The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
05 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Stancill - Barnsley Bitter | 3.80 |  | Held good head and lacing |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | 4.80 |  | Rather astringent sharpness |
Redemption - Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Redemption - New Zealand Pale | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
02 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A handful of the usual regulars out the front and the more occasional out the back for the last 40 minutes of serving.
Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 |  | Fresh on was this Essex porter from Maldon. Very good head and lacing but not lasting so well. A smoky, malty bitter first bite. A moreishly bitter maltiness rising. Ably assisted by coffee and toffee flavourings, but not too sweet to my taste buds. Did not really get its dark chocolatey roasted maltiness. Hopped with Mount Hood, lending it spicy, honey notes on its downwards journey sailing out. |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Now its third night on for this Gravesend bitter from its Northfleet brewery. A tad thinner in flavouring and conditioning. Still displaying good head and lacing but not lasting as well as when tried on its first night on. A dry bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising from its English hops, EKG (East Kent Golding) and Admiral. Subtle honey and toffee flavours veering upwards mixed with a mild maltiness. A spicy hoppiness from its First Gold hop in its finish and final descent downwards. |
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 |  | Third night on for this Berkshire IPA, south-west of Wokingham and neighbours of Elusive Brewing. Very good head and lacing still and lasting. A very fruity kick to it in its first hit. A very fruit-infused hoppiness rapidly rising from its American hops, Citra, Simcoe, Chinook and Columbus. A very dry hopped, resinous note or two sailing out. Tried mixing a little of it with the Mighty Oak Green Hop Pale but this Soundwave overpowered the Green Hop hands down. |
Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2025 | 4.30 |  | Second night on for this green hopped pale from Maldon in Essex. A dry hop-infused first bite. A very hoppy mouthfeel with floral and spicy notes abounding from its fresh Challenger hops. A moreishly dry bitter hoppiness lasting on its ferry downwards. |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
02 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 |  | Condition good but yet another citrus in the face brew not to my liking |
Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2025 | 4.30 |  | Flat since yesterday's |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
01 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close. Just two others in.
Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2025 | 4.30 |  | Green hop ale |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
30 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last 30 minutes of serving with a handful of regulars in, the fiddlers out the back and a few of the more occasional. A welcome few new beers on since Sunday's visit.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 |  | Second night on for this Ramsgate amber ale and good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A good hoppy first hit. A gentle bitter hoppiness rising aided by its Goldings hops. A slight maltiness winning over and sailing out but not overly malty care of its crystal malt. A fine pint and could easily have sampled more but the Iron Pier bitter was recommended and so this followed. |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Fresh on and recommended and saw others supping this Gravesend bitter from just up the road at Northfleet. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A very bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising with hints of toffee and honey flavours. A good spicy hoppy bitter note or two, from its exclusively English hops, playing out. Very moreish and so another followed. |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 |  | Fifth night on for this Gravesend stout from Northfleet and although some head and lacing to start with, it needed a good few decants to restore any head on it and then only momentarily. Rather overly chocolatey for my taste buds on its first bite. A definite maltiness rising up from its 7 different malts used. Coffee notes battled among the chocolatey ones in its downward passage but a mere half sufficed as rather too sweet for me. |
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
29 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 |  | Disappointing for its first day on |
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 |  | Flatter than yesterday's |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 |  | Single hopper with little condition |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
28 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Just a handful of the hardened on parade alongside a few of the lesser spotted for the last 30 minutes of serving.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 |  | Second night on for this Ramsgate pale bitter. Still very good head and lacing and lasting. A lightly hoppy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising aided by its Goldings hops for bitterness and Fuggles hops for flavouring. A hoppy bitterness with a touch of maltiness sailing out. |
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
28 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 |  | Low in condition |
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 |  | Used to be one of my favourite Oakham ales but so many Oakham ales taste the same these days |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
27 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not as busy I had imagined and for the last 40 minutes of serving but the usual regulars in among the more occasional. Charlton FC had played at home beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 from 3pm and so this micro had been extra busy earlier. Many a change of beer in the line-up with 4 knocked off earlier in the day as being on, on the tasting notes.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 |  | Fresh on at some point today from the noon opening was this Ramsgate pale bitter. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A hoppy first hit. A fruit-infused hoppiness rising aided by its Fuggles hops for flavouring. A hoppy bitterness with hints of malt sailing out ably assisted by its Goldings hops for its more bitter flavouring. Very moreish and so stuck to it! |
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Merlin Blonde | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
26 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with the hardened regulars mixed with the not so frequent for the last 30 minutes of serving.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | 3.80 |  | Fresh on and good head and lacing and lasting on this pale from south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. A dry fruit-infused first hit aided by its citrus hops. A dry hoppiness rising and a fruity infusion with hints of orange playing out with the odd spicy note in on the act. |
Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 |  | Fresh on is this Gravesend stout from Northfleet. Very good head and lacing and but sadly not lasting and so needing a good few decants to restore it. A malty first bite care of its 7 different malts used. Coffee and chocolatey flavourings rapidly rising with a malty bitterness living on in its aftertaste. |
Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 |  | Fresh on was this American red ale from south-west of Wokingham from this 9 year-old brewery that came out of home-brewing and this ale was based on one of their first. It presented good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A fruity bitter first hit. A lively hoppiness rearing up aided by its Citra, Centennial and Simcoe hops. A good fruitiness sailing down my estuary. |
Vibrant Forest - Canopy | 4.00 |  | Fourth night on for this New Forest bitter from Hardley, south of Southampton and based on the other side of the estuary known as Southampton Water. Still some head and lacing to it but not lasting. A very malty first bite to it. A dry bitterness rising and a maltiness aided by its Maris Otter malt, giving it a biscuity flavour. A dry hoppiness, emanating from its British-grown Goldings hops, drifting out with the odd fruity kick aided by its English ale yeast strain. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Bowland - Buster IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
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