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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Oakham - 3 Witches |  | 2 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | | 2 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | | 4 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | | 4 |
| Salopian - Darwin's Origin | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 1 |
| Salopian - SY State of Mind | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | | 1 |
| Five Points - Derailed Porter | | 1 |
| Five Points - XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Turning Point - Astral Voyage | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Five Points Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
30 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual regulars on parade for last 30 minutes of serving among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | This Maidstone pale amber light bitter was on only its second night and whilst exhibiting good head and lacing, it did not last. A dry bitter first bite. A fruity hoppiness rising aided by its mix of Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) and East Kent Golding hops. A fruit-infused bitterness then getting in on the act with a floral hoppy note or two sailing out. |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | | This jet-black stout from north-east of Bristol's city centre was now on its second night and displaying good head and lacing and still lasting. But it was like supping a liquid toffee apple and so thankfully just a mere half sufficed for me. It was after all called a Cinder Toffee Stout and described in the tasting notes as a liquidised Crunchie bar. It must have been wonderful to make, adding all those chocolate malts to achieve its blow-torched honeycomb flavouring. Its flavours were for me exclusively dominated by its chocolate malts and not a lot else. This was giving rise to its toffee notes hitting my taste buds ever so hard and profusely playing out. |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
30 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | New cask on today. Good condition enhanced the flavours |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | First full day on, poured and stayed flat |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Pretty full tonight and JtC's birthday. Ended on a bottle of Orval as nightcap.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | | Fresh on today and lots of mouth zing but a half would have been enough |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | | Another ale on its second day and quite flat. No off flavour but a not pleasant backtaste |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA | 4.30 | | Second day on and flat in glass |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | On offer but not advertised on the beer boards |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | Not Tried | Ran out as I entered |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Hanging on |
28 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the usual regulars and the not so regular for last half an hour of serving along with the fiddlers playing their instruments out the back.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - 3 Witches | 4.40 | | Fresh on was this Peterborough-based amber ale, and some 30 miles south-west of King's Lynn to assist me placing my coordinates. A bitter first bite with a touch of citrus. A good fruity kick to it with the odd witch jumping up in harmony with its American hops: Amarillo, Chinook and Cascade. A dry fruitiness with hints of grapefruit and berries flying off out of the cauldron on their broomsticks. |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Now its fourth night on. This golden-coloured bitter comes from north-east of Bristol's city centre. Not much head and lacing and consequently not lasting. A very dry bitter first bite. A bitter fruitiness with the odd kick to it veering up from its Gold and Goldings hops. A bitter maltiness sliding downwards. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried |
27 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. All seats taken back and front rooms.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Basic bitter in a cask new on today |
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | | Loss of condition since yesterday's and tasting rather chemical on the plum fruit flavouring |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried |
26 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A handful of Sunday regulars for the last half hour of serving on parade and a birthday boy with family and friends celebrating.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | | Second night on and still good head and lacing to begin with but not lasting on this porter from Burslem, north of Stoke-on-Trent. Again, a very plumy first hit. A hint of chocolate in among the dry malty bitterness for my taste buds to savour. A malty kick to it paddling out with a good helping of port thrown in. |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Second night for this golden-coloured bitter, brewed north-east of Bristol's city centre, and still presenting some head and lacing but again not lasting as was the case on its premier night. No longer so fresh in having time to mature. A very hop-infused bitter first hit. The odd hoppy fruitiness veering up to tackle the bitter maltiness in the scrum. Its Gold and Goldings hops lending it a moreishly dry hoppy bitterness on its descent down the hatch. |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried |
26 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | | A good strong taste. Had a better recipe of this ale before |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Basic bitter with little condition. Flat in glass |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | | Hazy job - not sure what this ale is supposed to be. Little condition |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried |
25 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last 30 minutes of serving with some of the Saturday regulars in and a few of the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | 6.50 | | Fresh on was this porter from Burslem, north of Stoke-on-Trent, but not presenting much head and lacing and not holding. An immediate hit of plums coming at you in all directions from this stronger limited edition brewed for the wintertime. A fruity bitterness rising with an extra flavouring or two from its infusion of sweet port lingering in the mouthfeel from its 21 days of maturing. |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on and good head and lacing but not lasting on this golden-coloured bitter, brewed north-east of Bristol's city centre by a team of 10 who grew from just two, ten years ago in 2015 when brewing started. A tad fresh perhaps? A very bitter first hit. The odd fruity note rising from its hint of dark fruits and a bitter maltiness competing for my taste buds' attention. A dry hoppy bitterness aided by its Gold and Goldings hops sailing out. Its hazy appearance is a natural result of yeast and other compounds. The former is a fungus that converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. It also creates other key flavour compounds like esters which provide the fruity notes, and phenols which are behind the spicy notes. Apart from the yeast, the other compounds are organic molecules, many of which are products of yeast metabolism and fermentation. The yeast and other compounds can be removed by fining agents like isinglass, a gelatin-like substance made from fish swim bladders. The above is used as a fining agent to clarify beer, meaning to settle out yeast and other particles. This makes the beer suitable for vegans. Many modern brewers are moving away from the use of isinglass in favour of vegan alternatives like Irish moss which is a seaweed. |
| Five Points - Gold | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried |
23 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close with any seat at all at a premium.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - SY State of Mind | 4.50 | | Seemed good but no idea what this ale was supposed to be |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | | Subdued hopping in a 6.6%er. New cask on, still hazy, seemed not to have settled |
| Salopian - Darwin's Origin | 4.30 | | New cask on - little condition |
| Five Points - Five Points Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Derailed Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Turning Point - Astral Voyage | 3.40 | Not Tried |
23 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Packed to the gills which is unusual for the last 30 minutes of serving. A few hardened regulars seated and others not so seated among a local club that ends up here evidently on a Thursday over recent weeks.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Darwin's Origin | 4.30 | | Fresh on and so thankfully showing off its head and lacing and also lasting which is a bonus. This Shrewsbury-brewed bitter, first launched in 2009, and whose brewery started in 1995 and north of Shrewsbury itself, I cannot recall trying before. So named to celebrate Shrewsbury’s most famous son, Charles Darwin, born there in 1809. A very fruity bittered first bite from hop ingredients from three continents. A hoppy bitterness ambling up to you with a note from fruits like lemon, lime and orange coming to find you. A pleasantly dry bitterness lingering. None of the murkiness evident in recent "fresh-on" beers and so definitely a plus. |
| Five Points - Derailed Porter | 5.50 | | Now its fifth night on and not so smiley is this porter from Hackney, East London. Head and lacing, barely, and lasting, not a chance. Still a dry bitter first bite. A hoppy note from its Goldings hops. A malty kick and bitterness getting the better of you. Its dark fruits veering up at you. A dry bitterness drifting out with the odd red berry or two. Tired as you would expect on its fifth night. All good porters have their day! |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | Another to leave to those who like notes of mango and passion fruit. |
| Turning Point - Astral Voyage | 3.40 | Not Tried | A tropical juice unlikely to try unless dying of thirst! |
| Salopian - SY State of Mind | 4.50 | Not Tried | This pale sounds better than others not tried as in having ripe bitterness, fruity hops and biscuity malt. |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | 6.60 | Not Tried | One for breakfast with notes of pithy marmalade, sweet malt and bitter grapefruit. A tablespoon of this Bermondsey IPA on my grapefruit perhaps at 6.6%! |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
 | 754 |
| 2040 |
| 662 |
 | 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 1630 times, seen 1966 different beers and tried 1158 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ