The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
05 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Just a handful of regulars in among a few of the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 |  | Third day on and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting on this copper-coloured Kentish session bitter from the East Peckham brewery established in 2010 north of Paddock Wood in Kent. A dry bitter first bite. A dry biscuity caramelised maltiness rising from its UK-grown malted barley. A fruity bitterness winning over before sliding out with fruit, herb, and spicy notes emerging from its Kentish varieties, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in good nick still on its third day on; just a tad warm due to the beers' cold room not as cold as it usually is. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
05 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 |  | Should have been cooler. Admitted some sort of cellar cooling problem |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 |  | Should have been cooler. Did not match the tasting notes. OK |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
04 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall as has become the norm over recent Saturdays and for the last hour of serving and minus the usual Saturday attendees. Just a handful of the hardened and a few of the lesser spotted.
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 |  | Good head and lasting lacing on its second day on for this copper-coloured session bitter from the East Peckham brewery north of Paddock Wood in Kent and set up in 2010. A dry hoppy first hit. A fruity bitterness rising with touches of fruit, herb, and spicy flavours abounding. A malty note putting in an appearance from its UK-grown malted barley with hints of dry biscuits and caramel notes. A malty bitterness prevailing with a good helping of hoppiness winning over from its Kentish hops, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in excellent nick. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
02 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with less than two handfuls in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 |  | Fresh on with very good head and lasting lacing on this Eastleigh-brewed pale and located north-east of Southampton in Hampshire. A dry lightly fruited first hit. A malty touch from light malts used and wheat malt. A hoppy dryness rising from its US Citra and Mosaic before lingering on its descent. Served in good nick. |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 |  | Bought in error was this East London bitter from Hackney as now certainly beyond its best on its seventh day on. I also tried it on Sunday when one sufficed on just its third day on. Forced myself to drink it but not a pleasure and completely flat and without conditioning. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
02 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Much talk as to whether this house will open until 5am on Monday morning for England football.
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 |  | New cask on today. Good condition but a second one here tonight with no USP |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 |  | Good conditioning but drank with hardly noticing |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | Did not expect to still see this |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
29 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with just a table and half of the regulars on parade and another of the more occasional.
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 |  | Second day on for this Maidstone-brewed straw-coloured Kentish pale ale and presenting good head and lacing and almost lasting. A dry but also slightly zesty sweet hoppy first hit. A lightly fruited hoppiness rising from its locally sourced Kent Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. This pale ale was created in 2008 to celebrate the brewery's 25th anniversary, having launched in 1983. A dry hoppy resinous flavouring prevailing on its sliding downwards. Also aided by Maris Otter winter barley malt but not in the least malty to my taste buds and kilned very gently at a lower temperature to ensure the beer retains its pale straw, golden hue rather than turning amber or brown. Served in top condition on its second day on. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
29 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | New cask on today |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
28 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Many a regular in residence.
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 |  | Holding up well. Alas just boring citrus |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 |  | Minimal condition |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | Many were struggling on this thyme infused herbal jobbie |
28 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with just a couple of tables of the regulars and one of the lesser spotted.
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 |  | Now only its third day on but struggling to keep its head and lacing on this East London-brewed best bitter from Hackney. A dry fruited first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising from its single-hopped Fuggles sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent. A malty toasted biscuity note with hints of sweet caramel and toffee winning over and dominating and really a tad too caramel-infused for my taste buds. A hoppy note or two of grassy and herbal bitterness in the finish. Lacking the conditioning of the day before and so flat-tasting. Just the one sufficed here. |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
27 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Just half a handful of regulars shortly after a quarter past eight on this still steamy evening. By 10 o’clock with just an hour of serving left, though you could drink to midnight, there was just over a handful of regulars in and about three couples of the lesser spotted and so it remained for the rest of the evening. A small television, rarely on, positioned on the entrance door’s shelf above, showing England belatedly beating Panama in the World Cup.
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 |  | Presented on its second day on with good head and lacing and lasting almost to the end on this East London-brewed best bitter from Hackney where brewing was set up 2013. A dry fruited first hit on this lightly copper/amber-coloured ale. A hoppy bitterness rising from being single-hopped with traditional Fuggles hops sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent and most recently a small touch of Ernest hops added to aid subtle spicy seasoning. A malty toasted biscuity note with hints of sweet caramel and toffee emanating from its Simpsons Low Colour Maris Otter alongside Wheat malt, Crystal malt and Amber malt. A line-up of fruited hoppy notes scoring an earthy, floral and slightly spicy hit on my palate. Two goals belatedly achieved to the delight of my ecstatic taste buddies with a trumpet-like flourish lingering with a grassy and herbal bitterness waving into the sunset. |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
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