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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 |  | 2 |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | | 3 |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Easy Rider | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | | 1 |
| Black Sheep - Blonde | | 1 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kelham Island Easy Rider | | 1 |
| Oakham - Thirteen Steps | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | | 3 |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale |  | 3 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | | 2 |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | | 1 |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | | 1 |
| Elusive - Riverwood | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Black Magic Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Katzenjammer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Shine On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nuttycombe - Cotleigh Springer | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
07 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | Still holding up pretty well |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Alas dumbed down for duty savings |
| Oakham - Thirteen Steps | 4.00 | | Good condition but drank it with hardly noticing |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | Not Tried |
06 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with a local club meeting ending and so some familiar faces from seeing them many a time before mixed in with the regulars on parade amongst them.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | This Ramsgate-based stout came with still good head and lacing to begin with and on its third night on. A dryish bitter first hit. A maltiness then came to fore in the mouthfeel with the odd chocolate hit contrasted with the bitterness from its Fuggles hops and lingering. |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | Second night on for this pale ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself in Kent, and presented with very good head and lacing and holding very well. A hoppy dryness was in the first hit from those Kent Challenger and First Gold hops. It had a definite hoppy bite to it in the fruity mouthfeel, and perhaps aided by the odd spiciness erupting and citrus explosion. A dry hoppiness lingered on and very moreish. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | 4.50 | Not Tried | Just went off shortly after my arrival. |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Thirteen Steps | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | 3.50 | Not Tried |
05 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Dogends of a bank holiday weekend low footfall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | New cask on this evening. Excellent head and lacing throughout |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | 4.50 | | Good condition but pretty average on taste |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | | No change on yesterday - just a half |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | 3.50 | Not Tried |
04 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A handful or two of regulars in for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Some head and lacing on being presented this Maidstone pale on its second day on. A powerfully hoppy and oily first punch did it pack on the taste buds! A hoppy fruitiness then came to the fore and lingered from those East Kent hops and nothing too sharp about its fruit-infusions. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Fresh on today was this Thanet-based stout from near Ramsgate and so head and lacing put up a good show on this. A malty first hit. A very bitter maltiness then pervaded the mouthfeel and with the merest hint of chocolate. A hoppy dryness from those Fuggles hops then lingered on. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Sadly came with little head and lacing on only its second day on did this Thanet-based pale bitter from just outside Ramsgate. A hoppy first hit from those Fuggles hops in it. A bitter hoppiness in the mouthfeel from the Goldings hops also used and lasting unlike the head and lacing which soon vanished on being served it. |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | 3.50 | Not Tried |
04 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Lacked most of the tasting notes' promised attributes |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | | Reasonable taste but little condition |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | 3.50 | Not Tried |
03 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
For last hour of serving, minus many of the usual Saturday regulars but it was a May Day bank holiday weekend and so they are forgiven! But still a few of the hardened regulars on parade! Charlton FC played at home today and some of their fans had been in earlier and so not a drop of what was on yesterday evening remained on this evening for this last hour of serving. They must have been very thirsty! I cannot recall all the beers changing from one evening to the next and when 6 were on yesterday!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Fresh on was this third ale of the evening. All beginning to follow a pattern now. Charlton FC played at home today and some of their fans who were in earlier had drunk all Friday's ales, including my favourite Brew York bitter that only came on belatedly on Friday evening! This Maidstone pale ale I was now sampling was presented with very good head and lacing and lasted throughout. A sweet hoppiness was in the first hit. A dry hoppy ale from those East Kent hops came to the fore but sweetish and lingering from that Maris Otter malted barley flavouring and so reminding me of that lovely Maris The Otter bitter that first came on the night before and was entirely quaffed earlier and before I had the chance to return to enjoy it. |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | | Yes again, fresh on! Came with good head and lacing on this Essex mild from Maldon. A very dry malty first hit. A bitterness and maltiness colliding in the mouthfeel. A hint of liquorice flavouring, no doubt also aided by my savoury sausage roll alongside this. This one also uses Maris Otter malts alongside some others to remind me again of that lovely bitter fresh on last night and quaffed by many others in earlier today. A dry bitterness lingered to make me recall that bitter once again that I enjoyed so much yesterday evening. |
| Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery) | 4.00 | | Another Thanet-based brewery was this one after the Gadds' pale bitter just tried. This APA brew comes from St Nicholas At Wade, south of Birchington-on-Sea and between Herne Bay and Margate. Fresh on today and presented good head and lacing and stayed the course. A hoppy fruit-infused first hit. Positively a fruity firework display on the taste buds. Described as an amber best bitter in the tasting notes, it came at you with citrus hits from those exclusive American hops used. The fruity fireworks continued into its aftertaste! One sufficed for me! |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Fresh on but minus head and lacing after a momentary appearance on being first served and on this Kentish pale bitter from just outside Ramsgate. A hoppy first hit followed by a bitter, deriving from those Goldings hops, and a fruit-infused hoppiness from its Fuggles hops rising up in the mouthfeel and lingering. |
| Southwark - Honey'd Brown Ale | 5.60 | | You have guessed it! Also fresh on was this Southwark-based brown ale. Minimal head and lacing from the start! Its first hit and it was like a sherry. A dry bitterness managed to shine through all the caramel and toasted malt flavourings in the mouthfeel. This all lingered on with the odd hints of berry flavouring joining this circus act. Only a half sufficed as far too sweet for my liking! |
| Elusive - Riverwood | 4.60 | Not Tried | Also fresh on today. |
| Dark Revolution - Orbital | 3.50 | Not Tried | Also fresh on today. |
02 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Many a Friday regular in among the more occasional for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | | Fresh on, and almost literally, was this Yorkshire-brewed bitter and presenting very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A malty bitter first hit. A malty mouthfeel derived from its five different malts and a wonderfully hoppy bitterness from no less than three varieties of New World hops, the collective name for those from America, New Zealand and the southern hemisphere. A pleasantly malty hoppiness persisting in its moreish aftertaste. Only this was supped on this visit as quite simply it was the best! |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Shine On | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Black Magic Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Nuttycombe - Cotleigh Springer | 3.90 | Not Tried |
01 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
The busiest I have seen this micro since the Thursday before and for last 30 minutes of serving with many regulars in and the more occasional alongside.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Second night on for this Ramsgate-based brewery's best bitter and exuding very good head and lacing. A malty bitterness in the first hit. A malty mouthfeel from those six different malts that have gone into its making and a hoppiness rising up in their midst from four different hops. A slightly sweetish toffee-flavoured aftertaste with hints of red berry and spiciness from the odd blackcurrant. Very moreish and in tip-top condition for my taste buds. |
| Black Sheep - Blonde | 3.70 | | Went for it as never had a Black Sheep on cask before. Holding its head and lacing well on its second night on was this North Yorkshire pale. A sweetish and hoppy first hit. A medicinal kick derived from its bitter grapefruit flavourings in the mouthfeel and a pleasant hoppiness lingering from its Celeia, Cascade and Amarillo hops. I would always have it in its bottled form in Harry Ramsden's fish and chips restaurants and the Riggwelter, a dark strong ale at 5.9%, and a term used for where a sheep has rolled onto its back and is unable to get back up. Thankfully you stand more chance of getting back up with their Blonde. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kelham Island Easy Rider | 4.30 | | Recommended by a fellow regular and this Derbyshire pale came with good head and lacing on its first night on. A very fruity first hit. Fruit-infused flavourings in the mouthfeel from citrus, peach and passion fruit and a hoppiness rising up and lingering from 4 different hop varieties, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Citra. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Shine On | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Black Magic Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried |
01 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Finished off with a Snails Bank Toffee Apple cider!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | So much better than the No. 3 earlier this week |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Easy Rider | 4.30 | | Unexpected light haze |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Shine On | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Black Magic Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Black Sheep - Blonde | 3.70 | Not Tried |
29 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Sparse in front room, usual Tuesday fiddlers in back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | First day on and quite flat |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | | On a few days and all condition now lost |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | 4.20 | | Minimal head and lacing |
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Black Magic Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Katzenjammer | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 659 |
| 1544 |
| 451 |
 | 35 |
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 1230 times, seen 1771 different beers and tried 1031 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ