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Dover, England is a port city, known for its ferry connections to France, which is just across the English Channel. A popular day trip option from London, it’s also famously the home of the White Cliffs of Dover, the gorgeous portion of coastline stretching to the northeast of the city. After an afternoon of hiking the beautiful cliffs (which sadly don’t have a pub at the end, but it makes sense to not combine beer & steep drops), there’s nothing better than a refreshing beer. Thankfully there are a few nice drinking spots in town. Here are the best places for craft beer in Dover, including breweries, craft beer bars & taprooms.

The Best Breweries in Dover

Breakwater Brewery and Taproom

Dover’s Breakwater Brewery & Taproom opened right on the River Dour in 2017. In addition to being a brewery, it’s also a wood-fired pizza restaurant.

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Breakwater has a large selection of their own craft beers & ales, about half cask & half keg. On a recent visit, there were 9 of each of theirs, plus 3 guests as well.

In addition to traditional & common styles, Breakwater also brews some interesting other beers such as a chocolate rye stout and a black IPA (two things I love).

For non-beer drinkers, there’s also wine and local Kent craft cider.

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The main inside room sits right next to the brewing equipment, and there’s also a large patio space out front. Both are lively hangouts.

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For those who may be visiting Dover on a day trip & aren’t able to make it out to the brewery, which is a bit outside of the city center, check to see if their Breakwater on the Waterfront (Breakwater Pub on Wheels) is open. The beer garden is located near the clock tower at the Marina & Big Pan Foods (South African street food), but it’s only open seasonally & even then not every day.

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Address: St. Martins Yard, Lorne Road, Dover CT16 2AA (map)

Cullins Yard (the Tir Dha Ghlas Brewery) 

Cullins Yard is a bar & beer garden located right on the Dover harbor. The beer garden has excellent views of Western Heights.

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This isn’t a craft beer bar but rather a spot with some German beers & a couple of cask ales, highlighted by a couple of real ales from the Tir Dha Ghlas Brewery (pronounced “Terry Glass”), which is located right next door as part of the complex. But Cullins Yard is the best place in Dover for outdoor drinking on a nice day.

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Formerly a shipyard, the whole place feels a bit like an American roadside antique shop inside and out, with signs, odd statues, and other eclectic items.

Address: 11 Cambridge Rd, Dover CT17 9BY (map)

The Best Craft Beer Bars in Dover

The Hoptimist

The Hoptimist is a cool little craft beer located right in the center of Dover, near the Dover Museum & the waterfront.

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It’s a popular afternoon local hangout spot, with an intimate front room as well as a nice back garden.

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The bar has 8 taps of craft beer, along with 4 casks & ciders.

Address: Bench St, Dover CT17 1JH (map)

The Staggered Inn (Formerly The Thirsty Scarecrow Micropub)

The Staggered Inn has taken over the space that was formerly The Thirsty Scarecrow Micropub. While more focused on craft beer now, there is still some cider.

This little hole-in-the-wall feels like sitting around drinking in someone’s kitchen & living room.

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The dog-friendly bar has board games & books available. The bar also has a small back beer garden.

Address: 107 High St, Dover CT16 1EB (map)

If you have any other favorite places for craft beer in Dover, let me know in the comments!

Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!

Here are some great Dover area tours & other things to see & do in Dover.

If you’re looking for a place to crash after drinking beer in Dover, check out these Dover hotels.

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