Anspach & Hobday Oak

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		17 Sep 2026	Still holding up well
Hogan Sampling		17 Sep 2026	The one and only beer of the visit: Now its fifth night on and so had my doubts but still with head and lacing but not now lasting on this bitter from brewing set up in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, where they still operate their taproom, The Arch House. The bitter though has followed their relocation to their main brewing operation in Croydon in 2020 and here brewed in the run-up to July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake. A very dry malty first hit with a bitterness rising. A hoppy appearance from its all-British hops, Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross, lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. A maltiness ruling with hints of caramel and toffee from its Crystal malt and joined by Clear Choice, Extra Pale, Maize and Flaked Barley. A very dry malty bitter outflow. Served in reasonable nick given its length of time on and when other recent bitters have literally gone in days.
Philip Pirrip		16 Sep 2026	Holding up well after a few days
Hogan Sampling		15 Sep 2026	1st beer of this visit: Third night on and still displaying good head and lacing and lasting on this bitter from a venture officially established in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, before relocating their main, larger brewing operations to Croydon in 2020 but leaving their taproom, The Arch House, still to operate on the Bermondsey Beer Mile. A dry hoppy first hit on this bitter launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake. A sweet, woody fruited hoppiness rising from its all-British hop line-up of Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. Its Clear Choice and Extra Pale malts, maize and flaked barley, joining in with caramel and toffee flavours from its Crystal malt. A very dry fruited hoppiness sailing out. Served in good order.
Philip Pirrip		14 Sep 2026	Same as yesterday's, full-on malt flavour
Philip Pirrip		13 Sep 2026	Good malt heavy brew from cask put on today
Hogan Sampling		13 Sep 2026	1st beer of this visit: First night on and exuding a very good head and lasting lacing on this bitter from a venture launched officially in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London. Leaving their taproom, The Arch House, still to operate on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, they relocated their main brewing to Croydon in 2020. Launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake, a very dry but fruited bitterness in its first bite. A slight maltiness joining in with hints of caramel and toffee from its Crystal malt and joined by Clear Choice, Extra Pale, Maize and Flaked Barley. A dark bitter fruitiness from its all-British hops, Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross, lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. A very dry and slightly sweet, woody fruited bitterness sailing out. Served in top nick.
Philip Pirrip		19 Aug 2026	Poured flat and lifeless. Unappetising but no off flavours
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	18 Aug 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Aug 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Aug 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	16 Aug 2026
Hogan Sampling		15 Aug 2026	Second beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a healthy head and lacing throughout on this Bermondsey-based bitter from a brewing operation set up 2013 in Bermondsey, where their original taproom, The Arch House, still operates in the Bermondsey Beer Mile, before moving in 2020 their main brewing to a larger facility in Croydon. This special-edition beer, Oak (Oaked Bitter), was launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary London craft beer pub, The Rake, in Borough Market. A very fruited first kick with touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow and woody spice all hitting my taste buds. A lively hoppy crisp bitterness rising from its all-British hop line-up consisting of Admiral behind its bitter flavours, Ernest behind its new-world fruitiness with hints of apricot, citrus and spice, and Bramling Cross lending an earthy, blackcurrant flavouring. The toasted oak chips used during the brewing process lending it flavours of the tannins which are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, seeds, bark, wood and fruit skins. Its crystal malt lending it touches of caramel and toffee from its malted barley among its maize. Served in very good nick but perhaps just a touch too fresh on.