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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best |  | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best Bitter |  | 1 |
| Elusive - Tasman (collaboration with Two Flints) |  | 1 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | | 5 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale |  | 1 |
| Kent - Ernest | | 1 |
| Kent - Zingiber | | 2 |
| Oakham - Ernest | | 3 |
| Oakham - JHB | | 4 |
| Stardust - Easy Pale Cascade |  | 1 |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | | 2 |
| Elusive - Urban Haze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Not My First | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
25 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A rare visit for me on a Monday but part of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, experiencing the hottest temperatures for London with Kew Gardens in south-west London recording 34.8C and since
May's previous warmest days in the UK at 32.8C in 1922 and 1944. Just a sprinkling of the hardened in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stardust - Easy Pale Cascade | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on with a very frothy head and lasting lacing sticking all the way down on this straw-coloured Berkshire pale from Stardust Brewery at White Waltham, Maidenhead, and set up in 2016. A dry lightly fruity first bite. A hoppy fruitiness rising with for me not too dominant notes of citrus alongside a hint of floral spice. Not overly fruited or lemony for my discerning taste buds. A dry fruitiness pervading from its American Cascade hop predominantly used with touches of grapefruit and a subtle dry white wine fruitiness. A Mosaic hop or two also in the mix lending berry and stone fruit notes and Idaho 7 aiding its piney and tropical flavours and mixed with a single Pale Malt ensuring its hops steal the show. A good hoppy bitterness sailing out aided by its late Citra hopping. Presented in top nick with a very fine mouthfeel. |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Also fresh on and good head and lacing but not lasting as well as the Stardust on this light amber to deep gold coloured IPA and from high up on a hill in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, and with the brewery having been set up in 2015 initially in a repurposed chicken shed. Not surprisingly, reading the tasting notes, a very fruited first hit. A tropical fruitiness veering up from a barrage of pineapple, mango, and zesty grapefruit tap-dancing on my taste buds. Extra Pale malt and Caramalt in on its mix with a fruity hoppiness prevailing from its US West Coast Mosaic with gooseberry flavours the most prominent and lingering in its aftertaste. A sharp, lingering hoppy bitterness sailing out. A good mouthfeel about it and served in top form. |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried |
25 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Left promptly to seek a basic mid-brown English bitter before midnight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | | New cask on today. Same old citrus domination |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | | Fruity not to my taste |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Stardust - Easy Pale Cascade | 3.80 | Not Tried |
24 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elusive - Tasman (collaboration with Two Flints) | 6.00 | | Heady 6%er with intensely dry aftertaste |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | Thin gruel with little USP |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | | Used to have ginger flavouring =- did not find it in this pint. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried |
24 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with the hardened regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now its third day for this Peterborough-brewed golden beer and on this Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Still served with a good head and lasting lacing. A first bite of a lightly fruited hoppiness. Its US Mount Hood behind its citrus notes and UK Challenger behind its bitterness. Its Mount Hood lending it a zesty fruitiness. Its Maris Otter giving rise to a very subtle sweet caramel flavouring. A dry hoppiness paddling out. On its third day on, hanging on in there with its conditioning. |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on for this golden/blonde ale from a Kentish microbrewery in Birling, north of West Malling, and some head and lacing on being served but not lasting. Recommended this by a fellow real ale drinker. It passed my sampler test but only a half I risked. A very dominant ginger essence flavouring pervading throughout and so even the citrus kick in the tasting notes my taste buds managed to miss. Made with dominant US hops and yet their flavours also wasted on me for the ginger and where I am told there were, as well as the citrus, tropical fruit notes. Not a fan of ginger and there was not a lot of mouthfeel in this and bordering on being flat-tasting but for the ginger pervading. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | 6th day on! |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tasman (collaboration with Two Flints) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
23 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the usual Saturday regulars on parade among a few of the occasional for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still served with a good head and lasting lacing on this Peterborough-brewed golden beer. A lightly fruited first hit. A dry hoppiness rising from its US Mount Hood behind its citrus notes and UK Challenger behind its bitterness. A lightly zesty fruitiness winning over. Subtle sweet caramel hints bobbing up from its Maris Otter. A dry hoppy fruited finale. Still served in top condition and ably quenching my first. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Now its fifth day on for this East London-based brown Ale from Hackney and so was going to let it be but for a fellow regular extolling its tastiness and theirs still exhibiting good head and lacing. Likewise my half of it came with head and lacing and hanging on to the end. A demerara-infused first bite. A hoppy bitterness with hints of elderberry and red berries still delighting my taste buds. Its US Willamette hops lending it a citrusy hoppy bitterness. Its British barley and Golden Naked oats providing a maltiness in its slide down. That same hint of hazelnuts in its final lingering bitterness and as also picked up upon by a fellow regular and mixed with damp cedar, herbal and spicy touches. Hanging on in there on its fifth day on and aided by it being a member of the dark beer family and which seem to have extra longevity unlike a lot of lighter-coloured beers. Not yet without conditioning or flat-tasting but certainly less mouthfeel than on Tuesday when fresh on. |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tasman (collaboration with Two Flints) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
22 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A rare Friday evening visit for me now for the last half an hour of serving but made a good pitstop after attending the very busy second day of the SE London CAMRA beer festival and being held for the 3rd time in recent years at the Dulwich Hamlet football club. An opportune catch-up with some of the Friday-only regulars was afforded.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | Fresh on and served with a very frothy head and lasting lacing on this Peterborough-brewed golden beer called Jeffrey Hudson Bitter in full and named by the brewery after Sir Jeffrey Hudson, born in Oakham, Rutland, in 1619, and the inspiration for their very first beer because his "modest size was more than made up for in character," and the brewery’s metaphor for a light, low-ABV at 3.8% bitter with a punch of hoppy flavour*. A dry hoppy first bite from its US Mount Hood behind its citrus fruitiness and UK Challenger behind its bitterness. A lightly fruited hoppiness rising with citrus zest flavours and subtle hints of sweet caramel in its underlying maltiness aided by Maris Otter. A dry hoppy fruited finish. Served in top condition and very thirst-quenching. *Hudson stopped growing in early childhood and was famously known as “Lord Minimus”. He stood at just 3 feet 6 inches tall. He became a national celebrity in being served up inside a cold, large pie during a lavish royal banquet. With the crust cut open, he stepped out much to the amusement of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. They took him into royal service without hesitation! |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | Not Tried |
21 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a table and a half of hardened regulars on parade for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Its third day on for this East London-based brown Ale from Hackney and still presenting a very good head and lasting lacing but not as creamy as when served on Tuesday. A sweetened bitter first bite. A malty sugary fruitiness rising aided by its demerara. A hoppy bitterness joining in with fruity notes from its hedgerow fruits, elderberry and red berries. A citrusy hoppy bitterness winning over from its US Willamette hops. Damp cedar, herbal and spicy flavours coming to the fore. A malty bitterness sliding down aided by its British barley and Golden Naked oats. A hint of hazelnuts in its final lingering bitterness. Still served in good condition but a touch less mouthfeel than on Tuesday. |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third day for this Peterborough-brewed Single Hop Pale and still exhibiting a good head and lasting lacing. A dry hoppy first hit. A fruit-infused hoppiness climbing up aided by its UK hop variety, Ernest, named after Professor Ernest Salmon, and its flavours emanating from a typical New World hop with apricot and citrus hints hitting my taste buds. Thankfully not to overly fruited for me and touch of spice in on the act. Its subtle fruitiness prevailing in its sail downwards. Still served in good condition but with a lesser mouthfeel than when fresh on Tuesday. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Its second day on for this West Sussex russet-brown best bitter. Brewed on Mackley Industrial Estate in Small Dole, roughly 8 miles northwest of Brighton and Hove, and where its brewery was set up in 2012, it came with head and lacing but not lasting. A very dry bitter first bite. A caramelised biscuity presence rising on my taste buds with a somewhat overpowering toffee flavour then pervading. Its maltiness derived from its Extra Pale base malt, Caramalt, Crystal 150, Munich, Vienna, and a touch of Roasted Barley in on the mix. Its hoppiness emanating from a blend of British hops and a European and US hop. Admiral and Challenger, are its UK varieties; Perle from Germany and Galena, an American hop, noted for its blackcurrant flavours. It seemed minus conditioning and a touch flat-tasting. One sufficed. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Urban Haze | 4.50 | Not Tried |
21 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | | Toffee flavour dominated and poured completely flat. Chore to finish |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Lost condition since last sampled |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Urban Haze | 4.50 | Not Tried |
19 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual on a Tuesday for a long while with a mix of the hardened regulars and the odd lesser spotted. Even the fiddlers were still strumming their instruments at this late arrival time of half past ten or thereabouts and marking the first time I have heard them still playing at this time for a month or more.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and this East London-based brown Ale from Hackney also presented a superb head. It was positively creamy and lacing the sides of the glass in its performance all the way down. A malty sweet first hit aided by its lashings of demerara sugar. A malty bitterness climbing up with hints of fruitiness in on the act such as from hedgerow fruits, elderberry and red berries, and the merest dash of citrus. A hoppy bitterness winning over from its US Willamette hops exuding earthy notes with touches of damp cedar, alongside herbal and spicy flavours. Aided by its British barley and Golden Naked oats tantalising my taste buds, a malty bitterness saddling out with a hazelnut or two joining in for good measure with a very pronounced final bitter note lingering. Served in very good nick and so another was in keeping! |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on this evening was this Peterborough-brewed Single Hop Pale and displaying very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A lightly fruited first hit. A hoppy fruit-infused bitterness rising from its UK hop variety, Ernest, that assumes New World flavours including apricot and citrus but quite subtle methinks and mixed with a sprinkling of spice. Not too overly fruited in the least for my taste buds’ disapproval. A lasting hoppy fruitiness lingering. Served in top condition with a great mouthfeel about it. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | A taster told me it was deceased! |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | Not Tried |
19 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Good Tuesday footfall in front room and the fiddlers' backroom.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | One of Five Points's best ales |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | | Lively pint but same old citrus taste. Odd back-taste |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 765 |
| 2117 |
| 682 |
| 59 |
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 1681 times, seen 1993 different beers and tried 1174 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ