Five Points Railway Porter

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Jul 2025
Hogan Sampling		03 Jul 2025	Now its sixth night on and so about to hit the buffers in terms of being at its all-time best for this Hackney porter. Some head and lacing still prevailing and lasting. A dry bitter first bite with a hint of roasted coffee. A hoppy undertone veering upwards aided by its 100% British Goldings from Hukins Hops. A malty chocolatiness, supported by seven different malts, rising up and lingering.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Jul 2025
Hogan Sampling		01 Jul 2025	Now fourth night on and still holding a good head and lacing but not lasting as well on this Hackney-based porter as on my most recent tasting of it on its second night on. A few decants came into play. A smoky chocolatey first bite made it rather lovely. A hint of coffee-flavouring veering up in its maltiness. A dry maltiness prevailing mixed in with a moderate hoppiness thanks to its East Kent Goldings. Not again in the least sweet and the same dry moreishly malty bitterness as on Sunday lingering.
Philip Pirrip		29 Jun 2025	Good head and lacing
Hogan Sampling		29 Jun 2025	Out of the trio this evening this was the best as echoed from the previous night's late visit. Second night on and still holding a good head and lacing and lasting on this Hackney-based porter. Still an unmistakably liquid-chocolatey first bite. Coffee-infused flavourings veering up in its maltiness. Only seven different malts to blame and competing with its one moderately hoppy note or two rising up from its East Kent Goldings. Not as overly-sweet as in the previous evening's tasting. A dry moreishly malty bitterness lingering.
Hogan Sampling		28 Jun 2025	Good head and lacing and lasting on this Hackney-based porter on its first day on. A dark chocolatey first hit. Coffee-infused flavourings also veering up in the malty mouthfeel, aided by seven different malts. Slightly over-sweet for my taste buds. A dry lingering bitterness prevailing. The odd hoppy note rising up from its East Kent Goldings, moderate.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	01 Apr 2025	Just ran out on requesting it.
Philip Pirrip		30 Mar 2025	An always reliable choice
Hogan Sampling		30 Mar 2025	Only its second night on and so presented with a good head and lacing. A malty chocolatey first hit. Roasted coffee flavours among a dark chocolatey bitterness coming to the fore. A very malty mouthfeel lingering with seven different malts deployed in the making of this Hackney-based porter.
Philip Pirrip		25 Apr 2024	Tasty brew
Philip Pirrip		14 Jan 2024	Very good but have had better over time
Philip Pirrip		12 Feb 2023	A reliable excellent porter from Five Points. Held head and lacing until the end
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Aug 2022
Philip Pirrip		18 Aug 2022	A little lost since yesterday
Philip Pirrip		17 Aug 2022	Nourishing
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip		10 Apr 2022
Philip Pirrip		13 Nov 2019	Glorious intake of burnt malt with distinct bitterness
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Nov 2019	Put on at closing time
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Nov 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Oct 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Sep 2017

Star & Garter, Bromley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		14 Feb 2025	Very creamy
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip		03 Aug 2019	A slow drinking nightcap

Express Tavern (The Express Ale & Cider House), Brentford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	29 Jan 2025
Philip Pirrip		14 May 2024	4½* Outstanding condition and flavours, alas no time for a second one
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Aug 2023

Garden City Brewery & Bar, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		29 Jun 2024	Seems to be problem here about how gravity beers are being poured. I mark as beer handed to me - it was flat and no head. Once I have performed multiple decantings between two pint glasses it came to life and would have been a 3½*

Northdown Brewery Tap, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		30 Mar 2024	Great porter in good condition.

The Cellars Alehouse, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		04 Aug 2022	Freshly scraped off the nearby roadworks this syrup of bitumen and molasses created a complex flavour feast with a bitter lingering burnt coffee hit, a tinge of blackcurrant with a beefy oxo finish - a perfect end to today's proceedings..

The Hare & Billet, Blackheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		21 Feb 2022	Excellent condition but served too cold and so neutralised some of the complex flavours
Philip Pirrip		17 Sep 2015	First rate - so much so that one turned into two, three then four. But at an excruciating price of £4.50pp for a beer that will be subject to a low PBD rate

The Fox, Hanwell, Greater London

The Surrey Oaks, Newdigate, Surrey

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		26 Aug 2020	Luscious, chocolately porter, taken as an evening chill descended.

Artillery Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	17 Aug 2020
Dosser		17 Aug 2019
Dosser		11 Aug 2019	Superb. Fresh on and cold!

The Pembury Tavern, Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		16 Mar 2020	Immaculate.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	12 Mar 2020
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	09 Mar 2020
Stephen Harris		02 Mar 2020	I can't visit without having a pint of this.
Stephen Harris		27 Feb 2020	Very mellow tonight.
Stephen Harris		24 Feb 2020
Stephen Harris		20 Feb 2020	Black and creamy and chocolatey.
Stephen Harris		28 Jan 2020	Fresh tasting and chocolatey.
Stephen Harris		10 Jan 2020	Ever excellent.
Stephen Harris		02 Jan 2020	A chocolatey Porter.
Stephen Harris		30 Dec 2019
Stephen Harris		23 Dec 2019
Stephen Harris		16 Dec 2019	My regular tipple here.
Stephen Harris		06 Dec 2019	Perhaps not quite firing on all cylinders tonight.
Stephen Harris		26 Nov 2019	Bliss.
Stephen Harris		24 Oct 2019	A rich, smooth, chocolatey Porter.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	14 Oct 2019
Stephen Harris		10 Oct 2019	A couple of these to balance the green stuff.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	03 Oct 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	19 Sep 2019
Stephen Harris		11 Sep 2019	Extra creamy texture today.
Stephen Harris		22 Aug 2019	Fautless.
Stephen Harris		18 Aug 2019
Stephen Harris		16 Aug 2019
Stephen Harris		02 Aug 2019	My inevitable first purchase.
Stephen Harris		30 Jul 2019	Freshly crowned CAMRA Champion Beer of London. Bitter chocolate flavours.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	19 Jul 2019
Stephen Harris		25 Jun 2019	Tasting great.
Stephen Harris		10 Jun 2019	On top form.
Stephen Harris		03 Jun 2019	Thick and rich and chocolatey.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	20 May 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	13 May 2019
Stephen Harris		30 Apr 2019	Delightful, as always.
Stephen Harris		05 Apr 2019
Stephen Harris		18 Mar 2019
Stephen Harris		11 Mar 2019	I love this beer.
Stephen Harris		12 Feb 2019	Reliably excellent.
Stephen Harris		06 Feb 2019	As good as always.
Stephen Harris		28 Jan 2019	Always lovely in here.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	22 Jan 2019
Stephen Harris		08 Jan 2019	In splendid form.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	02 Jan 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	27 Dec 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	05 Dec 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	12 Nov 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	19 Oct 2018
Stephen Harris		04 Oct 2018	A superb pint of chocolatey, black Porter. Is this the best regularly-brewed Porter in London?
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	03 Aug 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	20 Jul 2018
Andrew	Not Tried	23 Jun 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	15 May 2018

Montefiore Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		07 Mar 2020	Yummy but needed a big top up.
Dosser		11 Aug 2019	Top quality

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		25 Feb 2020	A superb pint and my beer of the day.

The Birds, Leytonstone, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		23 Feb 2020	In rather substandard condition and a shadow of the beer I so enjoy on its home territory in Hackney.

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		24 Jan 2020	First rate
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Oct 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Jun 2019
Philip Pirrip		16 Mar 2019	Nutritious
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Feb 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Feb 2019
Philip Pirrip		23 Nov 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Sep 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Sep 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Jul 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip		16 May 2018
Archie14	Not Tried	29 Mar 2018
Philip Pirrip		09 Mar 2018	Last half out of cask and nowt to complain about
Philip Pirrip		20 Jan 2018
Brian	Not Tried	20 Oct 2017	Good choice said the barman and then it ran out as mine was being poured.
Philip Pirrip		19 Aug 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jul 2017
Philip Pirrip		06 Dec 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Oct 2016
Philip Pirrip		19 Sep 2016
Philip Pirrip		13 Sep 2016

163 Upper Street (formerly The Taproom), Islington, Central London

The Cock Tavern, Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	02 Jan 2020
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	05 Jul 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	13 May 2019
Stephen Harris		19 Oct 2018	I’m continuing to find this beer very much to my taste.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	04 Oct 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	27 Sep 2018
Stephen Harris		13 Dec 2016	A favourite of mine and I couldn’t resist starting with a pint of this despite the wealth of beery delights available tonight. It’s on particularly good form too.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	18 May 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	12 Feb 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	30 Aug 2013

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 Dec 2019	Needed a tad more condition

Leyton Engineer (formerly Leyton Technical), Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		08 Dec 2019	Great flavours but a bit flat.
Stephen Harris		22 Sep 2019	Not quite its usual self here.
Stephen Harris		17 Sep 2019	A beer not to be missed when available.
Stephen Harris		13 Oct 2018	Not for the first time recently, this is the outstanding best beer of the day.
Stephen Harris		03 Jan 2018	Black, roasty and creamy, but not ‘derailed’.

The Hope, Carshalton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	29 Nov 2019
ChrisE		18 Aug 2018	Superb, it did not take long for this beer to run out.

Euston Tap, Euston, Central London

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

12 Degrees (a.k.a. RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees), Rochester, Kent

Catford Constitutional Club, Catford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		13 Nov 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Feb 2018

Waterloo Tap, Waterloo, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Oct 2018	Good in every way
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	18 Mar 2016

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		23 Sep 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip		10 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Jan 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Sep 2017
Philip Pirrip		02 Sep 2017	Ran out after pulling a third, given gratis. Intriguing liquorice and intense hop notes in the end of cask froth
Philip Pirrip		31 Aug 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jan 2017
Philip Pirrip		29 Aug 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Apr 2015
Philip Pirrip		12 Apr 2015

The Duke's Head, Highgate, Greater London

The Prince, Wood Green, Greater London

Westow House, Crystal Palace, Greater London

The Haymakers, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		08 Jun 2018	Oily rick porter

Hermits Cave, Camberwell, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		23 May 2018

Dartford Working Men's Club, Dartford, Kent

Old Fountain, Old Street, Central London

Stormbird, Camberwell, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		25 May 2017	Spot on, had a second

Pub on the Park, Hackney, Greater London

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

The Rake, Southwark, Central London

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

Salt Woolwich (formerly The Taproom SE18), Woolwich, Greater London

Old Red Cow, Smithfield, Central London

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		19 Sep 2015	I've had a week of this beer and this example was excellent and on gravity

The White Hart, Whitechapel, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		10 Sep 2015	One of my favourite Porters. Rich and chocolaty.

The Plough, Bloomsbury, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		12 Mar 2015	A really very fine black Porter.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	02 Feb 2015

Birdcage, Bethnal Green, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		06 Feb 2015	Not, unfortunately, the ‘Derailed Porter’ that is currently available, but still very nice indeed.

Earl of Essex, Islington, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		20 Dec 2014	Top porter. Roasted and not too sweet.

Bar t'at, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

The Evening Star, Brighton, East Sussex

Ravensbourne Arms, Lewisham, Greater London

Hack & Hop, Blackfriars, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		21 Jan 2014	Smooth, thick, oily Porter – the chocolate tastes quite subdued today.

The Swan, Bloomsbury, Central London

The Clapton Hart, Clapton, Greater London

Williams Ale & Cider House, Spitalfields, Central London

Plough (formerly BrewDog), Homerton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		09 Oct 2013	Sublime, smooth, black, chocolaty porter.

The Star by Hackney Downs, Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		09 Oct 2013	Brewed just around the corner. A very smooth pint.

The Windsor Castle, Clapton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	09 Oct 2013
Stephen Harris		15 Aug 2013	Smooth and silky. Cocoa powder tastes with a bitter finish.

The Beer Hall, Staveley, Cumbria

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		18 Jul 2013	Superb,dark and chocolaty.

Five Points Brewing, Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		18 Jul 2013	Plenty of chocolate flavours.

Saint Monday Taproom (formerly London Fields Brewery), Hackney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		04 May 2013	Black, rich, chocolaty porter.