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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 |  | 3 |
| Stancill - Summer Breeze | | 2 |
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged |  | 3 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 3 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Kent - Cobnut | | 3 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 1 |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout |  | 3 |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! |  | 1 |
| Kent - Rakau | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Into the Woods Ernest & Bullion | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 |
20 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of regulars and the more occasional for last 50 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Captain Bob | 3.80 | | Fresh on by just a few hours earlier into the evening was this Essex amber bitter from the Maldon-based brewery set up in 1996. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting, good. A very bitter first bite. A good dose of maltiness rising and a hoppy bitterness winning over, aided by its New Zealand hops. A slight fruitiness getting in on the act care of its grape, elderflower and gooseberry infusions. A dry moreish bitterness sailing downwards. A touch too fresh and so a slight fizz on the tongue but moreish enough to stick with it! |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Summer Breeze | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Into the Woods Ernest & Bullion | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Rakau | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Chinook & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
19 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Good mix of stalwarts and the lesser spotted for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Second day on for this Kentish ruby bitter from Birling, north of West Malling, and in better form than trying within minutes of its first appearance the evening before. Head and lacing, very good, and this time lasting to the end. A very malty bitterness in its first bite. A pleasantly bitter hoppiness rising but won over by the lasting maltiness playing out with its odd smoky note ably assisted by its sweet molasses. Very moreish and so stuck to it on this session. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Stancill - Summer Breeze | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Into the Woods Ernest & Bullion | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Rakau | 4.50 | Not Tried |
18 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with many a regular on parade among the more occasional for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stancill - Summer Breeze | 4.00 | | Fresh on was this Sheffield pale, brewed north of the city, and presenting very good head and lacing and lasting to the end. A dry hoppy first bite to it. A mildly fruited hoppiness rising aided by its US Citra hops. Very moreish and so another was also sampled. Stancill set up brewing in 2014 having rescued the kit and a well regarded Barnsley bitter arising from the closure in 2013 of Oakwell Brewery in Barnsley. |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | Fresh on literally was this Kentish ruby bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. Good head and lacing to start with but perhaps because so fresh on, this legged it out of the glass. A very malty first bite. A dry bitterness rising the heights before navigating downwards with a touch of smokiness and sweetness from molasses in on the mix. Very moreish but also like a soup in its very heavy maltiness slowing it down from being readily quaffable! |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Fourth night on now for this Kentish light pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling. Surprisingly, still presenting good head and lacing and holding onto it to the end. The same dry hoppy first hit as when tried on Tuesday. A touch of mild fruitiness detected aided by its citrus and elderflower flavourings. As when last sampled earlier in the week, a dry bitterness prevailing and lingering. |
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out whilst here. |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out whilst here. |
| Iron Pier - Into the Woods Ernest & Bullion | 4.80 | Not Tried | Fresh on during my visit. |
18 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | | New cask today. not as clean tasting as previous Cobnut samples |
| Stancill - Summer Breeze | 4.00 | | New cask today, condition good but the taste just bored me |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Iron Pier - Into the Woods Ernest & Bullion | 4.80 | Not Tried |
17 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged | 5.00 | | Holding good condition still |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Little condition and head and lacing absent |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | | Flat brown liquid - unappetising |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy medley of regulars and the less frequent and with a fiddler or two playing out the back for last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Second night on for this Kentish light pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling. Still presenting a good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A dry hoppy first hit. A mild fruitiness aided by hints of citrus and elderflower rising with the odd kick to it but rescued by a dry bitterness winning over and lingering. |
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged | 5.00 | | This golden cask aged IPA from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is fresh on this evening and so very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. First brewed in 2018, it has returned with a very fruity, rather sour, and fiery first hit aided by its Slovenian hops, Dragon and Aurora. Flavouring not quite to my liking as bursting with astringent tropical fruit, plus grapefruit, lemon, lime and apple. If that was not quite enough, hints of woody resin also battle through and linger. An almighty fruity kick to it! Just a half sufficed for me! |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | | 4th night on and so now struggling to hold onto its head and lacing and not lasting on this Peterborough cask aged* stout. A dry malty first hit as noted on Saturday when first tried. Its dry bitterness still there. A spicy, floral and herbal note or two still evident. Hanging onto its hoppiness from its UK hops, Challenger and Fuggles. A good maltiness playing out. *With it being cask aged, following the initial fermentation, the tired yeast cells are removed to eradicate undesirable aromas and flavours. Fresh yeast is introduced to follow the “Krausening” method. The beer is racked in casks and "aged" for at least 6 weeks and cellared like a fine wine to allow development of its flavours and conditioning. |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Dragon Cask Aged | 5.00 | | New cask on. Really lively and lots of mouthfeel |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | | Noticeable loss of condition since yesterday's |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
15 Sep 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Slight loss of edge since yesterday's |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | | Held same condition as yesterday's |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Yes, No, Wait, Sorry! | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 16 |
| 834 |
| 2246 |
| 772 |
| 64 |
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 1832 times, seen 2061 different beers and tried 1229 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ