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The River Ale House (Free House)

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' PaleExcellent1
Oakham - Green Devil IPAGood4
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)Good2
Kent - Barbe RougeGood1
Brew York - TonkokoGood4
Anspach & Hobday - The Golden BitterGood1
Church End - Stout CoffinGood4
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGBGood5
Brew York - Calmer ChameleonAcceptable1
Anspach & Hobday - The IPANot Tried0
360° - Session IPANot Tried0
360° - TacomaNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - PupaNot Tried0
Brew York - Duality Idaho 7 & AzaccaNot Tried0
Oakham - Sun CityNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - EverytimeNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - EvokeNot Tried0
Picture 1. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Picture 2. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Picture 3. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

15 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
For the last 30 minutes of serving, I witnessed a family reunion for one of our Friday regulars with his son and Scottish partner on brigade, and along with the hardened and the more occasional, and this made for an opportunity for lively banter all-round.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30GoodFourth night on for this York-brewed milk stout and seen better days and which I earlier enjoyed. A head and lacing now minus the cream and lasting, a struggle. A burnt-toast first bite. A malty sweetness rising. A lovely bunch of coconuts or two playing on my palate from their roasting. The Belgian cacao nibs with hints of dark chocolate are part of the backing group. Its sweet spiciness tantalising my taste buds with its vanilla, almond, cinnamon and clove flavourings. A malty fruit-infused sweetness lasting. Moreish but somewhat overly sweet to do more than a half on its fourth night on.
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40GoodSecond night on and head and lacing, good, and lasting, fair, on this Bermondsey-brewed bitter. Not as fruity a first bite as on its premier evening. Its US Chinook hops lending it a hoppy bitterness rising. A biscuity caramel-infusion mixed with a bitter dryness casting its sails before gently drifting off into the sunset.
Anspach & Hobday - The IPA6.00Not Tried
360° - Session IPA4.30Not Tried
360° - Tacoma3.90Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
14 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of the regulars and the not so regular.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30GoodThird night on now for this York-brewed milk stout. Not as creamy a head as on Tuesday but still there and lacing almost lasting to the end and so fair. Now a touch of smokiness about its first bite. A very malty coffee-infused hit after hit. Its toasted coconut proved popular with me and one other fan on it as well, as did the Belgian cacao nibs with hints of dark chocolate flavouring. This was gently infused with an aromatic spice exuding vanilla, almond and possibly marzipan, cinnamon and clove flavourings. A malty fruit-infused sweetness slowly going out with its tide with a moreish dryness, its climax. Put to my taste buds' test and living up to its accolade of being multi-award winning!
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40GoodFresh on this evening and so good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Bermondsey-brewed bitter. A fruity first bite. A hop-infused bitterness rising aided by its US Chinook hops. A good kick, like the mule has, in its hoppy fruitiness. A touch of biscuity caramel-infused bitterness gently lapping up with a hint of pine, spice and the odd dark fruit before its tide gently ebbed away.
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Evoke4.20Not Tried
14 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00AcceptableTiring now after some days on. Might well be quite a lot left in the tub still though
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10AcceptableVery little life in glass. Disappointing
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Evoke4.20Not Tried
12 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier footfall than earlier nights for last 30 minutes of serving. Charlton FC were at home again, following their home-game win against Watford FC on Saturday in the Championship League, and this evening won 3-1 against Stevenage in the English Football League. So, a few in after the match including the landlord.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30ExcellentFresh on as just replaced the Church End stout is this York-brewed milk stout. A wonderfully creamy top to it. Head, very creamy, lacing, similarly creamy, and lasting, good. A coffee-infused first bite. A very malty mouthfeel about it mixed with toasted coconut, Belgian cacao nibs which are said to be considered a simpler, more wholesome option to dark chocolate, and Tonka beans containing an aromatic spice with vanilla, almond and possibly marzipan, cinnamon and clove flavourings. Extremely moreish with a dry malty fruit-infused sweetness sailing down my hatch! Not surprisingly described in the tasting notes as multi-award winning!
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10GoodNow its third day on and still very good. This Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling, came with still good head and lacing and almost lasting throughout. A very dry bitter first bite. Aided by its Golding and Fuggles hops, a moreishly dry hoppiness climbing up. A malty note or two playing out and still got that lovely dry oily hoppy aftertaste! Almost a touch of resin to my taste buds from its hoppy oiliness like the Greek wine, Retsina. Very moreish and so once again stuck with it apart from a half of a new stout just on to end on.
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60Not TriedJust gone.
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
12 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Noisy fiddlers' music night in back room.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00GoodHolding up well
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Good3rd pint of cask just put on. Fresh
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60Not TriedRan out
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
11 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just the hardened on parade alongside the odd one or two more occasional.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10ExcellentOnly its second day on. Head and lacing, still very good, and lasting, good. A very dry oily first bite from this Birling-based bitter, north of West Malling. A fruity bitterness veering up. Its Golding and Fuggles hops lending hoppy infusions with a gentle bitterness bobbing up and down. A very palatable dry hoppiness sliding down my hatch and lingering in my cakehole. As on Sunday, intensely moreish and so stuck with it but for half a stout for my tide to go out on.
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60GoodNow its third day on for this stout from Nuneaton, north-east of Birmingham. Starting to run out of steam. Head and lacing, good, holding it, fair. Still alive proven by its very malty first bite. A fruity bitterness rising with a malty note playing on aided by its dark berry flavourings in on the mix. A fruit-infused malty dryness lingering on.
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
11 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00GoodPretty much always reliable
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10GoodSlight loss of condition since yesterday
Kent - Barbe Rouge4.50GoodNo past experience to judge this on. Good condition but basically tasted of nothing
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
10 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Just a smidgen of hard-core regulars seemed to be in residence.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00GoodAlways reliable
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10GoodReasonable head and lacing
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60AcceptableNeeded more condition to really take off
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Duality Idaho 7 & Azacca4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
10 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last 30 minutes of serving with just the merest few of the hardened in among the more occasional. The theme set by the now also more occasional Sunday "musical" barman in the sense he gives us a musical theme the week or so before for tracks to be played was "time". Pink Floyd's Time was played and superb! Parts of it were used in the 1973 tv programme entitled "In Search Of The Perfect Pint" and now found on YouTube and featuring Fyfe Robertson. Look up: 1973: In Search of the PERFECT PINT | Robbie | Classic BBC documentary | BBC Archive. That should find it. In this Robbie extols: "In my self-sacrificing search for the best, I have sampled a lot of beers. And I have found here as in a lot of other places too, my perfect pint, it’s a bitter. Maybe it would not be the best for you, because no one beer could be every man’s perfect pint. Just as no one woman could be every man’s perfect mistress. And the perfect pint needs to be more than beer, it needs the right setting, the warm sun and the proper frame of mind. The best beer can’t taste right if you have got lumps in the liver. This then is my choice: smooth, not too sweet, not too bitter, and it’s the real macoy. Not sterilised into deadness, but still alive but though more than willing to go down the hatch without a struggle. But you’ll need something else first of all, something every wise man should cultivate, the perfect thirst! Cheerio!"
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10ExcellentFirst day on and wonderful. One of my favourite local microbreweries is this one from Birling, north of West Malling. Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout its performance. A very bitter first bite. A lovely hoppiness rising ably assisted by its Golding and Fuggles hops. A malty note or two joining in to aid its voyage down my appreciative hatch! Very moreish and so stuck with it apart from a half of stout to end on.
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60GoodSecond day on. Not as good as its first day sampled but still pulling a good punch on this stout from Nuneaton, north-east of Birmingham. Church End started in 1994 in an old coffin shop and so hence this ale's name no doubt! Thankfully a lively stout and certainly still holding its head and lacing well and lasting as served at 10.50pm-ish and not sampled until 11.25pm and some 15 minutes before going-home-time. A dry malty first bite with the odd dark berry in on the mix. A moreish bitterness rising. A mildly fruit-infused malty dryness playing out.
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Duality Idaho 7 & Azacca4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Sun City3.70Not Tried
09 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 40 minutes of serving with the hardened Saturday regulars in among some of the footy supporters still in situ from the Charlton FC home-game against Watford FC, beating them 1-0 in the Championship League and which Charlton have just gone up into.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Church End - Stout Coffin4.60ExcellentFresh on today and a lovely creamy head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Nuneaton stout, north-east of Birmingham. A dry fruity first bite with a hint of dark berries. A moreish bitterness emerging with a good serving of maltiness. A mildly fruit-infused malty dryness sailing off into the sunset.
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50ExcellentAlso fresh on today, care of those thirsty Charlton supporters in earlier to toast Charlton's first game and win in the Championship League and which they have just been elevated into, is this Bermondsey-brewed hazy pale. Head and lacing, very good, and holding it, good. A grapefuity first bite. A pleasant hoppiness winning over assisted by US hops, Citra and Mosaic, and doing battle with the expressive English variety, Ernest. A dry hopped mix sailing off with the odd grapefruit or two gently bobbing along into the sunset.
Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter4.00GoodGood head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Bermondsey-brewed golden-coloured bitter and on its first day on. A fruit-infused first bite. A gentle hoppy bitterness rising ably assisted by its two English hops, Ernest and Endeavour. A biscuity maltiness also veering up. Aided by a touch of dried fig and pine, a dry fruity bitterness lasting.
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime3.80Not Tried
Brew York - Duality Idaho 7 & Azacca4.50Not Tried

[More Visits]

About The River Ale House

The pub sign. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional11
Excellent685
Good1713
Acceptable502
Poor41

Website.

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 1353 times, seen 1825 different beers and tried 1061 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ