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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Capel Pale Green Hop |  | 1 |
| Loddon - Citra Quad |  | 1 |
| Magic Dragon (formerly New Plassey) - Border Bitter | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | | 1 |
| Park - Yomp! | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 3 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | | 3 |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | | 3 |
| Kent - Pale | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 2 |
| Tonbridge - Capel Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Kent - Loaded American IPA |  | 1 |
| Oakham - Fiend | | 2 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Goodnight Pete English IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - HopWalk Green Hop Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Goodnight Pete (collaboration with Padstow) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Killcat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Harvest | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
10 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Low footfall. Mea culpa ordering my drinks in the wrong order, dark before light.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | New cask on today - quite lively mouthfeel |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | | Tiring a tad since yesterday's |
| Park - Killcat | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
09 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. A Tonbridge evening on the ales front.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | | Good but have had this in better condition |
| Tonbridge - Capel Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Sharply bittered green hop ale. Held strong head and lacing |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | Good condition but tasted very malty home brew |
| Park - Killcat | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
09 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good mix of the hardened, the regular Sunday turnout or two and the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Capel Pale Green Hop | 4.50 | | 1st one tried on this visit: Second day on for this Kentish green hop pale from south-east of East Peckham and north-west of Tonbridge itself. How did I manage to miss it on Saturday evening? But some kind person or two from that evening left me a pint at least. Instantly quaffable! Good head and lacing from the off and just the one decant towards the end of the second pint needed to reawaken its visible freshness. A very fresh hoppy first hit. A moreish hoppy, grassy flavouring delighting my taste buds aided by its locally grown Pilgrim hops from the recent harvest. They were picked on the day of brewing and you cannot get fresher than that! An oily hoppiness entering centre stage before its slither downwards courtesy of all that virgin oil exuding from its wonderfully supple hops. Could have drunk it until the cows had come home but who was counting the cows for that matter but up against the barman's bell tolling for "time gentlemen, please!" Undoubtedly, one of the best samplings of a pint or two on recent visits. |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | | 3rd one tried on this visit: Pleasantly surprised as was expecting something as sweet, from reading the tasting notes, as the Tonbridge special best bitter. Second day on and very good head and lacing on this East Peckham-brewed porter and described on the tasting notes as a "bittered porter". Rightly, a very dry bitter first bite. An earthy maltiness rising with the merest slither of chocolate and coffee. A hoppy note or two ably sailing onwards with a hint of dark berry and honey thanks to its Kentish hops: Northdown, Bramling Cross and Golding. |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | 2nd one tried on this visit: Third day on and still exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting on this Tonbridge special brew from just outside East Peckham and north-east of Tonbridge itself. Only my second tasting of this auburn special best bitter following Saturday evening and here a modest half. An ever so sweet bitter first bite from this beast of a special brew. A sweet maltiness rising from its treacle, toffee and dried fruit flavourings. A spicy hoppiness paddling out. Not a quaffable ale compared to their Capel Pale but good all the same. |
| Park - Killcat | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade including the Saturday brigade for the last 45 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | | Some head and lacing but not lasting on this Kentish pale from Birling, north of West Malling. A grassy hopped first bite. A dry citrus-infused hoppiness rising and tap dancing on my taste buds. A good fruited hoppy note sailing out. |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | Second day on and good head and lacing and lasting on this Tonbridge special brew from just outside East Peckham and north-east of Tonbridge. A very malty first bite. A sweet bitterness rising with a malty note or two firing up from its launch-pad of treacle, toffee and dried fruits. A spicy and malty sweet bitterness slithering downwards. |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Killcat | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Capel Pale Green Hop | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
06 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Many a hardened regular on parade among some of the lesser spotted regulars and the odd one or two more occasional and for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Now its third night on for this Kent brewed bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. Good head and lacing and the latter really sticking to the pint glass all the way down. This is always immensely pleasing to my eyes! A very bitter and malty first bite. A malty note or two leaping up with just the merest hint of caramel in on its mix. A moreishly dry but ever so slightly fruity hoppiness rising from its Kent Fuggles hops. A good dose of malts rearing up again for good measure but its bitter hoppiness definitely making its mark on its final downwards voyage. |
| Oakham - Fiend | 4.20 |  | I was intrigued by a fellow customer's Fiend from Peterborough which was on its now third night on but minus any head and lacing. The customer concerned laps up most dark ales most appreciatively. They told me it was not chocolatey enough for them. This spurred me on to try a sample. Literally, there was no head or lacing on it at all even when first served it. A sweet first hit like biting into a fruitcake for me. Then its fruited-infused malts rose up to get to know my taste buds; all six of these malts were there according to this micro's tasting notes. Did I detect the coffee and dark chocolate? I did, but these flavourings were somewhat deflected by its tropical and citrusy fruited hops. This came from a mix of the UK Olicana hop and US Cascade and Amarillo hops. Its sweetness and lack of life put me off going beyond this sample and another customer left getting on for a half of their half of it. |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Loddon - Citra Quad | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Loaded American IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
06 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | | Holding up well after a few days on |
| Loddon - Citra Quad | 4.40 | | First out of a new cask. Rather over the top lemon hit. Condition good but with not pre-warned haze |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Loaded American IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Fiend | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
05 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Insufficient condition to carry this one off well |
| Kent - Loaded American IPA | 5.00 | | OK but nothing special |
| Oakham - Fiend | 4.20 | | Little condition |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Goodnight Pete (collaboration with Padstow) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
04 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy throughout my visit and earlier than usual as in mid-evening and to meet up with a friend on a daytrip from Ramsgate. They left as Charlton's home game win, 1-0, against West Bromwich had ended and it started to fill up after this victory.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 |  | Fresh on was this Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and although a tad woken-up following a Welsh bitter lasting less than two evenings being replaced, it exhibited very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. This was until I tucked into a homemade roll or two, with sliced sausage, on the last couple of pints which impacted on its lacing lasting. A slightly dry fruited first bite. A gentle maltiness rising with a hint of caramel flavouring. Its Kent Fuggles hops lending it a dry fruity hoppiness and winning over its malts. A good helping of bitterness paddling out. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Loaded American IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Goodnight Pete English IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - HopWalk Green Hop Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Fiend | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
03 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Lost a bit since yesterday |
| Magic Dragon (formerly New Plassey) - Border Bitter | 3.80 | | Good condition but too malt dominant for me |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Harvest | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Yomp! | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Great clarity and well conditioned |
| Park - Yomp! | 4.50 | | A Rye Ale in quite good nick |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 14 |
| 714 |
| 1863 |
| 568 |
| 46 |
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 1472 times, seen 1883 different beers and tried 1103 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ