The River Ale House (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
04 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Certainly more in than Sat evening and for last 40 minutes of serving.
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 |  | In very fine form with a bitter taste and slightly spicy. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Knight's Ale | 4.60 |  | Was recommended just before close of serving and so had to try a half. Was not disappointed. Malty with toffee flavouring and looked like a stout as it was so dark, this ESB. |
Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 |  | Not the same amount of head as evening before but still some to see. Still moreish with the mint which I like. |
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Entelea | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
04 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 |  | Always reliable |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Knight's Ale | 4.60 |  | Long time since I have had this dark ale. Good malt, hop balance |
Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 |  | Disappointing, slight haze, poured flat, little condition |
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | Must be gone soon |
Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Entelea | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
03 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
In on return from Herne Bay and for about last hour of serving. Quiet footfall for a Saturday evening but the summer holidays for many.
Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 |  | Very lively conditioning in this pale golden ale. A touch of mint in the flavour and that made it very moreish and so kept with it all of the visit. |
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Knight's Ale | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Entelea | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
02 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
In for last half-hour of serving and very busy. Sat out in the backroom among regulars. Cooler there as a good-size window open.
Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 |  | In very fine form and a superb dry, hoppy finish that lingers and makes it very moreish and so stuck to it for whole visit. |
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Entelea | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
01 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
In for last half-hour of serving and sound all back to normal with ceiling redecorated and sound-absorbers back on ceiling since being taken down on last visit on Tuesday. Good number in for another scorcher of a day!
Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 |  | Very moreish and best so far was this pale with dry hoppy aftertaste. |
Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 |  | In fine form this bitter and thirst-quenching on such a warm evening. Nice citrus and toffee-malt flavours. |
Kent - Galaxy | 4.50 |  | Follow-on tasting from Tues and still in good form with lots of fruity hoppiness. |
Oakham - Soundcheck | 3.90 |  | Very fruity with grapefruit bitterness and in good form as new on since last visit Tues. I did my own soundcheck also with governor's sound-absorbers back on the ceiling whilst enjoying this Soundcheck Pale. |
Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | Taken off whilst there so did not try at all including on earlier visit in week. |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
01 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 |  | Cask newly on today. Possibly fresh as held little head or lacing |
Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 |  | Refreshing lower ABV job. No great USP? |
Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | Still holding in there |
Kent - Galaxy | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Soundcheck | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
31 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Kent - Galaxy | 4.50 |  | A zesty single hopper |
Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | Flattish pour, lacking the condition for full mouthfeel |
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Soundcheck | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Castle Rock - Static Energy | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
30 Jul 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Still open from 4pm while being redecorated by daytime when closed anyway except Fri to Sun when open earlier. The very effective and home-made (by the publican) sound-absorbers were off the ceiling for a lick of paint up there throughout the front and back rooms. It had become the River Echo House! Such a contrast! The fiddlers out the back were much louder for me out the front, and everyone's voices were bouncing off all the hard surfaces. In for last half-hour of serving for this new audio experience. It was busy and so really tested the lack of sound absorption.
Kent - Galaxy | 4.50 |  | Very moreish pale with Aussie fruit flavours in this superb hoppy beer with lots of froth to be head over heels about. |
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 |  | In fine form, this pale with its amber bitterness. Very thirst-quenching for one of the warmest days of the year. |
Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Castle Rock - Static Energy | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
28 Jul 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
In for last 40 minutes of serving and still busy.
Church End - Vicar's Ruin | 4.40 |  | Not as great a head as Saturday evening but still some and good tasting. So stuck to it for whole visit in enjoying the hoppy and malty flavours in this straw-coloured bitter. |
Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Staggeringly Good - Prehistoric Creatures Golden Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Dreamboat (collaboration with New Bristol) | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
28 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. By last bells just the stalwarts in.
Church End - Vicar's Ruin | 4.40 |  | Another Church End staple in good condition, enough to have two |
Staggeringly Good - Prehistoric Creatures Golden Ale | 4.00 |  | Improved by some double decanting between two pint glasses, brought some head and life to what tasted good |
Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Beerblefish - 1820 Porter | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Dreamboat (collaboration with New Bristol) | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]