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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Castle Rock - Soft FocusGood1
Brew York - Fennec Blonde (was 3.7%)Good1
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey PaleGood2
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Burton Ale on the Union (collaboration with The Kernel)Good2
Elusive - Jan-Ken-Pon (collaboration with Wild Horse)Good3
Lost Pier - Jester Green HopGood2
Titanic - Plum Porter Grand ReserveGood3
Church End - Goats MilkGood3
Oakham - Cool EyesGood2
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)Acceptable3
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleAcceptable1
Redemption - HopspurAcceptable2
Goacher's - Fine Light AleNot Tried0
Rooster's - All StarNot Tried0
Brew York - Clementine ChameleonNot Tried0
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' PaleNot Tried0
Brew York - Cornerstone (collaboration with Overtone)Not Tried0
360° - Double DeckerNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - PupaNot 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

24 Dec 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Footfall limited to a few hardened regulars.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Burton Ale on the Union (collaboration with The Kernel)5.50GoodMissing something. Rather flat and only brought to life with multiple decanting. Overly malty
Lost Pier - Jester Green Hop5.20GoodVery resinous mouthfeel
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Brew York - Fennec Blonde (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40Not Tried
24 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall for seeing in Christmas Day on my arrival at about 10.30pm. Just six hardened regulars in, including me. Governor's barman ended proceedings as in serving at 11pm and we were all out before welcoming in Jesus's birthday. First early closure for such a night since opening in September 2017, just over 7 years ago.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Fennec Blonde (was 3.7%)3.40GoodFresh on and a good head and lacing. Just so ever lightly hoppy in the mouthfeel with a dryish aftertaste.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Burton Ale on the Union (collaboration with The Kernel)5.50GoodVery good head and lacing as literally fresh on today is this dark ruby-red ale from Bakewell, southwest of Sheffield. A malty first hit followed by a barrage of raisins and plums in the mouthfeel and followed by a dry aftertaste.
Lost Pier - Jester Green Hop5.20GoodA half sampled and enough to get the good head and lacing on its first night on. A touch of marmalade in the flavouring but otherwise a bitter mouthfeel with the odd malty note. No other green hop quite tasted like this one from my earlier recollections. This one is from the brewery in Burgess Hill north of Brighton.
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40AcceptableOnly third night on and minus head and lacing without the decanting involved from this Bermondsey-based brewery. A very bitter, bitter mouthfeel and without much of the tasting notes' description of hop aromas of pine, spice and dark fruits.
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40Not Tried
23 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
A rare Monday visit for last 30 minutes of serving and minus the winter cribbage team or two in. Just a sprinkling of hardened regulars in and one table of the perhaps occasional visitors in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Castle Rock - Soft Focus4.50GoodTried a taster and so went for a half to explore a bit more. Good head and lacing in this IPA from Nottingham. It had a resinous dryness prevailing with pine, lime and lemon undertones. One half sufficed for me!
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40AcceptableOnly the second night on and minimal head and lacing on this Bermondsey-based bitter. Much decanting was needed to get the carbonation. A dry bitterness, some fruitiness, a hint of biscuit and caramel flavouring, and a touch of sourness lingering.
Elusive - Jan-Ken-Pon (collaboration with Wild Horse)4.80AcceptableJust a taster and not as good as previous night and so did not proceed although had some head and lacing still on this Wokingham pale ale.
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40Not Tried
22 Dec 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve6.50GoodNeeded more conditioning to carry off the strong flavour
Elusive - Jan-Ken-Pon (collaboration with Wild Horse)4.80GoodA tasty mid brown bitter, not as per the tasting notes
Redemption - Hopspur4.50Not TriedRan out
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40Not Tried
Oakham - Cool Eyes3.40Not Tried
22 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for those Sunday regulars in and for last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Elusive - Jan-Ken-Pon (collaboration with Wild Horse)4.80ExcellentA reasonable head and lacing on this Wokingham pale ale. Very amber in colour. A dry, oily mouthfeel with a slight bite to it and a bitterness lingering.
Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%)3.40GoodGood head and lacing on this Bermondsey beer as fresh on. A very bitter first hit and a bitterness lingering along with some biscuity and caramel flavouring.
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40GoodGood head and lacing for its second night on. A hoppy mouthfeel with a dryness lingering. Slightly lacklustre in flavours.
Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve6.50Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Oakham - Cool Eyes3.40Not Tried
21 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy with many a Saturday evening regular in for last 45 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve6.50Good2nd night on and good head and lacing on this Stoke-on-Trent porter. The first hit was of 100% plums with a slight sweetness pervading. This was followed by a dry mouthfeel with the plums lingering.
Anspach & Hobday - Bermondsey Pale3.40GoodFresh on and so good head and lacing. A very lightly hoppy mouthfeel and slightly lacklustre in flavouring. A very dry aftertaste.
Oakham - Cool Eyes3.40GoodGood head and lacing on this Peterborough pale with its 2nd night on. A very dry first hit with a slight fruitiness in the mouthfeel. A pleasantly dry, oily aftertaste lingering.
Redemption - Hopspur4.50Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Elusive - Jan-Ken-Pon (collaboration with Wild Horse)4.80Not Tried
20 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy with a good few Friday regulars not there for the last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve6.50GoodVery good head and lacing on this Stoke-On-Trent porter. A first hit of 100% plums with a dry and not sweet mouthfeel lingering.
Oakham - Cool Eyes3.40GoodGood head and lacing on this Peterborough pale. A very hoppy and dry first hit and lingering throughout the mouthfeel.
Redemption - Hopspur4.50Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Cornerstone (collaboration with Overtone)4.80Not Tried
19 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall indeed for last 30 minutes of serving as a choir group in performing Christmas carols out the front. At least 3 staff serving and so not too long a wait and then retreated to the comparative quiet and space of the back seating area.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Church End - Goats Milk3.80GoodGood head and lacing on this Nuneaton golden ale and now on its third night for my sampling of it. It was first brewed for the Goat Inn in Frognall, near Peterborough, to help explain its name. Pleasantly hoppy and oily in the mouthfeel with a moreishly dry lingering aftertaste.
Redemption - Hopspur4.50AcceptableGood head and lacing on this amber bitter from Tottenham. It had a sharp sourness in the mouthfeel which made it not very pleasing to my palette. It was very malty with caramel, toffee and honey notes lingering.
Rooster's - All Star4.30Not Tried
Brew York - Clementine Chameleon4.10Not Tried
360° - Double Decker4.90Not Tried
Brew York - Cornerstone (collaboration with Overtone)4.80Not Tried
19 Dec 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Cutty Sark singers were still here for Trussell Trust charitable singing of Christmas Carols and songs. Great harmony, sometimes earsplittingly so.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Church End - Goats Milk3.80GoodHolding up well after a few days on
Redemption - Hopspur4.50AcceptableAlmost first pints out of a new cask on. Fresh and lacking any real body to it
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not TriedRan out
Rooster's - All Star4.30Not Tried
Brew York - Clementine Chameleon4.10Not Tried
360° - Double Decker4.90Not Tried
Brew York - Cornerstone (collaboration with Overtone)4.80Not Tried
18 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Noticeably busier over recent nights and in the run-up to Christmas and for my timing of the last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Church End - Goats Milk3.80GoodNot that I have tried goat's milk and I would hope nothing like such a milk and so a strange name for this Nuneaton-based brewery's golden ale. Good head and lacing and nothing milk-like in appearance or consistency as totally clear. A very dry, hoppy mouthfeel with a lingering dryness. No sweetness in it which is not the norm for golden ales.
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70AcceptableRather tired as has been on since last Saturday as I recall. Only a slight head and lacing now and much decanting was needed. Still fruity in flavouring with a dry aftertaste.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Rooster's - All Star4.30Not Tried
Brew York - Clementine Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Cornerstone (collaboration with Overtone)4.80Not 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
Excellent625
Good1298
Acceptable389
Poor33

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 1086 times, seen 1672 different beers and tried 958 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ