The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 | |
11 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with Charlton FC having played at home that evening and so some thirsty real ale supporters in among the regulars.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 |  | Also fresh on today is this Ramsgate-brewed amber ale and came with very good head and lacing. A hoppy first hit. A maltiness in the mouthfeel with a hint of oil in the hoppiness. A very moreishly dry aftertaste. |
Mighty Oak - The Joy of Six | 3.90 |  | Fresh on today with great head and lacing on this ruby bitter from Maldon, Essex. Dark-coloured with a moreishly malty and lightly fruity mouthfeel. A dry maltiness lingering. |
Blackjack - Irk Street Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Goffs - Jester Brew No 20 - Raspberry Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Rubus | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Pulsar Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Saltaire - Fusion | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
09 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with some of the Sunday regulars in.
Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Fresh on today and great head and lacing on this Berkshire bitter. A very bitter first hit. A slightly strange mouthfeel with herbal notes but helping to wash down my earlier dinner with lots of Italian herbs in it. Could not get the citrus in the beer as also described in the tasting notes. A moreishly dry, bitter mouthfeel lingering. |
Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - Newark Castle Brown | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Goffs - Jester Brew No 20 - Raspberry Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
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