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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock - Mysterons |  | 1 |
| Kent - Hygge | | 2 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | | 3 |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | | 2 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | | 5 |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | | 3 |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | | 2 |
| Brew York - Keras |  | 1 |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition X | | 3 |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Rainbow's End | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
08 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Busier than usual cribbage team crowd.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | | Good condition - as good as yesterday's |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Bordering on poor, flat. Soon reached end of cask |
| Brew York - Keras | 3.50 | | Poured flat, no condition |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | Tolerable |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over for the last half an hour of serving with the regulars and the more occasional on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Second day on for this bitter from High Brooms, north-east of Tunbridge Wells, and punching out more flavour than when fresh on, on Saturday, and with good head and lacing and lasting. A very bitter first hit. A good maltiness from its 5 different malts climbing up, alongside caramel and toffee flavours dancing on my taste buds. A gentle bitter hoppiness, aided by its East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops, paddling out accompanied by the odd faint tangerine note. |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | | This Kent-based brewery's winter stout, brewed in Birling, north of West Malling, presented a good head but the lacing was not overly lasting. A roasted malt or two in its first bite. A bitterness rising among its malts and a hint of spruce and pine on my palate care of its meandering through the woods and not to forget the merest touch of the odd dark chocolate bear hanging off a branch or two! |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | This extra strong Kent Prohibition American Pale Ale from north of West Malling marked this Birling-based brewery's 10th year for brewing this ale. Very good head and lacing presented and lasting. It was billed to have double the hoppiness. Not sure that it was any more hoppy than the usual strength Prohibition at 4.8% but it was certainly more fruity in its first bite. A hoppiness gently rising from some of the latest US hops involved. Dried citrus fruits pervading alongside hints of pine, resin and spice. Rather overly fruited for me I decided as it made its downwards exit. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | | Not a stout really to my taste |
| Ossett - World Hop Series USA | 4.30 | | A lively mouthfeel |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | | Disappointing - I would expect more of a 10th anniversary ale. Just a sourish citrus brew and definitely not the promised "double the hoppiness" |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried |
06 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last hour of serving with a mix of the Saturday regulars, the hardened and the more occasional in. Out of six ales on the "On Now" list on the tasting notes, only one remained on arrival with five from the "Coming Next" list brought on. Charlton FC played at home against Portsmouth but the game was abandoned very early on due to a fan taking ill while spectating the match and needing to be hospitalised.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Fresh on with a good head and lacing almost lasting to the bottom of the glass of this High Brooms' brewed bitter from north-east of Tunbridge Wells. A very malty first bite. A dry bitterness rising with a gentle malty note bobbing up with hints of caramel and toffee flavours. A fruitiness veering upwards with tangerine hints from its English Ale yeast. A very malt-infused hoppy bitterness chugging out aided by its East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops and 5 malts. Packed a good punch above its weight at just 3.4%. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Rainbow's End | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | Not Tried |
04 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last half an hour of serving with a mix of the hardened regulars and the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | 4th night on and still very good head and lacing and lasting on this Maidstone-brewed strong ale and named after the original gravity of this barley wine. It has been brewed every winter since the brewery was launched in 1983. A dry bitter but slightly fruited first hit. A maltiness rising but not overly so, alongside a hint of sherry sweetness and marmalade flavours advancing. A touch of black treacle evident on its malty descent. Certainly greatly more quaffable than the Tonbridge Special Brew (TSB) despite it being 6.7%. I would not have guessed its strength readily. |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | Second night on for this East Peckham special brew, north-east of Tonbridge. A dry bitter first bite. A spicy bitterness rapidly climbing with a good maltiness winning over with hints of treacle toffee and dried fruits. A healthy bitterness prevailing and a malty note giving directions on its descent. It has the consistency of a good soup which is no doubt why it took me almost 45 minutes to devour 2 pints. Certainly not quaffable for that reason and one of the slowest at this time of day to sink down for a long time! Strangely palatable it was though. |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | 3.80 | Not Tried | Came on belatedly. |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Mysterons | 4.10 | Not Tried |
04 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Holding on to good condition by its fingertips |
| Castle Rock - Mysterons | 4.10 | | An ale with no USP. Boring citrus |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | 3.80 | Not Tried | Came on at very last knockings |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
03 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Holding up well |
| Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew | 4.60 | | Held reasonable head and lacing |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | New cask on today - a winter classic |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Now tiring |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Lively evening for last half an hour of serving with some of the hardened on brigade among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 |  | Fresh on with a creamy head and lasting in sticking to the sides of the glass. A very malty bitter first hit on this Maidstone-brewed barley wine of an old ale and produced by this brewer since the winter of 1983. A fruity sweetness with a tangy marmalade flavouring rising. Its maltiness exhibiting a dark fruity note aided by the odd red berry in on the mix lingering before its final paddling out with a black treacle hint. |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Now its third night on and still pulling a punch and presenting a good head and lacing. A dry bitter first hit on this bitter from near Farnham, Surrey, and named after the village of Tongham. An unmistakable maltiness rising before its hoppy sweetness wins over from its Fuggles hops. A definite fruitiness paddling out. As moreish as Sunday so again stuck to it but for a mere Goacher's 1066 Old Ale. |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Oregon Trail | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | As yesterday - unchanged |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | | Exactly as yesterday's - flavoured but flat |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden | 3.70 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
| 726 |
| 1933 |
| 609 |
 | 56 |
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 1534 times, seen 1906 different beers and tried 1123 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ