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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold |  | 3 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | | 2 |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | | 5 |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | | 1 |
| Five Points - Pale | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 2 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | | 2 |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | | 1 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #7 | | 2 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo |  | 1 |
| Stancill - Canuck | | 2 |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Colony | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Palms | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
29 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than the average Saturday and indeed aided earlier by a Charlton FC home game meaning that some of its fans had managed to wipe off all the listed beers as "on now" by my time of arrival. Remaining were the usual regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and presented with very good head and lacing sticking to the end on this pale from brewing set up in 2013 under a railway arch by Hackney Downs station, before relocating in 2020 to a larger facility nearby in Mare Street, Hackney, in East London. A dry resinous first bite. A mildly fruited hoppiness rising with a touch of citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest, pine resin, pineapple and mango all in on the mix from its US hops, Citra, Cascade and Centennial. Its malts are Maris Otter, its base malt, alongside Pale Cara aiding its sweetness, and Munich Malt and Wheat Malt aiding its head retention and mouthfeel. A lingering dry bitterness making it very moreish. Served in top form with good conditioning. |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on and very good head and almost lasting lacing on this Devon chocolate stout from a brewing operation originally set up in 2003 as the Topsham & Exminster Brewery, a microbrewery situated on the Exminster Marshes nature reserve, before becoming The Exeter Brewery in 2007 and relocating to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, in 2012. A dry malty first hit. A chocolatey maltiness rising from its blend of chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. Hints of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice alongside a subtle caramel sweetness. A burnt-bitter finish with an earthy and woody flavouring alongside a hint of sweet honey, thyme and marjoram, and a mild, peppery spiciness, and a touch of dried citrus peel from its English Goldings hops with a smokiness lingering. Served in good nick. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and very good head and lasting lacing on this bitter from brewing set up in 2018 in Northfleet, Kent, just outside Gravesend. A fruited first bite. A sharp orange and plum fruity hoppiness rising with herbal, spicy and gentle floral notes. A dry bitterness prevailing from its 100% English Goldings hops sourced locally from Hukins Hops at Haffenden Farm near Tenterden in Kent. A maltiness joining in with subtle honey, biscuity caramel, raisin and rich toffee notes emanating from its Maris Otter, Simpsons Imperial, Medium Crystal and Double Roasted Crystal malts. A fruited sweetness with a very citrusy sour touch lingering. Served in good form but overly fruited for my taste buds and perhaps just a tad too fresh. |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Colony | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a couple of tables of regulars on parade among a few of the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Fresh on was this Kentish IPA from a brewery set up in 2010 in Chartham, southwest of Canterbury. Came with a very healthy head and lasting lacing. Very much a sharp hoppy first bite. An oily hoppiness rising to delight my taste buds. Berry, citrus and an earthy, honey-infused sweetness from its 100% locally sourced Kent hops, namely West Kent’s modern Jester hops and traditional East Kent Goldings lending earthy, honeyed flavours. Aided by its local and international malted barley, hints of nuttiness and toffees joining in. A moreishly resinous oily green floral hoppiness paddling out. Served in very good nick with great conditioning throughout. |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | Not Tried |
27 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | New cask on today and the better for it |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | | Basic job - unexciting |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | Not Tried |
25 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade among an increasing number of the odd lesser spotted, a lively terrier-like-cross, and a plethora of the Tuesday fiddlers in situ out the back for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Bermondsey bitter from a brewery first set up in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, along the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile, before moving to a larger site in Croydon in 2020 but keeping the original Bermondsey location as a taproom and for sour-beer making. A dry fruited first hit on this dark bronze-caramel amber-coloured bitter. A hoppy fruitiness rising from its US Chinook hops exuding the flavours of pine, spice and dark fruits such as cherries and sultanas for me. Its East Kent Goldings offering it a traditional bittering and fruitcake flavouring. A malty note joining in with toasted biscuit and caramel flavours hitting my taste buds from its Maris Otter, its base malt, alongside flaked barley, flaked maize (corn), light crystal and dark crystal malts. A dry peppery bitterness sailing out. Served in top nick. |
| Stancill - Canuck | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on also was this golden pale ale from Sheffield and as part of a series celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup host nations. Showing off an impressive head and lasting lacing, its brewing operation began in 2014 when the historic Oakwell Brewery in Barnsley closed with the brewing equipment relocated to Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on the doorstep of the former Stones' Cannon Brewery, and so utilising the area's exceptionally soft Yorkshire water. A mildly fruited first hit. A woody, resinous hoppiness rising from its 100% American Columbus hops, making it a single-hop pale ale behind its woody, earthy and citrusy lemon touches. A dry fruity finish sliding out and no detectable lemon flavours for me. In top form with copious conditioning throughout. |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Still exhibiting a little head at the start but struggling to hold onto it on this stout from Finchampstead, Berkshire, near Wokingham, where brewing was set up in 2016. If it came on last Friday that would make it now five days old, or it might have just come on, on Saturday when I first sampled it. A chocolatey first hit on this stout acting as a chaser to my Belgium chocolate cake I just happened to bring along. This stout's specialty malts, namely dark and roasted malts, giving rise to its espresso and chocolate flavourings mixed with a Madagascan vanilla sweetness for my taste buddies. Challenger and Goldings, its bittering hops, lending a dry bitterness. Still served in reasonable nick though not keeping its head and lacing and with a loss of conditioning. |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | Replaced Oakham Green Devil. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried |
25 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The musicians were in the back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | | Almost first out of new cask just put on. Hazy and very citrus so not to my taste but good condition |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | | Been on a few days |
| Stancill - Canuck | 4.00 | | Citrus by any other name |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | Flat in glass |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
23 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual footfall with just regulars on parade, with some though more occasional, for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett - Trip Hop #7 | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on for this pale and displaying very good head and lacing and lasting still from a brewing operation founded in 1997 in Ossett, West Yorkshire. A fruity hoppy first hit. A subtle grapefruit-like infusion for me rising. A dry resinous hoppiness winning over from its Amarillo lending sweet orange and zesty grapefruit notes, and Cascade behind an earthy floral pine, and both from the USA, and Galaxy from Australia, exuding passion fruit and peach flavours. Its British malted barley lending it a crispness. Served in still top nick and even more so as its slight fizz on the tongue noted on the evening before had gone. Just its fruitiness prevailing on its sailing out. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Second day on at least and still presenting very good head and lacing and lasting on this pale gold to light yellow-coloured IPA from a brewery founded in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, before relocating in 1998 to the Woodston area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and in addition to operating a smaller brewing set-up at their brewpub, The Brewery Tap, in Westgate, Peterborough. They are known for their bold use of New World hops. Certainly, a fruitiness in its first hit from this India Pale Ale first brewed in 2011 and conceived as the "big brother" to their flagship Oakham Citra ale. A veritable juicy cocktail of passion fruit, pineapple, mango, lychee and fresh citrus zest lending lemon and lime flavours and subtle notes of pine all hitting my taste buddies from its 100% USA-sourced heavily double-hopped Citra hops. A slightly sweet caramel-infused biscuity malt backbone for me from its Low Colour Maris Otter barley malt blended with a touch of Wheat malt to lighten its body and aid its head retention. A dry lingering citrusy, resinous bitterness sailing out. Served in good nick but wins the award for being one of the most expensive ales for a micropub even with the 30p CAMRA discount applied and at still £5.50 a pint. A mere half sufficed for me as also greatly too tropical for my taste buddies! |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on for this vegan bitter from brewing set up in 2017 at Northfleet, Kent, just outside Gravesend, and with Iron Pier brewing its very first beer in January 2018, making it the first commercial brewery to operate in the area since 1932. Coming up with a natural haziness as unfined and where I avoided it the day before believing its murkiness was due to it being too fresh on. It defiantly displayed very good head and lasting lacing to prove it had gone through its second fermentation in the barrel. A very dry hoppy first hit. A floral spicy hoppiness rising from its 100% English hops sourced locally from Hukins Hops near Biddenden, Kent, with the blend including East Kent Goldings lending earthy, herbal and sweet honey flavours, Admiral behind its citrus bitterness and First Gold behind its spicy, orange-peel and marmalade fruit flavours. A bready, biscuity maltiness joining in with hints of honey and toffee from its traditional British malted barley. A touch of orangey fruitiness emerging. Served in good nick once I understood it was intended to be naturally cloudy. |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | 4th beer of this visit: This stout from Finchampstead, Berkshire, near Wokingham, where brewing was set up in 2016, now on at least its second day, or possibly third, was still displaying a good head and lacing at first. A chocolatey first hit. Still layers of creamy chocolate and coffee mixed with a vanilla sweetness for my taste buds to contend with. Its dry but sweet bitterness rising from its specialty malts, and namely its dark and roasted malts aiding its espresso and chocolate flavourings. Its lasting sweetness emanating from its Madagascan vanilla. Challenger and Goldings, its bittering hops, doing battle with its roasted malt sweetness before its slide downwards. Its vanilla lingering on in its slide downwards. Still served in good nick though not keeping its head and lacing as well as it did on the evening before and now with a slight loss of conditioning. |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Its strength helps keep its condition up |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | | Basic English hopped golden ale |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | Unimpressive being flat in glass |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #7 | 4.00 | Not Tried |
22 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Charlton FC played away but not that far away against West Ham to ensure all the beers that had been on, on my last visit on Thursday, were now history. A completely new line-up was presented for the last half an hour of serving with a mixture of Saturday regulars and the odd lesser spotted. My first spotting of the new barmaid we had heard about and by the name of Rachel.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on with very good head and lacing on show and lasting on this Kentish golden ale from brewing set up in 2011 just outside Canterbury at Stour Valley Business Park in Chartham, Kent. A lightly fruited first hit from this brew inspired by the hop gardens grown on the family farm. A dry hoppiness rising from its traditional trio of English hops: Target, the bittering hop there to balance the sweet malt base, Goldings behind its earthy, sweet, floral and subtly honey-like flavours, and Challenger lending a spice-infused cedar-wood flavouring and crisp citrusy notes. A fruity spicy sweetness prevailing and lingering on its descent from being brewed with traditional malted barley. Served in top form. |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #7 | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on was this pale ale with lasting head and lacing from a brewing operation founded in 1997 with its very first commercial beer into the following year at a micro-brewpub at the back of the Brewers Pride public house on in Ossett, West Yorkshire, before moving to a larger facility next door at Kings Yard. A hoppy first hit with sweet floral notes. A sharp hoppiness rising from its triple-hop combination featuring Amarillo aiding a sweet orange and zesty grapefruit hint, and Cascade behind its crisp grapefruit and earthy floral pine, and both from the USA, and an abundance of Galaxy from Australia, behind its passion fruit and peach flavours, the latter suggestive of the smells of fresh cannabis, sticky pine sap, and a damp, earthy forest floor. A malty touch from its British malted barley lending it a crispness. Served in top nick but a slight fizz on the tongue suggesting perhaps just a tad too fresh. |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: This vanilla stout was fresh on since my last visit on Thursday and displaying a very healthy, creamy head and lasting lacing from a brewing operation founded in 2016 and located on an industrial estate in Finchampstead, Berkshire, near Wokingham. So-named is this stout in paying tribute to one of Chris Bingham's most fondly remembered beers from his former brewery. Chris is a legendary figure in the UK craft beer scene, best known as the founder and head brewer of the former Bingham’s Brewery based in Twyford, Berkshire, and who co-brewed with Andy Parker, the founder of Elusive Brewing, Tenacious C as a special brew in following Chris’s award-winning vanilla stout recipe. A chocolatey first hit. Rising for me are layers of creamy chocolate and coffee mixed with a vanilla sweetness. A malty dry bitterness emerging from its specialty malts, lending a selection of dark and roasted malts behind its espresso and chocolate flavourings. The addition of Madagascan vanilla aiding its lasting sweetness. Its traditional English bittering hops are Challenger and Goldings and balancing the roasted malt sweetness before its slide downwards. Served in very good nick with lots of conditioning on the mouthfeel. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried |
20 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of the regulars and a few of the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Fresh on and so well timed for this Maidstone-brewed cross between Goacher’s Fine Light and Best Dark from brewing first set up in 1983 at Hayle Mill, a former paper mill on the outskirts of Maidstone, and since 1990 brewing at its larger site at Tovil Green Business Park, Maidstone, Kent. Pleasingly, exhibiting a very good head and lasting lacing. A dry hoppy first bite. A mildly floral bitterness rising. A touch of sweet maltiness winning over from its 100% floor-malted British barley, including crystal malt and lighter malts lending for me caramel, honey and toffee flavourings alongside from spun sugar its cotton candy touches. A floral hoppiness prevailing from its 100% whole Kentish hops, utilising local varieties like East Kent Goldings noted for lending a subtly sweet honey, earthy lavender and thyme, and a hint of citrusy spice, and Fuggles behind an earthy, woody cedar flavouring with hints of fresh grass, herbal mint and mild tobacco. A lingering dryness in the mouthfeel. Served in top notch condition and a fine example to all other real ales and so resolutely stuck to it. |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Palms | 4.50 | Not Tried |
20 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Fresh cask on today. Most drinkable condition |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Crowd Pleaser | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Palms | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 809 |
| 2203 |
| 746 |
 | 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 1783 times, seen 2042 different beers and tried 1213 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ