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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Bude Coastal - Cornish Black |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | | 3 |
| Kent - Swing Low | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody |  | 4 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Oakham - JHB | | 1 |
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | | 4 |
| Steam Town - Barton Bitter | | 3 |
| Steam Town - Bishop's APA | | 1 |
| 360° - Sussex Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| 360° - Triple Act | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Fillmore | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Westie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Phipps NBC - Supernova - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Guava Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Road Trip | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
03 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall again following Sunday's and for the last half an hour of serving. A trio of belated regulars just made it before the first bell and so in time for a second offering if so desired. The fiddlers were playing in their domain out the back and there was one table of the occasional in the front when I arrived.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 | | 2nd beer of the visit: Now its third day on for this ESB from Bristol and displaying a better head than the Phipps Red Star bitter. Its lacing also lasting better and just a single decant towards the end was called for. More of a malty first hit than a fruited first bite. A maltiness still evident from its caramel malt as was the case on Sunday. A malty fruitiness then rising with hints of orange peel among its spice from its East Kent Goldings mixed with US Cascade hops. A very dry bitter maltiness still on its descent and very much mirroring Sunday's sampling. Again, at 5.2% a mere half sufficed. |
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | 3.80 | | 1st beer of the visit: Now not so aptly named as on its fourth day on. It was no longer shining like a star on this red-coloured bitter from Northampton. Only just exhibiting a head. Its lacing was not lasting very well at all and so needed a few decants on the second offering of this. Still a very dry bitter, malty first bite. A biscuity sweetness rising. A dark cherry-infused fruitiness mixed with the odd red berry but not sweet-tasting. Its maltiness still hanging on from its rye and traditional mild ale malts. A very dry malty bitterness on the descent. No acidic attack on me again as was also the case on Sunday. A shame now on its fourth day as noticeably less conditioning. No longer is it asking you to try another according to my taste buds. |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Bishop's APA | 4.80 | Not Tried |
02 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Bishop's APA | 4.80 | | Rather unsure what this beer was supposed to be |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 | | Tiring since yesterday's |
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | 3.80 | | Good condition - very malty |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 | | Overly malty quite sweet chestnut ale |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | | Low on condition. No real USP |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Westie | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Phipps NBC - Supernova - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
01 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for a change of recent visits for the last half an hour or so of serving. A few of the hardened regulars in among a few transitory additions. Two superbly good beers sampled and minus the acidic attacks that many leave me with.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 |  | 2nd beer of the visit: Fresh on today and displaying a very good head and with a lacing lasting all the way on this ESB from Bristol. A sweetly fruited first bite from its caramel malt. A good malty bitterness rising and in continuing the theme from the Phipps' Red Star. A fruited note winning over with hints of orange peel among its spice from its East Kent Goldings mixed with US Cascade hops. A dry malty pleasurable and lingering exit. Very moreish and in superb form but at 5.2% a mere half sufficed. |
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | 3.80 | | 1st beer of the visit: Aptly named as on its second day shining like a star on this red-coloured bitter from Northampton. Exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting well still. A very dry bitter mixed with a malty first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising. A subtle hint of fruitiness ably assisted by its dark cherry fruit and the odd red berry thrown in for good measure but not in the least sweet to my taste buds. A bitter-tinged maltiness prevailing from its rye and traditional mild ale malts. A moreish dry bitterness sailing out. One of those rare evenings where the fruitiness of pales or IPAs which I did not sample at all on this visit did not therefore work their acidic attack on me. I would highly rate this ale as better for its second day on. Very quaffable and moreish. You actually desire another is the point and plus! |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Westie | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Phipps NBC - Supernova - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
28 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall for the last 40 odd minutes of serving with almost everyone out the front tucking into pizzas so sat out the back, in the domain of the Tuesday night fiddlers, alongside one other of the more occasional regulars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | 3.80 | | 1st beer of the visit: Fresh on was this Northampton-brewed bitter and exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting well from this 2014-launched reincarnation of a brewery officially called Phipps NBC (Northampton Brewing Company) and now known for reviving heritage ales and stouts in a restored Victorian brewhouse. A very dry bitter first hit. A hedgerow fruity bitterness rising with hints of many a red berry and aided by the addition of a dark cherry fruit. Its malty notes winning over aided by its rye and traditional mild ale malts, lending it a sweeter taste than the average modern bitter. Certainly not in the least too sweet for my taste buds despite a honey malt aroma present. A dry bitterness prevailing alongside a hoppiness* waving on the sailing downwards. *While specific hop names like Fuggles or Goldings are often used in Phipps' other traditional recipes like Chesters Pale, the brewery generally describes the Red Star hop blend as "traditional" and with no further detail added. A tad fresh perhaps and so may be even better the following day! |
| Bude Coastal - Cornish Black | 4.50 | | 2nd beer of the visit: Also fresh on but displaying very little head and losing its lacing very rapidly on this Cornish-brewed stout from a family-run microbrewery set up in 2024 in Bude, a coastal town located in the northern most part of Cornwall. A very malty first hit derived from its roasted malts*. A somewhat washed-out fruitiness rising with just the merest suggestion of the odd blackcurrant. A decant of this could barely resurrect any semblance of head or lacing. Without much conditioning at all. Perhaps just two fresh still to be at its best. *Its likely malts are Chocolate Malt lending it notes of cocoa and dark chocolate, Crystal Malt giving it a sweetness to balance the roast and Maris Otter. |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Westie | 5.50 | Not Tried |
26 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with the regulars on parade among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Barton Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now the third night on for this bronze-to-amber-coloured Hampshire bitter from the Eastleigh-based and 2017-launched microbrewery, 5.5 miles north of Southampton town centre. Still presenting a good head. The lacing was lasting all the way to the end with the odd decant or two. A fruited first hit. A very dry malty bitterness rising derived from its Maris Otter malt. A definite toasted brown bread flavouring still emerging and from first sampling on Tuesday. A slightly citrusy and marmalade-infused hoppiness winning over aided by its First Gold and Goldings hops. Still that same malty bitterness dancing on my palate before sailing out with a spiciness alongside fruity hints including red berries. A dry malty hoppiness prevailing in the aftertaste. Not as lively as Tuesday but still in good form so stuck to it apart from one further sampling of the porter still on from Sunday. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | 5.30 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Now its fifth night on but spotted a fellow regular downing this and so gave this Kentish porter from just south-west of Canterbury, at Chartham, another go. Still full of its flavours but as you would expect, now minus much of its former creamy head. A head nevertheless presented and its lacing lasting almost with the aid of a few decants. Still that dry malty note on its first bite from its Maris Otter malts. Its single Kazbek hops from the Czech Republic presenting a hint of pineapple, passion fruit, peach and watermelon to delight my taste buds. Its maltiness winning over with subtle chocolatey notes derived from its chocolate rye alongside hints of toffee, raisins and red berries from its caramel and crystal rye. Still that same dry bitterness prevailing as on Sunday when first tried and on its sailing downwards. Surprisingly still good for so many days on but without much of that lively conditioning it first came with. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Sussex Blonde | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Road Trip | 4.60 | Not Tried |
26 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | What a transformation from yesterday's fresh tasteless GD. This had developed a lovely tang and flavour |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | 5.30 | | 5th day on and tired |
| Steam Town - Barton Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Sussex Blonde | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Road Trip | 4.60 | Not Tried |
25 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | First day on - fresh. Had much better |
| Steam Town - Barton Bitter | 4.00 | | OK albeit many strange tastes |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | 4.10 | Not Tried |
24 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with the hardened regulars, the lesser spotted and not forgetting the fiddlers out in the rear seating area.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Barton Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on was this bronze-to-amber-coloured Hampshire bitter from the Eastleigh-based microbrewery, 5.5 miles north of Southampton town centre, and set up in 2017. Very good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A bitter but fruity sweetness in its first bite. A biscuity maltiness rising from its Maris Otter malt, alongside its Crystal and pale malts, lending it a toasted brown bread flavouring and the odd roasted chestnut thrown in. A hoppy fruitiness winning over aided by its First Gold and Goldings hops affording it citrus and marmalade notes with hints of apricot, strawberry and red berries. A markedly malty bitterness sailing out with a spicy hint; a dry hoppiness lingering. In top form in every way and so stuck to it despite hearing there was another new kid also on the block this evening. |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Fillmore | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | 4.10 | Not Tried | Fresh on but sounded rather too fruity for my taste buds! |
22 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Kazbek Rye Porter | 5.30 | | New cask on today. Reasonable head and lacing |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | Little condition and thin on flavour |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Fillmore | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Triple Act | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Guava Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 741 |
| 2007 |
| 637 |
 | 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 1593 times, seen 1944 different beers and tried 1146 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ