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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union |  | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres | | 2 |
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | | 3 |
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Southwark - Bermondsey Best | | 2 |
| Crouch Vale - Mosaic | | 2 |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | | 4 |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | | 2 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Resonance | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - My Galaxy Romance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Zig Zag | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew) | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
11 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Again not busy for last 30 minutes of serving as was the case the previous night. Easter still a weekend away but the warm weather must have caused a real ale exodus to the coast. Just a few hardened regulars in and including the usual table of Friday ones.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 |  | Second night on and better than when first presented when very fresh on the evening before for this Essex-based bitter from Maldon. Still holding its head and lacing like a trooper and throughout. Even an empty glass once supped was covered around the sides with the lacing which is not the norm for many a beer served. A first hit of moreishly malty bitterness. The mouthfeel was an explosion of malts and the bitter hoppiness colliding. It had a very long-lasting dryness that made your lips smack open and shut. Predicted to run out by the evening after and I would not be surprised at all. One of the best bitters in months here! |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | Now its 8th night on and clearly not everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed sampling it last weekend. |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - My Galaxy Romance | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | Not Tried | First night on. |
10 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not so busy for last 30 minutes of serving with just a couple of tables of regulars in and a small group of the more occasional in the backroom.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 | | Fresh on and so very good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this bitter from Maldon, Essex. A dry bitter first hit. Tasted like an old-fashioned bitter ought to taste without the fruitiness and caramel, biscuity flavourings. Just a bitter taste persisting in the mouthfeel and a very long-lasting dryness lingering on. The tasting notes mentioned it had the odd grape and berry aromas but did not note this. Much enjoyed it was. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 | | Second night on for this IPA from north-west of Bakewell in Derbyshire. Just a half to finish with and still holding its head and lacing well. A very resinous first hit. A hoppy oiliness in the mouthfeel and the odd berry flavouring coming to the fore. A dry hoppy aftertaste lasted well. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | Its 7th night and hanging on. |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Resonance | 4.50 | Not Tried | Went during my visit and only came on the day before. |
10 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 | | Basic bitter, head and lacing held up well |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 | | Holding up well on its second day |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | Holding on by its bootstraps |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Resonance | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
09 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union | 6.00 | | As soon as I saw this was on there was no other choice to make |
| Crouch Vale - Mosaic | 4.10 | Not Tried | Ran out as I arrived |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | Still soldiering on |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Resonance | 4.50 | Not Tried |
08 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crouch Vale - Mosaic | 4.10 | | A zesty single hopper |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | | Good enough |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried |
08 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not so busy on arrival for last 30 minutes of serving and with a few regulars in and the fiddlers out the back strumming their fiddles. A late night crowd of the younger customer of about 6 arrived just before 10.50pm, as in the first bell's ringing time, and so beat them just to the bar for a second one. Must have sensed they were coming!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crouch Vale - Mosaic | 4.10 | | Fresh on and positively foaming at the mouth with its head and lacing from this Essex-based brewery at South Woodham Ferrers. Head and lacing held throughout its tropical fruit-infused performance. A first hit of fruity hoppiness from its US Mosaic hops. A fruity hoppy mouthfeel lived on into the aftertaste and the odd grapefruit comes to my mind, whether it was harmed in the making of this pale ale or not. One sufficed for me! |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | | Second night on and holding its head and lacing like a trooper on this York-based brewery's bitter! A very malty first hit. A dry malty bitterness on the mouthfeel and holding. Even the head and lacing were holding! Only five different malts but it was a thoroughly malty explosion on the palate. There was the moreish bitter dryness lingering and just in case you asked! Another had to follow the first! |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face | 3.80 | Not Tried |
06 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for Sunday for last 30 minutes of serving with just a handful of hardened regulars in and compared to the week before. Perhaps the Easter holidays are already under way for many and they are taking advantage of the sunny weather on top?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres | 5.80 | | This Northfleet Belgian Blonde from just outside Gravesend came with good head and lacing and hung on to it. A fruity first hit. A bitter and mildly spicy mouthfeel and lingering. |
| Southwark - Bermondsey Best | 4.40 |  | Only its second night on for this Southwark Best Bitter but minimal head and lacing on being served it and any remaining soon legged it out of the glass. A very malty first hit. A bitterness winning through. I was left with a sweet maltiness but also a strangely watery finish as if it had been starved of the usual flavourings you get in the majority of bitters. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Third day on and minus its head and lacing for long on this Hackney-based brown ale. A malty first hit. A bitterness winning over in the slightly sweet mouthfeel. A maltiness was then presented in its aftertaste. |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried |
06 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | | Kept head and lacing pretty much |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Soon went flat in the glass |
| Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres | 5.80 | | Belgian yeast character. OK but a half was more than enough |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Bermondsey Best | 4.40 | Not Tried | Others' pints looked flat |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried |
05 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 45 minutes of serving with many a Saturday regular in and the more occasional punter in, too.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwark - Bermondsey Best | 4.40 | | Fresh on and came with some head and lacing but this did not hang about for long. A first hit of malty caramel. A dry bitter mouthfeel then presented itself alongside its honey-infused hops. A maltiness then got in on the act in its dry aftertaste. |
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Only its second night on for this Hackney-based brown ale but came with minimal head and lacing. A sweet malty first hit aided by demerara sugar flavourings. A bitter and malty mouthfeel came to the fore and lingered in its aftertaste. |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew) | 5.60 | Not Tried |
04 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | Fresh on and so head and lacing on this Hackney-based brown ale but not holding it for long. A very malty first hit. Minimal sweetness in the mouthfeel and so the dry maltiness won over. There was though the merest hint of demerara in its aftertaste. |
| Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on and came with good head and lacing on this bitter from Penryn in Cornwall. A very dry first hit. A bitterish mouthfeel followed and though a mention of toffee and a biscuity finish, it held a dry and not sweet aftertaste. |
| Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Zig Zag | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew) | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds | 7.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 674 |
| 1642 |
| 475 |
 | 38 |
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 1298 times, seen 1797 different beers and tried 1045 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ