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The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kent - Tropic AleExcellent1
Tonbridge - CountrymanExcellent1
Three Legs - HarlequinExcellent1
Hop Fuzz - AmericanExcellent1
Kent - Black GoldExcellent1
Black Country - Citra Sublime Excellent2
Kent - Session PaleExcellent2
Kent - ProhibitionExcellent1
Dorking - Platinum ESBExcellent1
Musket - GraciousExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea ShellsExcellent1
Kent - Winter Ale Good1
Tonbridge - Das KölnerGood1
Broadtown - Spring BackGood1
Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (was 5%)Good1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PMGood1
Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%)Good1
Three Legs - New ZealandGood1
Broadtown - BestGood1
Time and Tide - Spratwaffler Pale AleGood1
Musket - TriggerGood1
Romney Marsh - Amber AleGood1
Titanic - Chocolate & Vanilla StoutGood1
Tiny Rebel - CwtchAcceptable1
Pig & Porter - SkylarkingNot Tried0
Brew York - TonkokoNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive (now use 3.4% entry)Not Tried0
Black Country - Plum PigNot Tried0
Black Country - Chain AleNot Tried0
Titsey - Gower WolfNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Goacher's - Fine Light AleNot Tried0
Goacher's - Crown Imperial StoutNot Tried0
Tonbridge - RusticNot Tried0
Buxton - Right to RoamNot Tried0
Leatherbritches - Bohemian DarkNot Tried0

Visits Details

14 Mar 2024 (Jack William)
Opened at 1220 for our bus pass group of 6. Locals had got wind of it and some were also in before the normal 1 pm opening. Danny very welcoming and enthusiastic about his ales. A real gem.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Three Legs - Harlequin4.20ExcellentI really liked this fruity, unfiltered ale despite its opaque style.
Titanic - Chocolate & Vanilla Stout4.50GoodOnly a sip of this - too sweet and chocolatey for me - but it clearly does what is says in the name. Went down very well with some of our group.
Broadtown - Spring Back3.80GoodGolden ale - nothing special but good condition.
Broadtown - Best4.00GoodFull bodied traditional best bitter.
05 Mar 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon and buzzing with activity yet friendly and welcoming, we purloined a recently vacated table and enjoyed our beer. I think this place has changed names a few times since I was last here!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Prohibition4.80ExcellentAll my APA expectations satisfied.
Time and Tide - Spratwaffler Pale Ale3.70GoodWheaty with a sweet tang.
Buxton - Right to Roam3.80Not Tried
Leatherbritches - Bohemian Dark5.90Not Tried
21 Feb 2024 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon visit, a few familiar faces. Beers turning over while I was here. Very pleasant.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Session Pale3.70ExcellentFresh on
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - AM:PM4.50Good
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not TriedReplaced by the Kent
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50Not TriedGoing well.
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00Not Tried
08 Feb 2024 (Jack William)
Late afternoon- finally got out of Deal. Usual good ambience in here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells4.70ExcellentSpot on.
Tiny Rebel - Cwtch4.60AcceptableNot really to my taste.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not TriedWent down very well with my companion.
Three Legs - Harlequin4.20Not Tried
15 Dec 2023 (Jack William)
One for the road after my liar dice session. Late afternoon, nicely busy. Two ales fresh on since yesterday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Black Country - Citra Sublime 4.50Excellent
Black Country - Chain Ale4.20Not Tried
Black Country - Plum Pig4.30Not Tried
Titsey - Gower Wolf4.00Not Tried
14 Dec 2023 (Jack William)
Bus pass outing to Dover. Just the five of us but a very enjoyable session in this super pub. All ales served in oversize glasses - a full pint and a good head.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Black Country - Citra Sublime 4.50Excellent
Dorking - Platinum ESB5.20ExcellentA good strong bitter, not sure why they name it thus.
Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%)3.40Good
Black Country - Plum Pig4.30Not Tried
22 Nov 2023 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon- just stopped in for a swift one after a pensions meeting. Too many familiar faces and good beer made it difficult to leave.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Session Pale3.70Excellent
Kent - Tropic Ale4.90Excellent
Romney Marsh - Amber Ale4.20Good
Kent - Winter Ale 5.50Good
31 Aug 2023 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit. Lots of familiar faces. Chatted to BR Martin who recalled a visit to the Crown Posada in Newcastle with Chris Excell a good few years back - thanks to this site I was able to tell him that it was probably 7 January 2015 and that Elvis Presley was playing on the vintage record player.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Countryman4.00ExcellentA wry good traditional style bitter.
Tonbridge - Das Kölner4.30Good
Three Legs - New Zealand4.80GoodA fruity, unfined pale ale.
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive (now use 3.4% entry)3.60Not Tried
11 May 2023 (Jack William)
Second-Thursday bus-pass outing. They opened early at noon for the six of us. A very enjoyable session and the place was very busy by mid afternoon. Danny continues to be a very good host.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Black Gold4.00Excellent
Musket - Gracious5.30Excellent
Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (was 5%)5.40GoodChalked up at 5.4%
Musket - Trigger3.60GoodA bit hazy, drank well though.
23 Feb 2023 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit, a raft of familiar faces, lively conversation. Excellent way to while away an hour or so before my train home. Excellent best bitter from Parkway - Grand Slam - at 4.2% And a “peanut butter stout” from 4 T’s at 4.8% called Squirrel’s Heaven. I wasn’t tempted.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hop Fuzz - American4.20Excellent
Pig & Porter - Skylarking4.00Not TriedAppropriate beer for the time of year. A group of skylarks is an exultation!

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About The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar

The pub sign. The Hoptimist Taproom & Bar, Dover, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent23
Good23
Acceptable3
Poor-

Website.

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

In Bench Street in premises previously occupied by Pier Three and The Mash Tun micropubs. Re-opened on Thursday 19th December 2019 and said, in advance, to be run much more like a bar or taproom than a micropub. The proprietor is a former manager of the Breakwater Brewery taproom. Usually 4 cask ales which are dispensed on gravity from a rear chilled room.

We have visited this pub 24 times, seen 74 different beers and tried 44 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT16 1JH

This pub was formally know as the The Mash Tun.