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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | | 2 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | | 2 |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | | 2 |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | | 1 |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | | 4 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Crusade | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Cain and Abel | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Otter Chaos | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Sun City | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
17 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | | Same as yesterday's |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a table or two of the hardened in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | 3.80 | | Second beer of this visit: Also fresh on and presenting lasting head and lacing on this Kentish session pale ale from this independent microbrewery set up in 2010 at Stour Valley Business Park, Ashford Road, Chartham, and just outside Canterbury. A fruited first hint. A touch of wild floral hoppiness rapidly rising emanating from its Ernest Kentish hops behind its apricot and citrus notes, and New Zealand hop, Green Bullet, lending a crisp bitterness. A fruited hoppiness paddling out and balanced by its local floor-malted barley. Served in very good nick with plentiful conditioning throughout. |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | | First beer of this visit: Fresh on and presented with a very good creamy head and lacing on this Maldon brewed black stout and where brewing moved to in 2001 having first been set up in 1996 in Brentwood, Essex. A dry malty first hit with hints of espresso coffee and dark chocolate. A smoke-infused bitterness rising from its UK First Gold and US Cascade with dark fruits emerging. A dry malty bitterness emanating from its floor-malted Maris Otter, flaked barley, roast barley and oats, sliding downwards. Good conditioning but struggling to keep its head and lacing some minutes in. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. All the usual suspects.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | | A pot pourri of 5.2% flavours. Never really grew on me |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 |  | Soon went flat in glass |
| Siren Craft - Fashionably Late (collaboration with Steam Town) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | Not Tried |
15 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A Charlton FC home game mid-afternoon, the first of the season, had managed to shift more beers than had been possible in a week with some thirsty fans in earlier in the day. A good few regulars in including the Saturday brigade for the last three-quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | Second beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a healthy head and lacing throughout on this Bermondsey-based bitter from a brewing operation set up 2013 in Bermondsey, where their original taproom, The Arch House, still operates in the Bermondsey Beer Mile, before moving in 2020 their main brewing to a larger facility in Croydon. This special-edition beer, Oak (Oaked Bitter), was launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary London craft beer pub, The Rake, in Borough Market. A very fruited first kick with touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow and woody spice all hitting my taste buds. A lively hoppy crisp bitterness rising from its all-British hop line-up consisting of Admiral behind its bitter flavours, Ernest behind its new-world fruitiness with hints of apricot, citrus and spice, and Bramling Cross lending an earthy, blackcurrant flavouring. The toasted oak chips used during the brewing process lending it flavours of the tannins which are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, seeds, bark, wood and fruit skins. Its crystal malt lending it touches of caramel and toffee from its malted barley among its maize. Served in very good nick but perhaps just a touch too fresh on. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | First beer of this visit: This Peterborough-based jet-black mild on its third day on presented only momentary head and lacing. A dry malty bitter first bite. A mildly fruity bitterness rising from its New World hops. Hints of coffee, caramel and chocolate from its floor-malted grain, including black malt and roasted varieties. A touch of treacle and sweet malty milk to my mind. One sufficed as now nearly at the end of its third day on, lacking its earlier conditioning and mouthfeel. |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | 4.50 | Not Tried |
14 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A rare Friday appearance for me but the hot weather aided my late evening outing alongside the mild which I highly enjoyed the evening before. A sprinkling of regulars including the Friday club devotees for the last half an hour of serving and good banter ensued.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | Second day on and its frothy head had sadly gone but head and lacing still lasting on this Peterborough-based jet-black mild. Its brewery is so-named because Oakham was where it was established in 1993 in Rutland. It relocated its main brewing operations to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in 1998. A first hit of dry malty bitterness. Its New World hops behind a subtle fruitiness. Its maltiness winning over with coffee, caramel and chocolatey flavours and rising from its floor-malted grain, including black malt and roasted varieties. A very subtle treacle and sweet malty milk flavouring emerging. Very moreish from not being overly fruited in the least. Still in good nick but losing some of its conditioning from the day before. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sun City | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | Not Tried |
13 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of regulars on parade and the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | Fresh on and a very good frothy head and lacing presented on this Peterborough-based jet-black mild and whose brewery is still called Oakham as it was established there in 1993 in Rutland, but which relocated its main brewing operations to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in 1998. A first hit of dry bitter maltiness. A riot of New World hops flavours lending a fruitiness that does battle for supremacy with its heavy malt base. Coffee, caramel and chocolatey flavours all emanating from its blend of premium floor-malted grain, including traditional black malt and roasted varieties aiding its black colouring and flavourings. A touch of treacle and sweet malty milk making it very moreish. On top form for its flavours, appearance and mouthfeel. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | Not Tried |
13 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Low footfall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | Unbelievably an Oakham non lemon juicer. New cask on today. Fresh tasting with good head and lacing. I then moved off cask to a bottle of Westmalle |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | Unbroken run |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | | Very pale in hue. Condition fair to good but little taste made this a slow drinking ale |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | May last forever |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | Not Tried |
11 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A cacophony of fiddlers out the back and a few of the hardened out the front for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | This Kentish Session IPA, from brewing south-west of Canterbury near Chartham, was now witnessing its third day on and its head and lacing whilst not as prolific as the day before was still in evidence. A fruity hoppy first note. A hoppy oiliness rising from its East Kent Goldings hops behind its earthy, honey-infused sweetness, and Jester hops from West Kent behind an array of tropical fruit flavours. A toffee bitterness lingering from its malted barley and a combination of local and international malt. Slightly less conditioning than the day before but still hanging onto its head and lacing. |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Glass Mountain | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | Not Tried |
10 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the usual regulars on parade for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on for this Kentish Session IPA, from brewing south-west of Canterbury near Chartham, and still exhibiting very good head and lacing. A fruity hopped first hit. An earthy, honey-infused sweetness from its East Kent Goldings hops, while its West Kent-sourced Jester coming up with berry flavours for me and an array of tropical fruit flavours. I welcomed its resinous oily hoppiness reminding me of the green hop season from September. A nuttiness rising from its malted barley. Its combination of local and international malts giving rise to its toffee infusions alongside a bitterness prevailing in its downwards passage. Again served in very good nick with lasting lacing and conditioning. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Made Glorious Summer (collaboration with Brasserie de la Senne) | 5.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on was this Derbyshire Belgian pale and a collaboration between Thornbridge Brewery, set up in 2005 on the grounds of Thornbridge Hall near the village of Bakewell within the Peak District, and Brasserie de la Senne, a critically acclaimed Brussels-based brewery, famous for pioneering a return to traditional, bitter and intensely yeast-forward session beers. No head and lacing was evident beyond it being first served. Initially fermented using the historic and resurrected Burton Union system and said to be the world's only operational set of the traditional interlocking wood-cask fermentation troughs which circulates fermenting beer to naturally separate yeast to produce a crisp finish. A tropical-fruited first hit. A hoppiness rising among its dominant fruit flavours including citrus and lychee from its English Jester and Slovenian Celeia hops. For me white wine resinous flavours prevailing. Its collaboration with Belgium's Brasserie de la Senne demonstrated by the use of Continental Pilsner malt, African Fonio grain of rare West African heritage behind its tropical/lychee notes, alongside oats and unmalted wheat. Hoppy floral hints joining in before sliding downwards. Served perhaps too early before its second fermentation has fully taken place to explain the lack of head and lacing. |
| Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cain and Abel | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Otter Chaos | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Crusade | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 799 |
| 2190 |
| 740 |
 | 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 1771 times, seen 2036 different beers and tried 1205 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ