The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 | |
25 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 |  | Holding up well |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 |  | New cask just on. Lively. I sometimes wonder if Oakham can brew more of a variety than such samey pale citrus ales |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
23 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. England World Cup football on TV to a mainly subdued audience.
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 |  | Basic Citra in good condition |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 |  | New on today. Good to have a dark one in such heat |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
21 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Usual suspects in.
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 |  | Tasty but citrus boring |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 |  | OK - little condition |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 |  | Thin gruel - drank with hardly noticing |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
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