classic black dry toasty roasty stout. The ladies enjoyed their lattes, I reveled in this.
Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter4.10ExcellentPlenty of hops, but more balanced.Touch of farmyard. Perhaps the first beer from this brewery that I've really enjoyed.
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50ExcellentDeep ruby, plenty of hops and flavour for the ABV. Less sweet than the other beers I've tried from the Blean. Down to earth.Grand.
Kent - Session Pale3.70GoodPale 'n' hoppy, fruity,fairly aggressively citric.
19 May 2012 (Wittenden)
Good buzz of activity on a warm May Saturday lunchtime. Groups of diners enjoying life.Captain Cook and Anchor Butter cropped up in conversation. Excellent pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExceptionalA pub that has a stout as its House Beer! Understand that the Brabourne Velvet Stout is Goacher's Crown Imperial.Anyway, this is fine:dark, bitter chocolate and a deep earthiness. Pretty near ideal.
Springhead - The Bees Knees (superseded by 3.9% version)4.20GoodHad a taste of my son's pint. A honey beer:in good condition , but not really to either of our tastes.
Kent - Spring Wheat4.80GoodSeemed to lack the cloves that I associate with wheat beer. I still have not found a beer from Kent Brewery that I really enthuse over. I'll carry on looking, though!
Hopdaemon - Golden Braid3.70Not TriedComing next.Frustrating, as I love this beer.
Loddon - Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter4.10Not Tried

[More Visits]

About the Five Bells Inn

The pub sign. Five Bells Inn, Brabourne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional3
Excellent16
Good6
Acceptable2
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Brabourne, Kent, TN25 5LP.

Located in The Street. Food, drink and accommodation.

We have visited this pub 13 times, seen 27 different beers and tried 20 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN25 5LP