PubsandBeer
History: Home > The River Ale House
The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) |  | 2 |
| Kent - Old Skool |  | 4 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur Union |  | 1 |
| Two by Two - Porter | | 4 |
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Elusive - Flock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
16 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with the usual regulars on parade and even the fiddlers were still strumming for my arrival in time for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on was this Maidstone-brewed traditional Kentish chestnut-brown bitter as fresh on in my absence on Monday. It was first brewed in 1983 at Hayle Mill, an old paper mill, in Tovil, Maidstone. Presenting wonderful head and lasting lacing still and even when completely supped, it was still evident on the sides of the glass. A dry bitter first hit. A slightly sweet maltiness rising from its crystal malt with flavours of caramel, sweet biscuit, and subtle hints of rum and raisin, and combined with a Maris Otter winter barley base. A sturdy bitterness winning over with a subtle fruitiness. A prevailing dry malty roasted bitterness sailing out ably assisted by its 100% East Kent Goldings hops. Served in superb nick and that all others would do well to take notes from. Very good conditioning throughout and lacing simply little seen on others in recent times. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on was this Peterborough jet-black mild and exhibiting very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on the sides of the glass and from a brewery originally set up in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, but later relocating its main brewing operations to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. A very creamy top on being poured like a generous helping of cream added on top on this mild brewed for CAMRA’s Mild Month of May. A very floral hoppy first hit afforded by its New World flavours from its US hops, Willamette, Cascade and Simcoe. A gentle maltiness sliding into the equation with flavours of coffee, caramel and dark chocolate emanating from its mix of Maris Otter, Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt, and Caramalt. A spicy hoppiness tantalising my taste buds with just the merest hint of sweet liquorice in its maltiness descending. Served in top-notch condition with a very plentiful mouthfeel lasting on this liquid pleasure. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
15 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Very palatable for this freshly on ale |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | 3rd day on sale, some loss of condition |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | 2nd day on and good head and lacing. Getting pricey |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | | Refreshing but not much body |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Flock | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Light footfall with just a handful of regulars in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Second day on for this amber-hued Cornish bitter from Penryn and where brewing was set up in 2014 and presenting a healthy head and lacing to start with but not lasting. A dry malty first hit. Hints of lemon, lime and raspberry in its hoppy bitterness rising. Its maltiness taking centre stage from its malted barley. Its biscuit and crystal varieties aiding its bready burnt toffee flavours. A gentle light caramel sweetness winning over. Its UK-grown Fuggles and Golding hops lending a hoppy bitterness with woody, herbal flavours sailing out. Lacking head and lacing throughout and slightly without conditioning on only its second day. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Flock | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
13 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a sprinkling of regulars in, including the Saturday brigade, for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on literally by all accounts as in just two hours before my 10pm arrival with head and lasting lacing to die for. A dry bitter first bite on this amber hued Cornish bitter from Penryn and where brewing was set up in 2014. A hoppy bitterness rising with hints of lemon, lime and raspberry. A touch of maltiness winning over from its malted barley including biscuit and crystal varieties with burnt toffee notes and a flavouring of bread crust, biscuit malt and a pervading light caramel sweetness. A dry bitter hoppiness with woody, herbal flavours from its UK-grown Fuggles and Golding hops paddling out with its underlying maltiness prevailing. Perhaps served slightly before it had woken up but otherwise in good nick. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Flock | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Dragonfly Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried |
11 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with the hardened on parade among the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: For being its sixth day, this dark amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, now presented still very good head and lacing which bares testimony to its robustness in its enduring longevity. Still that dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness giving way to a toffee-caramel sweetness emerging with the likes of Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. Its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger lending a dry herbal bitterness. Touches of a lightly fruited hoppiness with hints of dark autumn fruits, plum and fig, doing battle with spicy orange and sharp marmalade notes. Remarkably robust for being so long on although now without much of its conditioning. |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Now either its third or fourth night on and only momentary head and lacing before legging it out of the glass on this Newcastle porter. A chocolatey maltiness in its first hit. Its Maris Otter base malt, cocoa, chocolate, espresso and black malts giving rise to a smoky, roasted, malty biscuity dryness. Hints of cedar, mint, cream and vanilla from its American hop, Sabro, winning over. A hedgerow and red berry dry bitterness lingering with its fruity notes emerging from its UK East Kent Goldings hops. Again, not full of flavour as was noted on Tuesday’s sampling for my taste buds. Remaining thin-tasting and now minus conditioning. |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur Union | 5.90 | Not Tried |
11 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Tired |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | | All condition lost |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur Union | 5.90 | | Not very good for a union ale from Thornbridge. Not clean tasting and little condition |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried |
09 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with a local club in after their meeting locally among the Tuesday regulars for the last half an hour of serving. The fiddlers were still playing for a change as well!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fourth day on for this pleasantly old-fashioned tasting dark amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A very dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising with not much of a detectable malty note although a hint of toffee-caramel sweetness emerging with the likes of Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A dry herbal bitterness prevailing aided by its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger. A very lightly fruited hoppiness paddling out with touches on my tongue of dark autumn fruits like plum and fig, contrasted with notes of spicy orange and a sharpness from marmalade flavourings. Served still in very good form. |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on since my last visit on Sunday and exhibiting a creamy head but its lacing not overly lasting on this Newcastle porter from this 2014-launched brewery originally set up on the outskirts in Wallsend, Tyneside, before the brewery moved in 2022 closer to the city centre to Morley's Yard in Byker and 1 to 2 miles east of Newcastle’s centre. A dry malty first bite. A smokiness rising with hints of a roasted, malty biscuity dryness from its mix of Maris Otter, forming its base malt, and joined by roasted grains, including cocoa, chocolate, espresso and black malts and sweet roasted crystals. Its creamy head lending it much appeal but this evaporated somewhat speedily, leaving touches of cocoa, espresso and roasted sweet malts on my palate. A malty bitterness prevailing with hints of cedar, mint, cream and vanilla from its American hop, Sabro, aiding its dry lingering fruity-dry finish. Its UK East Kent Goldings hops lending a hedgerow and red berry bitterness on its descent. Not overly flavoured for my taste buds and perhaps just a tad thin-tasting where more conditioning could have counteracted this. |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried |
09 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Very good in every way |
| Two by Two - Porter | 5.00 | | Drank without really noticing |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried |
07 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall but for Sunday regulars on parade for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Second day on for this amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A very dry hoppy first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising. An ever so mildly sweet note from its hint of toffee-caramel from its likely Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A dry herbal bitterness from its mix of local Kentish hops and likely to be Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger. A very lightly fruited hoppiness paddling out with from fruits such as plum, fig and spicy orange contrasted by a sharp marmalade hit to it. Served still in very good form. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 17 |
| 773 |
| 2138 |
| 698 |
 | 59 |
The pub is found in East Greenwich, Greater London, SE10 0RJ.
Micropub in Woolwich Road in a former street corner lingerie and hosiery business premises and which opened on 13th September 2017. Comprises a front room with bar counter and with real ales and ciders served on gravity dispense from a temperature controlled cellar room behind the bar, and a rear room down one step. Each day a pre-prepared paper ale menu sheet, with tasting notes, is provided to every table. Bare-board flooring throughout and all seating at wall mounted high settles and hand made wooden high tables. CAMRA card holders' discount on pints and halves of real ale and cider. Card payments accepted. SPBW London Pub of the Year 2019. Local CAMRA branch 2019, 2022 and 2024 Pub of the Year and its Cider Pub of the Year too in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. CAMRA Greenwich District Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 1704 times, seen 2003 different beers and tried 1178 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ