Five Points Best

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
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	15 Jan 2026	Now its fifth night on since Sunday and last sampled by me on its third night.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	14 Jan 2026
Hogan Sampling		13 Jan 2026	Its third night on for this East London best bitter from Hackney and still presenting a head and lacing and lasting. I asked after its welfare and the barmaid kindly checked on its remaining lifespan and assured me there were still a good few pints to go. As each pint is poured, a clicker device to count what is remaining in each barrel is activated. A very bitter first hit but not quite as fruited as on Sunday when first on. A gentle touch of grassy, herbal flavouring competing with its maltiness rising with hints of biscuit and caramel. A dry bitterness sailing out with a hoppy note from its Kent Fuggles prevailing.
Philip Pirrip		12 Jan 2026	Still drinking well
Philip Pirrip		11 Jan 2026	An always reliable Five Points ale
Hogan Sampling		11 Jan 2026	Fresh on today is this East London best bitter brewed with all-British ingredients in Hackney. It appeared on after last orders the night before. So suitably second-fermented in its barrel since then and presenting very good head and lacing and sticking to the glass like a limpet. A dry bitter but slightly fruited first hit with a grassy, herbal flavouring. Its fruited bitterness rising with hints of biscuit and caramel from its mix of malts including Amber Malt and Crystal Medium/Light Crystal. A moreishly hoppy bitterness winning over from its Kent Fuggles hops from the award-winning Hukins Hops farm in Kent. Very moreish and so stuck to it!
Hogan Sampling		19 Oct 2025	Second day on for this best bitter from East London's Hackney and a resounding improvement. It was far too fresh on its first night sampled as I noted. I had to try a sample first to be sure it had improved this evening. This time good head and lacing and definitely lasting in the glass. A bitter and hoppy first hit combined. A fruit-infused hoppiness rising from its Fuggles, Challenger and Ernest hops, giving it that same fresh herbal hint. A hoppy bitterness getting in on the act with caramel and biscuit flavourings before its final descent. It still seemed to lack the flavours on its earlier incarnations which I found to be extremely moreish. It was always one I readily enjoyed. It seems they have brewed it somewhat differently. My motto is do not try to fix something that is not broken. Many a brewer does of course want excitement too from the odd variation on a theme but caution should be applied instead of trying to change or improve a well-liked beer style. Perhaps I am in the minority but others also commented that its change of taste did not accord with them.
Hogan Sampling		18 Oct 2025	Fresh on was this best bitter from East London's Hackney with good head and lacing but not holding in the glass. A fruited bitterness in its first hit. A bitterness pervading and persisting to the end with hints of caramel and biscuit flavours. Its accompanying hoppiness, lent by its Fuggles, Challenger and Ernest hops, afforded it a fresh herbal hint or two. Only one sufficed as a tad too fresh it would seem for me.
Hogan Sampling		15 Jul 2025	Now its third day on. Had a taster first to check it was not too flat following Sunday's third one going that way. Looked and tasted ok. So bravely went for a pint followed by another. Head and lacing was restored since Sunday and lasted reasonably well with just the odd decant on the second one towards the end. A fruit-infused bitter first bite on this Hackney best. A fruity hoppiness rising up, aided by its Fuggles' hops. A hint or two of caramel-infused biscuity maltiness surfacing. A bitter fruitiness lingering with the odd fruity kick from the mule.
Hogan Sampling		13 Jul 2025	Very good to start with was this East London bitter from Hackney but by the third one ordered, its head and lacing had somewhat scarpered. Tasted the same did the third one and so not a case of mistaken identity in what was poured. A bitter first bite throughout all of them. A hoppy bitterness rising, aided by the Fuggles' hops from Huskins, a 120 year-old family hop farm. A pronounced fruitiness lingering among its hint of maltiness care of Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, and Light Crystal and Amber. Much decanting necessary for a semblance of a head and lacing on the third one.
Philip Pirrip		13 Jul 2025	Could have done with more natural carbonation
Hogan Sampling		11 Mar 2025	Fresh on literally when I got here was this Hackney-based best bitter and so a touch sharp. Good head and lacing. Although it has caramel and biscuit flavourings, it was not sweet in the mouthfeel. A hoppiness came to the fore and a moreish dryness lingered.
Hogan Sampling		12 Sep 2024	Very good head and lacing. Fruity mouthfeel and lingering hoppiness.

The Blue Maid (formerly The Blue Eyed Maid), Borough, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		05 Jan 2026	Did not enjoy as almost served tepid
Philip Pirrip		06 Aug 2025	All the flavour was there but pint was tepid and not a particularly high temperature day outside
Philip Pirrip		07 Jun 2025	Good condition but have had better
Philip Pirrip		03 May 2025	The regular ale here, obviously well cared for and moving fast

Sonder (formerly The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse; The Thirty-Nine Steps Alehouse), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	16 Aug 2025
Hogan Sampling		16 Aug 2025	This East London bitter from Hackney came with very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A gentle bitter first bite. A fruit-infused hoppiness rising aided by its Fuggles hops from Hukins Hops Farm, a 120 year-old family hop farm based in the Weald of Kent. A dry moreishly malty fruitiness with a mix of Maris Otter, Wheat, Light Crystal and Amber, winning over with hints of caramel and biscuit. A very pleasant bitter note or two playing out.

The Roebuck, Borough, Central London

Euston Tap, Euston, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		03 Apr 2022	Grassy, peppery.

The Bricklayer's Arms, Putney, Greater London

Crown Posada, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		28 Jan 2022	Notes of caramel and biscuit, and a lovely grassy, herbal freshness.

The Fox, Hanwell, Greater London

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		14 Jul 2021	More akin to an IPA than a best bitter, golden with caramel and smoky hints.