The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
27 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall despite a few fiddlers playing in rear seating area for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 |  | Still holding its carbonation after first trying two days earlier. Very sweet mouthfeel and so the caramel and toffee flavouring cannot be missed. |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 |  | Very frothy head and real fruity mouthfeel. |
| Park - Treebox Blonde (was 4.9%) | 3.90 |  | Described on sheet as 3.9%. Fruity mouthfeel but minus a head after getting at least half way down pint. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Little Monster - Anomaly | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
26 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Very thin on numbers on site.
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 |  | No need to try any other ale here tonight |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nightjar (formerly Slightly Foxed) - Lost In IKEA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Treebox Blonde | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
25 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Moderately busy for last 40 minutes of serving.
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 |  | Good head and fruity, citrusy aftertaste. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 |  | Minus a head. Slightly malty mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 |  | Head at first but not for long. Hoppy tasting. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nightjar (formerly Slightly Foxed) - Lost In IKEA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Little Monster - Rainbow Valley | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
25 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 |  | A long awaited chance to sample this ale. A very fine concoction marked as served. After multiple decantings between two pint glasses it brought out more head and lacing and nose and would have been 4.5 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 |  | Rather wet dog in flavour and little condition |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nightjar (formerly Slightly Foxed) - Lost In IKEA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Little Monster - Rainbow Valley | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
24 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 45 minutes of serving.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | 4.00 |  | Good head with malty mouthfeel and dry aftertaste. |
| North Riding Brewery - Mosaic | 4.30 |  | In fine condition with distinct blueberry flavouring. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 |  | Good condition and lots of citrus flavouring and aftertaste. |
| Little Monster - Rainbow Valley | 4.00 |  | Great head for this un-fined pale. Fruity, citrus flavours with a sour aftertaste. |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
23 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
In for last 30 minutes of serving and busy.
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | 3.80 |  | Fine head and pleasant, lingering fruitiness. |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Beerblefish - Maple Tooth Tiger | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cloud | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
22 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Disappointing with little or no condition |
| Iron Pier - Admiral & Chinook Joined at the Hop | 3.80 |  | New cask on - little condition and hardly any flavour |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Beerblefish - Maple Tooth Tiger | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cloud | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
22 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving but seats still to be had.
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | Good head to start with but disappeared when at least half way down pint. Mouthfeel: not much in the way of flavours but bitter aftertaste. |
| Iron Pier - Admiral & Chinook Joined at the Hop | 3.80 |  | Very sharp to taste, like a crisp apple. But good carbonation and moreish. |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Beerblefish - Maple Tooth Tiger | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cloud | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
20 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 |  | Best head for many a visit and fresh on so stuck to it. Very malty mouthfeel. |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Summer | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Beerblefish - Maple Tooth Tiger | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
18 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 40 minutes of serving.
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 |  | Very moreish and so stuck to it. Malty with a bitter aftertaste and a wonderful head. |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Beerblefish - Maple Tooth Tiger | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Harmonic (collaboration with Salopian) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
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