The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
20 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 |  | Good condition - truly too malty for my palate |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | Tired, almost all condition gone |
| Quantock - QPA | 4.00 |  | Where was any head and lacing? |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Mystic | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
18 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | Not exceptional |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 |  | Usually my favourite Kent ale |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Smash or Pass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Mystic | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
18 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just a table of regulars in and the more occasional visitor in, too.
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 |  | Second night on but still full of head and lacing on this ruby ale from Birling, north of West Malling. It must have been a sight to behold on the previous night but sadly missed visiting. A very dry, bitter first hit. Its dry bitterness lingered throughout and I got its moreishly malty flavouring as well. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 |  | Also in fine form, head and lacing-wise, and its first night on for this Maidstone pale. It held its head and lacing well as bought some 30 minutes before drinking-up time. A first hit of a dry hoppiness. It presented a very moreishly dry, hoppy and oily mouthfeel that kindly kept on lingering. |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Smash or Pass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Mystic | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
16 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a few tables of regulars in for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Good head and lacing on this Berkshire bitter and on its second night on. A bitter and hoppy first hit. A dry bitterness in the mouthfeel with a hint of maltiness lingering. |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Inaudible | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Smash or Pass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Quantum | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
16 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 |  | Needed more condition for this to really flourish |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Brown and overly malty |
| Kent - Quantum | 4.40 |  | Good condition, I just did not like the sour hopping or haze |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Inaudible | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Smash or Pass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 40 minutes of serving with many of the Saturday regulars in.
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 |  | Not as good as the previous night was this Berkshire stout. It had minimal head and lacing. A smokey and chocolatey first hit. A dry mouthfeel with chocolatey flavours lingering. |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Apparently just on as recently as an hour before. It came with good head and lacing on this Berkshire bitter. It had a very fresh, sharp kick to it on the first taste of it. Cooking apples came to mind and it stayed very sharp to the bottom of the glass. |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Inaudible | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Smash or Pass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Quantum | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
14 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular in.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 |  | Good head and lacing on its first night on with this Canterbury-based bitter. A very bitter first hit. A malty mouthfeel but not sweet despite the tasting notes mentioning berry fruits from the hops. A pleasantly dry, bitter and malty aftertaste. |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 |  | In good form head and lacing-wise on its first night on is this Berkshire-based stout. A very dry, smokey first hit. I got the chocolate and roasted coffee beans lingering in the mouthfeel and very moreish it is. |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Rubus | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
13 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with usual regulars for last 30 minutes of serving. There was also a large group of people in, all standing and sitting around the one table as you come in through the entrance door.
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 |  | 2nd night on for this Maidstone bitter and still holding its head and lacing. A very bitter first hit. Also a hoppy mouthfeel lingering. A few decants needed for the ones ordered before closing time. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 |  | Managed to get a sample of this Ramsgate amber ale and this tasted slightly flat. On then ordering it, it ran out. Only came on Tuesday and it was much enjoyed then. |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Rubus | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Pulsar Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
13 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. One large crowd circled one of the tables.
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 |  | Good condition but uninspiring |
| Oakham - Pulsar Cask Aged | 5.00 |  | Powerful on hop flavours - lots of zinginess in the mouth |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Rubus | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
12 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 |  | Good solid condition |
| Goffs - Jester Brew No 20 - Raspberry Stout | 5.50 |  | Some loss of condition since Sunday |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Rubus | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Pulsar Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
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