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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) |  | 3 |
| Bexley - Five Arches | | 1 |
| Bexley - Five Arches Summer Pale | | 1 |
| Bexley - Redhouse | | 3 |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | | 1 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | | 5 |
| Church End - Stout Coffin | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB |  | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| 360° - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| 360° - Tacoma | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Kea | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Phase Shift | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Sun City | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
18 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Only 6 topers in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | Holding up after a few days on |
| Bexley - Five Arches Summer Pale | 4.00 | | Not much condition left. Price is before CAMRA discount. |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Phase Shift | 4.10 | Not Tried |
17 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 40 minutes of serving with just a few of the hardened on parade among a sprinkling of the more occasional. A long-lost barman back from his travels and a new bitter on!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | Fresh on and the epitome of what a good ruby bitter should look like was this Erith-brewed ale from the neighbouring Bexley borough. Positively foaming it was! A great relief after the earlier bitter's demise the evening before. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, also very good. A very, very malty first bite from its Crystal malts. It reminded me of a soup-like consistency that you cannot simply quaff down. This needed to be sipped for its maltiness rising. A moreish bitterness got in on the act, aided by its English Goldings and Challenger hops. Hints of biscuity caramel coming to the fore alongside its lashings of maltiness managing to slither down my hatch. Very moreish and so stuck to it but slow-going! |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Kea | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Five Arches Summer Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
17 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | | Has the obvious strength but little if any head or lacing |
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | Very good condition albeit a style not much to my liking |
| Bexley - Five Arches | 3.80 | | An OK summer pale |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Kea | 4.50 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Saturday regulars in, the few hardened and the more occasional, for the last 25 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Fifth night on for this York-brewed milk stout and by now past its best. A head and lacing, definitely minus the cream, and so poor, and lasting, not a chance. Still its burnt-toast first bite. A malty sweetness rising. Still a lovely bunch of coconuts or two playing on my palate from their roasting. The Belgian cacao nibs with hints of dark chocolate still forming the backing group. A sweet spiciness from its vanilla, almond, cinnamon and clove flavourings with a malty fruit-infusion playing out. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 |  | Now its third night on and not faring well is this Bermondsey-brewed bitter. Head and lacing, poor, and not lasting. A dry fruit-infused bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising from its US Chinook hops but a hint of vinegary medicine getting in on the act. Poor indeed for only its third night on and indeed for the two longer days for serving on as in both Friday and Saturday when open much earlier as in 2pm and 12 noon respectively. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried |
15 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
For the last 30 minutes of serving, I witnessed a family reunion for one of our Friday regulars with his son and Scottish partner on brigade, and along with the hardened and the more occasional, and this made for an opportunity for lively banter all-round.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Fourth night on for this York-brewed milk stout and seen better days and which I earlier enjoyed. A head and lacing now minus the cream and lasting, a struggle. A burnt-toast first bite. A malty sweetness rising. A lovely bunch of coconuts or two playing on my palate from their roasting. The Belgian cacao nibs with hints of dark chocolate are part of the backing group. Its sweet spiciness tantalising my taste buds with its vanilla, almond, cinnamon and clove flavourings. A malty fruit-infused sweetness lasting. Moreish but somewhat overly sweet to do more than a half on its fourth night on. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | Second night on and head and lacing, good, and lasting, fair, on this Bermondsey-brewed bitter. Not as fruity a first bite as on its premier evening. Its US Chinook hops lending it a hoppy bitterness rising. A biscuity caramel-infusion mixed with a bitter dryness casting its sails before gently drifting off into the sunset. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried |
14 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of the regulars and the not so regular.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Third night on now for this York-brewed milk stout. Not as creamy a head as on Tuesday but still there and lacing almost lasting to the end and so fair. Now a touch of smokiness about its first bite. A very malty coffee-infused hit after hit. Its toasted coconut proved popular with me and one other fan on it as well, as did the Belgian cacao nibs with hints of dark chocolate flavouring. This was gently infused with an aromatic spice exuding vanilla, almond and possibly marzipan, cinnamon and clove flavourings. A malty fruit-infused sweetness slowly going out with its tide with a moreish dryness, its climax. Put to my taste buds' test and living up to its accolade of being multi-award winning! |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | Fresh on this evening and so good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Bermondsey-brewed bitter. A fruity first bite. A hop-infused bitterness rising aided by its US Chinook hops. A good kick, like the mule has, in its hoppy fruitiness. A touch of biscuity caramel-infused bitterness gently lapping up with a hint of pine, spice and the odd dark fruit before its tide gently ebbed away. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Tiring now after some days on. Might well be quite a lot left in the tub still though |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | | Very little life in glass. Disappointing |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier footfall than earlier nights for last 30 minutes of serving. Charlton FC were at home again, following their home-game win against Watford FC on Saturday in the Championship League, and this evening won 3-1 against Stevenage in the English Football League. So, a few in after the match including the landlord.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Fresh on as just replaced the Church End stout is this York-brewed milk stout. A wonderfully creamy top to it. Head, very creamy, lacing, similarly creamy, and lasting, good. A coffee-infused first bite. A very malty mouthfeel about it mixed with toasted coconut, Belgian cacao nibs which are said to be considered a simpler, more wholesome option to dark chocolate, and Tonka beans containing an aromatic spice with vanilla, almond and possibly marzipan, cinnamon and clove flavourings. Extremely moreish with a dry malty fruit-infused sweetness sailing down my hatch! Not surprisingly described in the tasting notes as multi-award winning! |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | Now its third day on and still very good. This Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling, came with still good head and lacing and almost lasting throughout. A very dry bitter first bite. Aided by its Golding and Fuggles hops, a moreishly dry hoppiness climbing up. A malty note or two playing out and still got that lovely dry oily hoppy aftertaste! Almost a touch of resin to my taste buds from its hoppy oiliness like the Greek wine, Retsina. Very moreish and so once again stuck with it apart from a half of a new stout just on to end on. |
| Church End - Stout Coffin | 4.60 | Not Tried | Just gone. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Noisy fiddlers' music night in back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Holding up well |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | 3rd pint of cask just put on. Fresh |
| Church End - Stout Coffin | 4.60 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried |
11 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just the hardened on parade alongside the odd one or two more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | Only its second day on. Head and lacing, still very good, and lasting, good. A very dry oily first bite from this Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling. A fruity bitterness veering up. Its Golding and Fuggles hops lending hoppy infusions with a gentle bitterness bobbing up and down. A very palatable dry hoppiness sliding down my hatch and lingering in my cakehole. As on Sunday, intensely moreish and so stuck with it but for half a stout for my tide to go out on. |
| Church End - Stout Coffin | 4.60 | | Now its third day on for this stout from Nuneaton, north-east of Birmingham. Starting to run out of steam. Head and lacing, good, holding it, fair. Still alive proven by its very malty first bite. A fruity bitterness rising with a malty note playing on aided by its dark berry flavourings in on the mix. A fruit-infused malty dryness lingering on. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Barbe Rouge | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 686 |
| 1717 |
| 504 |
| 42 |
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 1357 times, seen 1828 different beers and tried 1063 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ