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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent - Future Hop |  | 3 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 2 |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) |  | 1 |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 2 |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 1 |
| Oakham - Cat on a Hop Tin Roof (collaboration with Fat Cat) | | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | | 3 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | | 2 |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | | 1 |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | | 2 |
| Redemption - Big Chief |  | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Time and Tide - Smesh | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two Flints - Daydream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
22 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just a table or two of hardened regulars in and the odd occasional visitor for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | My second sampling since Tuesday of this pale from Birling in Kent. Presented with very good head and lacing and lasting. Not surprisingly with it so-named, a hoppy first hit! Less of its explosive hoppy properties as sampled on its premier night on Tuesday. A very pleasant dry and oily hoppiness rising up in the mouthfeel and lingering. Very moreish and so another two followed the first. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Second night on and full of head and lacing and lasting on this pale from Birling in Kent, north of West Malling. A gentle hoppy and citrusy first hit. The hoppy flavouring then hits the mouthfeel with the odd hint of elderflower pervading. A hoppy fruitiness lasting in the aftertaste. |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | | Good head and lacing and lasting on this Italian bitter brewed at the Finchampstead-based brewery in Wokingham and now on its fourth night on. A fruity bitterness greeted me again on the first hit from it. A sourness not detected on Tuesday entered the equation and caused it to be somewhat medicinal which is a shame as not there on Tuesday. A bitterness tinged with sourness lingered. |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cat on a Hop Tin Roof (collaboration with Fat Cat) | 4.10 | Not Tried |
21 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Cat on a Hop Tin Roof (collaboration with Fat Cat) | 4.10 | | Once again no idea what Fat Cat added as seemed basic Oakham taste through and through |
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | Uses pre-production experimental Kent hops |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | Not Tried |
20 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with some of the Tuesday regulars in and others less frequent. The fiddlers seem to have a choir now singing along to their instruments out the back and so a few decibels louder they have become!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | Fresh on and my first ever sampling of this Birling-based brewery in Kent's pale called Future Hop. Why so named? Because they are experimenting with new hops from Kent before going into a larger production with them. Good head and lacing was a positive start and lasted throughout. A very dry hoppy first hit with a touch of hoppy oiliness shining through. It was a hoppy explosion on the palate and almost like fireworks going off with a good kick coming from them and lasting well into the aftertaste. Certainly moreish and different to those usual hops I have grown to like and so tried another pint as well and was not disappointed! |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | | Not a lot of head and lacing came on this dark brown porter from Tottenham but being its fifth night on helps to explain that. A decant or two restored some head and lacing in waking it up. A dry malty first hit. A coffee-infused and chocolatey maltiness came to the fore in the mouthfeel with the odd hint of sweetness from its dark berry flavourings and lasting into the dry aftertaste. |
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | | Second night on and still good head and lacing on this Italian bitter brewed at the Finchampstead-based brewery in Wokingham, using a traditional bitter recipe but with German hops. A first hit of fruity bitterness. This continued into the mouthfeel which remained entertained with yet more hops not so familiar with and just after sampling the Kent pale with its experimental hops abounding. A hoppiness most certainly lingered on. |
| Oakham - Cat on a Hop Tin Roof (collaboration with Fat Cat) | 4.10 | | Fresh on and came with very good head and lacing and lasting on this Peterborough amber pale and brewed collaboratively with Fat Cat Brewery in Norwich. A touch too fruity for my liking with a sharp citrusy first hit. A fruitiness exploded on the palate with two German hops involved and mixed with Maris Otter malt plus another three malts on top. Spicy pine, black pepper, mandarin and lemon citrus are the flavourings according to the tasting notes and mixed together were quite prominent on my palate and not in the least subtle. Sampling one pint of this sufficed for me. |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried |
19 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano) | 4.40 | | Interesting backtaste |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | | I could not identify any Gadds' influence. Seemed like a standard same old Oakham brew taste |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | | Lumbered with a pint of rather cloying slightly hazy ale |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried |
18 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | Good zesty brew |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | | Pricey but good |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Good condition but lacking any distinctive taste |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | Not Tried |
18 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just the hardened Sunday regulars in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | | Fresh on today and very good head and lacing on this Maidstone-based pale. A fruit-infused and hoppy first hit from those Kent Fuggles. A hoppy bitterness then pervading with a mildly fruity mouthfeel kicking in and a moreish dryness lingering. |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | | Third night on for this Tottenham-based porter that is more brown than black in appearance and with good head and lacing evident to begin with. It needed a few decants some 15 minutes after serving to re-awaken its appearance. A very satisfyingly malty and smokey first hit on my first night of sampling it. A malty explosion on the palate with a hint of expresso coffee and dark chocolate and the odd but not overly sweet berry flavouring coming at you! There was a pleasantly malty dryness lingering. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | Not Tried |
17 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall still after the contrast of Thursday night's turn-out of some 80 odd fans from Charlton FC. Just the usual Saturday regulars on parade and for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Came with good head and lacing to start with and on its second night on for this Maidstone bitter, and a cross between Goacher's Fine Light and Best Dark. A bitter and fruit-infused first hit. A bitterness pervading the mouthfeel and a dry maltiness getting in on the act and lingering. |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | Just went off shortly after getting in. |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not quite the same rush to get here for the last half an hour of serving as last night when afforded an extension until 1am and a regular estimated about 80 piled in between 10.30pm and 11pm after the Chariton FC semi-final played at Charlton's home-ground and against Wycombe Wanderers FC from High Wycombe, and south-west of Watford. Just a few hardened regulars in tonight for last 30 minutes of being served.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Second day on but only belatedly the night before was this Kentish pale put on and from Birling, north of West Malling. Presented with very good head and lacing and holding. A dry hoppy first hit. An oily hoppiness coming to the fore with the odd subtle hint of citrus and elderflower and followed by a moreish dryness lingering. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Fresh on this evening and just replaced the Pig and Porter "Caravan" bitter that went off after sampling a flat, murky one nearly at the end. Good head and lacing from this Maidstone bitter and a very bitter first hit. A malty bitterness then rose up and a hoppiness lingered on. |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds') | 4.30 | Not Tried |
15 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Tonight marked the rush to get here and before a regular estimated about 80 piled in between 10.30pm and 11pm after the Chariton FC semi-final played at Charlton's home-ground. They beat Wycombe Wanderers FC from High Wycombe, and south-west of Watford, 1-0. My victory was that I made it to buy two bitters before 10.30pm when the orderly queue to get in began and where this took half an hour to clear for those thirsty Charlton FC home-fans who poured in for a few pints at least to be poured for them on their victory night and where they have now collectively reached the final at Wembley against Leyton Orient over a coming Sunday. Closing time was around 1am this evening but I did not stay much beyond midnight and so left a few Charlton FC revellers to party on without me!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | This bitter was still advertised on the blackboard as 3.6% but just a mere 3.4% by all accounts now, but at least its lesser gravity was reflected in the price with the CAMRA 30p discount rendering it £4.30. It came with good head and lacing as fresh on today and lasted well and for some 45 minutes on those two pints I bought before the 80 odd Charlton FC fans got in. A malty bitterness on the first hit on this Tunbridge Wells' bitter. Its maltiness prevailed in the bitter mouthfeel it presented with, aided by five different malts including Maris Otter, one of my favourites recently in a certain other bitter, and this helped to score all the right goals on my taste buds. Just a good old-fashioned bitter for me! Dark in appearance and not overly flavoured although presenting some caramel, toffee and fruit-infused flavourings. A pleasantly dry hoppy bitterness arising from those East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops lingered on and so won the contest for me. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | Came on at about 23.30 to replace Time and Tide's Smesh pale which left us at about 23.15. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Time and Tide - Smesh | 3.40 | Not Tried | Knocked out of the contest by about 23.15 and with an extension until 1am by all accounts for this Charlton FC victory night. |
15 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit with this pub just filling with football fans from the just ended Charlton league play-offs home semi-final match. I did not avail myself of all of the two hour opening extension.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | Delivered with a good head, soon disappeared, the head that is |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Premium priced but in top form |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | Came on late into the session |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Time and Tide - Smesh | 3.40 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Two Flints - Daydream | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 686 |
| 1719 |
| 505 |
 | 42 |
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 1359 times, seen 1829 different beers and tried 1064 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ