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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown |  | 5 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob |  | 4 |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Five Points - Best | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale (East Kent Goldings) | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot |  | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Leap | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Original Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | Not Tried | 0 |
| Silent - Daybreak | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
09 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with some Friday regulars on parade among the more occasional for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | | Fresh on and exhibiting an excellent head and lasting lacing on this Kentish session bitter from brewing set up in 2010 in Capel, just on the outskirts of Tonbridge, before in April 2013 moving to Branbridges Industrial Estate in East Peckham, Kent, and roughly 7 miles north-east of Tonbridge. A lightly fruited hoppy first hit on this light brown hued brew. A very gentle bitterness rising from its Kent-grown leaf hops. First Gold behind its zesty tang, Goldings behind its floral notes and Challenger behind its crisp bitterness. Married together in the boil, releasing for me a fruity and floral aroma and taste to delight my old sniffer and palate. Its floral hoppiness prevailing. The odd malty note joining in with a blend of classic malted barley lending an earthy foundation alongside roasted grains giving off a mild toffee flavouring. A hoppy fruitiness lingering on its outflow. A tad fresh perhaps as slightly tingly on the tongue and caused me a good few belches along the way unlike the average drop in this micropub. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Original Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with a good turnout of regulars among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This seemed very popular with most of the regulars on this Hackney-brewed brown ale and despite it now being its fifth night on. Head and lacing still very evident on being poured but not anything like as creamy as it was. Still very porter-like in its flavourings which were holding well. See my full details of it in my entry for Sunday 4th October 2026. |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Now its fifth night on for this Uckfield Best Bitter and it has not really had the chance to lose its head and lacing as very little was presented on its first day on, on Sunday. Just a smidgen of head on being served it. It tasted not too tired but overly toffee-flavoured for my liking with a prevailing maltiness throughout. See my full details of it in my entry for Sunday 4th October 2026. |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Few days on and still acceptable |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
06 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a local club in among the hardened regulars and the final strains for another week from this micropub’s rear where the fiddlers’ batteries were evidently winding down after their session’s delights to everyone's ears.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop Ale (East Kent Goldings) | 3.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and served with a handsome head and lasting lacing on this gold-coloured green hop ale from Goacher’s Brewery set up in 1983, making it Kent's oldest independent microbrewery, in a former paper mill in the Loose Valley, close to Hayle Mill, Kent, before in 1990 moving to Tovil Green Business Park. A very floral hoppy first bite on this green hop ale that was first brewed in 2015 and where the freshest local green foliage was picked straight from the Kentish bines and rushed to the copper within hours. A hoppy crispness rapidly rising from those virgin East Kent Goldings aroma hops freshly picked and unkilned, delivering for me a floral spice and an earthy, herbal bitterness. Its 100% Maris Otter winter barley malt sourced from traditional floor maltings aiding a sweet digestive biscuit base, and staying as smooth as a silk topper for me. A lingering oiliness on my lips and on the swallow before swishing down my potato trap with a fruity finish. Served in ‘up to the knocker’ top form condition and highly moreish and so another two followed. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third night on and still exhibiting a creamy head and lasting lacing on this brown ale from brewing launched in 2013, under a noisy railway arch at Hackney Downs train station, before the caboodle moved to a massive former warehouse on Hackney's bustling Mare Street, bringing the brewery and taproom all under one roof. The Brewery's name comes from the busy five-way road junction just down the cobbles where Amhurst Road crosses Dalston Lane. A very malty first bite on this mahogany and deep reddish-brown coloured ale and where they first boiled the copper for it in autumn 2016, naming the Brick Field Brown after the old Victorian brickworks that used to clutter the East End marshlands. A marry-up of Maris Otter, Amber, Light Crystal, Dark Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malts, smoothed out with Golden Naked Oats and the Maris Otter lending a sweet, bready biscuit base. Its Amber, Brown and Crystal malts tossing dollops of demerara sugar, rich caramel and toasted hazelnuts on my taste buds. Its Chocolate malt lending a roastiness and its Naked Oats leaving it smooth as satin on my tongue. An oak woodiness in on the act prevailing for me. A sweetened bitterness rising from its American Willamette hops with distinct notes of elderberry and floral spice. Its British Challenger and Goldings hops tossed into the copper for good measure and behind for me a sharp and earthy herbal bitterness. A good sugar rush if ever there was one but slightly too sweet for me to go beyond a half. Served in top notch condition with a lingering toffee finish. |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
06 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Usual music noise from back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | 3.90 | | In peak condition - full of flavour |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | | A haze job and I could feel its ABV strength |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cushty Peeve | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried |
04 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a handful of Sunday regulars on parade among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a very creamy head and lasting lacing on this brown ale from brewing launched in 2013 inside a railway arch underneath Hackney Downs train station, in East London, before moving to a former warehouse on Hackney's bustling Mare Street. A taste not unlike porter on this first hit for me. A bitter fruitiness rising from its American Willamette hops with notes of elderberry and floral spice in on the act. Its British Challenger and Goldings hops lending for my taste buddies a sharp and earthy herbal bitterness. A sweet maltiness winning over with hints of biscuity caramel from its Maris Otter, Amber, Light Crystal, Dark Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malts. Its Golden Naked Oats and the Maris Otter aiding its bready biscuity base. Dollops of demerara sugar from its Amber, Brown and Crystal malts. Caramel and toasted hazelnuts tapdancing on my taste buds. A dry oak-infused woody bitterness lingering. Too sweet to go beyond a half but served in superb condition all the same. |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third day and showing off good head and lasting lacing still on this Kentish Bitter. A dry bitter fruited first hit. A malty bitterness rising up. My second pint of it was my last as it literally ran out after that and only came on, on Friday and so was clearly a hit with other real ale drinkers too! Served in good form to the very end literally. See my entry dated 2nd October 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and only just a little head and lacing evident on this amber-gold coloured bitter from brewing launched in 2019 and starting its life from a humble home-brewing hobby inside a garden shed. Set up by three young gents who spent their boyhood years playing in a local spot called the "Three Acres", the operation at Little Goldsmiths Farm in Blackboys, is near Uckfield in the rural East Sussex countryside. A sample then led to a half but this sufficed. A hoppy bitter first mouthful on this beer originating from their first ever brew boiled in the copper in 2019. An earthy and gentle fruity hoppiness rising from the brewers tossing all-English varieties into the kettle leading to an earthy bitterness alongside floral notes of summer blossoms and rustic fields. On the swallow, this brew delivers a balanced, lingering bittersweet finish. A marry-up of traditional English barley and specialty Crystal malts lending a biscuity and nutty foundation. The Crystal malt also throws down a gentle dollop of caramel sweetness. A slightly sweetened bitterness lingering for me before the slide down my hatch. Perhaps just a tad too fresh to have developed its head and lacing here. |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
04 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Ran out soon after mine |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | In OK condition. Very limited head |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Just came on at session end, saw only one pint poured with no head or lacing |
| Milestone - Cathedral Gold | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
03 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade for the last three quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | | Second night on and still on good form with very good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter. A dry hoppy first hit. A malty bitterness rising. A hoppiness reigning with the odd floral earthy note alongside its biscuity sweetness from its malts. Again, served in top form and so stuck rigidly to it. See my entry dated 2nd October 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Silent - Daybreak | 4.50 | Not Tried |
02 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of the regulars and the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 |  | Fresh on and presenting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish bitter from brewing set up in 2010, bringing traditional copper boiling back with a modest four-barrel plant over at Whiteoaks on Tudeley Road, near Tonbridge, before in 2013 shifting to a bigger plant at the Brandbridges Industrial Estate in nearby East Peckham, and upgrading the gaff with a massive 20-barrel facility to keep the pumps flowing. A fresh sharp hoppy first hit on this bitter named after a bright reddish-copper hue that looks just like a polished Victorian boiler and sporting a lasting beige top that looks a regular treat under this micropub’s gas lamp-like dim electric lights. A fruited bitterness rising. A maltiness climbing in from a marry-up of British malted barley with a blend of Pale and toasted Crystal malts lending a biscuity base, while the Crystal malt throws down a dollop of toasted caramel sweetness for me and fermented with a strain of live yeast saved from the famous Barclay Perkins Brewery of Southwark which closed its brewing operations in the early 1970s. A hoppy bitterness prevailing from its quadruple foliage with four classic British varieties tossed into the kettle: Northdown, Challenger, Golding, and Fuggles. On their own, Northdown and Challenger aiding a sharp bitterness with a touch of pine while Fuggles lends a woody, earthy herbal note, and the Kentish Goldings behind a delicate floral spice and fruitiness. An aroma of fresh herbs, wild berries and peppered spice tantalising my taste buds. On my swallow, a robust hoppy finish that glides through the sweet grain. A lip-smacking crisp hoppiness lingering. Very thirst-quenching and served in top nick and so firmly stuck to it. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Silent - Daybreak | 4.50 | Not Tried |
01 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for a change with every table, all five, out the front taken with a good few of the odd lesser spotteds outnumbering for a change the regulars on parade for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Third night on and still displaying good head and lasting lacing all the way. A very dry hoppy first bite. A slightly fruited bitterness rising with a moreish hoppiness prevailing. A maltiness joining in with a dry and but fruity-fresh bitter hoppiness lingering before the exit down my “hause-pipe” as in the nautical-inspired term for the throat. See my entry dated 29th September 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | Gone during this visit. |
| Elusive - Leap | 4.00 | Not Tried | Gone during this visit. |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 16 |
| 833 |
| 2246 |
| 770 |
 | 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 1831 times, seen 2058 different beers and tried 1227 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ