Bexley Spike Island

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 Sep 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	02 Sep 2025
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Sep 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	31 Aug 2025
Philip Pirrip		31 Aug 2025	Ultra cloying with little condition. Had this so much better before
Hogan Sampling		30 Aug 2025	Good head and lacing but not quite lasting on only its second day on, on this Erith-based dry stout from the neighbouring Bexley borough. A coffee-infused first bite. A malty explosion then erupting onto my taste buds and pervading throughout. A dark chocolatey dry bitterness sailing off.
Hogan Sampling		29 Aug 2025	Fresh on was this Erith-based dry stout from the neighbouring Bexley borough and so it was delivered with its creamy head. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. As in all recent Bexley bitters sampled here, as in Redhouse and Bursted, a definite maltiness shining through. The odd dark chocolatey note or two getting in on the act for my taste buds from its malty depths. A coffee-infusion also rising and a dry bitterness playing out.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Nov 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	12 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip		10 Nov 2024	Poured flat, impossible to revive with multiple decantings so a chore to finish. Imagine this would be a grand ale with decent condition
Hogan Sampling		10 Nov 2024	Still holding its flavours of coffee and chocolate third night on. But little head and lacing but restored with multiple decantings. Left with a lingering bitterness.
Hogan Sampling		09 Nov 2024	Good head and lacing for its second night on but needed a gentle decant to restore some of it. Wonderful subtle chocolatey and coffee flavours throughout with a bitter aftertaste.
Hogan Sampling		08 Nov 2024	Very good head and lacing on its first night on. On the first mouthfeel, a slight sweetness from its chocolatey coffee flavours but a pleasantly bitter aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip		11 Feb 2024	Good, needed just a tad more condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Sep 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Sep 2022
Philip Pirrip		11 Sep 2022	Nourishing but the second was perhaps too much
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 May 2022	Still hanging in there
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 May 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jun 2021	Looking flat when poured for A N Other
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Jun 2021
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Jun 2021
Philip Pirrip		22 Jun 2021	Again good for last drink of a session
Philip Pirrip		20 Jun 2021	Good one for end of session

The Long Pond, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Aug 2025	Good condition but poor head and lacing

The Park Tavern, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		08 Mar 2025	Tasty stout, possibly first out of pump for a while

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		13 May 2024	Bright, ex festival surplus. OK but lacking something

The Bat & Ball, Mottingham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Dec 2023	Sweetish when compared to the Kent Porter drunk side-by-side

The Rusty Bucket (formerly Next Door), Bexley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Jan 2022	Tasty but poured flat and no condition

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		08 Jan 2022	Richard thought this was on the way out but it was still in good nick.
Dosser		01 Jan 2022	Very spicy. £3.80 a pint.

The Magnet (formerly The Magnet Micropub), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		07 Jul 2021	A good dark ale. I think Dosser would love this.