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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Stan the Man | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 2 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 2 |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | | 4 |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | | 4 |
| Elusive - Shapeshifter (collaboration with North Riding Brewery) | | 2 |
| Vocation - Pride & Joy |  | 1 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 1 |
| Kent - Zingiber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stardust - Easy Pale Cascade | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pomona | Not Tried | 0 |
| Steam Town - Shiny | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
07 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Very lively and met my taste expectations |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Disappointing - poured flattish |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
06 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall with just the Saturday regulars on parade among the more occasional for the last hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Second day on for this Maidstone-brewed Kentish dark mild and served with lasting head and lacing and brewed originally to celebrate Goachers’ 5th anniversary in 1988. A dry malty first hit with subtle hints of coffee and dark fruits like blackberry. A gentle bitterness rising from its Kent Fuggles. A malty bitterness winning over from being brewed with chocolate and black malts lending it dark chocolate, toffee and roasted coffee flavourings. A dry hoppy note sliding downwards. In very good nick and perfectly palatable. |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on literally was this amber-coloured Birling-brewed Kentish bitter from north of West Malling and exhibiting a lasting head and lacing throughout. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry hoppy floral fruitiness rising from its mix of local Kentish hops such as Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger, and giving rise to flavours of dark fruits such as plum and fig. A gentle bitterness winning over. Nothing really sweet about this bitter apart from the merest hint of toffee-caramel sweetness from its likely Maris Otter alongside Crystal malt. A fruity kick to it on its passage downwards aided by hints of spicy orange and a sharp marmalade flavouring caressing my tongue. Served in top condition with plenty of mouthfeel. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on for this Ramsgate-brewed Kentish amber ale and some head and lacing and lasting most of the way. A mildly fruited bitterness rising from its Goldings hops lending it a citrusy and limey touch and joined by Fuggles aiding its earthiness and with a mild woodiness, damp soil and cedar hints. A dry grassy and floral hoppiness sailing out with a biscuit-like malty sweetness from its crystal malts. Slightly minus conditioning but no off-flavours and so perhaps just a tad tired. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Coppice | 3.40 | Not Tried |
04 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with the Thursday regulars among the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | This ruby red to rusty copper-coloured Ramsgate-brewed Kentish best bitter on its second day still presented very good head and lacing and lasting. A malty bitter first hit all ably assisted by its six different malts including roasted, biscuit* and crystal malts. A biscuity-infused* bitterness rising with hints of toffee and sweet caramel. A hoppy note winning over and lingering from its four local hop varieties of fresh green hops, including traditional varieties like Northdown and East Kent Goldings, with flavours of red berries and spicy blackcurrant alongside stone fruits such as cherry. Served in top form and holding its lacing well and with good conditioning. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Pride & Joy | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
04 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | 2nd day on - good but some loss of condition |
| Vocation - Pride & Joy | 4.80 | | Poured flat in glass |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Krush | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | | Most condition now lost |
| Elusive - Shapeshifter (collaboration with North Riding Brewery) | 4.30 | | Poured flat |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Jun 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall with a local club in after their nearby meeting, alongside a few of the hardened regulars also on parade for the last half an hour of serving. Some of the fiddlers seen but not heard playing!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Good head and lasting lacing presented on this Ramsgate-brewed straw-coloured golden ale on its third day on. A dry fruited first hit. A gentle hoppiness climbing from using locally grown Kentish hops, and most likely to be featuring East Kent Goldings and Challenger varieties. A zesty, hoppy lemon flavouring landing on my taste buds. A fruited hoppiness sailing out aided by hints of apricot and biscuit. Just slightly over fruited for my taste buds. Served in good nick. |
| Elusive - Shapeshifter (collaboration with North Riding Brewery) | 4.30 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Second day on and good head and lasting lacing on this collaboration between Elusive Brewing from Finchampstead, near Wokingham in Berkshire where brewing was set up in 2016, and North Riding Brewery, based in the village of Snainton on the outskirts of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and with commercial production commencing in 2015. A dry hoppy first hit. A grapey fruitiness rising on my palate from its Krush, Amarillo and Simcoe hops from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and known as the Yakima Valley in Washington State, lending citrusy piney flavours. Very infused with flavours of grapes fresh off the vine for me alongside gentle hints of mango, peach and soft berry flavours from its Krush hops. A lingering dry fruitiness on its descent. Slightly over fruited for me but served in reasonable nick. |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fifth day on and still some head and lacing on being poured but not lasting on this Hampshire bitter from the New Forest and where the brewery is based in Hardley, on the edge of the New Forest National Park, and first set up in 2011. A malty bitter first bite. A bitter hoppiness rising aided by its British-grown Bramling Cross. A maltiness winning over with toasted bread and biscuity flavours for me. A fruited bitter finish lingering. Tired with little conditioning remaining. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
31 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for the last half an hour of serving with a mix of the regulars and the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Ramsgate-brewed straw-coloured golden ale. A dry fruity first bite. Locally grown Kentish hops, and most likely to be featuring East Kent Goldings and Challenger varieties, aiding its gentle hoppiness with touches of zesty, hoppy lemon flavourings. Hints of apricot and biscuit bobbing up in its fruited hoppiness sailing out. A touch over fruited for my taste buds but a pleasant oiliness from the hops detected. Served in very good nick. |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Third day on and good head and lacing on being served and nearly lasting on this Hampshire bitter brewed on the edge of the New Forest National Park and at its Hardley-based brewery. A dry bitter first hit. A malty bitterness rising ably assisted by its malts including Maris Otter, lending a biscuity caramelised-infusion on my taste buds. A fruity bitterness winning over from its British-grown Bramling Cross aiding its fruited bitter hoppiness. A fruited bitterness lasting in the aftertaste. Served in good form. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pomona | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
31 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | | A good Ramsgate ale in good condition |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | 4.00 | | Condition good but unexceptional in taste. Perhaps a generous score |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | | Poured flat |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | Hanging on in there |
| Kent - Pomona | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Steam Town - Shiny | 3.40 | Not Tried |
30 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Saturday regulars, the hardened and the lesser spotted for the last three-quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Stan the Man | 4.20 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Good head and lasting lacing on this Ramsgate-brewed session IPA on its second day on. A dry hoppy first hit. A gentle fruited hoppiness rising from its modern British hop varieties including Harlequin*, a daughter of the British Godiva hop that was commercially released in 2019, and Mystic*, a daughter of the British Jester hop that was released around also 2019, and alongside the established East Kent Goldings. A fruitiness prevailing on my taste buds. Paddling out with flavours of passionfruit, peach and pineapple caressing my taste buds. Served in fine fettle but a touch too fruited for me! *These hops were developed by the Charles Faram Hop Development Programme to give UK brewers intense, tropical, "New World" flavours without the need to import US or New Zealand hops. |
| Vibrant Forest - Dapple | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and good head and lacing on being served and almost lasting on this Hampshire bitter from the Hardley-based brewery on the edge of the New Forest National Park and first set up in 2011. A dry bitter first hit. Its British-grown Bramling Cross lending it a bitter hoppiness. Aided by its malts including Maris Otter, a biscuity caramelised-infused maltiness rising with toffee notes. A fruited bitterness lasting in the aftertaste. Served in good nick. |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Jester XPA (collaboration with Five Points) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pomona | 5.00 | Not Tried |
28 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy with a good few of the Thursday regulars on parade among the lesser spotted for the last half an hour of serving. Amazed to still see the same bitter on from Wednesday of the week before, 20th May 2026, and when I tried it on 21st, it was flat tasting and so I could only manage one. It must win the award for the longest reigning bitter on at 9 days!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | 1st beer of this visit: Second day on and still presenting a very healthy head and lasting lacing on this Peterborough-brewed golden ale that was originally a wheat beer and so-named for being brewed with a large proportion of wheat alongside the standard malted barley and with the grain bill typically consisting of 30% to 70% wheat. A dry hoppy first hit. A light zesty and citrusy fruitiness climbing up aided by its US Cascade hops mixed with its more subtle-flavoured UK hops, Pioneer behind some citrus, bitter lemon, grapefruit, cedar, and mild herbal hints, Goldings behind earthy, honey and lavender infusions and a sweet spiciness, and Challenger behind notes of floral spiciness, cedar wood and green tea. An emerging bitterness shining through those UK hops on my palate. A degree of maltiness for balance from Maris Otter and now made with just a touch of wheat. A fruity hoppiness paddling out. Good carbonation and served in still top condition. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third day on now and no longer presenting its creamy top. Some head still and lasting lacing on this jet-black porter from Hardley, Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest National Park. A very coffee-infused first hit. A dark chocolatey maltiness climbing up from its charred, roasted and chocolate malts. A berry-infused fruitiness winning over with a parading across my palate of woodland fruits comprising red, purple, and black berries. Tart and sweet flavours coming to the fore of bilberries, elderberries, damsons and sloes, and the latter a sharp wild berry from the blackthorn bush. Its British hops aiding its foundational bittering balance. A bittersweet maltiness emerging with a cocoa-infused bitterness and smoky malty chocolate flavours lingering before their sailing out. Served still in good condition on its third day on. Because of its sweetness with a touch of treacle also in on the mix, once again a half certainly sufficed. |
| Kent - Zingiber | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried | 9th day on! |
| Kent - Ernest | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Stardust - Easy Pale Cascade | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 779 |
| 2155 |
| 708 |
 | 61 |
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 1724 times, seen 2013 different beers and tried 1184 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ