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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) |  | 1 |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | | 2 |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | | 2 |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | | 4 |
| Five Points - Best | | 1 |
| Five Points - Pale | | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | | 1 |
| Stancill - Canuck | | 2 |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Colony | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
02 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until mandated time to leave.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) | 6.50 | | At 6.5% had the full boded-ness to carry off the high bitterness level |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | | New cask on today. An OK ale if you like haziness and citrus |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | Not Tried | Soldiering on |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with a local club’s attendees occupying two tables at the front, leaving the regulars and a few odd lesser spotted at the other three tables in the front seating area for the last half an hour of serving. Out the back were the fiddlers strumming away to add to the cacophony.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | 4.30 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second night on and presenting good head and lasting lacing on this IPA from a brewing outfit set up in 2015 in the heart of Bristol City Centre with its main brewing site and taproom in Wilson Street. Despite its tasting notes suggesting otherwise, not overly fruited but a hoppy first hit instead. Its New Zealand hops, Riwaka and Rakau, behind its merest hints of citrus, passionfruit, grapefruit, pine and berry flavours buzzing my taste buds. Hints of gooseberry, white grape and peach also in on the citrus fruit punch being driven by its New Zealand Nelson Sauvin or Motueka hops. I think it reads worse than it tasted for me. Its hint of hops lending a dry, crisp bitterness coupled with a subtle maltiness from its barley, oats and wheat. Served in good nick with a lot of conditioning presenting its vibrant fruitiness. |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fourth day on for this Devon chocolate stout from brewing set up in 2003, before relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A momentary head and lacing to start with. Its dry first bite giving way to a malty chocolatey bitterness. Coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice and a caramel sweetness settling on my taste buddies. A burnt-bitter, woody flavouring alongside a hint of sweet honey emanating from its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. Hints of thyme and marjoram from its English Goldings hops. A touch of dried citrus peel tinged with a smoky dryness and a peppery spiciness sailing downwards. Still thin tasting for me and with less conditioning than when last tried on Sunday. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | 1st beer of this visit: Now its fourth day on and only momentarily displaying a head on this Kent bitter from Northfleet, just outside Gravesend, and with brewing set up in 2018. No lacing at all. A dry bitter first hit. A hint of fruitiness rearing up with a touch of orange and plum. Its English Goldings hops from Hukins Hops based at Haffenden Farm near Tenterden in Kent giving rise to a floral, herbal and spicy hoppiness. Honey, biscuity caramel, raisin and toffee emanating from its Maris Otter malt, Simpsons Imperial, Medium Crystal and Double Roasted Crystal. Little conditioning remaining and tasting rather flat. |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) | 6.50 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | Crystal clear and clean on the palate |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | New cask on today. Either too fresh or not ready. Did not have the usual clean taste and was hazy |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Colony | 4.20 | Not Tried |
30 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | | A well brewed pint. Less harshly bittered than the example I had in Furze Wren earlier in the week |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | A so so pint |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Colony | 4.20 | Not Tried |
30 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a couple of tables of regulars in and the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this Kent bitter from Northfleet, just outside Gravesend, and with brewing set up in 2018. A dry bitter first hit. A lively fruitiness rising with hints of orange and plum alongside its floral, herbal and spicy hoppiness from its English Goldings hops from Hukins Hops based at Haffenden Farm near Tenterden in Kent. Its Maris Otter, Simpsons Imperial, Medium Crystal and Double Roasted Crystal malts giving rise on my palate to honey, biscuity caramel, raisin and rich toffee flavours. Its combined flavours for me leading to a lasting sour and sharp citrusy fruitiness doing battle with its malty bitterness. Served still in good form with its lasting lacing. |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on with still very good head and lacing lasting well on this East London pale from brewing set up in 2013 under a railway arch by Hackney Downs station, before relocating in 2020 to Hackney’s Mare Street. A dry but fruited first bite. A malty sweetness rising from its Maris Otter, its base malt, alongside Pale Cara aiding its sweetness, and Munich Malt and Wheat Malt aiding its head hanging on. Its numerous fruity hints were of citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest, pineapple and mango. A hoppy resinous bitterness winning over from its US hops, Citra, Cascade and Centennial. A lingering dry bitterness making it very moreish with a hint of pine resin. Still served in good nick. |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Second day on and good head and lacing to start with on this Devon chocolate stout from brewing set up in 2003 as the Topsham & Exminster Brewery, before in 2007 becoming The Exeter Brewery and relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A dry bitter first bite. A dry malty chocolatey bitterness rising with flavours of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice alongside a subtle caramel sweetness. Ably assisted by its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses, a burnt-bitter finish. Earthy and woody flavourings alongside a hint of sweet honey winning over. Its English Goldings hops lending it hints of thyme and marjoram. A peppery spiciness pervading with a touch of dried citrus peel washed down with a smoky dryness. Slightly thin tasting for me despite all its subtle flavourings. |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Colony | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than the average Saturday and indeed aided earlier by a Charlton FC home game meaning that some of its fans had managed to wipe off all the listed beers as "on now" by my time of arrival. Remaining were the usual regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on and very good head and almost lasting lacing on this Devon chocolate stout from a brewing operation originally set up in 2003 as the Topsham & Exminster Brewery, a microbrewery situated on the Exminster Marshes nature reserve, before becoming The Exeter Brewery in 2007 and relocating to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, in 2012. A dry malty first hit. A chocolatey maltiness rising from its blend of chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. Hints of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice alongside a subtle caramel sweetness. A touch of honey, thyme and marjoram, with a mild, peppery spiciness prevailing. Its English Goldings hops lending a touch of dried citrus peel. A smoky burnt-bitter finish with an earthy and woody flavouring. Served in good nick. |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and presented with very good head and lacing sticking to the end on this pale from brewing set up in 2013 under a railway arch by Hackney Downs station, before relocating in 2020 to a larger facility nearby in Mare Street, Hackney, in East London. A dry resinous first bite. A mildly fruited hoppiness rising with a touch of citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest, pine resin, pineapple and mango all in on the mix from its US hops, Citra, Cascade and Centennial. Its malts are Maris Otter, its base malt, alongside Pale Cara aiding its sweetness, and Munich Malt and Wheat Malt aiding its head retention and mouthfeel. A lingering dry bitterness making it very moreish. Served in top form with good conditioning. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and very good head and lasting lacing on this bitter from brewing set up in 2018 in Northfleet, Kent, just outside Gravesend. A fruited first bite. A sharp orange and plum fruity hoppiness rising with herbal, spicy and gentle floral notes. A dry bitterness prevailing from its 100% English Goldings hops sourced locally from Hukins Hops at Haffenden Farm near Tenterden in Kent. A maltiness joining in with subtle honey, biscuity caramel, raisin and rich toffee notes emanating from its Maris Otter, Simpsons Imperial, Medium Crystal and Double Roasted Crystal malts. A fruited sweetness with a very citrusy sour touch lingering. Served in good form but overly fruited for my taste buds and perhaps just a tad too fresh. |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Colony | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a couple of tables of regulars on parade among a few of the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Fresh on was this Kentish IPA from a brewery set up in 2010 in Chartham, southwest of Canterbury. Came with a very healthy head and lasting lacing. Very much a sharp hoppy first bite. An oily hoppiness rising to delight my taste buds. Berry, citrus and an earthy, honey-infused sweetness from its 100% locally sourced Kent hops, namely West Kent’s modern Jester hops and traditional East Kent Goldings lending earthy, honeyed flavours. Aided by its local and international malted barley, hints of nuttiness and toffees joining in. A moreishly resinous oily green floral hoppiness paddling out. Served in very good nick with great conditioning throughout. |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | Not Tried |
27 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | New cask on today and the better for it |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | | Basic job - unexciting |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | Not Tried |
25 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade among an increasing number of the odd lesser spotted, a lively terrier-like-cross, and a plethora of the Tuesday fiddlers in situ out the back for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Bermondsey bitter from a brewery first set up in 2013 in a railway arch in Bermondsey, South London, along the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile, before moving to a larger site in Croydon in 2020 but keeping the original Bermondsey location as a taproom and for sour-beer making. A dry fruited first hit on this dark bronze-caramel amber-coloured bitter. A hoppy fruitiness rising from its US Chinook hops exuding the flavours of pine, spice and dark fruits such as cherries and sultanas for me. Its East Kent Goldings offering it a traditional bittering and fruitcake flavouring. A malty note joining in with toasted biscuit and caramel flavours hitting my taste buds from its Maris Otter, its base malt, alongside flaked barley, flaked maize (corn), light crystal and dark crystal malts. A dry peppery bitterness sailing out. Served in top nick. |
| Stancill - Canuck | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on also was this golden pale ale from Sheffield and as part of a series celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup host nations. Showing off an impressive head and lasting lacing, its brewing operation began in 2014 when the historic Oakwell Brewery in Barnsley closed with the brewing equipment relocated to Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on the doorstep of the former Stones' Cannon Brewery, and so utilising the area's exceptionally soft Yorkshire water. A mildly fruited first hit. A woody, resinous hoppiness rising from its 100% American Columbus hops, making it a single-hop pale ale behind its woody, earthy and citrusy lemon touches. A dry fruity finish sliding out and no detectable lemon flavours for me. In top form with copious conditioning throughout. |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Still exhibiting a little head at the start but struggling to hold onto it on this stout from Finchampstead, Berkshire, near Wokingham, where brewing was set up in 2016. If it came on last Friday that would make it now five days old, or it might have just come on, on Saturday when I first sampled it. A chocolatey first hit on this stout acting as a chaser to my Belgium chocolate cake I just happened to bring along. This stout's specialty malts, namely dark and roasted malts, giving rise to its espresso and chocolate flavourings mixed with a Madagascan vanilla sweetness for my taste buddies. Challenger and Goldings, its bittering hops, lending a dry bitterness. Still served in reasonable nick though not keeping its head and lacing and with a loss of conditioning. |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | Replaced Oakham Green Devil. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried |
25 Aug 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The musicians were in the back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | | Almost first out of new cask just put on. Hazy and very citrus so not to my taste but good condition |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | | Been on a few days |
| Stancill - Canuck | 4.00 | | Citrus by any other name |
| Elusive - Tenacious C | 5.00 | | Flat in glass |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 812 |
| 2208 |
| 749 |
| 64 |
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 1788 times, seen 2044 different beers and tried 1215 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ