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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Park - Yomp! |  | 1 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter |  | 4 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 1 |
| Oakham - 3 Witches | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | | 2 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter Grand Reserve | | 4 |
| Elusive - Dream In Green | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Sparks IPA |  | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | | 1 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Jumbo (collaboration with Kirkstall) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
02 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few in including the Sunday regulars among the more hardened for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park - Yomp! | 4.50 | | Second day on for this amber rye ale from Kingston-upon-Thames and very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. It was so good I stuck to it! A dry slightly fruited first hit. A maltiness rising with its bitterness winning over. A fruity note or two bouncing out thanks to its Barbe Rouge hops*. Not heard of these before and no doubt my first tasting of a beer with a French-grown hop in it. *They are, I am informed, a vibrant, modern aroma hop from France, known for its distinctive and bold red fruit characteristics, especially notes of strawberry, red currant, and raspberry, complemented by zesty citrus and floral or spicy hints. The zesty citrus refers to a mix of kumquat, a fruit native to China that is like a small, oval orange and can be used fresh in salads or cooked into jams, sauces and marmalades, plus the orange fruit we all know and lime. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Saturday regulars among the hardened and a sprinkling of the more occasional admirably filled this micro for its last hour of serving. Charlton had played at home in the afternoon, equalising 1-1 against Swansea, and so of six ales in the on-now line-up on the tasting notes, only half remained in that position and with four substitutes from the coming-next line-up now brought on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Fresh on this evening and good head and lacing and almost lasting on this Maidstone bitter. A dry bitter first hit. A mildly fruity bitterness rising. A good fruitiness in the hops and a subtle hint of biscuit and caramel adding extra flavouring. This bitter is a blend of Goacher's Fine Light, containing a mix of Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) and East Kent Golding hops, and Best Dark, a malty best bitter with crystal malt and which was Goacher's first ale ever produced for the brewery's launch in 1983. |
| Elusive - Dream In Green | 4.30 | | This Green Hop Pale from south-west of Wokingham in Berkshire was fresh on this evening and displaying good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A grassy, hoppy first hit from its freshly picked Challenger hops. A gentle fruited hoppiness rising with hints of orange and marmalade coming to greet you. A cedar-infused hoppy note with a touch of oiliness performing the tango before exiting downwards on its final slide. |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Yomp! | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Tempo | 3.80 | Not Tried |
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 |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 714 |
| 1863 |
| 568 |
 | 46 |
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 1472 times, seen 1883 different beers and tried 1103 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ