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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Five Points - Brick Field BrownGood3
Vibrant Forest - CanopyGood2
Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano)Good2
Brew York - TonkokoGood1
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - DemockracyGood1
Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds')Good1
Vibrant Forest - CrosswindsGood3
Five Points - Railway PorterGood2
Verdant - Lamanva Best BitterGood1
Lost Pier - Snitches Get StitchesGood1
Southwark - Bermondsey BestGood1
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)Good1
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)Good1
Iron Pier - Truckin' to YpresAcceptable1
Loddon - Citra QuadAcceptable1
Mighty Oak - Jake the SnakeNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Perry St PaleNot Tried0
Oakham - Three in a RowNot Tried0
Verdant - BurnthouseNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - FentonNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - Paper RoomNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Suspended in SuperdelicNot Tried0
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari JuiceNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - HopfestNot Tried0
Siren Craft - LuminaNot Tried0
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPANot Tried0
Oakham - Zig ZagNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - PupaNot Tried0
Picture 1. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Picture 2. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Picture 3. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

06 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30GoodKept head and lacing pretty much
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40AcceptableSoon went flat in the glass
Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres5.80AcceptableBelgian yeast character. OK but a half was more than enough
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest3.80Not Tried
Southwark - Bermondsey Best4.40Not TriedOthers' pints looked flat
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
05 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 45 minutes of serving with many a Saturday regular in and the more occasional punter in, too.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Southwark - Bermondsey Best4.40GoodFresh on and came with some head and lacing but this did not hang about for long. A first hit of malty caramel. A dry bitter mouthfeel then presented itself alongside its honey-infused hops. A maltiness then got in on the act in its dry aftertaste.
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40GoodOnly its second night on for this Hackney-based brown ale but came with minimal head and lacing. A sweet malty first hit aided by demerara sugar flavourings. A bitter and malty mouthfeel came to the fore and lingered in its aftertaste.
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest3.80Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Pupa4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres5.80Not Tried
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60Not Tried
04 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular on parade.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40GoodFresh on and so head and lacing on this Hackney-based brown ale but not holding it for long. A very malty first hit. Minimal sweetness in the mouthfeel and so the dry maltiness won over. There was though the merest hint of demerara in its aftertaste.
Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter4.00GoodFresh on and came with good head and lacing on this bitter from Penryn in Cornwall. A very dry first hit. A bitterish mouthfeel followed and though a mention of toffee and a biscuity finish, it held a dry and not sweet aftertaste.
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA4.20Not Tried
Oakham - Zig Zag3.40Not Tried
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds7.00Not Tried
03 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Mix of regulars and the more occasional visitor for last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60GoodGood head and lacing on this Elusive pale from Wokingham and a collaboration with Worthing-based Hand Brew. A very hoppy first hit. A dryish mouthfeel with an explosion of hops on the palate. A lightly sweet maltiness coming to the fore but a hoppy dryness winning over in the aftertaste.
Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds7.00GoodGood head and lacing on this New Forest porter. A very dry first hit. Then a maltiness coming to get you with 7 malts involved according to the tasting notes. A very moreish mouthfeel and would not guess its strength in the least and with a long-lasting malty dry aftertaste.
Vibrant Forest - Canopy4.00GoodThird night on for this New Forest-based bitter and still holding its head and lacing. Taste-wise, still a bitter first hit. Greatly more drinkable than when fresh on a few evenings ago. A dryish malty mouthfeel and lingering.
Loddon - Citra Quad4.40Not TriedWent off when another customer in front of me requested it.
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - Demockracy3.80Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not Tried
03 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds7.00GoodInevitably holding up well as a 7%er
Loddon - Citra Quad4.40AcceptablePoorly presented with haze and and underwhelming hop taste. Soon ran out
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - Demockracy3.80Not Tried
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy4.00Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not Tried
02 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close with a boisterous birthday party in one corner of the front room.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - Demockracy3.80GoodJust another citrus job with no USP
Vibrant Forest - Crosswinds7.00GoodBaltic Porter which held good head and lacing throughout
Loddon - Citra Quad4.40Not Tried
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy4.00Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not Tried
01 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of regulars and others in, including the fiddlers playing out the back.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)4.20GoodIt was up on the blackboard as a golden and also recommended by a fellow regular. This Maldon ale from Essex was according to the tasting notes a Citra pale. Came with superb head and lacing on its second night on. A very hoppy first hit. Only a mild fruitiness in the mouthfeel despite a mention of passion fruit, nectarine and orange peel. Its dry hoppiness won the contest for me thankfully and lingered in its aftertaste. It was very moreish!
Vibrant Forest - Canopy4.00GoodThis New Forest traditional bitter is perhaps a touch too fresh to my taste as just on this evening, but with very good head and lacing. A powerfully bitter first hit. A very fruity mouthfeel and a biscuity sweetness from its Maris Otter malts. Left with a sort of chewy aftertaste which was not very welcome! It certainly looked the part if not quite tasting it! One sufficed for me.
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80Not TriedJust ran out on requesting it.
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - Demockracy3.80Not Tried
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)5.60Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not Tried
30 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A very busy turnout of regulars and the not so regular for the last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80GoodOnly its second night on and so presented with a good head and lacing. A malty chocolatey first hit. Roasted coffee flavours among a dark chocolatey bitterness coming to the fore. A very malty mouthfeel lingering with seven different malts deployed in the making of this Hackney-based porter.
Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano)4.40GoodThird night on for the new barrel of this Italian bitter and a collaboration with Berkshire-based Siren Craft. Still holding its head and lacing well. A lightly bitter first hit. A full bitterness coming to the fore with a slight sharpness hitting the aftertaste.
Vibrant Forest - Paper Room4.80Not Tried
Lost Pier - Snitches Get Stitches4.30Not Tried
Siren Craft - Suspended in Superdelic3.40Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not TriedA new brewery on me and from Salford but was not brave enough to try having read about its mango, blueberry, tropical and citrus notes. It looked quite a murky concoction!
30 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Front room was a packed house.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80GoodAn always reliable choice
Lost Pier - Snitches Get Stitches4.30GoodBasic pale with no USP
Vibrant Forest - Paper Room4.80Not Tried
Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano)4.40Not Tried
Siren Craft - Suspended in Superdelic3.40Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not Tried
28 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with many of the Friday regulars in and among the more occasional.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Siren Craft - Circle Back (collaboration with Birrificio Italiano)4.40GoodA new barrel freshly on today of this Italian bitter and a collaboration with Berkshire-based Siren Craft Brew meant good head and lacing. A hoppy first hit. A bitter and fruity hoppiness was presented from the German hops which were used for this Italian brew. A hoppy dryness persisted.
Oakham - Invicta (collaboration with Ramsgate Gadds')4.30GoodGood head and lacing still on this pale's second night on and for this Peterborough-based and Ramsgate Brewery collaboration. A citrusy first hit followed by a fruity mouthfeel. A hoppy dryness from the East Kent Goldings' hops in the aftertaste and very moreish.
Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake4.00Not Tried
Iron Pier - Perry St Pale3.70Not Tried
Oakham - Three in a Row4.00Not Tried
Verdant - Burnthouse4.60Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Fenton4.80Not Tried

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About The River Ale House

The pub sign. The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional11
Excellent659
Good1545
Acceptable452
Poor35

Website.

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 1231 times, seen 1772 different beers and tried 1032 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ