PubsandBeer
History: Home > The River Ale House
The River Ale House (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter |  | 1 |
| Five Points - Best |  | 3 |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | | 2 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | | 3 |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | | 2 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 2 |
| Oakham - Interstate | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #8 | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Leap | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
01 Oct 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. 2nd night in a row ended on a bottle of Orval due to lack of a proper bitter on draught.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Fresh cask on today. Condition spot-on with full fruitiness but is it from fresh fruit or essence? |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Leap | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
30 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. With no proper bitter on draught nightcapped with a bottle of Orval.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Always a reliable brew |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Holding up well |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | Still around! |
| Elusive - Leap | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
29 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with just a table of regulars on parade and the very odd lesser spotted and where the fiddlers must have heard my impending entrance down the road as unusually deathly silent on my arrival for the last half an hour of serving without even the usual jukebox to be heard in the background.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Second night on and exhibiting very good head and lasting lacing on this East London brew’s bitter with a copper-amber complexion from Hackney and first set up in railway arch underneath Hackney Downs station in Hackney, East London, in 2013 before expanding in 2021 to a refitted warehouse at 61 Mare Street, Hackney. A slightly hoppy fruited first bite but not overly. A gentle bitterness rising from its trio of hops, Fuggles sourced directly from the award-winning Hukins Hops in Kent aiding an earthiness, alongside Challenger and Ernest. A grassy herbal freshness lasting for me from its hoppiness. A maltiness joining in aided by its Simpsons Low Colour Maris Otter barley, Wheat malt, Crystal Medium and Amber malt, giving it a rich, reddish-caramel hue alongside lending a rush of bready biscuit and a sweet caramel toffee touch. A hoppy fruited bitterness prevailing before its sailing down my gullet. Climaxing for me using a traditional London Ale Yeast lending a dry, lingering bitterness with a woody flavouring and an accompanying maltiness. Served in top nick. |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried |
29 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Argument over real value to asset owners of Burnham's care costs plans.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Probably Five Points's best ale. But seems to be no longer a single hop job (Fuggles or Goldings) but a mix of hops |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | | Lost something since Sunday |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual assembly of Sunday regulars among the odd lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Third day on and displaying head and lacing on being served this dark bitter but not keeping it. A dry bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising. Floral hoppy flavours joining in. A sweet maltiness predominating on its slide out. Served in reasonable condition but not holding onto its carbonation. See my entry dated 26th September 2026 for my full account of it. |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #8 | 4.00 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Low footfall for a Sunday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock - Tessallations | 4.50 | | Best beer of the evening. New cask on today with zingy mouthfeel |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Tasted sour to me and was poured flat |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | | Rather like the one I had at Star & Garter Bromley the previous day. OK |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #8 | 4.00 | | Did not pick up from the tasting notes description |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
26 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Saturday regulars on parade among the more occasional for the last three-quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Second day on and head and lacing lasting all the way on this chestnut brown hued dark bitter from brewing set up in Maidstone, Kent, in 1983, next to the old Hayle Mill in Bockingford, and so resurrecting the craft of proper independent mashing in the county town. Come 1990, the firm needed more elbow room and packed up their coppers to pitch up at the Tovil Green Business Park in Maidstone. A dry bitter first hit from this brew originating from their first ever coaxing of a mixture from their hot liquor. This Best Dark Ale made its debut under the handle, "Maidstone Ale", at a local CAMRA knees-up before getting its proper modern title. A malty bitterness quickly ascending with a heavy-handed measure of traditional Maris Otter winter barley malt paired up with high proportions of Crystal malt. On its lonesome, the floor-malted Maris Otter delivering a sweet, bready and biscuity basis for the Crystal malt to kick in a deep, sugary punch of thick caramel. A distinct roastiness and notes of rum and raisin for me down to the very final drop. A hoppy bitterness winning over with the copper kettle treated to a lavish dosing of East Kent Golding hops, sourced straight from local Kentish fields, and behind a bitterness balanced by a delicate floral and honeyed spice. Combined with the heavy malt, a sweet roastiness going down my hatch, before signing off with a dry malty finish that wraps up the sweetness like a neatly tied parcel. Served in very good nick. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Interstate | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #8 | 4.00 | Not Tried |
24 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with the hardened and the more infrequent on parade for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | Fourth night on for this Tunbridge Wells bitter and still exhibiting good head and lacing from brewing set up in 2013 after the head gaffers spent a bit of time testing their mash paddles at various other microbreweries down in Kent and Sussex. The founders originally crossed paths playing a bit of cricket before parking their copper kettle in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, setting up shop in an industrial unit on Chapman Way, just a short stroll from High Brooms station. A very earthy bitter first hit. A fruited maltiness rising from five distinct grains: Maris Otter Ale, Caragold, Carapils, Crystal 150, and Low Colour Chocolate malts. The Maris Otter behind its sweet, biscuity base, the Caragold and Carapils aiding its body, the Crystal 150 throwing down a sweet dollop of toffee, and the Low Colour Chocolate malt slipping in a sly roasted note. Hints of toffee and dark dried fruit for my taste buddies. A hoppy fruitiness prevailing from Fuggles dropping a woody, earthy herbal note and Bramling Cross behind its fruity splash. An earthy spice mixed with subtle berry notes on my palate lingering before paddling downwards. Still in good order. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Interstate | 4.20 | Not Tried |
24 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Showing its "We are in it" posters for launch of Good Beer Guide 2027 today.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | Holding up well |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | Tiring |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Interstate | 4.20 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | Good condition with flavour hit |
| Oakham - Interstate | 4.20 | | Just as yesterday's. Good condition and some head and lacing but not much |
| Goacher's - Green Hop (EKG version) | 3.90 | Not Tried | Ran out as I ordered |
| Pig & Porter - Cosmic Jive | 3.40 | Not Tried | Came on at last knockings |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Dubai - creamy milk stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Pale | 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