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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Above Average J.O.E. |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pale Ernest | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter |  | 2 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | | 2 |
| Iron Pier - The Importance of Brewing Ernest | | 1 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Phipps NBC - Cobbler's Ale | | 3 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 2 |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Distant Fog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Whispering Trail | Not Tried | 0 |
| Front Row - Props Apprentice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - First Gold & Columbus Joined at the Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - First Gold & Columbus Joined at The Hop - | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - West Coast IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - World Hop Series - France - pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
05 Apr 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Bank holiday weekend Sunday light footfall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - Cobbler's Ale | 4.00 | | OK but rather bland |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Above Average J.O.E. | 4.00 | | Did not find this hop forward as promised |
| Milestone - West Coast IPA | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Props Apprentice | 4.50 | Not Tried |
05 Apr 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall no doubt reflecting the great Easter escape (derived from The Great Escape, a World War II film directed by John Sturges and featuring Elmer Bernstein’s iconic musical score, and the motorcycle jump stunt performed by Bud Ekins standing in for Steve McQueen) with a notable Sunday regular absent and so just a table and a half of the hardened for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - Cobbler's Ale | 4.00 | | Now its third day on but still exhibiting a good head and lacing and lasting on this East Midlands' Northampton Brewery Company's golden amber-coloured bitter. From the day before, its caramelised but dry bitter first hit continuing. Its biscuity and toffee-infused sweetness still rising before its malty bitterness wins over. A dry hoppiness persisting from its fruited English hops before its slide out with biscuity notes to aid it. Still quaffable but slightly less conditioning than on the previous evening. |
| Milestone - West Coast IPA | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Above Average J.O.E. | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Props Apprentice | 4.50 | Not Tried |
04 Apr 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with just a sprinkling of the Saturday regulars in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - Cobbler's Ale | 4.00 | | Second day on for this East Midlands' Northampton Brewery Company's golden amber-coloured bitter, based on a historic recipe from the 1930s that was conceived as a tribute to Northampton’s local shoe-making industry. Here exhibiting superb head and lacing and lasting the whole way. A very fresh hoppy first hit suggesting it could almost be fresh on and with pronounced caramel and candied orange notes with hints of roasted malt. A dry bitterness prevailing with a hint of sweetness such as butterscotch from its biscuity and toffee-infused sweetness. A malty bitterness winning over its sweetnesss from its darker standard malts characteristic of pre-WWII session beers. A moreishly dry hoppiness lingering from its traditional English hops lending a hoppy fruitiness. Its biscuity notes playing out. Very quaffable and served in top notch condition! |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series - France - pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Distant Fog | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Above Average J.O.E. | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Props Apprentice | 4.50 | Not Tried |
02 Apr 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with some of the hardened on parade among a birthday gathering which filled the place up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on for this Ramsgate-brewed amber ale/session bitter* with its head lacing still lasting well. A lightly fruited hoppy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising aided by its Goldings and Fuggles hops. A dry bitterness winning over with a hint of maltiness from its crystal malt lending it a tangerine/amber colouring and a touch of sweetness to balance its heavy hopping. A good Kentish hoppy fruited note sailing out. Top notch and very quaffable. *Originally a one-off brew, it has become a year-round staple thanks to its popularity. |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third day on and only just hanging onto its head and lacing on being poured but not now lasting on this Tunbridge Wells-brewed porter. A dry hoppy first bite accompanied by a chocolatiness from its roasted grains. A rising dark fruitiness along with the odd hint of aniseed flavouring. Although not listed, it is likely that a mix of traditional and experimental hops were used to aid its bitter hoppiness. Smoked malts lending it a roasted and caramelised flavouring. A sweet fruity bitterness sailing out. A half sufficed as now on its third night; there was a loss of conditioning that aided its tasting when fresh on two days earlier. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - First Gold & Columbus Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
02 Apr 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. 70th birthday celebrations here made for a noisy large crowd.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | First full day on tap - good condition that dissipated as pint went down |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Tired after a few days on |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - First Gold & Columbus Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
31 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A table and a half of hardened regulars out the front among a few of the lesser spotted alongside the fiddlers out the back for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting superb head and lacing and lasting on this Tunbridge Wells-brewed porter. A dry bitter first hit with a dark fruitiness as in prune alongside aniseed flavouring. While specific hop varieties are not detailed, Pig & Porter generally uses a mix of traditional and experimental hops and so here providing a bitter hoppiness balancing the creamy head it came with. A roasted maltiness aided by its smoked malts lending it caramelised flavourings with hints of dark chocolate and roasted grains. A fruit-infused bitterness sliding downwards. Very moreish but a half sufficed on this visit following the Iron Pier Bitter. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third night on now and this bitter from the Northfleet-based brewery just outside Gravesend still exhibiting its good head and lacing and nearly lasting all the way. The odd decant needed on a pint and a half ordered before close. A fruited hoppy bitter first hit. A dry bitter hoppiness rising from its English hops, First Gold, East Kent Golding and Admiral. A very pronounced bitter maltiness winning over from its malt mix including Maris Otter lending it honey and toffee notes. A fruity hoppiness with its hints of orange and plum playing out. On better form than when first presented on Sunday evening following its launch just before my visit then as has had time to settle in. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - First Gold & Columbus Joined at The Hop - | 3.80 | Not Tried |
30 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | First day on, perhaps a little fresh but hit the mark |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pale Ernest | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - The Importance of Brewing Ernest | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last 40 minutes of serving with the remnants of a large party of people out the front, mostly preferring to stand. The hardened regulars were in among them and seated around this party’s coats draped all over the guvnor’s highchairs and benches.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on for this Northfleet-brewed stout from just outside Gravesend with its creamy head and lacing lasting most of the way down the glass. A smokiness on its first bite. A dry bitter maltiness dancing on my taste buds from its Maris Otter, Brown, Amber, Roasted Barley, Black, Chocolate, and Dextrin, making it a mix of 7 different malts. A hint of caramelised sweetness and a touch of vanilla in its flavourings. That same dry hoppiness from its Admiral and First Gold hops paddling out. Still in good condition and a pleasure on my palate to sup. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Very fresh on as in a little before I arrived according to a fellow regular and on this bitter from the Northfleet-based brewery just outside Gravesend. Good head and lacing and almost lasting to the end. A fruited bitter first bite with hints of orange and plum. A hoppy note rising from its spicy English hops, First Gold, East Kent Golding and Admiral. A splash of maltiness from its malt mix including Maris Otter with honey and toffee flavourings winning over. A dry bitter floral note paddling out. Presented in top form. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pale Ernest | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - The Importance of Brewing Ernest | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Loud request night music blaring.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pale Ernest | 3.70 | | OK but no real USP. |
| Iron Pier - The Importance of Brewing Ernest | 4.20 | | Nothing like its tasting notes. Hazy and no condition. Real chore to finish |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried |
28 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 45 minutes of serving with lots of small groups in, both front and back, and a few of the Saturday regulars and hardened also on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on today was this Northfleet-brewed stout from just outside Gravesend and presenting very good head and lacing with a cappuccino-style creamy top but not overly lasting. A dark fruited maltiness on the first hit from its 7 different malts. Chocolate and coffee bean aromas rising and inspired by traditional Victorian stout recipes. Subtle hints of sweet vanilla. A dry hoppiness winning over from its Admiral and First Gold hops before its descent. Served in good nick and very moreish to my taste buds. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still exhibiting a very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this clear, amber-coloured Kentish bitter from Chartham, 3 miles south-west of Canterbury city centre. A malted hoppy first hit. A very dry malty bitterness rising with a subtle sweetness from its blend of malts including honey malts. A prevailing hoppiness from local varieties such as East Kent Goldings on the slide downwards. Certainly, no fruits harmed in its making as barely a trace of fruitiness. Still in tip-top condition and very quaffable. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Whispering Trail | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pale Ernest | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - The Importance of Brewing Ernest | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 754 |
| 2037 |
| 658 |
 | 58 |
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 1627 times, seen 1963 different beers and tried 1156 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ