New River Chadwell

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 Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

CAMRA 2026 AGM at Alban Arena, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		18 Apr 2026	2nd beer of the visit: Good head and lacing and sticking to the glass on this pale chestnut-coloured bitter named after Chadwell Spring in East Hertfordshire and from New River set up in 2015 and based on Pindar Industrial Estate in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated on the banks of the New River, an early 17th-century man-made aqueduct supplying water to London. New River itself is known for its unique strain of "wet" yeast in its core range of cask and bottled ales aiding an energetic fermentation. A dry bitterness on the first bite. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising from its UK hops and notably Fuggles, lending it for me an earthy, herbal and slightly woody bitterness. A fruited hoppy note winning over. A maltiness joining in and likely to be Maris Otter Pale Ale Malt lending it bready, biscuity flavours, and Crystal Malts aiding its toffee or caramel sweetness, and lingering. Certainly, a pronounced caramelised biscuity touch on its downwards outflow. Very moreish as served in fine fettle but a touch too sweet for me.

Hertford Club, Hertford, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		29 Nov 2025	1st beer of this visit: This Hoddesdon-based chestnut-coloured session bitter from the banks of the New River in Hoddesdon, south-east of Hertford and named after the source in east Hertfordshire of the New River, came with very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A dry bitter first hit. A mildly malty note rising. A dry hoppiness, care of its Fuggles hops, leaping up for a pat and a tail wagging on my taste buds in its downwards scampering. First brewed in August 2023 and following a British recipe based on New River's Happy & Glorious Coronation ale which went down very well by all accounts.

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		17 Nov 2023	Not impressed. Felt tired