The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
01 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of regulars and others in, including the fiddlers playing out the back.
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 |  | It was up on the blackboard as a golden and also recommended by a fellow regular. This Maldon ale from Essex was according to the tasting notes a Citra pale. Came with superb head and lacing on its second night on. A very hoppy first hit. Only a mild fruitiness in the mouthfeel despite a mention of passion fruit, nectarine and orange peel. Its dry hoppiness won the contest for me thankfully and lingered in its aftertaste. It was very moreish! |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 |  | This New Forest traditional bitter is perhaps a touch too fresh to my taste as just on this evening, but with very good head and lacing. A powerfully bitter first hit. A very fruity mouthfeel and a biscuity sweetness from its Maris Otter malts. Left with a sort of chewy aftertaste which was not very welcome! It certainly looked the part if not quite tasting it! One sufficed for me. |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | Just ran out on requesting it. |
| Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - Demockracy | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
30 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A very busy turnout of regulars and the not so regular for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 |  | Only its second night on and so presented with a good head and lacing. A malty chocolatey first hit. Roasted coffee flavours among a dark chocolatey bitterness coming to the fore. A very malty mouthfeel lingering with seven different malts deployed in the making of this Hackney-based porter. |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 |  | Third night on for the new barrel of this Italian bitter and a collaboration with Berkshire-based Siren Craft. Still holding its head and lacing well. A lightly bitter first hit. A full bitterness coming to the fore with a slight sharpness hitting the aftertaste. |
| Vibrant Forest - Paper Room | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Snitches Get Stitches | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Superdelic | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | A new brewery on me and from Salford but was not brave enough to try having read about its mango, blueberry, tropical and citrus notes. It looked quite a murky concoction! |
30 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Front room was a packed house.
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 |  | An always reliable choice |
| Lost Pier - Snitches Get Stitches | 4.30 |  | Basic pale with no USP |
| Vibrant Forest - Paper Room | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Superdelic | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
28 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with many of the Friday regulars in and among the more occasional.
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 |  | A new barrel freshly on today of this Italian bitter and a collaboration with Berkshire-based Siren Craft Brew meant good head and lacing. A hoppy first hit. A bitter and fruity hoppiness was presented from the German hops which were used for this Italian brew. A hoppy dryness persisted. |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 |  | Good head and lacing still on this pale's second night on and for this Peterborough-based and Ramsgate Brewery collaboration. A citrusy first hit followed by a fruity mouthfeel. A hoppy dryness from the East Kent Goldings' hops in the aftertaste and very moreish. |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Fenton | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
27 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many regulars on parade.
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 |  | Fresh on this evening and holding superb head and lacing and the latter is still on the side of glass when completely empty of this pale ale. A dry hoppy first hit on this collaboration between Peterborough-based Oakham and Ramsgate's Gadds' Brewery. A slightly citrusy and sweetish mouthfeel coming from the fruits therein, including lemon and grapefruit, but a moreish hoppiness winning over on the taste buds from those East Kent Goldings' hops. A dry fruity hoppiness lingering. |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 |  | Fresh on is this Maldon-based bitter and holding its head and lacing well. A very sweet first hit a bit like biting into a toffee apple. A bitterness winning through but still a sweet maltiness and lasting into the aftertaste. |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 |  | This Peterborough-based American Brown is still holding its head and lacing on its fifth night on. A malty first hit and continuing into the mouthfeel and mixed with a spiciness. A malty bitterness lingering in the aftertaste. |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
27 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 |  | Very malty |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 |  | Seemed totally Oakham to me with same old Oakham traits |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Fenton | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
26 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Elusive - Overdrive (Lap 30: Talus, Simcoe & Amarillo) | 5.50 |  | A heady APA |
| Lost Pier - When Nothing Goes Right, Go Left | 4.50 |  | Tasty but lacking head and lacing |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 |  | Thin gruel with hardly any head or lacing |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
25 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many regulars in and even some fiddlers in their allotted backroom area.
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 |  | Now its third night on and still very good head and lacing on this Peterborough-based American brown ale. A superbly malty first hit and reminding me of Bovril! A sweetness then coming to the fore and a black pepper or two getting you in the aftertaste. |
| Lost Pier - When Nothing Goes Right, Go Left | 4.50 |  | Very good head and lacing on this Brighton-based pale as fresh on today and holding to the end. A dry hoppy first hit. An oily hoppiness in the mouthfeel and with a maltiness adding a layer of sweetness to the flavourings and lingering. |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 |  | Been on since Saturday and so only needed a slight decant or two to wake up the head and lacing on this Cornwall-based porter from Penryn. A malty mouthfeel with chocolate and coffee flavourings mixed with caramel, prunes and raisins. An interesting mix and so a mere half sufficed but very moreish. |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 |  | Its 3rd night on and holding its head and lacing well. A somewhat sharp first hit! A bitterness intermingling with a fruity hoppiness from the German hops. The Italian collaboration with Berkshire-based Siren Craft Brew was an interesting one to sample here and where the same German hops are used for the Italian brew or two. A sharpness pervaded the moreishly dry aftertaste. |
| Elusive - Overdrive (Lap 30: Talus, Simcoe & Amarillo) | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
23 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with usual Sunday faces in.
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Only its second night on but the place opens early afternoon on a Sunday and so I asked how this Berkshire-based bitter, outside Wokingham, was doing and the barman told me it was nearly out and so bought a few before he then took it off. Still great head and lacing and lasting. A bitter and hoppy first hit rolled into one. A dry and moreishly bitter mouthfeel lingered into its aftertaste with just a hint of sweetness from its citrus-infusions. Many others had also enjoyed it that night as I was told. |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 |  | This Peterborough-based American brown ale was fresh on today and holding its head and lacing very well. A very dry first hit and a malty mouthfeel. A dryness pervaded its aftertaste along with a degree of fruitiness and touches of spice and cinnamon. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Northern Monk - Sup | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | Not Tried | An Italian bitter which replaced the Memento. |
23 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 |  | Little head or lacing |
| Oakham - Three in a Row | 4.00 |  | Very good ABA |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 |  | Cask just put on. Good condition but unspectacular taste |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Northern Monk - Sup | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Burnthouse | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
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