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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) |  | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations |  | 1 |
| Five Points - Best | | 3 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | | 3 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale (East Kent Goldings) | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | | 4 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | | 1 |
| Elusive - Leap | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | Not Tried | 0 |
| Silent - Daybreak | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
06 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a local club in among the hardened regulars and the final strains for another week from this micropub’s rear where the fiddlers’ batteries were evidently winding down after their session’s delights to everyone's ears.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale (East Kent Goldings) | 3.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and served with a handsome head and lasting lacing on this gold-coloured green hop ale from Goacher’s Brewery set up in 1983, making it Kent's oldest independent microbrewery, in a former paper mill in the Loose Valley, close to Hayle Mill, Kent, before in 1990 moving to Tovil Green Business Park. A very floral hoppy first bite on this green hop ale that was first brewed in 2015 and where the freshest local green foliage was picked straight from the Kentish bines and rushed to the copper within hours. A hoppy crispness rapidly rising from those virgin East Kent Goldings aroma hops freshly picked and unkilned, delivering for me a floral spice and an earthy, herbal bitterness. Its 100% Maris Otter winter barley malt sourced from traditional floor maltings aiding a sweet digestive biscuit base, and staying as smooth as a silk topper for me. A lingering oiliness on my lips and on the swallow before swishing down my potato trap with a fruity finish. Served in ‘up to the knocker’ top form condition and highly moreish and so another two followed. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third night on and still exhibiting a creamy head and lasting lacing on this brown ale from brewing launched in 2013, under a noisy railway arch at Hackney Downs train station, before the caboodle moved to a massive former warehouse on Hackney's bustling Mare Street, bringing the brewery and taproom all under one roof. The Brewery's name comes from the busy five-way road junction just down the cobbles where Amhurst Road crosses Dalston Lane. A very malty first bite on this mahogany and deep reddish-brown coloured ale and where they first boiled the copper for it in autumn 2016, naming the Brick Field Brown after the old Victorian brickworks that used to clutter the East End marshlands. A marry-up of Maris Otter, Amber, Light Crystal, Dark Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malts, smoothed out with Golden Naked Oats and the Maris Otter lending a sweet, bready biscuit base. Its Amber, Brown and Crystal malts tossing dollops of demerara sugar, rich caramel and toasted hazelnuts on my taste buds. Its Chocolate malt lending a roastiness and its Naked Oats leaving it smooth as satin on my tongue. An oak woodiness in on the act prevailing for me. A sweetened bitterness rising from its American Willamette hops with distinct notes of elderberry and floral spice. Its British Challenger and Goldings hops tossed into the copper for good measure and behind for me a sharp and earthy herbal bitterness. A good sugar rush if ever there was one but slightly too sweet for me to go beyond a half. Served in top notch condition with a lingering toffee finish. |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
06 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Usual music noise from back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | 3.90 | | In peak condition - full of flavour |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | | A haze job and I could feel its ABV strength |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried |
04 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a handful of Sunday regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Third day and showing off good head and lasting lacing still on this Kentish Bitter. A dry bitter fruited first hit. A malty bitterness rising up. My second pint of it was my last as it literally ran out after that and only came on, on Friday and so was clearly a hit with other real ale drinkers too! Served in good form to the very end literally. See my entry dated 2nd October 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
04 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Ran out soon after mine |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | In OK condition. Very limited head |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Just came on at session end, saw only one pint poured with no head or lacing |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
03 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade for the last three quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Second night on and still on good form with very good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter. A dry hoppy first hit. A malty bitterness rising. A hoppiness reigning with the odd floral earthy note alongside its biscuity sweetness from its malts. Again, served in top form and so stuck rigidly to it. See my entry dated 2nd October 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Silent - Daybreak | 4.50 | Not Tried |
02 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of the regulars and the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 |  | Fresh on and presenting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter from brewing set up in 2010, bringing traditional copper boiling back with a modest four-barrel plant over at Whiteoaks on Tudeley Road, near Tonbridge, before in 2013 shifting to a bigger plant at the Brandbridges Industrial Estate in nearby East Peckham, and upgrading the gaff with a massive 20-barrel facility to keep the pumps flowing. A fresh sharp hoppy first hit on this bitter named after a bright reddish-copper hue that looks just like a polished Victorian boiler and sporting a lasting beige top that looks a regular treat under this micropub’s gas lamp-like dim electric lights. A fruited bitterness rising. A maltiness climbing in from a marry-up of British malted barley with a blend of Pale and toasted Crystal malts lending a biscuity base, while the Crystal malt throws down a dollop of toasted caramel sweetness for me and fermented with a strain of live yeast saved from the famous Barclay Perkins Brewery of Southwark which closed its brewing operations in the early 1970s. A hoppy bitterness prevailing from its quadruple foliage with four classic British varieties tossed into the kettle: Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. On their own, Northdown and Challenger aiding a sharp bitterness with a touch of pine while Fuggles lends a woody, earthy herbal note, and the Kentish Goldings behind a delicate floral spice and fruitiness. An aroma of fresh herbs, wild berries and peppered spice tantalising my taste buds. On my swallow, a robust hoppy finish that glides through the sweet grain. A lip-smacking crisp hoppiness lingering. Very thirst-quenching and served in top nick and so firmly stuck to it. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Silent - Daybreak | 4.50 | Not Tried |
01 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. 2nd night in a row ended on a bottle of Orval due to lack of a proper bitter on draught.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Fresh cask on today. Condition spot-on with full fruitiness but is it from fresh fruit or essence? |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Leap | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
30 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. With no proper bitter on draught nightcapped with a bottle of Orval.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Always a reliable brew |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Holding up well |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | Still around! |
| Elusive - Leap | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
29 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with just a table of regulars on parade and the very odd lesser spotted and where the fiddlers must have heard my impending entrance down the road as unusually deathly silent on my arrival for the last half an hour of serving without even the usual jukebox to be heard in the background.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Second night on and exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this East London brew’s bitter with a copper-amber complexion from Hackney and first set up in railway arch underneath Hackney Downs station in Hackney, East London, in 2013 before expanding in 2021 to a refitted warehouse at 61 Mare Street, Hackney. A slightly hoppy fruited first bite but not overly. A gentle bitterness rising from its trio of hops, Fuggles sourced directly from the award-winning Hukins Hops in Kent aiding an earthiness, alongside Challenger and Ernest. A grassy herbal freshness lasting for me from its hoppiness. A maltiness joining in aided by its Simpsons Low Colour Maris Otter barley, Wheat malt, Crystal Medium and Amber malt, giving it a rich, reddish-caramel hue alongside lending a rush of bready biscuit and a sweet caramel toffee touch. A hoppy fruited bitterness prevailing before its sailing down my gullet. Climaxing for me using a traditional London Ale Yeast lending a dry, lingering bitterness with a woody flavouring and an accompanying maltiness. Served in top nick. |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
29 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Argument over real value to asset owners of Burnham's care costs plans.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Probably Five Points's best ale. But seems to be no longer a single hop job (Fuggles or Goldings) but a mix of hops |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | | Lost something since Sunday |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 16 |
| 829 |
| 2240 |
| 770 |
 | 64 |
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 1823 times, seen 2058 different beers and tried 1227 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ