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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Maris the Otter |  | 1 |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | | 2 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale |  | 3 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 2 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | | 5 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 1 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | | 1 |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Penpol | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
03 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Holding up well |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | Held reasonable head and lacing |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | New cask on today - a winter classic |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Now tiring |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Lively evening for last half an hour of serving with some of the hardened on brigade among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 |  | Fresh on with a creamy head and lasting in sticking to the sides of the glass. A very malty bitter first hit on this Maidstone-brewed barley wine of an old ale and produced by this brewer since the winter of 1983. A fruity sweetness with a tangy marmalade flavouring rising. Its maltiness exhibiting a dark fruity note aided by the odd red berry in on the mix lingering before its final paddling out with a black treacle hint. |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Now its third night on and still pulling a punch and presenting a good head and lacing. A dry bitter first hit on this bitter from near Farnham, Surrey, and named after the village of Tongham. An unmistakable maltiness rising before its hoppy sweetness wins over from its Fuggles hops. A definite fruitiness paddling out. As moreish as Sunday so again stuck to it but for a mere Goacher's 1066 Old Ale. |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | As yesterday - unchanged |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | | Exactly as yesterday's - flavoured but flat |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
30 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Sunday regulars and the hardened for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Fresh on today and presenting a very good head and lacing and hanging on like a limpet to the sides of the glass. This Surrey bitter, west of Guildford, near Farnham and named after the village of Tongham, had a dry bitter first hit. A sweet malty note climbing from its English malted barley. A hoppy sweetness winning over aided by its Surrey-grown bittering hop, Fuggles. A malty fruitiness joining the paddle out. Very moreish and so stuck to it on this visit. Hogs Back Brewery launched in 1992 and took over the brewing of Exmoor Ales' core range from May 2025. Also a great fan of Exmoor Ales which delivered their polypins to me during the 2020 lockdown. |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | Not Tried |
30 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | New on today. Fresh but good |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | | Needed condition to carry off the heavy body but it had none. Quite flat |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
29 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Saturday regulars among the hardened for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | | This bitter, brewed in York's city centre near the River Foss, was fresh on today but perhaps not hugely supped as Charlton FC were away, losing 3-1 to Coventry. It came with a head but did not last. A sweetish bitter first hit with biscuit, caramel and toffee flavourings. A dry bitterness rising aided by four different varieties of new world hops. A toasted malty note rearing up from its five different malts but a dry bitterness winning over and sliding down. It lacked the conditioning it might well have presented on the Sunday and following going all the way through its second fermentation. |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | Not Tried |
27 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with many a regular dotted about among the more occasional for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | This was very fresh on by all accounts as another customer at the bar was recommending the New Bristol Bitter which had just gone. This Maidstone-brewed pale amber bitter therefore did come with very good head and its attendant lacing lasted well throughout. A fresh hoppy first hit. A dry moreish hoppiness rising on the palate with the occasional hoppy bitter note emerging and all aided by its East Kent Goldings, lending it hints of honey, fresh herbs and spice, and WGV (Whitbread Goldings Variety) hops, the latter lending it earthy, herbal and floral flavours. A dry hoppiness sailing downwards and very moreish and so stuck to it. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Just ran out. |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
27 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | New cask on today. Basically good |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Virtually last out of the cask |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
26 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close, after packhorseing London Drinker magazines to site.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Basic citrus bore |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Some loss of condition since Monday's |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 715 |
| 1881 |
| 577 |
 | 46 |
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 1488 times, seen 1889 different beers and tried 1107 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ