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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Strawberry Lane | | 3 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | | 1 |
| Five Points - Best | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Cyclops Best | | 3 |
| Siren Craft - White Tips | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur |  | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Orie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Vista | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Maltiverse Dark Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Cabrillo | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
18 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy for last 30 minutes of serving with many a regular in among the not so regular. Not seen it this busy since Charlton's winning against Leyton Orient at Wembley and so going up a league to the Championship and on Sunday 25th May 2025!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Cyclops Best | 4.30 | | Second night on and still punching its flavours out was this Essex bitter from Maldon. Head and lacing, good. Lasting, fair, as the odd decant or two became necessary. A malty-infused bitter first bite. A caramel-infused maltiness rising up in its moreish bitterness. A malty note or two playing in its finale and a pleasantly dry hoppy bitterness lingering. |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | By my records, now its 14th day on, as on the blackboard but not on the tasting notes. This must be the all-time record in here for the longest a cask ale has been on! |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Vista | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Maltiverse Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Cabrillo | 4.80 | Not Tried |
17 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Upon arrival all eyes seemed to be on the TV England women's football international.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Cyclops Best | 4.30 | | New cask on today. OK to good |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | | Little head or lacing, too flat |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Tiring after a few days on |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | Everlasting |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
17 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving and unusually the tele on and this time around for England and Sweden women's football, the UEFA Women's Euro's quarter-finals, and battling it out in a penalty shoot-out with England winning 3-2 on penalties to reach the Euro 2025 semi-finals.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Cyclops Best | 4.30 |  | Fresh on this evening and scoring all the right goals in my mouth was this Essex bitter from Maldon. Not had the pleasure of this one from Mighty Oak before. They have been nearly a quarter of a century on the scene in Maldon from 2001. They first set up in Brentwood, Essex, in 1996. Head and lacing, very good. Lasting, good. A malty bitter first bite. A caramel-infused bitterness pleasantly rising up. A hoppy touch scoring on my palate. A dry moreish bitterness lingering with its malty notes playing extra time and joyously stuck in the groove without question. |
| Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
15 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet for last 30 minutes of serving with just a handful of regulars in among a few more occasional. The fiddlers, the few there were, had already stopped playing out the back and so finishing early for the second week running.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Second night on and so presenting good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy fruit-infused first bite on this Maidstone-based pale ale. A dry hoppy fruitiness rising and a dry hoppiness, emanating from its Kent Fuggles, lingering. |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Now its third day on. Had a taster first to check it was not too flat following Sunday's third one going that way. Looked and tasted ok. So bravely went for a pint followed by another. Head and lacing was restored since Sunday and lasted reasonably well with just the odd decant on the second one towards the end. A fruit-infused bitter first bite on this Hackney best. A fruity hoppiness rising up, aided by its Fuggles' hops. A hint or two of caramel-infused biscuity maltiness surfacing. A bitter fruitiness lingering with the odd fruity kick from the mule. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
13 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Very good but have had better |
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Could have done with more natural carbonation |
| Mighty Oak - Strawberry Lane | 4.30 | | Only mildly strawberry flavoured. Principally a flat half |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | Must have everlasting life |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Orie | 4.30 | Not Tried |
13 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not at all busy for last 35 minutes of serving with just a few of the Sunday regulars in, mixed with the hardened, and a couple playing cards but not "strip poker" as seemed to keep their necessary attire on at least despite it being another steamy evening! This micro was a former knickers' shop after all but they did not quite reach that level in their game!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Best | 4.10 | | Very good to start with was this East London bitter from Hackney but by the third one ordered, its head and lacing had somewhat scarpered. Tasted the same did the third one and so not a case of mistaken identity in what was poured. A bitter first bite throughout all of them. A hoppy bitterness rising, aided by the Fuggles' hops from Huskins, a 120 year-old family hop farm. A pronounced fruitiness lingering among its hint of maltiness care of Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, and Light Crystal and Amber. Much decanting necessary for a semblance of a head and lacing on the third one. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Orie | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Strawberry Lane | 4.30 | Not Tried |
12 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 45 minutes of serving with many a hardened regular in among the more occasional, including a large party occupying the rear room. Someone even brought in a caged hamster-like creature! It takes all sorts! My hound was fully occupied slumbering after a daytrip to Broadstairs to even notice.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Strawberry Lane | 4.30 | | Its second day on for this Essex-based pale from Maldon. Hanging together a lot better than its counterpart in timing, the Iron Pier Bitter. Presented again with good head and lacing and which lasted almost as only a few decants became necessary towards the end. A hoppy fruit-infused first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising with the suggestion of the odd strawberry note bobbing up and down. A dry hoppy fruitiness lingering on. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Only its second night on was this bitter from Northfleet, just outside Gravesend and very minimal head was presented. Lacing non-existent and so it lasting is far from applicable. Still tasted ok with a very bitter first bite. A hoppiness rising from its English hops but not a lot of malt in the mix to help give it any body. A very watery taste and not a lot was left to linger on account of this. One sufficed again and a shame all round for this being the case on only its second night on. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Orie | 4.30 | Not Tried |
11 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just some of the Friday regulars in among a few more occasional on this very sultry summer evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on and came with good head and lacing on this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend. It struggled to maintain it. A very bitter first bite. Not a lot of malt was evident as quite a thin-tasting bitter. A hint of hoppiness rising from the English variety involved. The merest whisper for my taste buds of honey and toffee. A very dry bitterness lingering. One sufficed for me. |
| Mighty Oak - Strawberry Lane | 4.30 | | This was recommended to me and could see the head and lacing lasting on others' pint glasses to help persuade me and its first day on. This Essex pale from Maldon did not disappoint. Very good head and lacing and lasting well. A fruit-infused hoppy first bite. A hoppy fruitiness rising up with just the merest hint of strawberry flavouring. Would complement a bowl of strawberries and cream very well! A dry hoppiness lingering with the odd fruity kick being thrown up by this mule of a pale. |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried |
10 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - White Tips | 4.50 | | Worth a try but not to my taste |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | | Milk shake looking beer with light citrus. I should known to avoid from just the beer name |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Just about holding on |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Well past its best but no off flavours |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | As enduring as the Gravesend's iron pier after which I imagine it is named |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
10 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving but with only a handful of regulars on parade on this sultry summer's evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Fourth night on for this Maidstone bitter cross-breed (their Fine Light mixed with their Best Dark): head and lacing, good but lasting, fair. A dry bitter first bite. A dry biscuity-flavoured maltiness rising up among the odd hoppy note or two. A dry bitterness lingering on with a touch of caramel in the mix. Not as fresh as my first tasting of this bitter two nights earlier but still palatable and looked more the ticket after a few decants. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - White Tips | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Session Juice | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 13 |
| 701 |
| 1796 |
| 537 |
 | 44 |
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 1419 times, seen 1858 different beers and tried 1084 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ