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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale |  | 2 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Boddingtons Cask | | 4 |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | | 2 |
| Oakham - Urban IPA Cask Aged | | 1 |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | | 1 |
| Phipps NBC - Red Star | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | | 3 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition |  | 2 |
| Tonbridge - Country Best | | 2 |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice | | 1 |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Velocity Valley | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Swing Low | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Steam Town - Bishop's APA | 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 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
12 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Good on taste, slight haze as always seems to be in Jaipur recently |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Boddingtons Cask | 4.00 | | Tiring a little. Rather a thin gruel version of a once full bodied ale |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Velocity Valley | 4.30 | Not Tried |
12 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Unusually busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving minus a late game of Charlton FC playing at home and with two full tables of regulars and a great many more of the not-seen-before brigade including a hairy, docile lurcher.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice | 5.90 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on today and displaying a welcome head and some lacing on this Hebden Bridge-brewed* chocolate-infused jet-black milk stout but not holding onto it for me to avoid a decant of it to waken it up in the half pint measure I ended on. Chocolate comes at you on the first bite unmistakeably with hints of roasted coffee, caramel and hazelnut to my taste buddies. Its roasted barley and dark crystal malt lending it coffee and biscuit flavourings alongside dark fruits like plum and fig, and aided by its extra pale and chocolate malts. Its lactose (milk sugar) aiding its general sweetness and an initial creamy-textured head. A malty chocolatey flavouring steering it on its downwards journey. Too sweet for me for more than a half but great to accompany a chocolate brownie if you just happen to have one spare. Should I bring such a brownie with me on my next visit? *Hebden Bridge is a picturesque market town located in the Upper Calder Valley of West Yorkshire which sounds good to visit if a real ale pub or two to be found and 8 miles west of Halifax if you need to get your bearings. |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Boddingtons Cask | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now its third day on but still exhibiting superb head and lacing and lasting the whole journey from being supped from a pint glass of this Boddingtons cask ale, relaunched in 2025 and now brewed at the Greengate Brewery in Middleton Junction, Greater Manchester.* A fellow regular relayed that it used to be called the “Cream of Manchester” and this sums up its recent reincarnation with a creamy foaming head! It would be truly wonderful if all bitters by their third day on had even half of the life of this one in terms of head and lasting lacing. Unlike its dry hoppy first hit two days earlier, now an unmistakably fruited but not sweet first bite. Still a gentle bitter hoppiness rising. Credit due to its Jester hops alongside traditional Goldings working their magic in the brewing. A citrusy fruity note somewhat now over-pronounced for my taste bud’s delectation. Still its hints of caramel and toffee. For me, not an old-fashioned enough hoppy tasting bitter to make it to stand out with the dry hopping notes in bitters I adore. Do not get me wrong, as its crystal malt is doing its stuff alongside the fruity notes of grapefruit. Perhaps it has been over-fruited in its reincarnation but again, do not get me wrong, as it was my pleasure in seeing it holding its life, head and lacing, and flavouring which has matured like a good Stilton from its first day on three days earlier. A hoppy bitterness still sailing out among its citrusy fruity notes. Moreish, yes, but not my own personal ideal bitter as it should be, as here over-fruited for my taste buds. *This marked the first time the cask version was brewed in Manchester since 2012 and at the city's oldest operating brewery, founded 1828, and located just miles from the original Boddingtons Strangeways site. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Centennial Valley | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Velocity Valley | 4.30 | Not Tried |
10 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The fiddlers were playing dutifully in the back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | Lively, zingy |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Boddingtons Cask | 4.00 | | New cask on late in evening. Very zingy mouthfeel but lacking serious body |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Slight haze and low on condition |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Tiring. OK on taste |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Tonbridge - Country Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Guava Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
10 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Especially busy footfall for the fiddlers out the back for the last half an hour of serving, and a good few hardened regulars noted out the front.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on this evening and exhibiting a very good head and lacing and lasting on this East Peckham-brewed Kentish blonde. A slightly fruited first hit. A hoppy bitterness winning over with touches of citrus and spicy flavours emanating from its combination of Kent-grown Challenger and First Gold hops. A dry fruited hoppiness sailing out. Presented in top condition. |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Boddingtons Cask | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Literally just on as I walked in as another customer was still finishing the last Tonbridge Country Best. A creamy head and lacing to die for and for the whole performance on this Boddingtons cask ale relaunched in 2025 and now brewed at the Greengate Brewery in Middleton Junction, Greater Manchester. This marked the first time the cask version was brewed in Manchester since 2012 and at the city's oldest operating brewery, founded 1828, and located just miles from the original Boddingtons Strangeways site. A dry hoppy first bite. A gentle bitter hoppiness rising aided by Jester hops alongside traditional Goldings. A fruity note tap dancing on my taste buds. A hint of caramel and toffee from its Crystal Malt alongside its fruity notes of grapefruit in on the act. A hoppy dryness sailing out. Very moreish indeed and so stuck to it but for a recommended half of a Tonbridge Blonde Ambition. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Guava Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
08 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Good head although quite thin body |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | | Poured flat. Chore to finish with its sour bittering |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | | Same as last time on a week or two ago - poured flat in glass with little life |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Country Best | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | 4.40 | Not Tried |
08 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last half an hour of serving, and minus our usual Sunday evening barman who plays, best he can, requested tracks in accordance with his set theme, with just a table or two of the regulars on parade among a couple of the odd occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on and still coming with a superb head and lacing and kept it until the very end did this Ramsgate-brewed oatmeal stout. A very dry but not overly malty first hit. A hoppy bitterness tinged with maltiness rising derived from its crushed malted oats, alongside its brown malt, to aid its creamy head. A gentle fruitiness climbing up assisted by its Kent-grown Fuggles hops. Perhaps the merest hint of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley joining in on the slithering downwards but not in the least overly pronounced. One of the best stouts for a while for me! |
| Tonbridge - Country Best | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still in excellent form was this Kent-based traditional amber-coloured bitter from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself. Very good head and lacing and lasting the whole performance in my glass. A moreishly dry bitter first hit. A hoppiness rising from its Kent-grown Fuggles and Pilgrim hops with ever so mildly fruited, floral and spicy notes. A not overly-done maltiness with gentle hints of caramel and toffee joining in for good measure. A markedly dry but pleasantly bitter hoppiness sliding out. Still in top form on its second day on. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Hop Cat Citra Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | 4.40 | Not Tried |
07 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with just a sprinkling of the Saturday regulars on parade among a few of the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Country Best | 4.00 | | First day on for this Kent-based amber-coloured traditional bitter from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself. Displaying a very healthy head and its lacing sticking to the glass the whole way. A hoppy bitter first hit. Its hoppiness climbing high. A gentle floral and spicy infusion mixed with hedgerow fruits such as the odd blackberry emanating from its Kent-grown Fuggles and Pilgrim hops. A gentle maltiness winning over with touches of caramel and toffee. A pleasantly dry bitter hoppiness paddling out. In top form in every way, to look at, to taste and the right sort of moreish mouthfeel. Many of the other Saturday regulars were also very taken by it. Interesting I should have had it so very recently in the Compass Ale House in Gravesend about an hour earlier where it seemed to taste slightly more sweet but just as good to my taste buds as here. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Heart of Taiheke | 4.40 | Not Tried |
05 Mar 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with a good few regulars alongside 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 the visit: Second day on and displaying a very good head and its lacing almost sticking to the glass to the very end on this Maidstone-brewed blend of Goacher’s Fine Light and Best Dark. A fruited bitter first bite. A lemony flavouring rapidly rising but its bitterness still pervading the mouthfeel with its hops sourced locally and likely to be the Whitbread Golding Variety, known for its floral and herbal flavours, and East Kent Goldings giving rise to a honey-like spiciness. Its 100% malted barley, Maris Otter, lending it a malty touch with hints of a biscuity sweetness derived from its Crystal malt giving it a caramel flavouring. A citrusy fruitiness doing battle with its bitter hoppiness, and the latter remaining in the aftertaste. Good but slightly too fruited for me but otherwise almost perfectly presented. Good to hear that there are no added sugars or artificial colourings and so making Goacher’s brews totally organic. |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 | | 2nd beer of the visit: Now its fifth day on for this ESB from Bristol and only a head now to start with and not hanging onto its lacing. A fruited first hit. Its caramel malt contributing to its hints of malty fruitiness. Its East Kent Goldings mixed with US Cascade hops lending it orange peel and spice flavourings. A malty sweet bitterness paddling out. One sufficed as it was now rather tired and thin on the mouthfeel. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Urban IPA Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | Came on to replace Steam Town's Bishop's APA. |
| Steam Town - Bishop's APA | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
05 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Urban IPA Cask Aged | 5.00 | | New cask on at session last knockings. A lively pint |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Slight haze |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 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 | Ran out |
| New Bristol - Bristolian Rhapsody | 5.20 | Not Tried |
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 |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 746 |
| 2015 |
| 644 |
 | 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 1602 times, seen 1949 different beers and tried 1148 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ