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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Tonbridge - IPAExcellent1
Phipps NBC - IPAGood3
Kent - Session PaleGood2
Oakham - JHBGood1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - West Coast IPA (collaboration with Burning Sky)Good2
Tonbridge - Blonde AmbitionGood1
Goacher's - Fine Light AleGood1
Iron Pier - BitterGood2
Leatherbritches - Citra PaleGood2
Tonbridge - India Pale AleGood3
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' HoyAcceptable1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)Acceptable3
Squawk - Mallard GFAcceptable1
Kent - PaleNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Killick's MillNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - TargetNot Tried0
Milestone - New World Pale AleNot Tried0
Ossett - Riwaka Not Tried0
Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPANot Tried0
Squawk - MallardNot Tried0
Squawk - MallardNot 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

19 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 40 minutes of serving with a large helping of regulars and some others who appeared to have brought their own plates along to assist them to dine out. Perhaps they began in the park on this balmy summer's evening?
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70GoodSecond night on and still holding its head and lacing well is this Maidstone-based pale amber bitter. A dry bitter first hit. A hoppy bitterness rising and lingering, aided by its WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety, first developed by Edward Albert White of Yalding, Kent, in 1911) and East Kent Golding hops. Personally not my favourite Goacher's as slightly lacklustre in flavouring I find but perfectly palatable nevertheless.
Kent - Session Pale3.70GoodFresh on and positively brimming with a very good head and lacing and holding to start with on this Birling-based pale, north of West Malling, but then it went for a wander somewhere else as no longer to be seen! A very hoppy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up, complete with a good dose of citrus in the mix meaning a fruity hit after hit and lingering.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - West Coast IPA (collaboration with Burning Sky)5.50GoodFresh on and very good head and lacing on show and lasting on this India Pale Ale collaboration between Thornbridge, north-west of Bakewell and south-west of Sheffield, and Burning Sky Brewery at Firle, north-west of Eastbourne. A hoppy-infused first bite to it aided by its Mosaic and Citra hops. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising up and persisting. Lashings of citrus and tropical fruits such as orange and kiwi bobbing up and down on my sailing journey with it and lasting.
Squawk - Mallard3.80Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale4.20Not Tried
19 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late sweltering evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - West Coast IPA (collaboration with Burning Sky)5.50GoodObviously a superbly brewed collaboration ale
Kent - Session Pale3.70AcceptableHead disappeared almost immediately after serving
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale4.20Not Tried
Squawk - Mallard GF4.50Not Tried
17 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall on this humid summer's evening for the last 30 minutes of serving with the fiddlers and their fiddles out the back and a good turnout of regulars out the front.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale4.80GoodThird night on for this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and not now holding its head and lacing and so needed a decant or two from the start but this little helped. A moreishly dry oily first hit. A pleasant fruity hoppiness rising up and a hoppy dryness lasting.
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale4.20GoodFresh on and so holding its head and lacing well and lasting on this Leicestershire single-hopped Citra Pale from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, south-east of Burton-upon-Trent. Very much that citrusy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up and lingering among its many citrusy notes. One sufficed but in fine condition as fresh on.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20AcceptableThird night on and has lost much of its conditioning from trying it on Sunday. Not holding its head and lacing very well and a few decants only woke it up temporarily. A malty first hit on this ruby bitter from south-west of Canterbury itself. A malty first hit. A toffee-infused bitterness rising up and lingering.
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
Squawk - Mallard4.50Not Tried
17 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Leatherbritches - Citra Pale4.20GoodNew cask on today and good head and lacing
Squawk - Mallard GF4.50AcceptableLumbered with a hazy ale with no pre-warning
Tonbridge - IPA4.80Not Tried
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
16 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale4.80GoodServed with a good head
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20AcceptableOK condition for this darkish ale
Phipps NBC - IPA4.30Not Tried
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
15 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
The usual Sunday regulars out and ticking over for the last 40 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - IPA4.80ExcellentFresh on today and holding its head and lacing very well and lasting on this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself. A pleasantly hoppy first hit. A dry hoppiness rising up mixed with a moreish oiliness lingering. I was being well oiled care of this fine IPA.
Phipps NBC - IPA4.30GoodSecond night on for this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy oily first hit. A pleasant hoppiness rising up on the taste buds and an oiliness lingering.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20GoodFresh on today was this ruby bitter, south-west of Canterbury, and holding its head and lacing to the end. A very bitter first hit. A sweetish maltiness from its toffee notes coming to the fore. A dry bitterness aided by those fruity hops winning over and lingering. Very moreish.
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
15 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The regulars abounded.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - India Pale Ale4.80GoodBest of the evening by far. Good condition
Phipps NBC - IPA4.30AcceptableHead dissipated almost immediately. Lacklustre
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy4.20AcceptableFlat in glass as poured
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with some of the Saturday regulars on parade for the last 40 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Phipps NBC - IPA4.30ExcellentFresh on today and so very good head and lacing on this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and lasting. A very hoppy first bite to it derived from its Goldings and Fuggles hops. A dry resinous and oily hoppiness rising up on the mouthfeel. Very moreish to my taste buds and following a 1930s' recipe, and relying solely on the pale ale malt for its colour. A pleasant bitterness coming to the fore and a moreish hoppiness lingering. I stuck to this one like a limpet for the session.
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00Not Tried
Milestone - New World Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA5.00Not Tried
13 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00GoodThird night on for this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend and some head and lacing but not holding well some 10 minutes in. A very malty first hit. A moreishly bitter and malty hoppiness rising up from its English hops and malts used. The odd sweet note from its honey and toffee flavours and a hoppy bitterness lingering.
Oakham - JHB3.80Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy4.20Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried
Ossett - Riwaka 4.30Not Tried
Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA5.00Not Tried
12 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes with many regulars in among the more occasional. Rather warm in the main bar as only the front entrance-door propped open for ventilation. None of the windows at front open unlike the windows in the rear-room seating area. A portable fan I have still had charge from late last summer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - JHB3.80GoodRecommended by others as fresh on this evening. Very good head and lacing on this Peterborough-based golden and lasting to the end. A very fruit-infused hoppy first hit. A riot of citrusy fruits erupting on the palate and winning over the odd bitter maltiness in on the act. Slightly too fruity for me but a pleasant dry hoppy finish lingering.
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20GoodFourth night on for this pale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and ran out shortly after ordering this one. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry fruitiness still evident in the mouthfeel and rising up and lingering among its hoppy notes. Has lasted to the end of its barrel very well.
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00GoodSecond night on and good head and lacing to start with on this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend. A few decants towards the end were needed. A very malty first hit from those 100% English malts involved. A malty bitterness rising up on the mouthfeel and a bitter-infused hoppiness lingering from using also 100% English hops.
Kent - Pale4.00Not Tried
Iron Pier - Killick's Mill5.30Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Target3.40Not Tried

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About The River Ale House

The pub sign. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional11
Excellent674
Good1636
Acceptable473
Poor38

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 1295 times, seen 1796 different beers and tried 1044 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ