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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best |  | 3 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale - Experimental EG40 |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale |  | 1 |
| Kent - Green Giant (EKG) | | 1 |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Wonkey Donkey | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | | 1 |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | | 3 |
| Stancill - Godiva | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 3 |
| Castle Rock - Our House | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Citra Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Nectaron Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
02 Nov 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. A different pack of regulars about.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | In OK condition |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy footfall with regulars around a table and a half and the odd lesser spotteds dotted about on my time of arrival just a little before the remaining half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and displaying a very good frothy cream top and lacing totally lasting on this golden bitter from the Salopian Brewery founded in 1995 and setting up in the heart of Shrewsbury. In the early days it was operating on a two-barrel kit, but as the years rolled on, the enterprise outgrew its boots and in 2014 the head gaffers moved the entire boiling apparatus to a purpose-built home in the village of Hadnall on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. They first boiled the copper for Shropshire Gold back in 1999, providing the thirsty public with a session bitter that has been filling flagons ever since. A dry bitterness rising with a hoppy note joining in from the tossing in of two hop varieties into the copper kettle, Brewers Gold lending a twiggy bitterness alongside a dark fruitiness and Cascade delivering a punch of floral spice and zesty citrus. A malty touch from its Pale laying down a biscuity and bready foundation and Crystal malts throwing down a gentle touch of toasted honey and light caramel. A dry crisp maltiness prevailing for me. A gentle hoppiness sliding down my hatch with hints of dried fruits, raisins, and fresh meadow flowers as sharp as a tailor's shears. Served in very good nick on its first day on with plentiful conditioning. |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and good head and lacing and lasting on this Kentish bitter from Goachers Brewery in Maidstone set up in 1983 with their copper boilers by the old, damp stones of Hayle Mill in the Loose Valley before in 1990 packing up their dray and shifting to Tovil Green Business Park also in Maidstone, where they keep the mash tun bubbling today. A dry, slightly citrusy first hit on this straw-to-pale-amber coloured tipple originating from the kettle being sparked up for Fine Light in 1984. A hoppy bitterness rising from the tossing in of native Kentish bines into the kettle, namely Whitbread Golding Variety lending a woody note with a hint of fresh garden soil, and East Kent Goldings behind its floral spice and a whisper of sweet honeyed lavender. A malty note joining in from its traditional floor-malted, low-colour Maris Otter winter barley providing a sweet and bready biscuit base, throwing off a doughy breadiness from the baker’s oven with a hint of honeyed sweetness. A gentle crisp garden-fresh hoppiness sliding out. Served in good nick with a visible carbonation throughout. |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Only its second day on and this stout is presenting no lasting head and lacing within minutes of being poured from an outfit that set up their copper boilers in 2013, taking over the brick and bones of the old Royal Tunbridge Wells brewery site in Chapman Way, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Said to have a dry, roasted-bitter punch and a dance of dark chocolate, rich caramel, fresh coffee beans and the subtle fruitiness of a Victorian Christmas cake, my slice of Belgian chocolate cake therefore was not out of place to accompany it. A malty bitter first hit on this black-as-midnight stout. A touch of dark fruitiness rising from its Willamette hop lending a herbal, peppery spice mixed with a mild, woodsy floral bitterness that is taming the sugary caramel and the roasted malts for me. A dry bitter maltiness emerging and lingering from its Maris Otter hosting a sweet and bready biscuit base, Roasted Barley and Black Malt lending a dry, roasted coffee flavouring and midnight colouring, Chocolate Malt aiding its semi-sweet dark cocoa flavours, Flaked Barley and Oats lending a silky touch to its mouthfeel, Crystal Malt and Caragold spooning a dollop of sticky caramel sweetness alongside a hint of dark-fruit. A chewy mocha-toffee feast wrapping my taste buddies in a heavy wool coat, in delivering a robust dark chocolatey and espresso punch. A crisp, dry and fruity cherry-cake finish that literally sliced through the thickness of the mash for me. Served not at its best methinks just a second day on with very little conditioning. |
| Saltaire - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Giant (EKG) | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Hardly a usual suspect was absent.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Others extolled its virtues. Quite a contrast to the Green Giant drunk before it, good condition |
| Kent - Green Giant (EKG) | 6.00 | | A good strong green hopper |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
31 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just one other regular appearing from the rear seating area and a table’s worth of the lesser spotteds on my time of arrival just a little after the remaining half an hour of serving due to a late running train from Redhill leading to my half an hour's delay.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale - Experimental EG40 | 3.90 | | Fresh on and displaying very good head and lasting lacing. A very fresh hoppy first hit on this Goacher's Brewery's experimentally hopped green beer and with brewing set up way back in 1983, resurrecting commercial brewing in Kent's County Town for the first time since the early seventies. They turned their home-brewing caper into a proper business at the old Hayle Mill down in the Loose Valley on the fringes of Maidstone, before in 1990, shifting their mashing coppers over to Tovil Green Business Park also in Maidstone. A pleasantly oily hoppiness rising on this green hopped pale golden ale and where the brewery first rolled out their annual Green Hop harvest brew in 2015. A gentle maltiness joining in. Its Maris Otter winter barley malt that was carefully floor-malted lending a sweet and bready biscuit flavouring. With the toastiness of a morning bakery, a crisp, crackery flavouring rising on my taste buds. A dry but fresh hoppiness from its brewers rushing off to Brenley Farm near Faversham to hand-pick completely un-dried, straight-from-the-bine EG40 hops. This is a rare, experimental variety bred by Wye Hops that crosses the stalwart UK Target with a wild US male vine. These wet, unkilned cones retain delicate oils usually lost to the fire, with Target providing a sharp bitterness, while the wild American bloodline behind an uncharacteristic burst of tropical sweetness. A fragrant, resinous perfume of damp, sun-warmed English hedgerows mixed with exotic fruits passing my snout. On hitting the back of my mouth, a fleshy finish bursting with juicy notes of lychee, sweet citrus and ripe mango. On writing this at the of the day later, it had all been supped before my Sunday evening visit such was its popularity. Its oiliness aiding its slide down my hatch on my Saturday tasting of it and I was sticking resolutely to it then. Served in top nick and very moreish with plentiful carbonation. |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Giant (EKG) | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
30 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Almost a full turnout and with Friday regulars on parade among the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | Now its third day on and exhibiting still a very good head and lasting lacing on this amber-hued best bitter from just outside Canterbury in Chartham, Kent, set up in September 2010 at the Stour Valley Business Park. A dry hoppy first hit. An earthy hoppiness rising for me as perhaps a tad less fruity than when presented the day before. Its East Kent Goldings behind a very mildly honeyed floral spice. Its Fuggles leading the show with a very pronounced earthy resinous flavouring. Its Maris Otter lending a moreishly bready biscuit flavouring; its Crystal malts aiding an almost imperceptibly sweet sugary touch and a subtle hint of dark raisin. Still kicking with that crisp earthiness and metamorphosing into a satisfyingly dry hoppiness. Served still in very top dick condition and if not even better since sampling the evening before. Simply one of the best bitters in many a time as none too fruited, malty or sharply hoppy. Just the right balance all round for my taste buddies. Everyone in was practically on it! |
| Saltaire - Citra Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Giant (EKG) | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall and with a good sprinkling of regulars among the odd lesser spotteds for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | Second day on as came on belatedly the previous evening by all accounts and displaying a very good head and lasting lacing on this amber-hued best bitter from just outside Canterbury in Chartham, Kent, where the copper was first fired up in September 2010 at the Stour Valley Business Park. A very fresh hoppy first hit. A hoppy fruitiness rising from its East Kent Goldings exuding honeyed floral spice and Fuggles lending a woody, moss-coated forest floor flavouring. Hints of spicy orchard blossoms and a dark, marmalade sweetness. A gentle maltiness emerging aided by its Maris Otter lending freshly-baked bread and biscuit flavours, and its Crystal malts giving rise to hints of toasted sugar and dark raisin. A fruited bitterness prevailing with a crisp, earthy snap in the finish. A dry hoppiness on its sliding down my hatch. Served in very top nick condition. |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Nectaron Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | Good solid bitter |
| Stancill - Godiva | 4.00 | | Pale with little bitterness. Newly on tap |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Nectaron Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
28 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. So few bums on seats tonight with regulars a-missing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Holding up well after a few days on |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Nectaron Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
27 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy on arrival for the last half an hour of serving with a local club after its meeting packing out the front and the fiddlers still playing out the back. I managed to squeeze to one side of the assembled fiddlers to hear two of them playing, one their mandolin and the other their squeeze box. None of the usual regulars on parade and which must be a first in a very long time. Good banter with the fiddlers after their playing and with two who came out from the front, a pony-tailed chap and a Cockney woman.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fourth day on and still exhibiting a good foamy head and lacing on this ruby-mahogany hued porter from the Titanic Brewery which first fired up its boilers and got its gear in motion in October 1985 with a modest brewing apparatus erected behind the Travellers Rest pub in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent, and with the brewery named Titanic as a tip of the hat to Captain Edward John Smith, a local Stoke lad who famously captained the ill-fated ocean liner. The captain's wheel of this brewing outfit was moved on 1988 to expand the voyage to the main brewhouse’s docking at its current home in Burslem, Staffordshire. Not my favourite porter as over plumy for me with the taste of plums prevailing throughout from natural ones no less very generously added to its mix and with the first mashing of the tubs for Plum Porter going back to 2011 as a brief winter novelty but grew into an all-year rounder due to popular demand. This dark soup’s malts on a sturdy quartet of Maris Otter, Pearl, Wheat, and Dark Crystal malts. Its Maris Otter and Pearl grains laying down a golden-sweet, oven-baked biscuit deck. Its Wheat malt adding an extra layer of density, and its heavily kilned Dark Crystal exuding burnt sugar, cocoa and espresso flavours. A touch of toasted chocolate-fudge in on the mix for me. The odd distant hoppy note from its Goldings hops doing its best to rise above the plums but not quite managing it. The copper kettle actually played host to a four-way green harvest of Pilgrim and Herkules behind the bitterness to take some of the shine off the malts and sugary fruit-infusions, Goldings lending hints of a forest floor and wildflower spice, and Celeia sprinkling a sharp breath of citrus oil. Hints of wood resins, peppery wood-smoke and a dark berry compote. A dry bitter finish and I’m forever blowing plums played in my head on its way out! Served well but not my favourite by a long way. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Still wrongly priced as in £5.00 on the display blackboard on its fourth day on when it should be £5.10 for the CAMRA discount of 30p to be applied equalling £4.80. Its head and lacing now only lasting shortly after being poured. Otherwise still got a good amount of flavouring but showing its age with less conditioning than when it was last sampled on Sunday. A slight sharpness and sourness emerging suggesting not far off being at its end. For my full tasting notes, see my entry for it on Saturday 24th October 2026 and when it was fresh on. |
| Mighty Oak - Wonkey Donkey | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Only its third day on for this pale ale but head and lacing only lasting for its pour and not beyond. It transpired that I must have had nearly the very last one out as it took a very long time to pour it and was then taken off when I went back to the bar for the finale. Tasted rather flat but still lightly tropically fruited from its US hops without a doubt. For my full tasting notes, see my entry for it on Sunday 25th October 2026 and when it was fresh on. |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
26 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Many tables taken by home match for the cribbage team.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | As good as yesterday's |
| Liquid Light - Day Tripper | 4.30 | | Haze job, only a half, OK. Certainly not my choice to repeat |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Wonkey Donkey | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Our House | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 20 |
| 842 |
| 2268 |
| 788 |
 | 66 |
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 1859 times, seen 2072 different beers and tried 1238 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ