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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| 360° - Bluebell Sussex Best Bitter |  | 2 |
| Attic - Quarter |  | 1 |
| Elusive - Sunset Oregon Trail | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale |  | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 2 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 3 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | | 1 |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | | 3 |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | | 1 |
| Vocation - Golden Ale (collaboration with Fierce) | | 1 |
| 360° - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| 360° - Tacoma | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - XPA (Extra Pale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Kohatu | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| North - Vanishing Point | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Belma | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - White Rat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two Flints - Santiago | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
19 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a sprinkling of Thursday night regulars on parade for the last half an hour of serving alongside the lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third night on and now not displaying a good head with its lacing unable to last on this bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, Kent. A dry bitterness to kick off with. A fruity hoppiness rising from its local Kentish varieties such as Goldings and Fuggles used but now with a sharpness emerging but not quite vinegar yet. Still hints of dark fruits with a subtle sweetness from its caramel malt. A dry hoppiness lingering. Certainly not in the same condition as when presented two nights earlier. |
| Vocation - Golden Ale (collaboration with Fierce) | 4.60 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fourth night on and not a lot of head and with its lacing not lasting on this golden ale from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, and made in collaboration with Fierce Beer, located in Aberdeen, Scotland. A sweet fruity first bite. Flavours of orange zest and marmalade rapidly rising with floral hoppy hints and derived from its selection of British-grown hops. A late addition of Olicana hops, a British variety developed in the UK as part of the Charles Faram Hop Development Programme*, in the brewing process was made to deliver its specific notes of orange zest and marmalade. A tropical fruit or two most definitely exploding on the palate. A lingering hint of mango for me. Not really my cup of tea but it added a bit of excitement after the equally tired condition of the Old Skool bitter. Brewed with honey and selected hops, it also uses Roots Revival malts to champion UK regenerative farming in sourcing a climate-conscious variety in partnership with Paul's Malt to support soil health and biodiversity. *The Charles Faram Hop Development Programme was established in 2009 and is a breeding initiative aimed at creating sustainable, agronomically sound British hop varieties with "New World" aroma profiles. Olicana was released commercially in 2014 and developed to provide intense, tropical hop characters such as mango and grapefruit that are traditionally associated with American or Southern hemisphere hops but here using UK-grown plants. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Quarter | 4.50 | Not Tried |
18 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attic - Quarter | 4.50 | | English hopped tasty bitter |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seashore Blues | 4.00 | | Golden Ale which soon went flat in the glass |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Golden Ale (collaboration with Fierce) | 4.60 | Not Tried |
17 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for my extended late evening visit due to the midnight extended closing time to accommodate Charlton FC playing at home, losing 1-3 against Portsmouth. Some of the fans who attend this micropub therefore had extra time along with everyone else to sup after the late evening finish of the game. A good beer for me made this all the more worthwhile!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Fresh on and displaying very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this traditional bitter so-named from Birling, north of West Malling, Kent. A dry bitterness to kick off with. A fruity hoppiness from local Kentish varieties such as Goldings and Fuggles rising through my open goal with hints of dark fruits such as plum and fig colliding. A subtle sweetness from its caramel malt tackling well. A moreish hoppiness ending the game for my taste buds with a dry fruited hoppy note or two being sent off and whistling downwards. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Belma | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Golden Ale (collaboration with Fierce) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Quarter | 4.50 | Not Tried |
17 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight's extended close time due to Charlton Athletic home match nearby.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | All the bitterness of a traditional bitter. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | | Poured flat in glass. Lacking condition to enhance the strong flavour |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Tacoma | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Belma | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Golden Ale (collaboration with Fierce) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Quarter | 4.50 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Another Sunday evening visit for the last half an hour of serving and no sign of the quiz having returned from its inaugural January Sunday night and with just one more February Sunday remaining to test this one out. A mix of the usual Sunday regulars in and a few of the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on was this Birling-brewed bitter, north of West Malling in Kent, and a very good head on display with its lacing lasting all the way. A moreishly hoppy bitter first bite with hints of toasted bread crusts and biscuit. A fruited bitterness rising from its berry-fruits lending it a pleasant sweetness. A gentle herbal bitterness from its Goldings and Fuggles hops winning over. A honey-infused and spicy malty note from its variety of local malts sailing downwards. In very good nick and so mostly stuck to it apart from the ESB to end on. |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second night on and still displaying a very good head with its lacing clinging on, on this Hampshire extra special brew from Eastleigh, north of Southampton. A sweetened malty first bite with hints of stone fruit. A dark fruited hoppiness rising from its UK Goldings and fruit-filled Jester hops. This was balanced by a good helping of maltiness emanating from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate and wheat malts. A pleasant bitterness winning over before paddling downwards. Still perfectly palatable to me. |
| Ossett - White Rat | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out during this visit. |
| Kent - Kohatu | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - XPA (Extra Pale) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | 4.10 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | Good condition - basic bittering |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | Heavy ale with lots of maltiness |
| Ossett - White Rat | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Kent - Kohatu | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - XPA (Extra Pale) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Go With The Flow | 4.10 | Not Tried |
14 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with a sprinkling of Saturday regulars and the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This light brown Hampshire extra special brew from Eastleigh, a railway town north of Southampton, and from a micro-brewery which began brewing in early 2018, was fresh on and presented very good head and lacing and sticking to the glass to the end. Named in honour of the individual who was instrumental in establishing Eastleigh as a town after moving the railway works there, there was a very malty first bite. A touch of fruity sweetness rising with hints of stone fruit among its earthy bitterness and derived from its spicy Goldings and modern fruit-filled UK Jester hops. A blend of bitter maltiness from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate and wheat malts winning over with touches of caramel and toffee lingering. In perfectly good nick was this ESB and I think my first sampling from Steam Town Brew Co. |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | 1st beer of this visit: This Maidstone-brewed straw-coloured light session bitter* on its second day on presented still a very good head and lacing and lasting. A slightly fruited first hit. A gentle bitterness rising from its blend of WGV (Wye Gamma Variety) and East Kent Golding hops. A touch of lemon about it for my taste buds in its prevailing fruitiness before taking the final plunge downwards. Perhaps not my favourite of Goacher’s brews but served in good condition here. *Goacher's Brewery is a traditional, family-owned Kent brewery that has been operating since 1983 and uses 100% malted barley and whole Kentish hops for all its beers. |
| Ossett - White Rat | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - XPA (Extra Pale) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Sunset Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | Ran out during this visit. |
| North - Vanishing Point | 3.80 | Not Tried |
12 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with regulars and the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving. Of 6 ales on, 4 were citrus-infused. I steered without much persuasion to a traditional extra strong bitter ale exuding English hops and malt to keep my taste buds happy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Second day on for this brown-coloured extra special bitter from Maidstone and still with a very good head and its lacing sticking to the end. A fruity bitter first bite with touches of sweet caramel and hints of rum and raisin. A dry but lightly fruit-infused bitterness from dark fruits climbing up. A not overly malty note winning over with biscuit and caramel flavourings from its crystal malt before its slide downwards. A moreishly dry hoppiness from its East Kent Golding hops lingering. All the better perhaps for its second day on although was not in the day before to compare. Perfectly palatable to my taste buds and so stuck to it. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Sunset Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried |
12 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elusive - Sunset Oregon Trail | 5.80 | | Tasty well balanced brew |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Not at its best at all. Last couple of times this has been on it has not tasted right |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | Not Tried |
10 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last half an hour of serving with the hardened regulars alongside members from a local club in after their meeting and the fiddlers out the back and the odd occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This Maidstone-brewed mild was also fresh on today and presented good head and lacing and lasting well in clinging to the glass to the end. A dry malty first hit. A gentle bitterness rising with a hoppy note climbing up from its Kent Fuggles. A malty finale lingering from its use of roasted black malts and chocolate malt. Thankfully not overly malted or chocolatey to make it a chore to drink and so still quaffable and not like a soup consistency. Its flavouring certainly belies its low gravity. Very moreish in fact! |
| 360° - Bluebell Sussex Best Bitter | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Had a sample and it tasted perfectly fine and so went for a pint of this Sussex Best bitter from originally Sheffield Park, on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, and next to the southern end of the Bluebell (heritage) Railway and some 5 to 7 miles north-west of Uckfield.* It presented a good head and lacing but not lasting. A dry malty first bite from its English malt. A dry bitterness rising with a good fruity hoppiness shining from its East Kent Goldings, Fuggles and Cascade hops and lingering. It became rather flat in appearance but managed another because it presented a good flavour. *The brewing operation has vacated its original Sheffield Park site (the "Bluebell" location) in July 2025 after the brewery deciding not to renew the lease and so the brewing has recently moved to a smaller but undisclosed location. |
| 360° - Bluebell Sussex Best Bitter | 4.30 |  | A 3rd offering of this bitter was rejected on the basis of its murkiness that was not present in the other two sampled. I was told it was at the end of its cask at this point and having just come on from the 4pm opening time. Clearly it was well liked by those in earlier. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two Flints - Santiago | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 737 |
| 1997 |
| 628 |
 | 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 1581 times, seen 1932 different beers and tried 1142 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ