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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale |  | 2 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | | 2 |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | | 3 |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB |  | 3 |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | | 1 |
| Five Points - Best |  | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
11 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Arriving in time for what would have been just half an hour of serving remaining turned into an endurance test after returning from a pleasant but long day in many of Hastings’ Old Town’s great pubs. Serving carried on until about half past mid-night to reflect the World Cup’s England v Norway game’s extra time. I was surprised by the low footfall of regulars in among a sprinkling of the more occasional. A trio of some of the absent Saturday regulars were back after about nearly a month’s absence as part of the regulars. The only new beer on appeared to be Vibrant Forest’s Pupa which is hazy and rather fruity with citrus and ripe tropical fruits. The bitter was still on from Tuesday but given the chiller was not working in the cold room from last Sunday until about the end of this week, this also was not going to be entertained by me. The low footfall perhaps reflecting the beers being on for some time and without the chiller for nearly a week to help their longevity and also the World Cup football has no doubt not helped.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | | 4th day on for this golden ale from Hardley, a small village on the eastern edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, following the brewing operation's move there in 2019 after being set up in 2011 in Totton, just west of Southampton. Little head and lacing and soon dissipating on being served. A dry but heavily fruited first hit. A hoppy fruitiness persisting from its US Cascade hops. The brewer uses both the US variety and also Cascade UK, a British-grown version adapted to grow in local UK soils since 2002. For me, a peachy fruitiness though these US hops are known to contribute grapefruit and citrus alongside floral flavours of rose, lavender and cut grass. The Cascade UK variety is also said to be behind tangerine and lychee and so perhaps combined, this was giving me that peachy touch? A hint of maltiness but not hugely from its Maris Otter lending a slightly sugary biscuity edge with hints of breadiness. Not overly sweet-tasting with a pervading fruity hoppiness sailing out with a resinous pine also getting in on the act. A chore really but perhaps from the tired selection or the very fruited fresh one on, the best of a bad bunch. A mere pint and a half I made last for some two hours of World Cup football with England beating Norway. |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
09 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Did not dally after my one half.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | Cooling here seems to be part working today. Poured flat in glass, chore to finish. Tried no other ales |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
09 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than of recent visits for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of regulars with the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | | Third day on with only very limited head and lacing to begin with. The chiller in the cold room had been malfunctioning since Sunday by all accounts and so this has not aided the longevity of this amber coloured Hertfordshire bitter from a brewing operation set up 2010 at Boxted Farm in Potten End, a small village near Hemel Hempstead. A very malty first hit. A dry bitterness with a floral hoppiness rising. Its Chinook, Harlequin, and Olicana hops with a hint of citrus and pine resin and a tropical note of orange zest still working for me. A sweet maltiness now winning over its fruitiness that was detected on Tuesday. Its biscuity and caramel malt flavours staying the course and arising from its traditional floor-malted barley. A very dry malty bitterness paddling out. Served in poor condition and no doubt not aided by the chiller in the cold room not working properly since this beer's first appearance on Tuesday and so rather tepid and minus its earlier conditioning. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
08 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Ugh. On Sunday cellar room chiller was part working, tonight switched off due to failure. Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 | | Cellar room chiller switched off due to a failure. Ice cubes added by bar staff. Drank quickly and left site |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Golden Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
07 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier footfall for the last half an hour of serving than of recent with the fiddlers still actually playing out the back and a local club in after their meeting taking up two tables at the front and so leaving just enough room for some of the regulars on parade and the odd lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Ralph Dutton ESB | 5.80 |  | 2nd beer of this visit: This one-year-old cask aged extra strong bitter from Steam Town Brew Company which was set up in 2017 in Eastleigh, north of Southampton, Hampshire, came on Monday and so by its second day on in sampling proved it was still in good nick. A half followed and presenting lasting head and lacing. A very dry bitter sweetened first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising above its fruity citrus sweetness from its blend of earthy UK Goldings and modern, fruit-filled UK Jester variety. A malty note joining in from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate, and wheat malts. A bitter fruitiness sailing out. It has a barley wine-like flavouring lingering for me. Served in very good nick. |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Evolve | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this mahogany and amber coloured Hertfordshire bitter from a brewing operation established in 2010 at Boxted Farm in Potten End, a small village near Hemel Hempstead, having initially founded as the Red Squirrel Brewery and arising out of an earlier 2004 micro-brewing setup in Hertford. A very dry bitter first hit. A hoppy floral note rising from its Chinook, Harlequin, and Olicana hops with a hint of citrus and pine resin and a tropical note of orange zest for me. It is a mix of American and modern New World-style British varieties with Chinook from the US, Harlequin from the UK and developed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and that mimics tropical fruit, peach, and passionfruit flavours typically found in New Zealand or American hops, and Olicana also from the UK’s Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the latter described as the "British Citra" with mango, passionfruit and grapefruit added to beers while being grown entirely on British soil. A sweet malty appearance winning over with biscuity and caramel malt flavours erupting from its traditional floor-malted barley. A very dry malty outflow descending. Served in top condition despite the chiller in the cold room not working and so a tad warmer than usual. |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
05 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Just a handful of regulars in among a few of the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Third day on and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting on this copper-coloured Kentish session bitter from the East Peckham brewery established in 2010 north of Paddock Wood in Kent. A dry bitter first bite. A dry biscuity caramelised maltiness rising from its UK-grown malted barley. A fruity bitterness winning over before sliding out with fruit, herb, and spicy notes emerging from its Kentish varieties, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in good nick still on its third day on; just a tad warm due to the beers' cold room not as cold as it usually is. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
05 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Should have been cooler. Admitted some sort of cellar cooling problem |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | | Should have been cooler. Did not match the tasting notes. OK |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Razorbill Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
04 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall as has become the norm over recent Saturdays and for the last hour of serving and minus the usual Saturday attendees. Just a handful of the hardened and a few of the lesser spotted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Good head and lasting lacing on its second day on for this copper-coloured session bitter from the East Peckham brewery north of Paddock Wood in Kent and set up in 2010. A dry hoppy first hit. A fruity bitterness rising with touches of fruit, herb, and spicy flavours abounding. A malty note putting in an appearance from its UK-grown malted barley with hints of dry biscuits and caramel notes. A malty bitterness prevailing with a good helping of hoppiness winning over from its Kentish hops, including Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. Served in excellent nick. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kashpur | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with less than two handfuls in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on with very good head and lasting lacing on this Eastleigh-brewed pale and located north-east of Southampton in Hampshire. A dry lightly fruited first hit. A malty touch from light malts used and wheat malt. A hoppy dryness rising from its US Citra and Mosaic before lingering on its descent. Served in good nick. |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | 1st beer of this visit: Bought in error was this East London bitter from Hackney as now certainly beyond its best on its seventh day on. I also tried it on Sunday when one sufficed on just its third day on. Forced myself to drink it but not a pleasure and completely flat and without conditioning. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Much talk as to whether this house will open until 5am on Monday morning for England football.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | | New cask on today. Good condition but a second one here tonight with no USP |
| Castle Rock - Over The Bar | 4.30 | | Good conditioning but drank with hardly noticing |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | Did not expect to still see this |
| Thirsty Moose - Golden Goose | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 779 |
| 2155 |
| 709 |
| 63 |
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 1727 times, seen 2013 different beers and tried 1185 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ