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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Sea Salt & Chilli Stout |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter |  | 2 |
| Five Points - Best | | 1 |
| Five Points - Railway Porter |  | 2 |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | | 3 |
| Kent - Prohibition X | | 4 |
| Leatherbritches - Amarillo | | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Return of the King | | 2 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Ephemeris | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Hook Island Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Viva La Resolution - Golden Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Pendulum | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Amelia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Myco - pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
22 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a local club having moved in for their post-meeting social. The regulars were squeezed in around them.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Fresh on but not too fresh to be palatable with good head and lacing and lasting very well on this Berkshire-brewed bitter from north-west of Finchampstead and south-west of Wokingham. A dry bitter first hit. An ever so slightly fruity hoppiness springing up from its Cascade dry hops, lending it citrus and grapefruit flavours. Its bitterness winning over but doing battle with a malty presence rising with hints of biscuit and caramel. A moreishly dry bitterness sailing out and for me very palatable from this brewery founded in 2013. |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | 4th night on for this Birling-brewed American Pale Ale from north of West Malling in Kent and retaining some head and lacing. A fruity first hit. A fruit-infused dry hoppiness emerging from its double measure of modern US hop varieties, lending it grapefruit and bitter citrus touches. A fruity hoppiness running riot on my taste buds. Not quite my cup of tea and so only a half sufficed. It has been brewed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original Prohibition at 4.8% and packed with twice the hops and at the higher gravity of 6.8%. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Ephemeris | 4.50 | Not Tried |
22 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The enhanced crowd allegedly from local Labour Party activists.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Basic bitter with quite a malt flavour |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | Lost almost all condition now |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Ephemeris | 4.50 | Not Tried |
21 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Someone's 70th birthday here today.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherbritches - Return of the King | 4.20 | | Same as yesterday with good head. Ran out soon after |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | Just a little more hop flavour than yesterday' |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | Came on at very last knockings |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Ephemeris | 4.50 | Not Tried |
20 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Bit of a crowd in before me from a local Charlton Athletic league home match.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherbritches - Return of the King | 4.20 | | Lively head on this ale which was new on tonight |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | I did not detect the promised "double the hoppiness" |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Ephemeris | 4.50 | Not Tried |
18 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual Sunday regulars and a few of the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | The 2nd night on for this Maidstone dark ale and exhibiting a very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A malty bitterness in its first bite. A gentle bitter fruitiness rising with hints of biscuit and caramel. A moreish hoppiness winning over from its East Kent Goldings. A very malty mouthfeel lingering aided by its lashings of crystal malt. Not as fruity as when first sampled the evening before and more settled for that reason. A bit like drinking a heavy soup as taking noticeably longer than many a bitter usually since not quaffable due to its lasting maltiness. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | | Fresh on today with a good creamy head and lacing lasting on this Bermondsey-brewed porter. A fruity first hit. A dry bitterness rapidly climbing up. A slight maltiness emerging but nothing like the Goacher's Best Dark Ale. Just subtle hints for me of roasted coffee and chocolate lingering on. |
| Five Points - Hook Island Red | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Myco - pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
18 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Overly malty for Best Dark |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Porter | 6.70 | | New cask on today. Good condition but less of a powerful hitter than I expected |
| Five Points - Hook Island Red | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Myco - pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
17 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last hour of serving with some of the usual Saturday regulars, the very last remnants of the Charlton FC supporters literally on their way out of this tiny micro on my arrival, and a few of the lesser spotted as always who between them very rarely manage to miss a single day's trading. Charlton FC on this Saturday playing against another team in their own Championship league more fairly and won against Sheffield United 1-0.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on was this Maidstone-brewed extra special bitter and very much the better for it after its most recent earlier appearance and in the run-up to Christmas when not quite drinkable alongside another from the same brewer, a pale by all accounts, also on but which I managed to escape. Exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting. A malty bitter first bite. A hoppy fruited bitterness rising aided by its East Kent Golding hops. Hints of biscuit and caramel. A chewy maltiness emerging from its crystal malt not making it at all easily drunk in a race. A close-run contest between the hoppiness and maltiness but the malty notes for me the victor. A slightly fruity kick on its final passage out. |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: 3rd day on and still reasonable head and lacing but not lasting on this East London porter from Hackney. Still a smoky first bite. A good measure of maltiness rising. The odd roasted coffee note with caramel hints emerging. Still the red fruitiness assisted by its cocoa-powder and mocha (a coffee espresso with steamed milk and chocolate). Aided by its East Kent Golding hops, a good hoppy bitterness winning over and sailing out. |
| Five Points - Hook Island Red | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Pendulum | 3.80 | Not Tried | Expired during my visit. |
| Milestone - Pacific Islander | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Myco - pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
15 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with some of the hardened regulars in among the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Also fresh on and displaying very good head and lasting to the very end on this East London porter from Hackney. A malted and smoky first hit, and the latter smokiness any railway porter back in the steam days no doubt would have felt at home with! The merest hint of dark bitter chocolate rising in its maltiness from its seven, no less, different malts. Also a roasted coffee note climbing up with hints of caramel but not overly. A red-fruited, for me, flavouring aided by its cocoa-powder and mocha (a popular coffee drink made with espresso, steamed milk and chocolate) notes. A moreish hoppiness sailing out and admirably assisted by its East Kent Golding hops. Trust Friday's early opening does not mean it has been entirely supped before my next visit! |
| Leatherbritches - Amarillo | 4.50 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on this evening and head and lacing lasting superbly on this golden ale brewed in Smisby, north of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Derbyshire, and for anyone still lost, north-east of Birmingham. A dry bitter but ever so slightly fruited first hit. A healthy hoppiness rising from its Amarillo, and so-named as in this pale ale, and Jester hops. I did not get, thankfully, the hints of grapefruit, spice and tropical fruits that are reported to be a feature! A dry hoppy fruitiness paddling out but pleasingly, not over-fruited in the least! Very moreish so stuck to it apart from a porter to end on! |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | Now its fifth night on since Sunday and last sampled by me on its third night. |
| Park - Amelia | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
14 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | One of first out of new cask put on late evening. Condition good but strange backtaste which endeared it to no one sitting at my table |
| Anspach & Hobday - Sea Salt & Chilli Stout | 6.40 | | Flat as the proverbial pancake. Suggested taking it off further sale but no go |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Amelia | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Viva La Resolution - Golden Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
13 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a handful of regulars, a few fiddlers playing in the rear and the odd occasional in on the scene and for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Its third night on for this East London best bitter from Hackney and still presenting a head and lacing and lasting. I asked after its welfare and the barmaid kindly checked on its remaining lifespan and assured me there were still a good few pints to go. As each pint is poured, a clicker device to count what is remaining in each barrel is activated. A very bitter first hit but not quite as fruited as on Sunday when first on. A gentle touch of grassy, herbal flavouring competing with its maltiness rising with hints of biscuit and caramel. A dry bitterness sailing out with a hoppy note from its Kent Fuggles prevailing. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Amelia | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Viva La Resolution - Golden Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Sea Salt & Chilli Stout | 6.40 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 730 |
| 1955 |
| 615 |
 | 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 1550 times, seen 1911 different beers and tried 1127 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ