The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
19 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 40 minutes of serving with a large helping of regulars and some others who appeared to have brought their own plates along to assist them to dine out. Perhaps they began in the park on this balmy summer's evening?
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 |  | Second night on and still holding its head and lacing well is this Maidstone-based pale amber bitter. A dry bitter first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising and lingering, aided by its WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety, first developed by Edward Albert White of Yalding, Kent, in 1911) and East Kent Golding hops. Personally not my favourite Goacher's as slightly lacklustre in flavouring I find but perfectly palatable nevertheless. |
Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 |  | Fresh on and positively brimming with a very good head and lacing and holding to start with on this Birling-based pale, north of West Malling, but then it went for a wander somewhere else as no longer to be seen! A very hoppy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up, complete with a good dose of citrus in the mix meaning a fruity hit after hit and lingering. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - West Coast IPA (collaboration with Burning Sky) | 5.50 |  | Fresh on and very good head and lacing on show and lasting on this India Pale Ale collaboration between Thornbridge, north-west of Bakewell and south-west of Sheffield, and Burning Sky Brewery at Firle, north-west of Eastbourne. A hoppy-infused first bite to it aided by its Mosaic and Citra hops. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising up and persisting. Lashings of citrus and tropical fruits such as orange and kiwi bobbing up and down on my sailing journey with it and lasting. |
Squawk - Mallard | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
19 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late sweltering evening visit until close.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - West Coast IPA (collaboration with Burning Sky) | 5.50 |  | Obviously a superbly brewed collaboration ale |
Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 |  | Head disappeared almost immediately after serving |
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Squawk - Mallard GF | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
17 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall on this humid summer's evening for the last 30 minutes of serving with the fiddlers and their fiddles out the back and a good turnout of regulars out the front.
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 |  | Third night on for this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and not now holding its head and lacing and so needed a decant or two from the start but this little helped. A moreishly dry oily first hit. A pleasant fruity hoppiness rising up and a hoppy dryness lasting. |
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 |  | Fresh on and so holding its head and lacing well and lasting on this Leicestershire single-hopped Citra Pale from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, south-east of Burton-upon-Trent. Very much that citrusy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up and lingering among its many citrusy notes. One sufficed but in fine condition as fresh on. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 |  | Third night on and has lost much of its conditioning from trying it on Sunday. Not holding its head and lacing very well and a few decants only woke it up temporarily. A malty first hit on this ruby bitter from south-west of Canterbury itself. A malty first hit. A toffee-infused bitterness rising up and lingering. |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Squawk - Mallard | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
17 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 |  | New cask on today and good head and lacing |
Squawk - Mallard GF | 4.50 |  | Lumbered with a hazy ale with no pre-warning |
Tonbridge - IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
16 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 |  | Served with a good head |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 |  | OK condition for this darkish ale |
Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
15 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
The usual Sunday regulars out and ticking over for the last 40 minutes of serving.
Tonbridge - IPA | 4.80 |  | Fresh on today and holding its head and lacing very well and lasting on this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself. A pleasantly hoppy first hit. A dry hoppiness rising up mixed with a moreish oiliness lingering. I was being well oiled care of this fine IPA. |
Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 |  | Second night on for this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy oily first hit. A pleasant hoppiness rising up on the taste buds and an oiliness lingering. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 |  | Fresh on today was this ruby bitter, south-west of Canterbury, and holding its head and lacing to the end. A very bitter first hit. A sweetish maltiness from its toffee notes coming to the fore. A dry bitterness aided by those fruity hops winning over and lingering. Very moreish. |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
15 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The regulars abounded.
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 |  | Best of the evening by far. Good condition |
Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 |  | Head dissipated almost immediately. Lacklustre |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 |  | Flat in glass as poured |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with some of the Saturday regulars on parade for the last 40 minutes of serving.
Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 |  | Fresh on today and so very good head and lacing on this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and lasting. A very hoppy first bite to it derived from its Goldings and Fuggles hops. A dry resinous and oily hoppiness rising up on the mouthfeel. Very moreish to my taste buds and following a 1930s' recipe, and relying solely on the pale ale malt for its colour. A pleasant bitterness coming to the fore and a moreish hoppiness lingering. I stuck to this one like a limpet for the session. |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
13 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular in.
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Third night on for this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend and some head and lacing but not holding well some 10 minutes in. A very malty first hit. A moreishly bitter and malty hoppiness rising up from its English hops and malts used. The odd sweet note from its honey and toffee flavours and a hoppy bitterness lingering. |
Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Ossett - Riwaka | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
12 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes with many regulars in among the more occasional. Rather warm in the main bar as only the front entrance-door propped open for ventilation. None of the windows at front open unlike the windows in the rear-room seating area. A portable fan I have still had charge from late last summer.
Oakham - JHB | 3.80 |  | Recommended by others as fresh on this evening. Very good head and lacing on this Peterborough-based golden and lasting to the end. A very fruit-infused hoppy first hit. A riot of citrusy fruits erupting on the palate and winning over the odd bitter maltiness in on the act. Slightly too fruity for me but a pleasant dry hoppy finish lingering. |
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 |  | Fourth night on for this pale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and ran out shortly after ordering this one. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry fruitiness still evident in the mouthfeel and rising up and lingering among its hoppy notes. Has lasted to the end of its barrel very well. |
Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Second night on and good head and lacing to start with on this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend. A few decants towards the end were needed. A very malty first hit from those 100% English malts involved. A malty bitterness rising up on the mouthfeel and a bitter-infused hoppiness lingering from using also 100% English hops. |
Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
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