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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar |  | 1 |
| Five Points - Best |  | 2 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | | 2 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve |  | 1 |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | | 1 |
| Oakham - Shakedown | | 1 |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | | 1 |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | | 2 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | | 3 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
07 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier footfall for the last half an hour of serving than of recent with the fiddlers still actually playing out the back and a local club in after their meeting taking up two tables at the front and so leaving just enough room for some of the regulars on parade and the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this mahogany and amber coloured Hertfordshire bitter from a brewing operation established in 2010 at Boxted Farm in Potten End, a small village near Hemel Hempstead, having initially founded as the Red Squirrel Brewery and arising out of an earlier 2004 micro-brewing setup in Hertford. A very dry bitter first hit. A hoppy floral note risining from its Chinook, Harlequin, and Olicana hops with a hint of citrus and pine resin and a tropical note of orange zest for me. It is a mix of American and modern New World-style British varieties with Chinook from the US, Harlequin from the UK and developed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and that mimics tropical fruit, peach, and passionfruit flavours typically found in New Zealand or American hops, and Olicana also from the UK’s Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the latter described as the "British Citra" with mango, passionfruit, and grapefruit added to beers while being grown entirely on British soil. A sweet malty appearance winning over with biscuity and caramel malt flavours erupting from its traditional floor-malted barley. A very dry malty outflow descending. Served in top condition despite the chiller in the cold room not working and so a tad warmer than usual. |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This one-year-old cask aged extra strong bitter from Steam Town Brew Company which was set up in 2017 in Eastleigh, north of Southampton, Hampshire, came on Monday and so by its second day on in sampling proved it was still in good nick. A half followed and presenting lasting head and lacing. A very dry bitter sweetened first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising above its fruity citrus sweetness from its blend of earthy UK Goldings and modern, fruit-filled UK Jester variety. A malty note joining in from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate, and wheat malts. A bitter fruitiness sailing out. It has a barley wine-like flavouring lingering for me. Served in very good nick. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
05 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Just a handful of regulars in among a few of the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Third day on and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting on this copper-coloured Kentish session bitter from the East Peckham brewery established in 2010 north of Paddock Wood in Kent. A dry bitter first bite. A dry biscuity caramelised maltiness rising from its UK-grown malted barley. A fruity bitterness winning over before sliding out with fruit, herb, and spicy notes emerging from its Kentish varieties, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in good nick still on its third day on; just a tad warm due to the beers' cold room not as cold as it usually is. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
05 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Should have been cooler. Admitted some sort of cellar cooling problem |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | | Should have been cooler. Did not match the tasting notes. OK |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
04 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall as has become the norm over recent Saturdays and for the last hour of serving and minus the usual Saturday attendees. Just a handful of the hardened and a few of the lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Good head and lasting lacing on its second day on for this copper-coloured session bitter from the East Peckham brewery north of Paddock Wood in Kent and set up in 2010. A dry hoppy first hit. A fruity bitterness rising with touches of fruit, herb, and spicy flavours abounding. A malty note putting in an appearance from its UK-grown malted barley with hints of dry biscuits and caramel notes. A malty bitterness prevailing with a good helping of hoppiness winning over from its Kentish hops, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in excellent nick. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with less than two handfuls in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on with very good head and lasting lacing on this Eastleigh-brewed pale and located north-east of Southampton in Hampshire. A dry lightly fruited first hit. A malty touch from light malts used and wheat malt. A hoppy dryness rising from its US Citra and Mosaic before lingering on its descent. Served in good nick. |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 |  | 1st beer of this visit: Bought in error was this East London bitter from Hackney as now certainly beyond its best on its seventh day on. I also tried it on Sunday when one sufficed on just its third day on. Forced myself to drink it but not a pleasure and completely flat and without conditioning. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Much talk as to whether this house will open until 5am on Monday morning for England football.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | | New cask on today. Good condition but a second one here tonight with no USP |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 | | Good conditioning but drank with hardly noticing |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | Did not expect to still see this |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
29 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with just a table and half of the regulars on parade and another of the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Second day on for this Maidstone-brewed straw-coloured Kentish pale ale and presenting good head and lacing and almost lasting. A dry but also slightly zesty sweet hoppy first hit. A lightly fruited hoppiness rising from its locally sourced Kent Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. This pale ale was created in 2008 to celebrate the brewery's 25th anniversary, having launched in 1983. A dry hoppy resinous flavouring prevailing on its sliding downwards. Also aided by Maris Otter winter barley malt but not in the least malty to my taste buds and kilned very gently at a lower temperature to ensure the beer retains its pale straw, golden hue rather than turning amber or brown. Served in top condition on its second day on. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
29 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | New cask on today |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
28 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Many a regular in residence.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | | Holding up well. Alas just boring citrus |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Minimal condition |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | Many were struggling on this thyme infused herbal jobbie |
28 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with just a couple of tables of the regulars and one of the lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Now only its third day on but struggling to keep its head and lacing on this East London-brewed best bitter from Hackney. A dry fruited first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising from its single-hopped Fuggles sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent. A malty toasted biscuity note with hints of sweet caramel and toffee winning over and dominating and really a tad too caramel-infused for my taste buds. A hoppy note or two of grassy and herbal bitterness in the finish. Lacking the conditioning of the day before and so flat-tasting. Just the one sufficed here. |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 779 |
| 2155 |
| 708 |
| 60 |
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 1723 times, seen 2013 different beers and tried 1184 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ