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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) |  | 3 |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | | 2 |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | | 3 |
| Oakham - Citra | | 2 |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | | 1 |
| Kent - Ernest | | 1 |
| Oakham - Shakedown | | 1 |
| Five Points - Best | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) |  | 1 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Pole Star (collaboration with Fierce) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings Citra Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
27 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Just half a handful of regulars shortly after a quarter past eight on this still steamy evening. By 10 o’clock with just an hour of serving left, though you could drink to midnight, there was just over a handful of regulars in and about three couples of the lesser spotted and so it remained for the rest of the evening. A small television, rarely on, positioned on the entrance door’s shelf above, showing England belatedly beating Panama in the World Cup.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Presented on its second day on with good head and lacing and lasting almost to the end on this East London-brewed best bitter from Hackney where brewing was set up 2013. A dry fruited first hit on this lightly copper/amber-coloured ale. A hoppy bitterness rising from being single-hopped with traditional Fuggles hops sourced from Hukins Hops in Kent and most recently a small touch of Ernest hops added to aid subtle spicy seasoning. A malty toasted biscuity note with hints of sweet caramel and toffee emanating from its Simpsons Low Colour Maris Otter alongside Wheat malt, Crystal malt and Amber malt. A line-up of fruited hoppy notes scoring an earthy, floral and slightly spicy hit on my palate. Two goals belatedly achieved to the delight of my ecstatic taste buddies with a trumpet-like flourish lingering with a grassy and herbal bitterness waving into the sunset. |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | Not Tried |
25 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | | Holding up well |
| Oakham - Shakedown | 5.00 | | New cask just on. Lively. I sometimes wonder if Oakham can brew more of a variety than such samey pale citrus ales |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - New Zealand Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
23 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. England World Cup football on TV to a mainly subdued audience.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | | Basic Citra in good condition |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | New on today. Good to have a dark one in such heat |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
The usual handful or two of appearances from the Sunday regulars among a few lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Good head and lacing to start with but not lasting on this amber-coloured English session bitter brewed in Ramsgate. It is likely to be now its third day on. A fruited first hit. Its fresh hops, Goldings and Fuggles, locally grown in Kent aiding its hoppy bitterness. Crystal Malt aiding its malty toffee flavours. Its floral, grassy flavours winning over for me. A fruited bitterness with hints of orange, peach and elderflower paddling out. Served in not such good nick as the day before with a loss of conditioning evident. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Usual suspects in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | | Tasty but citrus boring |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | OK - little condition |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | | Thin gruel - drank with hardly noticing |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Dolcita Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried |
20 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A sprinkling of the Saturday regulars in among a few of the lesser spotted for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | 1st beer of this visit: Came with very good head and lacing on this Ramsgate-brewed amber-coloured English session bitter and likely to have come on the day before. A hoppy first hit. A dry bitterness rising from its fresh green hops, Goldings and Fuggles, both locally grown Kent hops and lending floral, grassy flavours for me and mixed with Crystal Malt aiding its toffee malt flavours. A lightly fruited bitterness saddling out with fruity hints of orange, peach and elderflower on my palate. Served in good condition. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Presented with very good head and lasting lacing on this jet-black mild from Oakham Brewery, founded in 1993 in Oakham, in the county of Rutland, before brewing operations moved to Peterborough in Cambridgeshire in 1998. A malty first hit on what is its fifth day on. A fruity bitterness rising from its exclusively-used US New World hops, Willamette, Cascade and Simcoe. Its Maris Otter, Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt and Caramalt all aiding flavours of sweet treacle and malty milk for me, layered with caramel, chocolate and dark fruitiness from its hops getting in on the act. A hoppy infused bitterness on its descent with chocolatey flavours lingering. Served in good nick but too sweet and sickly for me personally to go beyond a mere half. |
| Oakham - Hoppy Pale (collaboration with Thornbridge) | 4.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Its second day on for this American Pale Ale from Oakham Brewery, founded in 1993 in Oakham, in the county of Rutland, before brewing operations moved to Peterborough in Cambridgeshire in 1998. Still exhibiting a good head and lasting lacing. It is a collaboration with Thornbridge Brewery, an independent UK craft brewery based in Bakewell, Derbyshire, and founded in 2005. A fruited first hit. A fruited hoppiness rising with citrus, tropical fruit and stone fruit flavours leaping up. It is heavily dry-hopped using four well-known US hops, Columbus aiding its earthy, spicy and resinous flavours, Amarillo contributing orange and citrus hints, Cascade aiding grapefruit and floral notes and Citra behind its fruit and citrus flavours. A very dry fruitiness paddling out with earthy spice and black pepper. Served in good nick. |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Pole Star (collaboration with Fierce) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
18 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet but for one lively dog among the lesser spotted and a few of the hardened regulars in for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Monday was its first night on, making this its fourth night on and so presenting some head and lacing but not lasting on this Maidstone-brewed Kentish dark ale. A very malty first hit. A fruity bitterness rising from its East Kent Goldings hops. A good malty infusion from its crystal malt with fruity notes prevailing and doing battle with its toffee flavours and caramelised maltiness. A sweetened bitterness paddling out. Served in reasonable condition but not keeping its lacing to the end and losing its conditioning. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Kings Citra Hop | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Pole Star (collaboration with Fierce) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
18 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | | Quite good condition but no real taste USP |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | | New cask on today. Typical citrus taste to bore |
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Pole Star (collaboration with Fierce) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
17 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. TV football England World Cup match dominated.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 | | Basic stuff. OK |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | Few of the tasting notes flavours were evident |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Stoke Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Pole Star (collaboration with Fierce) | 6.00 | Not Tried |
16 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with the usual regulars on parade and even the fiddlers were still strumming for my arrival in time for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original) | 4.10 |  | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on was this Maidstone-brewed traditional Kentish chestnut-brown bitter as fresh on in my absence on Monday. It was first brewed in 1983 at Hayle Mill, an old paper mill, in Tovil, Maidstone. Presenting wonderful head and lasting lacing still and even when completely supped, it was still evident on the sides of the glass. A dry bitter first hit. A slightly sweet maltiness rising from its crystal malt with flavours of caramel, sweet biscuit, and subtle hints of rum and raisin, and combined with a Maris Otter winter barley base. A sturdy bitterness winning over with a subtle fruitiness. A prevailing dry malty roasted bitterness sailing out ably assisted by its 100% East Kent Goldings hops. Served in superb nick and that all others would do well to take notes from. Very good conditioning throughout and lacing simply little seen on others in recent times. |
| Oakham - Midnight Mild | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on was this Peterborough jet-black mild and exhibiting very good head and lacing and lasting all the way on the sides of the glass and from a brewery originally set up in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, but later relocating its main brewing operations to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. A very creamy top on being poured like a generous helping of cream added on top on this mild brewed for CAMRA’s Mild Month of May. A very floral hoppy first hit afforded by its New World flavours from its US hops, Willamette, Cascade and Simcoe. A gentle maltiness sliding into the equation with flavours of coffee, caramel and dark chocolate emanating from its mix of Maris Otter, Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt, and Caramalt. A spicy hoppiness tantalising my taste buds with just the merest hint of sweet liquorice in its maltiness descending. Served in top-notch condition with a very plentiful mouthfeel lasting on this liquid pleasure. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 779 |
| 2155 |
| 708 |
 | 60 |
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 1723 times, seen 2013 different beers and tried 1184 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ