The River Ale House (Free House)
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Stephen Harris
Visits Details
03 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | | Best of the bunch here tonight |
New Bristol - Coffee & Biscotti Stout | 5.00 | | Good as presented to me. After multiple decantings between two glasses came to life so could have been a higher mark |
Oakham - OPA Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Basic but uninspiring |
Southwark - Bermondsey Best | 4.40 | Not Tried | The ones poured for others looked dire and lifeless |
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Paper Room | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
01 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Surprisingly low footfall for the Friday regulars and no strangers in for last 30 minutes of serving. 5 I counted including me. Clement weather - not too cold and no rain!
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Fresh on this evening and of the 4 customers in, apart from me, 3 were on it, or had tried it and liked it. Superb head and lacing and a malty but not sweet flavour to die for and made my taste buds go "Cor, Cor!" which is when something is very worthwhile to drink. A fruity mouthfeel with a lingering bitter, dry aftertaste that only certain beers cause me to smack my lips with and in appreciation. Very moreish! |
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | | Good head and lacing. A very fresh hoppy first hit with a continuing mouthfeel and a dry lingering aftertaste. |
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Good head and lacing when served but not for long. Still got that chocolatey mouthfeel with a dry, bitter aftertaste. |
Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - King at Arms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
31 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall but a seat to be spotted and with many a regular in.
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | | Superb head and lacing. A dry mouthfeel and not sweet despite honey notes mentioned by the tasting notes. |
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Returned to this after first trying Tuesday. Still holding head and lacing. A sweet and malty mouthfeel from being biscuity with toffee flavouring. A lingering dry hoppiness followed. |
Oakham - King at Arms | 4.20 | | Good head and lacing. A sharp first hit. New on today and very fresh. Tasting notes mention citrus and tropical fruits and pine resin. Too fruity for me and one sufficed. |
Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | | Very flat as minus a head or lacing almost straight after being served. Multiple decantings produced some head and lacing momentarily. A very sour mouthfeel and certainly a chore to drink. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
31 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Just as yesterday, poorly poured and presented. With aggressive multiple decantings between two glasses this ale came to life |
Oakham - King at Arms | 4.20 | | New cask on today. Good zesty mouthfeel |
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | | Disappointing green hopper with little body, condition, head and lacing |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
30 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Eight ales on for six customers seems too many.
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Big hop hitter |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Slightly clearer than Sunday's example |
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Needed multiple decantings between two glasses to bring head and lacing to life |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
29 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier footfall than earlier Tuesdays recently with some regulars in and the fiddlers' group playing out the back.
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Very good head and lacing. Hugely dry and moreish was this Citra Pale with a good hoppy mouthfeel. |
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Began with a good head and lacing. A sweet, malty and toffee-flavoured mouthfeel with a pleasant bitter aftertaste. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | | Not a lot of head and lacing despite it being only the second night on. Described as a Red Best Bitter, it was certainly a sweet mouthfeel with toffee malts. It had a bitter aftertaste. |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
27 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | Gadds' quality shone through |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Lacked enough natural carbonation so whilst well flavoured lacked condition |
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | | Just a half - felt tired, the beer not me |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - HopWalk Green Hop Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
27 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Surprisingly low footfall for a normally busy Sunday evening and with just a few regulars in for last 40 minutes of serving. Our normal weekly barman, who sets and plays the music theme, and this evening dubbed the sky and beyond, absent but barmaid, on work experience elsewhere so missing for last month, back with us.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | Tried yesterday in this London micro after day-visit to Gadds' domain but even better than then as superb head and long-lasting lacing which is often rare. Very bitter mouthfeel with a moreish dry aftertaste. |
Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Very good head and lacing. Fresh on today. First sip and a Greek white wine as in Retsina-tasting hit! Very resinous it is! An oily mouthfeel in this but not from a green hop as an all-year rounder from the Kent Brewery. |
Oakham - HopWalk Green Hop Ale | 4.10 | | Came with a good head and lacing. A slightly spicy and overly fruity mouthfeel and spice in the governor's tasting notes. Perhaps I overdosed on green hops the day before on the Isle of Thanet as only one sufficed here. |
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | | Good head and lacing. Only third night on but slightly medicinal as in a touch of sourness. Still a very sweet and hoppy mouthfeel. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
26 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many of the Saturday regulars in. Earlier in the day many a Charlton supporter in before and after the home-game explained the loss of 7 beers that were on from the start of the noon opening.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | Good head and lacing. Malty mouthfeel with a very moreishly dry and hoppy aftertaste. |
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | | First tried night before and enjoyed. Still very good head and lacing. Very sweetish mouthfeel with a lingering dry bitterness in this Strong Ale. |
Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | Good head and lacing. Slightly too fruity and tangy for me with a subtle acidity on the palette. A pleasantly hoppy lingering aftertaste. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
Little Monster - Anomaly | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
25 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with some of the regular Friday regulars in.
Mighty Oak - Saxon Strong | 6.50 | | Superb head and lacing! A caramel-sweetish first hit and, yes, a hint of toffee as in tasting notes and very moreish. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | 3.80 | | Still holding on well with head and lacing. A subtle hoppy, fruity lingering mouthfeel. |
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Jester | 4.80 | | Also still holding on well, head and lacing-wise, from first sampling on Tuesday. A real bite to it in taking the first sip. A very moreish mouthfeel with an oily, hoppy aftertaste and with a moderate bite still on last drop tasted. |
Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Staggeringly Good - Thai-Ranno Citrus IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
360° - Bluebell Sussex Best Bitter | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
Iron Pier - Challenger Joined at the Green Hop (2024) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
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