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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento |  | 3 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | | 2 |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | | 1 |
| Vale - Electric Sheep | | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | | 4 |
| Church End - Fallen Angel | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | | 2 |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | | 1 |
| Monkey - Sea Wall |  | 1 |
| Bexley - Spike Island | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Helios | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | Not Tried | 0 |
| 360° - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Cromwell Golden Extra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Jungle Juice | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
05 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with a stalwart of the local CAMRA branch holding their 80th birthday. They had done a few other micros earlier by all accounts from about mid-day with a good party of friends and many still here at the finale drinking hole. Many a musical record in honour of his love of Radio Caroline was being played including this station's outgoing theme at the end of each broadcast early on which was Jimmy McGriff's jazz standard, "Round Midnight". Radio Caroline was the British pirate radio station founded in 1964. It was set up at first to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the UK and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly. The station never became illegal as such due to operating outside any national jurisdiction. But the Marine Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 made it illegal for a British subject to associate with it. It successfully operated using five different ships with three different owners from 1964 to 1990, and then via satellite from 1998 to 2013. Since August 2000, Radio Caroline has broadcast via the internet and by the occasional restricted service licence.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Now the fourth day on and I say day since this micro opens at 2pm on Friday unlike at 4pm Monday to Thursday. Surprisingly, still holding its head and lacing well and lasting to the end. This Berkshire bitter from north-west of Finchampstead and south-west of Wokingham presented a very bitter first bite. Not as good a lip-smacking crispness about it as when tried the evening before. A fruity hint pervading its moreishly hoppy bitterness. Still a biscuity, caramelly malt or two leaping up. Not the same conditioning as on its premier night or third night but still exerting a good punchiness. A lasting dry hoppiness care of its Cascade hops. Palatable enough to still stick to it! |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Golden Extra | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Jungle Juice | 3.50 | Not Tried |
04 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Once again busier footfall than over recent weeks for a change and for last 40 minutes of serving with a good sprinkling of regulars in among the less regular
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | | Fresh on was this Essex mild from Maldon. Head and lacing though presented on being first served went AWOL shortly after. Taste-wise, it was a very dry bitter first hit aided by its Challenger hops. A dry maltiness, from its Maris Otter Pale, Crystal and Black malts, rising alongside its hoppy bitterness and both prevailing before sailing out to sea. |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Third night on and still holding its head and lacing well and lasting to the end is this Berkshire bitter from north-west of Finchampstead and south-west of Wokingham. As on Tuesday when fresh on, a very bitter first bite. A good lip-smacking crispness about it with a fruity touch shining through its moreishly hoppy bitterness. A hint of biscuit and caramel-infused maltiness rising. Holding onto its conditioning well but a tad thinner to my taste buds than two evenings earlier. Its Cascade hop-infusions giving it a lasting dry hoppiness. Extremely moreish once again and so I stuck to it apart from a half of mild to end on! |
| Church End - Fallen Angel | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried |
04 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church End - Fallen Angel | 5.00 | | Professional brew, well conditioned with enduring head and lacing |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | | Too little condition |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | | Not much idea what this ale is supposed to be. Amateur feel about it |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried |
03 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | | Usual old citrus pale. Yawn |
| Vale - Electric Sheep | 4.30 | | Basic undistinguished Citra hop offering |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Monkey - Sea Wall | 4.20 | Not Tried |
02 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall for a change for last 30 minutes of serving with a few regulars in among the more numerous occasional. Even one of the many fiddlers out the back was back with us after a good month's absence.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 |  | Fresh on and a welcome appearance after the recent Anspach & Hobday's The Ordinary Bitter hanging on since last Friday. This Berkshire bitter, from north-west of Finchampstead and south-west of Wokingham, presented much lively appeal. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, superb with not a single decant required throughout its premier night's performance. A pleasantly very bitter first bite. A very mild fruitiness rising but a dependable moreishly hoppy bitterness pervading with a hint of maltiness joining in with biscuit and caramel flavouring to boot. A tasty dry hoppy bitterness playing out and making my lips smack open and shut with its great dry hoppy qualities lent by its touch of Cascade dry-hop at its climax before sailing down my hatch. Extremely moreish and so could do no more but remain stuck to it! |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Electric Sheep | 4.30 | Not Tried |
01 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | | New cask today - good condition. Not my type of beer as pretty rabid lemon juice |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | | Condition good. Best of the evening |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Sat flat in glass with no condition left |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just a handful of regulars in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Fresh on this Sunday was this Essex Citra Pale from Maldon with the micro open from 1pm. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A fruit-infused first bite. A dry hoppiness aided by lashings of Citra and winning over its fruitiness emanating from hints of passion fruit, nectarine and orange peel. A touch too full of a citrusy note for me personally and veering up from the citric acid found in these fruits but its dry hoppiness made it sufficiently moreish to carry on in the face of a few others that had been on for a good few days. |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Basic citrussy hop based job |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | | Lively, good head and lacing |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | | Ultra cloying with little condition. Had this so much better before |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
30 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a regular on parade alongside the less regular.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | 2nd night on for this Bermondsey bitter. Head and lacing, good. Lasting, good. A lightly bitter first bite. A gentle dry bitterness rising with a fruity note or two joining in. The merest hint of a malty sweetness coming to the fore with a biscuity caramel-infused flavouring. A dry hoppiness playing out aided by its US Chinook hops. |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | | 2nd day on for this Nottingham-based pilsner-style pale brewed to celebrate the best manager England never had. Head and lacing very good. Lasting, good. A fruited hoppy first bite. A dry bitterness rising and a good fruitiness kicking in with floral and herbal notes. A pleasant hoppy bitterness sailing off. |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | | Good head and lacing but not quite lasting on only its second day on, on this Erith-based dry stout from the neighbouring Bexley borough. A coffee-infused first bite. A malty explosion then erupting onto my taste buds and pervading throughout. A dark chocolatey dry bitterness sailing off. |
| Oakham - Endless Summer | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 360° - Session IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Sun Drift | 4.60 | Not Tried |
29 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Similar to Thursday night and for Friday's last half-hour of serving, as in a real turnout of regulars including some of the more occasional regulars all on parade. Just 4 real ales on from the usual 7 with 3 hangers-on gone and with 2 also gone since yesterday. One or two in earlier were obviously very thirsty!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | Fresh on this day, in referring to not just the late afternoon/evening time opening of Monday to Thursday at 4pm, since on Friday this micro opens at 2pm. This Bermondsey-based bitter was marked on the blackboard as Anspach & Hobday's The Ordinary Bitter at 3.4% and yet the tasting notes referred to it as The Golden Bitter at 4.0%. The tasting notes were corrected for the following day as The Ordinary Bitter but showing 3.7% when it is 3.4%. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting good. A fruit-infused bitter first bite. A hoppy fruited bitterness rising from its US Chinook hops. A biscuity maltiness winning over and a bitter dryness lasting. |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | | Fresh on was this Erith-based dry stout from the neighbouring Bexley borough and so it was delivered with its creamy head. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. As in all recent Bexley bitters sampled here, as in Redhouse and Bursted, a definite maltiness shining through. The odd dark chocolatey note or two getting in on the act for my taste buds from its malty depths. A coffee-infusion also rising and a dry bitterness playing out. |
| Castle Rock - Brian Clough | 4.20 | | Fresh on and head and lacing very good and lasting, good. This Nottingham-based pale commenced with a very dry bitter first hit. A dry hoppiness rising and a fruity bitterness sailing off. Brewed by Castle Rock to celebrate the best manager England never had! |
| Mighty Oak - Helios | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 765 |
| 2117 |
| 682 |
 | 59 |
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 1681 times, seen 1993 different beers and tried 1174 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ