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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Beech - Glovers |  | 2 |
| Kent - Old Skool |  | 2 |
| Kent - Supercharge | | 1 |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | | 2 |
| Ossett - Butterley - Bitter | | 3 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | | 5 |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | | 4 |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Byker Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
21 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just the hardened on parade among a few of the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and presenting a handsome head and lasting lacing on this dark amber-coloured Kentish traditional bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and where brewing was set up in 2010, with its 10-barrel brewing plant coming into operation in 2011. A dry hoppy bitter first bite. A fruity bitterness rising from its traditional blend of classic English hops, likely to be Fuggles or Goldings. Just the merest hint of malt with a faint touch of sweet caramel and freshly baked bread from its traditional floor-malted barley, including Crystal malt, to aid its toffee-caramel flavourings. A dry hoppiness paddling out with a lingering spicy orange and marmalade flavouring. Served in excellent nick with superb conditioning. |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Now its fourth or fifth day on and this Tunbridge Wells stout came with some head and lacing to begin with but not lasting. A dry bitter first bite. Its blend of dark malts and oatmeal stout porridge oats lending a chocolatey maltiness with hints of coffee emerging. Hedgerow fruits with elderberry and blackcurrant hitting my taste buds from its American Willamette hops, a classic aroma hop. A hoppy bitterness mixed with a dry hop-infused maltiness paddling out. Little conditioning now and rather flat tasting. |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Supercharge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | 4.30 | Not Tried |
21 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Fresh on today. The kind of basic bitter I like but I found having a second one rather overpowering |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | Flavoursome but little condition |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Supercharge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | 4.30 | Not Tried |
19 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quietish footfall for the last night of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final with Spain winning against Argentina 1–0 after extra time. A sprinkling of regulars among the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett - Butterley - Bitter | 3.40 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now its second day on and with more conditioning than the evening before. Still presenting a very good head and lasting lacing on this pale copper-coloured Yorkshire bitter. Again, a dry fruited first hit. A bitter and lightly malty touch of toasted breadiness rising with hints of caramel and honey from its Extra Pale and Crystal malts. A fruited floral spicy hoppiness winning over from its 100% English hop variety, Challenger. A hoppy fruitiness lingering with a touch of citrus in on the act. Served in top form with lasting conditioning. |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Now its second or third day on and this Tunbridge Wells stout still presented a good head and lacing but not lasting. A dry bitter first bite. A mildly chocolatey roasted maltiness rising with hints of coffee emanating from its blend of dark malts and oatmeal stout porridge oats. Its American Willamette hops, a classic aroma hop, behind its hedgerow fruits with elderberry and blackcurrant entertaining my taste buds. A dry hop-infused maltiness prevailing with a hoppy herbal bitterness sailing out. Served well but not hanging onto its conditioning as it did the day before. |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Supercharge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | 4.30 | Not Tried |
19 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. World Cup TV football cup final just reaching its climax in extra time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Supercharge | 5.00 | | New cask on today. Zesty pale |
| Ossett - Butterley - Bitter | 3.40 | | Good condition but thin gruel |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | Initial promise soon dissipated as went flat in the glass |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | 4.30 | Not Tried |
18 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy with a handful or two of regulars among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving and with the backdrop of England beating France in the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off, winning with a final score of 6–4.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Either its first or second day on for this Kentish stout from Tunbridge Wells and poured with good head and lacing and lasting but a thinner mouthfeel than your average stout for me. Its brewing origins go back to a 10-barrel plant in 2013 and still there at High Brooms, just north of Tunbridge Wells itself. A dry hoppy first hit. A fruity maltiness rising up with flavours of chocolate and coffee from its blend of dark malts combined with oatmeal stout porridge oats lending a roastiness on my taste buddies. A hoppy note joining in for good measure from its American Willamette hops, a classic aroma hop, aiding its berry-fruit flavours such as elderberry and blackcurrant alongside subtle herbal hints among its hedgerow fruits. A dry hop-infused maltiness prevailing with a hoppy bitterness sailing out. Served in good nick despite offering a somewhat thin mouthfeel. |
| Ossett - Butterley - Bitter | 3.40 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on this day and presenting a very good head and lasting lacing on this pale copper-coloured Yorkshire bitter named after the local Butterley Reservoir. It was originally brewed at The Riverhead Brewery Tap set up in 1995 in Marsden, West Yorkshire, a brewpub owned by Ossett Brewery, using Riverhead's heritage recipes and widely distributed by Ossett Brewery, set up in 1998, and which took over Riverhead in 2006. A very dry fruited first hit with a hint of citrus. A hoppy floral fruitiness rapidly rising with a touch of spice from its 100% English hop variety, Challenger. Just a faint hint of sweet maltiness with bready, toasty and caramel flavours joining in for my taste buddies with a hint of honey for the bear in me and from its mix of Extra Pale and Crystal malts derived from British barley. A hoppy fruitiness prevailing and lingering. Just slightly lacking head and lacing towards the end and so conditioning to go with it. |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Copper Beech - Glovers | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - Missing Glasto | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a table or two of regulars among a few of the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on today with head and lacing sticking to the end on this pale first launched in 2010 by the Oakham Brewery and so-named as set up in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, before relocating in 1998 to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, where they operate the largest brewpub in Europe. A slightly fruity tropical first bite from this pale. A gentle hoppiness rising up with flavours for my taste buddies of gooseberry and peach as well as combining floral and fresh pine notes. Its hops, a mix of the US Yakima Valley’s Amarillo behind its spice and fruitiness, and Summit, said to be the US’s most powerful bittering hop. A touch of maltiness for good measure from its Maris Otter English barley, Wheat Malt and Caramalt. A fruitiness winning over with also a hint of citrus and grape and a bitter dryness lingering. This ale is so-named by the brewery as the bitterness is described as "sharp as a Macaw's screech”! Served in very good nick with plenty of conditioning about it. It replaced Pig & Porter's Scarecrow in the last half an hour of serving. |
| Copper Beech - Glovers | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on with very good head and lasting lacing on this golden ale that grew out of a brewing operation first set up in 2021 in a shed at the bottom of a home garden in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, before moving to a larger facility and public taproom in Britannia Road, Worcester City Centre, in 2024. A hoppy fruitiness in its first hit. A sweet fruity hoppiness rising with tropical flavours of lychee and passionfruit and balanced by a caramel maltiness. A hoppy fruitiness paddling out from its exclusively used Jester, a modern, locally grown British hop behind bringing New World tropical fruit flavours to us. Served in fine fettle. |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fourth day on for this Kentish bitter from East Peckham, Tonbridge, and good head and lacing to start with but not keeping it from about half way down the pint glass. A fruity bitterness in the first hit from its Kentish hops, Epic, Northdown and Fuggles. A malty note climbing from its UK-grown malted barley lending for me biscuity caramel flavours with a hint of coffee. A hoppy fruitiness winning over and lingering. A general lack of conditioning on its fourth day on. |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
16 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | | New cask on today. Very lively pint, full of condition. Alas the standard one size fits all Oakham taste |
| Copper Beech - Glovers | 4.00 | | New cask on today. Good condition but drank without noticing |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | He is eternal |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
15 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close. Few left in after earlier England World Cup TV match shown.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | Some loss of condition since yesterday's |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | | Little life |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Byker Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
14 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour of serving with just a sprinkling of the regulars on parade alongside the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | Second day on for this deep bronze coloured Kentish bitter whose brewery was established in 2010 at Whiteoaks on Tudeley Road, in the rural outskirts south-east of central Tonbridge, before moving in 2013 to its larger premises in East Peckham, Kent. Head and lacing sticking around to the end. A dry bitter first hit. A gentle hoppiness rising from the scarce Kent-grown Epic hop variety with a hint of spice emerging, mixed with fellow Kentish hops, Northdown and Fuggles. A malty note joining in with subtle hints of coffee emanating from its UK-grown malted barley. A fruity hoppiness prevailing. A bitter maltiness winning over with biscuity caramel flavours emerging and lingering. Served in very good nick on its second day on and so stuck to it. |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Byker Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
14 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. No large crowd for the first World Cup football semi-final on TV.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | Malty bitter. More to my palate than repeated pales |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | 4.00 | | Little condition. Weak on taste and finish |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | Poor old Ralph can't get to rest |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Byker Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 785 |
| 2164 |
| 719 |
 | 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 1739 times, seen 2018 different beers and tried 1191 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ