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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Keras |  | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Venus in Flares | | 1 |
| Elusive - Krusher |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale |  | 2 |
| Kent - Frostbite | | 3 |
| Kent - Hygge | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition X | | 2 |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | | 3 |
| Oakham - OPA Original Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | | 2 |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | | 2 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | | 4 |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - The Right Waves Gather | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Sanctum Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
14 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good mix of the Sunday brigade, the hardened and the not so frequent for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - OPA Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Fresh on is this Peterborough-brewed pale and exhibiting a very good head and lacing and lasting well. A dry fruity first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising from its assortment of five USA-sourced hop varieties: Sterling, Amarillo, Centennial, Cascade and Chinook. A dry citrusy note playing out. |
| Elusive - Krusher | 4.50 | | Good head and lacing on this pale from Finchampstead, south-west of Wokingham, and almost lasting. A tropical fruited first hit. A hoppiness winning over with its heaps of Simcoe DynaBoost* and Cryo hops. A fruity feast playing out with peach, candied berries (fresh berries coated in a layer of hardened sugar) and passion fruit no less! *DynaBoost, a highly concentrated, beer-soluble hop oil extract, has a variety-specific alpha acid content and can be used as an early bittering or late aroma addition in the kettle. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Very good head and lacing on this Maidstone-brewed strong pale and lasting on its first day on. A somewhat hazy appearance behind this pale with a dry fruited first hit. A dry hoppiness rising from its East Kent hops and a malty note playing out from its Maris Otter malted barley. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | This Maidstone-brewed bitter, a mix of Goacher's Fine Light and Best Dark, was murky from the start and minus any head and lacing which is unusual for Goacher's. Only its first day on but a chore to drink and such a shame. I nearly took it back but persevered best I could. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Venus in Flares | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Unexpected haze. Tolerable |
| Castle Rock - Venus in Flares | 4.20 | | Bulk standard citrus fare |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Tepid, awful, murky, tasted more like unfermented wort than ale. No off flavours. Left half my glass |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - OPA Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | Came on unadvertised at very end of session - for the cognoscenti only? |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Krusher | 4.50 | Not Tried |
13 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with many a Saturday regular on parade among the hardened for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 2nd night on for this Birling-brewed bitter, north of West Malling in Kent, and presenting very good head and lacing but not overly lasting. A dry bitter first hit. A good fruited bitterness with hints of plum and even fig rising. A barrage of hops leaping up for a pat or two to make any good dog's tail wag with the likes of East Kent Goldings and Fuggles. There were certainly no aggressive citrus or tropical notes found in this recreated traditional bitter and unlike what you find in modern American-style hopped pales. A very dry, crisp bitterness alongside those subtle fruited plummy notes and from the odd fig or two playing out. |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | 3rd day on for this High Brooms' porter, north-east of Tunbridge Wells. Again as on Thursday, good head and lacing but not lasting. A dry fruited, malty, dark chocolatey and smoky first hit. Definitely getting a good hint rising of dark fruit, the odd prune or two, and aniseed flavouring. A moreishly dry bitterness winning over. A hoppy note competing and emanating from its Columbus and Fuggles hops and sailing out. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Sanctum Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Krusher | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - The Right Waves Gather | 5.30 | Not Tried |
11 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy with regulars and the less frequent for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | First night on for this High Brooms-brewed porter, north-east of Tunbridge Wells, with a good creamy head and lacing lasting. A malty and dark chocolatey first bite complete with a moreish smokiness from its roasted grains and Beech smoked malt. A good hoppy note from its Columbus and Fuggles hops rising. Hints of sweet sherry in on the concoction alongside dark fruit, prune and aniseed. A dry bitterness intermingling with its six different malts lingering. |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | | 2nd night on for this winter session pale ale from just outside Hebden Bridge, north-east of Manchester, and presenting very good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy but juicy tropical fruited first bite from its Rakau, Mosaic and Citra hops. A gentle bitterness rising in among its fruitiness. A good assortment of fruity notes including from zesty citrus and ripe stone fruit playing out. |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | Its 3rd night on and less murky than when 1st on Tuesday. This Manchester-brewed bitter, going west of the city centre to Salford, presented some head and lacing but not overly lasting. A very bitter first bite. A hoppy sharpness rising from its Cascade, Ekuanot and HS EXP hops, the latter an experimental hop variety. A lemony hint pervading the mouthfeel. A bitter but sour note winning over and lingering. As on Tuesday, just one pint sufficed as for me not quite my ideal bitter. |
11 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | Initial poured head dissipated very quickly |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | | Poured flat |
| Kent - Frostbite | 5.00 | | Poured flat in glass |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried |
10 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Beer range really not much to my palate tonight so moved on swiftly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | | Good but little body |
| Kent - Frostbite | 5.00 | | Had developed a vicious bitterness overnight |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | Not Tried |
09 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
In for the usual last 30 minutes of serving only to find serving until midnight due to Charlton FC's evening home match, losing 2-1 against Middlesbrough. Busy at all tables at the front and with the Tuesday fiddlers in residence out the back.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | | 3rd night on and still displaying a good head and holding its lacing throughout. A mildly fruity first hit from this Yorkshire pale from south of Leeds. The brewery was set up in 1998 by ex-Tetley brewer, Bob Lawson. A hoppy fruitiness rising from its US hops used: Citra, Mosaic and Cascade. A citrus flavouring lingering but not overly to make it too much of a challenge to have another to follow. It was much liked by others who recommended it to me. It ran out after I had sufficiently supped it. |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | Fresh on but minus head and lacing on this Manchester-brewed bitter, going west of the city centre to Salford. A mildly fruity first bite. It had a hazy appearance and did not really have a bitterness that you would expect from such a named ale. Somewhat lemony and not really hoppy despite being made with Cascade, Ekuanot and HS EXP hops. The latter hop is likely to be from an experimental hop variety that is still in the testing phase of a breeding program. Such hops are identified by a code until they are officially commercialised and given a marketable name. One pint sufficed as minus any conditioning as perhaps on too early. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | Came on very belatedly. |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Keras | 3.50 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | Not Tried | On very belatedly. |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Kent - Frostbite | 5.00 | Not Tried |
09 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until a later midnight close, later as a Charlton Athletic FC fans post-match crowd was in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Winter Bloom | 3.80 | | Came on at very last knockings, really on for tomorrow but I snapped up a half. Basic citrus no less and no more, |
| Kent - Frostbite | 5.00 | | Lively basic citrus job |
| Marble - Manchester Bitter | 4.20 | | Poured unexpectedly cloudy and a chore to finish |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | Came on at last knockings |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Keras | 3.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
08 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Busier than usual cribbage team crowd.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | | Good condition - as good as yesterday's |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Bordering on poor, flat. Soon reached end of cask |
| Brew York - Keras | 3.50 | | Poured flat, no condition |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | Tolerable |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with the regulars and the more occasional on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Second day on for this bitter from High Brooms, north-east of Tunbridge Wells, and punching out more flavour than when fresh on, on Saturday, and with good head and lacing and lasting. A very bitter first hit. A good maltiness from its 5 different malts climbing up, alongside caramel and toffee flavours dancing on my taste buds. A gentle bitter hoppiness, aided by its East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops, paddling out accompanied by the odd faint tangerine note. |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | | This Kent-based brewery's winter stout, brewed in Birling, north of West Malling, presented a good head but the lacing was not overly lasting. A roasted malt or two in its first bite. A bitterness rising among its malts and a hint of spruce and pine on my palate care of its meandering through the woods and not to forget the merest touch of the odd dark chocolate bear hanging off a branch or two! |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | This extra strong Kent Prohibition American Pale Ale from north of West Malling marked this Birling-based brewery's 10th year for brewing this ale. Very good head and lacing presented and lasting. It was billed to have double the hoppiness. Not sure that it was any more hoppy than the usual strength Prohibition at 4.8% but it was certainly more fruity in its first bite. A hoppiness gently rising from some of the latest US hops involved. Dried citrus fruits pervading alongside hints of pine, resin and spice. Rather overly fruited for me I decided as it made its downwards exit. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
 | 715 |
| 1903 |
| 589 |
| 49 |
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 1502 times, seen 1898 different beers and tried 1115 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ