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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak |  | 6 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | | 1 |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | | 3 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Oakham - Interstate | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Southpaw IPA | | 1 |
| Craddock's - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Saffron Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Mohawk | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Killcat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Killcat Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
21 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last half an hour of serving with just a table and a half of regulars, another table of cribbage players and a few odd lesser spotted out the rear.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | 3.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this Maidstone-brewed green hop ale from brewing founded in 1983 at Hayle Mill, a former paper mill, in Tovil on the outskirts of Maidstone, Kent, before relocating the operations in 1990 to its current home at Tovil Green Business Park in Tovil. A dry crisp hoppy first hit from the freshly harvested, unkilned Kentish green hops that were added to the brew within hours of picking. An oily hoppiness rising from its primarily-used East Kent Goldings hops that did not have the time to dry out. A gentle malty touch emerging with flavours of toasted bread from its traditional malt. A marmalade-like sweetness joining the sharpness of the green hop in its descent. Served in top nick with a great mouthfeel. Very moreish and so another followed. |
| Oakham - Interstate | 4.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This amber ale from Peterborough was also on a few weeks ago and much enjoyed then. Following brewing first set up in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, it relocated to their main brewing operations in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Here on its first night exhibiting an exceedingly frothy head and lasting lacing. A dry but fruited first hit. A spicy hoppiness rising from its combination of three US hops, Chinook, Amarillo and Cascade, lending a very subtle tropical fruitiness. An orange and grapefruit bitterness taking centre stage. Just the merest hint for me of peach and passionfruit. A maltiness joining in from its Maris Otter lending a biscuity and nutty flavouring, its Wheat Malt aiding its head retention, and Medium Crystal Malt contributing a distinct toffee, caramel and sweet toastiness. A dry moreish hoppiness sailing out with spicy, earthy and pine resin flavours lingering. Served in top nick with plentiful conditioning. |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Killcat Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried |
20 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of regulars and the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still presenting very good head and lasting lacing. A dry sweetish bitter first hit. A malty caramel-infused bitterness rising. A hint of a ginger biscuit for me emerging. Served in better nick than the day before with more conditioning as a tad too fresh then. See my entry from the day before for the full details. |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on with a good creamy head and lasting lacing on this milk stout brewed at Birling Place Farm, Birling, Kent, north of West Malling, with the microbrewery set up in 2010. A sweet chocolatey first bite on this dessert-style sweet stout inspired by the viral "Dubai chocolate" trend. Its dark-roasted malt base with pistachio, chocolate, and lactose milk sugar contributing to its dessert-like sweetness for me. A dry hoppiness lending earthy and spicy touches and emanating from its traditional English hop varieties, Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. A dry, spicy malty bitterness lingering with a chocolatey sweetness prevailing with hints of nutty pistachio on its outflow down my whistle. Served still in good nick but far too sweet for me and so a half once again sufficed on its second night. |
| Park - Killcat Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried |
20 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 | | OK but one was enough |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | | Milk stout that did not live up to its glowing tasting notes |
| Park - Killcat | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried |
19 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last hour of serving with Saturday regulars and the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George | 4.20 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and presenting very good head and lasting lacing on this Essex Best Bitter from Maldon where the brewery has been since 2001 having first set up in 1996 in Brentwood, Essex. A malty bitter first hit on this copper to red-brown hued bitter. A biscuity maltiness rising up from its malted barley, featuring dark and rich malts with caramel flavours for me. Its hops behind hints of sage, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper. They are likely to be English Fuggles or Goldings known for imparting herbal, nutmeg and black pepper flavours and a touch of earthiness and spice rather than being the punchy, tropical citrus flavours found in New World varieties. A hoppy bitterness shining through. A malty honeyed sweetness with lingering hints of cinnamon biscuits sailing out. Served in good nick but a tad fresh methinks. |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on with very good head and lasting lacing on this milk stout from Birling, Kent, north of West Malling, with the microbrewery set up in 2010 in a farmhouse location at Birling Place Farm. A dry malted first hit on this dessert-style sweet stout inspired by the viral "Dubai chocolate" trend. A chocolatey and milky maltiness rising from its dark-roasted malt base alongside pistachio, chocolate, and lactose milk sugar lending it, its dessert-like sweetness. A hint of dry hoppiness shining through from the earthy and spicy traditional English hop varieties, namely Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. A chocolatey sweetness with hints of nutty pistachio contrasted with a dry, spicy malty bitterness lingering on its slide downwards. Served in very good nick but too sweet for me and so a half sufficed. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Killcat Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Mohawk | 4.40 | Not Tried |
17 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a few of the regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | The one and only beer of the visit: Now its fifth night on and so had my doubts but still with head and lacing but not now lasting on this bitter from brewing set up in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, where they still operate their taproom, The Arch House. The bitter though has followed their relocation to their main brewing operation in Croydon in 2020 and here brewed in the run-up to July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake. A very dry malty first hit with a bitterness rising. A hoppy appearance from its all-British hops, Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross, lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. A maltiness ruling with hints of caramel and toffee from its Crystal malt and joined by Clear Choice, Extra Pale, Maize and Flaked Barley. A very dry malty bitter outflow. Served in reasonable nick given its length of time on and when other recent bitters have literally gone in days. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Mohawk | 4.40 | Not Tried |
17 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Mellowed after a day on, better than yesterday's |
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | Still holding up well |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Craddock's - Cast Iron Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Mohawk | 4.40 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | Holding up well after a few days |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | First day of a new cask. Fresh - will likely condition better in a day or two |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | Keep on truckin' |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried |
15 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with the hardened on parade alongside the more occasional and the Tuesday fiddlers playing in full throttle for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third night on and still displaying good head and lacing and lasting on this bitter from a venture officially established in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, before relocating their main, larger brewing operations to Croydon in 2020 but leaving their taproom, The Arch House, still to operate on the Bermondsey Beer Mile. A dry hoppy first hit on this bitter launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake. A sweet, woody fruited hoppiness rising from its all-British hop line-up of Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. Its Clear Choice and Extra Pale malts, maize and flaked barley, joining in with caramel and toffee flavours from its Crystal malt. A very dry fruited hoppiness sailing out. Served in good order. |
| Two by Two - Southpaw IPA | 6.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fourth night on and lasting well aided by its extra gravity preserving it. Still some head on this thick, viscous American-style IPA brewed by Two By Two Brewing established in 2014, originally using a 5-barrel plant in Wallsend on Tyneside before in 2022 relocating to a larger brewing and taproom site in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. A hoppy first bite from being single-hopped using Citra hops. Its barley, wheat and oats contributing to its soft mouthfeel and unmistakable haze. A dominant citrus hoppiness prevailing with tropical fruit notes rising. Grapefruit, lime, orange and tangerine competing with its tropical mango, passion fruit and papaya. A touch of peach and apricot lingering for me from its tropical and citrus essential oil-infused hops. Served in good form if you like a fruity cocktail but overly fruited for me personally and so a mere half sufficed. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | 4.50 | Not Tried |
14 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | Same as yesterday's, full-on malt flavour |
| Anspach & Hobday - Citropolis | 4.50 | | Rather wishy-washy Citra dominated pale |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Southpaw IPA | 6.20 | Not Tried |
13 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual Sunday regulars on parade among a few of the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Oak | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: First night on and exuding a very good head and lasting lacing on this bitter from a venture launched officially in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London. Leaving their taproom, The Arch House, still to operate on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, they relocated their main brewing to Croydon in 2020. Launched in July 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Borough Market pub, The Rake, a very dry but fruited bitterness in its first bite. A slight maltiness joining in with hints of caramel and toffee from its Crystal malt and joined by Clear Choice, Extra Pale, Maize and Flaked Barley. A dark bitter fruitiness from its all-British hops, Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross, lending touches of toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow, woody spice and tannin. A very dry and slightly sweet, woody fruited bitterness sailing out. Served in top nick. |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on either Friday or Saturday and presenting good head and lacing and lasting on this red ale from just outside Gravesend at Northfleet, Kent, and founded in March 2017 with its first beers brewed in January 2018. A very spicy first hit on this very murky red. A citrusy fruitiness rising from its Citra and Mosaic hops. A touch of specialised rye malt in on the act behind its spicy kick amongst traditional red malts lending a lingering sweet caramel touch with a deep roastiness. A piney, bitter finish on its outflow. Served in good order. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Southpaw IPA | 6.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Saffron Gold | 4.60 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 821 |
| 2230 |
| 761 |
 | 64 |
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 1809 times, seen 2052 different beers and tried 1222 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ