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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star |  | 2 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | | 1 |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw |  | 1 |
| Ossett - Ossett Blonde |  | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | | 3 |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | | 4 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Trip - Animal | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Nelson Revolution | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Old Skool | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Session Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Long Haul | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
02 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | 4.50 | | Condition good but in same old same old citrus. Where is the USP? |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | | Poured like a Shrove Tuesday pancake. So unappetising when like this |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Nelson Revolution | 5.50 | Not Tried |
01 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade among a few of the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on within minutes of this visit and good head and lacing to start with but not hanging on to it which is not usual for a new beer just tapped. A dry hoppy first hit on this Essex golden ale from Maldon. A gentle fruited hoppiness rising from its UK First Gold lending a hint of sweet tangerine, orange marmalade and zesty citrus for me alongside a touch of magnolia and US Mount Hood hops lending it herbal notes such as tarragon and sage, along with cedarwood and mild floral touches. A touch of a subtle honey-like sweetness winning over from its Maris Otter Pale Malts. A floral hoppiness prevailing before its descent downwards. Served in good form. |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third day on and still exhibiting head and lacing at first but not keeping it. A dry bitter first hit on this Tunbridge Wells-brewed bitter. A gentle fruited hoppiness rising with earthy spicy notes from its Fuggles hops and with berry and other dried fruit flavours emanating from its Bramling Cross hops. A maltiness winning over with a toffee-infused biscuity flavouring prevailing. A dry fruited bitterness sailing out. Past its best and so one sufficed for me. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Big Trip - Animal | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | 4.50 | Not Tried |
30 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with half the front drinking area of this micropub minus any customers for the last half an hour of serving whilst the other half had its regulars and a few lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | Fresh on and exhibiting some head and lacing but not keeping it which is very unusual for a freshly tapped beer. A hoppy first hit on this Tunbridge Wells-brewed bitter. A dry and gently fruited bitterness rising. A toffee-infused maltiness with a biscuity touch rising. A dry hoppiness prevailing with a hint of earthiness and spice from its Fuggles hops. A fruity note lingering on its descent and from its Bramling Cross hops lending subtle berry and other dried fruit flavours. Perhaps just a tad too fresh which is why its head and lacing was somewhat momentary on being first poured. It was though flavoursome with no off-flavours in its favour. |
| Ossett - Ossett Blonde | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Animal | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | 4.50 | Not Tried |
30 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Some straight talking across the table.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | Very earthy bitter fresh on today. Zesty mouth feel |
| Ossett - Ossett Blonde | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Animal | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | 4.50 | Not Tried |
29 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Another hottest day of the year!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Holding good condition |
| Ossett - Ossett Blonde | 3.90 | | Basic pale. Drank with hardly noticing |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Animal | 5.30 | Not Tried |
28 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with a mixture of regulars and the more occasional for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and good head and lacing but not totally staying on parade on this Maidstone-brewed Kentish pale ale. A hoppy first hit on this blonde-coloured pale originally brewed in 2008 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Goacher's Brewery. A gentle fruitiness rising with a zesty and floral touch. A hoppiness lingering from its single Kent Fuggles. A dry bitterness prevailing and lingering on the sailing out. Served in good nick but not overly hanging on to its lacing. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Third day on and still exhibiting a lasting head and lacing on this American Brown Ale from Thornbridge brewing in Bakewell and made in collaboration with Manchester’s Track Brewing. A dry malty first bite on this mahogany brown hued ale. A bitter maltiness rising from its Malted Barley and Oats. A malty, nutty and toasted caramelly sweetness joining in. Touches of chocolate, creamy toffee and dark bread crust flavours prevailing. Fruity notes of grapefruit citrus alongside resinous pine lingering. Its hoppy bitterness from its US West Coast hops: Centennial, Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook. Served still in good nick. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third day on now and little head and lacing evident and not keeping it on this Kentish session bitter from the Maidstone brewery set up in 1983. A dry hoppiness in its first bite. A fruity note bobbing up from its depths aided by its 100% whole Kentish hops. Its 100% malted barley minus any added sugars or artificial colourings lending a touch of biscuity maltiness. A shame it has gone from being so moreish to lacking conditioning on only its third day. Only one therefore sufficed. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | | Full on flavour so a slow drinker |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with regulars and the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and presented with lasting head and lacing on this English session bitter from Maidstone, Kent, where brewing was set up in 1983. A dry, mildly fruited first hit. A bitter fruitiness rising on this brew originally created by blending Goacher's Fine Light and Best Dark ales as a special for a local Maidstone pub. A hoppy bitterness prevailing from its 100% whole Kentish hops. A hint of biscuity maltiness joining in from its 100% malted barley minus any added sugars or artificial colourings before the sail downwards. Very moreish and served in fine fettle and so stuck with it apart from one dark ale to end on. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Also fresh on and served with a lasting head and lacing throughout on this American Brown Ale from Thornbridge brewing in Bakewell since 2009 and made collaboratively with Track Brewing, the latter in co-developing the modern recipe by applying their expertise into the contemporary hops used. Track launched in 2014 under a railway arch near Piccadilly station in Manchester and later moving to a larger warehouse and taproom on the Piccadilly Trading Estate. This mahogany brown hued ale has been brewed using Thornbridge's historic Burton Union brewing system in Derbyshire, and which is an interconnected wooden barrel fermentation system rescued from Carlsberg Marston's that uses gravity and a series of pipes to continuously circulate fermenting beer while naturally separating out excess yeast. A mildly fruited first bite. A dry bitter maltiness rising from its Malted Barley and Oats with a malty, nutty and toasted caramelly sweetness mixed with chocolate, creamy toffee and dark bread crust flavours. Fruity notes of grapefruit citrus alongside resinous pine climbing up with a hoppy bitterness derived from its US West Coast hops including Centennial, Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook. Served in excellent nick. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close and a very relaxed kick out.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Brown Ale (collaboration with Track) | 5.60 | | Good hearty brown with lingering flavour |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | OK but uninspiring |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Sweet Caroline | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried |
25 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with a mix of regulars and the lesser spotted for the last 45 minutes of serving and minus the World Cup which had dominated for the past month every Saturday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | | Second day on and presenting good head and lasting lacing on this American Pale Ale from the Peterborough-based brewery in Cambridgeshire from 1998 having relocated from Oakham, Rutland, where it was set up in 1993. Very amber coloured and so resembling a typical bitter. A dry bitterness in fact on the first hit. A malty note joining in aided by its Malted Barley lending a gentle sweetness and its amber colouring. A fruity floral hoppiness prevailing from its blend of two prominent hop varieties from the Yakima Valley in Washington State, Amarillo lending spicy and citrusy notes, and Summit behind its powerful bitterness for me. A hint of gooseberries, grapefruit and tropical fruit as well as marmalade and even honey on its sailing out for my taste buds with a bitterness lingering and described by the brewery "as sharp as a Macaw's screech". Served in good nick and as also recommended by fellow regulars in before me. |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried | Hanging on since Tuesday, five days ago. |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Long Haul | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 789 |
| 2175 |
| 725 |
 | 63 |
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 1751 times, seen 2028 different beers and tried 1194 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ