The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
14 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Crowded and noisy back and front.
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 |  | A pale beer with recent reduction in ABV |
| Mighty Oak - Equinox | 4.10 |  | Best ale of the evening - subtly bittered |
| Castle Rock - Transmission | 4.50 |  | Castle Rock quality with subdued citrus |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
13 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 |  | Slight loss of condition since yesterday's |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 |  | Just about good |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 |  | Basic stuff |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Magic Dragon (formerly New Plassey) - Green One | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
12 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Sunday regulars out in force for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Magic Dragon (formerly New Plassey) - Green One | 4.20 |  | Cannot recall trying this Welsh brew or others from Magic Dragon from Wrexham, North Wales, before. Set up in 2017, it is the oldest microbrewery in the whole of Wales. Fresh on and very good head and lacing and lasting. A dry fruity first bite. A dry hoppiness rising with a good sprinkling of Citra hops in this session IPA, lending it, its lemon flavouring. Its Citra hops adding greatly to its fruitiness sailing out. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 |  | Now its third night on for this Ramsgate stout and still holding its head and lacing very well to the bottom of the glass. A bitter dryness first. A hoppy bitterness second. Third, a maltiness tantalising my taste buds and lingering from its mix of three different dark malts and hints of red berries. Even on its third night it continues to impress. |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
12 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close.
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 |  | In fine form |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 |  | Good head and lacing, lacking much taste |
| Magic Dragon (formerly New Plassey) - Green One | 4.20 |  | New cask today. Basic citrus golden ale with no USP. Total bore |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
11 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual Saturday regulars on parade among the more occasional for last hour of serving.
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 |  | Second night on for this Ramsgate stout and still presenting very good head and lacing and lasting. A dry bitter first bite. A hop-infused bitterness rising. A good maltiness from its mix of three different dark malts lingering in its aftertaste. Very moreish and so another followed. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 |  | Fresh on was this golden ale brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing, good, but not lasting. A fruited first bite. A hint of citrus and grapefruit from its hops rising with a dry bitterness winning over and sailing out. |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
10 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Friday regulars on parade mixed in among the lesser spotted for the last 30 minutes of serving and just a few rather vocal but not including me, I hasten to add!
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 |  | Fresh on and a creamy head literally foaming on top of this Ramsgate-brewed stout. Lacing around the side of the glass lasting to the end and that would have done well on our windows for the blackouts in the Second World War! A dry bitterness on its first bite. A good degree of maltiness rising from its three different dark malts. A dry hoppiness winning over supremely with a pleasantly malty bitterness on the ferry for me downwards. |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 |  | Fresh on and yet struggling! Some head on being served. Lacing rapidly legged it out of the glass. A dry bitter first hit. This chestnut bitter from Tottenham in North London exuded a bitter fruitiness for me, and no doubt originating from its Bramling Cross hops. A real fruity kick to it from its citrus notes. A dry malty bitterness with the odd hint of caramel paddling out to sea. Only one sufficed for me! Rare indeed for a fresh bitter on as really rather partial to a good bitter ale as earlier testified to in many an entry. Talking of entries, this marks my 666th pub visit on Pubs And Beer. This number is said to represent "the beast" from the Book of Revelation in the Bible, symbolizing evil, the Antichrist or Satan. Also said to be a number that can represent misfortune which rather sums up this particular bitter in its current form for me! Hopefully it might improve by its second day on. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
09 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual for the last half hour of serving with a mix of the usual regulars and the more occasional but not as packed as when last in on Tuesday.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 |  | Now the third night on for this Kentish bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Not as lively as when first sampled on Tuesday but still displaying a good head and holding its lacing to the end. A very dry bitter first bite. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising with a touch of malty nuttiness shining through with hints of berry flavours. A dry bitter maltiness playing a good hand of cards before saddling up for its final descent. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Pale (collaboration with Oakham) | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Castle on the Peak (collaboration with Peak) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
09 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Pale (collaboration with Oakham) | 5.20 |  | First day on - just good |
| Castle Rock - Castle on the Peak (collaboration with Peak) | 4.30 |  | First day on. I have little idea how to score these milk shake resembling ales but it seemed good enough in flavour |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 |  | Maltier more than bitter. Rather flat in glass made it a little unappetising |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | Hanging on by its finger nails |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
08 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 |  | Just a tad less fresh than yesterday's |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | A week on now! |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
07 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not been this busy for many a night and for last half hour of serving. Remnants of a local club gathered around one table at the front with many a stool from other tables with them. Hardened regulars in evidence in the front area and fiddlers out the back all co-existing.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 |  | Fresh on this evening was this bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing good when served but not holding on well to its lacing. A dry bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising and every so often an almost involuntary fruity kick from no doubt its berry-infused hops. A dry and nutty malty note or two veering up before ebbing downwards with a very bitter finish. |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 |  | Finally got round to trying this ruby ale, albeit only a half, which first appeared on Saturday for me. I missed it then and on Sunday as Stancill's Barnsley Bitter was so moreish. On this, its fourth night, it was still exhibiting head and lacing and holding onto it on this Essex ruby ale from Maldon. A very malty-infused first bite. A dry bitterness rising and a fruited hoppy note from its Azacca, an American hop variety, lending it hints of pineapple and spiciness and tangerine flavours from its citrus notes. Its American Comet hops are also affording it a degree of citrusy fruitiness with hints of grapefruit and tropical fruits veering up. A dry but fruity hoppiness sailing out on the odd malty note or two. |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 |  | Been on since Thursday and so now its sixth night for this Essex porter from Maldon. Head and lacing not now very evident shortly after being served it but a decant or two restored it momentarily. Still holding onto its smoky, malty bitterness and evident from its first bite. A bitter maltiness rising alongside coffee and toffee flavourings. Thankfully not too sweet for my taste buds. Just the merest hint of dark chocolate in its roasted maltiness in its descent along with a spicy, honey note or two afforded by its Mount Hood hopping. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | Fresh on. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
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