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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) |  | 2 |
| Burning Sky - Aurora | | 1 |
| Chiltern - Kop Hill Ale |  | 2 |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales |  | 3 |
| Five Points - Best | | 3 |
| Five Points - Pale | | 1 |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 3 |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Colony | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
08 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of the regulars, the odd lesser spotted and the fiddlers playing their instruments out the back.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a good-looking head and lasting lacing on this Northfleet stout with brewing just outside Gravesend named after the town's historic pier, the oldest remaining cast-iron pier in the world. Production of its first beer took place in January 2018. A chocolatey first hit. A dry bitter maltiness rising from its 7 different malts: Simpsons Finest Pale Maris Otter, Dextrin Malt, Amber Malt, Brown Malt, Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley, and TMM Jumbo Oat Flakes. Delighting my taste buddies were the flavours of dark bread, sweet vanilla, dark chocolate, and a milky bitter coffee thrown in with a hint of liquorice. A distant hoppy note calling out from the addition of Admiral behind orange peel, citrus and fresh orange flavours mixed with an earthy herbal spice, resin and a subtle woodiness, before the sail downwards with a roasty bitterness lingering. Served in top nick. |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now its third night on and still exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting well on this Kentish bitter named after one of its hops, Kent Golding, from brewing which began in 2010 with the opening of their own dedicated 10-barrel plant in Birling, Kent. A dry hoppy first hit. A bitter hoppiness bounding up with Fuggles also in on the mix alongside some locally sourced malts lending flavours of toasted bread crusts and crisp biscuits, and a toffee-infused and light caramelised sweetness. A floral hoppiness prevailing with lavender and fresh springtime herbal flavours hitting my taste buds. A mildly fruited hoppy note waving on its paddle out. Served in good form still and holding its conditioning throughout. |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Owens Court Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
06 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual Sunday regulars on parade among a few of the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on today and showing off a good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter named after one of its hops, Kent Golding, in the ingredients from brewing which began in 2010, briefly out of Larkins Brewery at Chiddingstone, Kent, before opening their own dedicated 10-barrel plant in Birling, Kent, in October of that year. A dry hoppy first hit from also its other hop, Fuggles, in on the mix alongside some locally sourced malts. A bitter hoppiness bounding up with its Goldings hops behind lavender and fresh springtime herbal notes, alongside a hint of sweet honey and a touch of thyme and light kitchen spices, and its Fuggles hops behind earthy and woody flavours including of damp soil, wood, and autumn leaves, and a hint of green grass and mint. A touch of maltiness for good measure from locally sourced malts lending flavours of toasted bread crusts and crisp biscuits, from its traditional English pale and amber base malts, a touch of caramelized crystal malt providing a layer of toffee and light caramel sweetness, and the specialty malts giving the beer its amber colour. A floral fruited hoppiness prevailing and waving on its paddle out. Served in top nick with perfect conditioning. |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third day on and exhibiting a lasting head and lacing on this porter from East London’s Hackney where brewing was founded in 2013 in a railway arch underneath the Hackney Downs train station before moving their main production facility to a larger site on Mare Street in Hackney. A sweet smoky first blast to whet my whistle with a sliver of marmalade-like fruitiness with its sweet orange-peel flavouring ringing my bell. A dry malty bitterness rising aided by its 100% British hops, East Kent Goldings, sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent, lending a touch of lavender, rose and honey, plus herbs and an earthiness, a touch of freshly cut grass, along with a spiciness reminiscent of white pepper, subtle cedar wood and light mint. A chocolatey bitterness winning over with hints of coffee and emanating from its 7 different malts, Maris Otter, Brown, Crystal, Chocolate, Munich, Dark Crystal and Black, before its shunt down my tunnel with its smokiness lingering. Served still in very good nick. |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Chiltern - Kop Hill Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
06 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The pub Guv was in charge tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Always reliable porter |
| Chiltern - Kop Hill Ale | 3.70 | | Subtly citrus amber ale. Quite liked it |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | New cask on today. May condition better by tomorrow |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
05 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with a few regulars and the more occasional on parade for the last three-quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Second day on and displaying a creamy head and lasting lacing on this East London porter from Hackney where brewing was founded in 2013 in a railway arch underneath the Hackney Downs train station before moving their main production facility to a larger site on Mare Street in Hackney. A very smoky burnt flavour in its first hit. Bitter chocolate and roasted coffee notes tap dancing on my palate and emanating from its 7 different malts: Maris Otter, Brown, Crystal, Chocolate, Munich, Dark Crystal and Black malts. Its 100% British hops, East Kent Goldings sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent, lending a touch of lavender, rose and honey, plus herbs and an earthiness, and freshly cut grass, along with a spiciness reminiscent of white pepper, subtle cedar wood and light mint. A touch of marmalade-like fruitiness with its sweet orange-peel flavouring for me. Hints also of sweet caramel, dark raisins, tobacco and liquorice before its full steam ahead shunt down my liquid-oiled tracks. In superb nick. |
| Chiltern - Kop Hill Ale | 3.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and proudly exhibiting good head and lasting lacing on this amber ale from an old working farm in Terrick, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, right in the heart of the Chiltern Hills and where brewing was established in 1980. A very dry bitterness on the first hit on this amber ale and so-named in association with The Red Lion pub in Whiteleaf to celebrate the Kop Hill Climb motoring event, a non-competitive event paying tribute to over a century of motorsport history while raising substantial funds for local community projects. A dry hoppiness rising from its 100% English hops. It likely hops are East Kent Goldings lending a slightly sweet and honey-like floral spice, Fuggles lending a bitterness with woody, earthy and herbal notes, and First Gold or Challenger to engender orange and tangerine fruit peel flavours. A citrusy hoppiness prevailing with a hint of tangerine for me. Malted barley that is Buckinghamshire-grown and pale and lightly roasted crystal malts lending it a biscuity and toasty sweetness along with a nutty and sweet caramel flavouring. Faint hints of toffee and light marmalade for me. Served in very good nick with plenty of conditioning throughout. |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fifth day on, not including Tuesday when it was taken off, for this best bitter from East London’s Hackney and still exhibiting good head and lacing. A malty caramel-infused first bite from its Low Colour Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, Light Crystal and Amber. A dry malty bitterness rising from its trio of hops, Fuggles, Challenger and Ernest lending grassy and herbal flavourings. Too toffee-infused with its biscuity and caramelised moments for my taste buddies and so just one sufficed but served in good condition. |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Snake Eyes Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) | 6.50 | Not Tried |
03 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of regulars on parade and the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: This East London best bitter from Hackney first appeared on Monday but was a tad fresh and so reappeared on Wednesday missing Tuesday when I was last in. This would make it, its third night actually on. It presented a respectable head and lacing and lasting. A dry bitter fruitiness in its first hit. A malty caramel and biscuity flavours joining in, emanating from its Low Colour Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, Light Crystal and Amber. A good floral, grassy and herbal flavouring from its trio of hops, Fuggles, Challenger and Ernest. Served in good nick. |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Head and lacing on being poured but not lasting on this Exeter-brewed chocolate stout on its sixth day on and from brewing set up in 2003, before relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A dry first bite from its mix of malts. A hint of sweet honey emanating from its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. A malty chocolatey bitterness prevailing with coffee-infusions, liquorice and a caramel sweetness. A burnt-bitter, woody flavouring lingering with a touch of thyme and marjoram from its English Goldings hops plus dried citrus peel tinged with a smoky dryness and a peppery spiciness. Thin tasting more so from last sampling it on Tuesday. |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) | 6.50 | Not Tried |
03 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - Tack! (collaboration with O/O Brewing) | 6.50 | | Quite moreish. Holding up well after several days |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | | Basic slightly hazy citrus |
| Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried |
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 |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 816 |
| 2215 |
| 752 |
| 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 1794 times, seen 2044 different beers and tried 1215 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ