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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob |  | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | | 2 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale |  | 3 |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | | 4 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | | 1 |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | | 1 |
| Bowland - Buster IPA | | 2 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold |  | 2 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 3 |
| Kent - Rakau | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Merlin Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
28 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Low in condition |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | | Used to be one of my favourite Oakham ales but so many Oakham ales taste the same these days |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried |
27 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not as busy I had imagined and for the last 40 minutes of serving but the usual regulars in among the more occasional. Charlton FC had played at home beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 from 3pm and so this micro had been extra busy earlier. Many a change of beer in the line-up with 4 knocked off earlier in the day as being on, on the tasting notes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Fresh on at some point today from the noon opening was this Ramsgate pale bitter. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A hoppy first hit. A fruit-infused hoppiness rising aided by its Fuggles hops for flavouring. A hoppy bitterness with hints of malt sailing out ably assisted by its Goldings hops for its more bitter flavouring. Very moreish and so stuck to it! |
| Oakham - Scarlet Macaw | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Citrazen Kane | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Merlin Blonde | 3.70 | Not Tried |
26 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with the hardened regulars mixed with the not so frequent for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | 3.80 | | Fresh on and good head and lacing and lasting on this pale from south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. A dry fruit-infused first hit aided by its citrus hops. A dry hoppiness rising and a fruity infusion with hints of orange playing out with the odd spicy note in on the act. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | | Fresh on is this Gravesend stout from Northfleet. Very good head and lacing and but sadly not lasting and so needing a good few decants to restore it. A malty first bite care of its 7 different malts used. Coffee and chocolatey flavourings rapidly rising with a malty bitterness living on in its aftertaste. |
| Elusive - Level Up : American Red Level 33 : Citra, Centennial & Simcoe | 5.00 | | Fresh on was this American red ale from south-west of Wokingham from this 9 year-old brewery that came out of home-brewing and this ale was based on one of their first. It presented good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A fruity bitter first hit. A lively hoppiness rearing up aided by its Citra, Centennial and Simcoe hops. A good fruitiness sailing down my estuary. |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | | Fourth night on for this New Forest bitter from Hardley, south of Southampton and based on the other side of the estuary known as Southampton Water. Still some head and lacing to it but not lasting. A very malty first bite to it. A dry bitterness rising and a maltiness aided by its Maris Otter malt, giving it a biscuity flavour. A dry hoppiness, emanating from its British-grown Goldings hops, drifting out with the odd fruity kick aided by its English ale yeast strain. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Bowland - Buster IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried |
25 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual regulars in the line-up for the last 30 minutes of serving alongside the odd one or two more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | | Third evening on is this bitter from Hardley, south of Southampton and based on the other side of the estuary known as Southampton Water. Head and lacing, still good, and lasting, still good. A malty bitter first bite. Its Maris Otter malt giving it its malty bitterness with a biscuity note or two rising. Its British-grown Goldings hops aiding its dry hoppiness and its yeast strain lending it a healthy hint of dry fruitiness! |
| Bowland - Buster IPA | 4.00 | | Fresh on and on recommendation was this Clitheroe-brewed IPA from Lancashire and north-east of Blackburn. Very good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy fruited first bite. A good hop-infused fruitiness rising with a tropical note or two emerging. A hoppy dryness lingering on. The brewery began life in a milking parlour in 2003 and now brews in a converted textile mill in the Lancashire market town of Clitheroe. |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried |
25 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | | Basic bitter in a rather tired condition |
| Bowland - Buster IPA | 4.00 | | Little USP - OK |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried |
24 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Holding on |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Loss of condition since yesterday |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | | Little life made this a chore to finish |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | | Strong ale with quite some flavour but no condition and slight haze |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Good condition on a boring golden ale |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Rather tired example |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | | Strong golden birthday ale. Some haze and very little condition |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with a mixture of regulars and the not so regular plus the Tuesday fiddlers out the back. Alas, Mighty Oak's Captain Bob bitter was all gone from its late first appearance on Saturday. Looking at the tasting notes for today, it was not listed and so must have been largely supped Sunday and from this micropub's late opening of 4pm on Monday. Not bad when some bitters can hang on 4 to 5 days.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Fresh on today was this IPA from south-west of Canterbury and just outside Chartham. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A very dry hoppy first bite. Its dry hoppiness rising from its West Kent hop, Jester, and East Kent Golding hop, lending it notes of honey and thyme. A mild fruitiness rising and a good dry spicy hoppiness sailing out. |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on this evening is this bitter from Hardley, south of Southampton and based on the other side of the estuary known as Southampton Water. Head and lacing, good, and lasting, good. A very dry bitter first bite. A mildly malty bitterness rising aided by its Maris Otter malt, lending it a hint of biscuity flavouring. A dry hoppiness shining through from its British-grown Goldings hops. Its yeast strain giving it a slightly fruity kick on riding out and singing "Rawhide" no doubt! |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - 27 Strong Gold | 6.50 | Not Tried |
21 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Good gathering of regulars and indeed dogs and for one dog reaching into his teens this day and for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 |  | Second night on and the fizz on the tongue from being a tad too fresh the night before had completely gone on this Essex amber bitter from the Maldon-based brewery set up in 1996. Head and lacing, excellent. As for lasting, I have never seen such lasting lacing on the side of a glass and even when the ale on the inside was completely supped. But all importantly, how did it taste? A very well-rounded bitter malty note on the first bite. Without doubt for me, one of the best bitters sampled in living memory! Here this was achieved by its superb combination of New Zealand hops but many an ale with a UK hop pleases me, I hasten to add. You might almost say that perfect balance between the malty note and the hoppy note. An underlying fruity note was also there, too, but almost undetectable for its grape, elderflower and gooseberry infusions. It was totally singing in harmony with my taste buds' applause. It sufficed 100% without my need to try another from the other five on, and with three fresh on this day. It ticked all the right boxes for my taste buds and I have tried to bring them up right. Others in were also supping it among other ales they tried but nobody had a bad word about this one. The best for me! |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Rakau | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
21 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 | | Basic well balanced bitter |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | The extent of plumminess varies from brew to brew |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Bordering on excellent condition |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Rakau | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
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