The River Ale House (Free House)
[More Visits]
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
07 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Bexley - Golden Acre | 4.00 | | Good condition as a new cask on but underwhelming otherwise for flavour |
Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | Very little condition in my glass yet others raved over it! |
Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | | Something lost since yesterday's, in fact quite a fall from grace |
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
New Bristol - Coffee & Biscotti Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
06 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | | Consensus amongst most customers tonight that this was an excellent zesty bitter with fine head and lacing until the last drop |
Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | One of my favourite Kent ales |
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
New Bristol - Coffee & Biscotti Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
05 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with the fiddlers out the back and a number of Tuesday regulars in.
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | | Superb head and lacing. A real bite in the first tasting with a very dry, hoppy mouthfeel. No fruits at all appeared to be harmed in the making of this as not a hint of fruitiness. Just a spicy flavour lingered. |
Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | A good head and lacing on this ruby ale. A bitterness in the mouthfeel to die for! Slightly too sweet for my liking with a treacle-infused aroma about it. A very pleasantly malty aftertaste. |
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
New Bristol - Coffee & Biscotti Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
03 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 40 minutes of serving and for return of the Sunday music-themed evening and where you can bring your own requests matching a pre-announced theme decided the week before.
Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | | Good head and lacing. A very citrusy first hit and so living up to its name. A dry, hoppy mouthfeel with a lingering sharpness. A bit like a dry cider but not drunk one of these for years now. |
New Bristol - Coffee & Biscotti Stout | 5.00 | | Woke it up with a single decanting after it had been sitting for some 30 minutes after first bell for final serving was rung. Head and lacing reappeared on it. A very good coffee-infused first hit and not overly sweet but just the one sufficed. |
Southwark - Bermondsey Best | 4.40 | | Not a lot of head and lacing and what was there soon evaporated. A spicy flavoured bitter with a honey-infused hoppiness. |
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Paper Room | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Oakham - Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
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 | |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for a Saturday evening for last 30 minutes of serving with just a few regulars in.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Had one of the few remaining before all drunk. Still had good head and lacing with a gently malty mouthfeel and a dry, hoppy aftertaste. |
Oakham - Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Very good head and lacing. A slight citrus hit with a lightly hoppy, dry mouthfeel. |
Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Five Points - Green Hop Goldings | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Vibrant Forest - Paper Room | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Kirkstall - Extra Stout (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | 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 | |
[More Visits]