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) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone |  | 1 |
| Stancill - Barnsley Bitter | | 3 |
| Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2025 | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Pale (collaboration with Oakham) | | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Castle on the Peak (collaboration with Peak) | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 2 |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk |  | 1 |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - New Zealand Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
10 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Friday regulars on parade mixed in among the lesser spotted for the last 30 minutes of serving and just a few rather vocal but not including me, I hasten to add!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Blarney Stone | 4.30 | | Fresh on and a creamy head literally foaming on top of this Ramsgate-brewed stout. Lacing around the side of the glass lasting to the end and that would have done well on our windows for the blackouts in the Second World War! A dry bitterness on its first bite. A good degree of maltiness rising from its three different dark malts. A dry hoppiness winning over supremely with a pleasantly malty bitterness on the ferry for me downwards. |
| Redemption - Urban Dusk | 4.60 | | Fresh on and yet struggling! Some head on being served. Lacing rapidly legged it out of the glass. A dry bitter first hit. This chestnut bitter from Tottenham in North London exuded a bitter fruitiness for me, and no doubt originating from its Bramling Cross hops. A real fruity kick to it from its citrus notes. A dry malty bitterness with the odd hint of caramel paddling out to sea. Only one sufficed for me! Rare indeed for a fresh bitter on as really rather partial to a good bitter ale as earlier testified to in many an entry. Talking of entries, this marks my 666th pub visit on Pubs And Beer. This number is said to represent "the beast" from the Book of Revelation in the Bible, symbolizing evil, the Antichrist or Satan. Also said to be a number that can represent misfortune which rather sums up this particular bitter in its current form for me! Hopefully it might improve by its second day on. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried |
09 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual for the last half hour of serving with a mix of the usual regulars and the more occasional but not as packed as when last in on Tuesday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | | Now the third night on for this Kentish bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Not as lively as when first sampled on Tuesday but still displaying a good head and holding its lacing to the end. A very dry bitter first bite. A moreishly dry hoppiness rising with a touch of malty nuttiness shining through with hints of berry flavours. A dry bitter maltiness playing a good hand of cards before saddling up for its final descent. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Pale (collaboration with Oakham) | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Castle on the Peak (collaboration with Peak) | 4.30 | Not Tried |
09 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - American Pale (collaboration with Oakham) | 5.20 | | First day on - just good |
| Castle Rock - Castle on the Peak (collaboration with Peak) | 4.30 | | First day on. I have little idea how to score these milk shake resembling ales but it seemed good enough in flavour |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 |  | Maltier more than bitter. Rather flat in glass made it a little unappetising |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | Hanging on by its finger nails |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | Just a tad less fresh than yesterday's |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | A week on now! |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried |
07 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not been this busy for many a night and for last half hour of serving. Remnants of a local club gathered around one table at the front with many a stool from other tables with them. Hardened regulars in evidence in the front area and fiddlers out the back all co-existing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | | Fresh on this evening was this bitter brewed south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing good when served but not holding on well to its lacing. A dry bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising and every so often an almost involuntary fruity kick from no doubt its berry-infused hops. A dry and nutty malty note or two veering up before ebbing downwards with a very bitter finish. |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | | Finally got round to trying this ruby ale, albeit only a half, which first appeared on Saturday for me. I missed it then and on Sunday as Stancill's Barnsley Bitter was so moreish. On this, its fourth night, it was still exhibiting head and lacing and holding onto it on this Essex ruby ale from Maldon. A very malty-infused first bite. A dry bitterness rising and a fruited hoppy note from its Azacca, an American hop variety, lending it hints of pineapple and spiciness and tangerine flavours from its citrus notes. Its American Comet hops are also affording it a degree of citrusy fruitiness with hints of grapefruit and tropical fruits veering up. A dry but fruity hoppiness sailing out on the odd malty note or two. |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | | Been on since Thursday and so now its sixth night for this Essex porter from Maldon. Head and lacing not now very evident shortly after being served it but a decant or two restored it momentarily. Still holding onto its smoky, malty bitterness and evident from its first bite. A bitter maltiness rising alongside coffee and toffee flavourings. Thankfully not too sweet for my taste buds. Just the merest hint of dark chocolate in its roasted maltiness in its descent along with a spicy, honey note or two afforded by its Mount Hood hopping. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | Fresh on. |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried |
07 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Good number in with the fiddlers filling the back room.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | New on today |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | | Been on 4 or 5 days. Poured quite flat and stayed so in the glass |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried |
05 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few regulars on parade for the last half hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stancill - Barnsley Bitter | 3.80 |  | Second night on for this Sheffield bitter, brewed north of the city, and in tip-top condition and following on from the evening before. Still sporting all that head and lacing and staying the course. A very dry bitter first hit. A dry hoppy bitterness rising. A malty note or two competing with the fruitiness from its mix of UK hops: First Gold, Fuggles and Golding. It was continuing to be a very quaffable brew and apparently less than 20 pints remained when I enquired after my second pint. I could only stick with it as it was so moreish and without doubt one of the best bitters for me this year! |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - New Zealand Pale | 4.60 | Not Tried |
05 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stancill - Barnsley Bitter | 3.80 | | Held good head and lacing |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | 4.80 | | Rather astringent sharpness |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - New Zealand Pale | 4.60 | Not Tried |
04 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of Saturday regulars and the more occasional for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stancill - Barnsley Bitter | 3.80 | | Fresh on and sporting very good head and lacing and lasting throughout on this Sheffield bitter, brewed north of the city. A very dry bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising care of its UK hops, First Gold, Fuggles and Golding, and lending it a pleasantly hoppy fruited note or two. A subtle maltiness also in on the mix. This brew followed the original Oakwell Brewery recipe aided by its surviving yeast strain. Barnsley Bitter won Silver Champion Beer of Sheffield in Sheffield’s Steel City Beer & Cider Festival in 2022. Stancill set up brewing in 2014 having rescued the kit and the cherished Barnsley bitter following the closure in 2013 of Barnsley's Oakwell Brewery. Certainly a very moreish brew and so stuck firmly to it as for me one this year's all-time best bitters! |
| Redemption - Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Mars Azzacs | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Green Hop Ale (2025) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - New Zealand Pale | 4.60 | Not Tried |
02 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A handful of the usual regulars out the front and the more occasional out the back for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | | Fresh on was this Essex porter from Maldon. Very good head and lacing but not lasting so well. A smoky, malty bitter first bite. A moreishly bitter maltiness rising. Ably assisted by coffee and toffee flavourings, but not too sweet to my taste buds. Did not really get its dark chocolatey roasted maltiness. Hopped with Mount Hood, lending it spicy, honey notes on its downwards journey sailing out. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Now its third night on for this Gravesend bitter from its Northfleet brewery. A tad thinner in flavouring and conditioning. Still displaying good head and lacing but not lasting as well as when tried on its first night on. A dry bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising from its English hops, EKG (East Kent Golding) and Admiral. Subtle honey and toffee flavours veering upwards mixed with a mild maltiness. A spicy hoppiness from its First Gold hop in its finish and final descent downwards. |
| Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 | | Third night on for this Berkshire IPA, south-west of Wokingham and neighbours of Elusive Brewing. Very good head and lacing still and lasting. A very fruity kick to it in its first hit. A very fruit-infused hoppiness rapidly rising from its American hops, Citra, Simcoe, Chinook and Columbus. A very dry hopped, resinous note or two sailing out. Tried mixing a little of it with the Mighty Oak Green Hop Pale but this Soundwave overpowered the Green Hop hands down. |
| Mighty Oak - Oak Nouveau 2025 | 4.30 | | Second night on for this green hopped pale from Maldon in Essex. A dry hop-infused first bite. A very hoppy mouthfeel with floral and spicy notes abounding from its fresh Challenger hops. A moreishly dry bitter hoppiness lasting on its ferry downwards. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Single Hop Ernest | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 14 |
| 727 |
| 1933 |
| 609 |
| 58 |
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 1535 times, seen 1906 different beers and tried 1124 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ