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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) |  | 3 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | | 2 |
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Bitter | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 3 |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange |  | 1 |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | | 2 |
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | | 1 |
| Verdant - Penpol | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elusive - Division | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | Not Tried | 0 |
| 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 |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 |
30 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Sunday regulars and the hardened for the last half an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | Fresh on today and presenting a very good head and lacing and hanging on like a limpet to the sides of the glass. This Surrey bitter, west of Guildford, near Farnham and named after the village of Tongham, had a dry bitter first hit. A sweet malty note climbing from its English malted barley. A hoppy sweetness winning over aided by its Surrey-grown bittering hop, Fuggles. A malty fruitiness joining the paddle out. Very moreish and so stuck to it on this visit. Hogs Back Brewery launched in 1992 and took over the brewing of Exmoor Ales' core range from May 2025. Also a great fan of Exmoor Ales which delivered their polypins to me during the 2020 lockdown. |
| 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 | |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | Not Tried |
30 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | New on today. Fresh but good |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | | Needed condition to carry off the heavy body but it had none. Quite 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 |
29 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Saturday regulars among the hardened for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Maris the Otter | 3.90 | | This bitter, brewed in York's city centre near the River Foss, was fresh on today but perhaps not hugely supped as Charlton FC were away, losing 3-1 to Coventry. It came with a head but did not last. A sweetish bitter first hit with biscuit, caramel and toffee flavourings. A dry bitterness rising aided by four different varieties of new world hops. A toasted malty note rearing up from its five different malts but a dry bitterness winning over and sliding down. It lacked the conditioning it might well have presented on the Sunday and following going all the way through its second fermentation. |
| Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Calmer Chameleon | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Idaho Pale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Natalie Porterman | 5.20 | Not Tried |
27 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with many a regular dotted about among the more occasional for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | This was very fresh on by all accounts as another customer at the bar was recommending the New Bristol Bitter which had just gone. This Maidstone-brewed pale amber bitter therefore did come with very good head and its attendant lacing lasted well throughout. A fresh hoppy first hit. A dry moreish hoppiness rising on the palate with the occasional hoppy bitter note emerging and all aided by its East Kent Goldings, lending it hints of honey, fresh herbs and spice, and WGV (Whitbread Goldings Variety) hops, the latter lending it earthy, herbal and floral flavours. A dry hoppiness sailing downwards and very moreish and so stuck to it. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Just ran out. |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
27 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | New cask on today. Basically good |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Virtually last out of the cask |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
26 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close, after packhorseing London Drinker magazines to site.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | | Basic citrus bore |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Some loss of condition since Monday's |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
25 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with a good few in for the last 30 minutes of serving including some of the hardened on parade and the Tuesday fiddlers in the rear of this micro.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Now its third night on for this Bristol-brewed bitter and all the better for having gone through its second fermentation in the barrel since Sunday evening. Good head and lacing and lasting. A fruited bitter first hit. A dry bitterness rising with a fruit-infused sharpness. A lively fruity kick to it from its Gold and Goldings hops. New Bristol, established in 2015, regularly brews this cask bitter due to its popularity. It certainly proved popular with me on this visit and so stuck to it. |
| Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Division | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
24 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Low Monday footfall.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Looking and tasting very good indeed |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | | As yesterday - good taste, lacking condition |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Division | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for a Sunday for last 30 minutes of serving with a good few in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Forest - Canopy Bitter | 4.00 | | I only managed to get almost the last one out of the barrel on its second day on. Still displaying good head and lacing and lasting on this New Forest bitter brewed just south of Southampton in Hampshire. A very malty first hit. Its Goldings hops lending it a dry hoppy bitterness. A hint of biscuity maltiness rising. Still got that fruity kick to it and did not taste tired despite now being at the end of its barrel. Sailing out with a good malty, fruity bitterness. |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | This came on to replace the Vibrant Forest Canopy Bitter which had just gone. This Bristol-brewed bitter from just north-east of Bristol's city centre presented good head and lacing and lasting. A very bitter first hit. From the start, it tasted a touch too fresh as though it was still slumbering through its second fermentation process. It had a rather stringent dry bitterness from its Gold and Goldings hops. A degree of maltiness commenced rising on my palate but not before a fruity kick or two took off on its flight downwards. |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Elusive - Division | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 14 |
 | 727 |
| 1933 |
| 609 |
 | 58 |
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 1535 times, seen 1906 different beers and tried 1124 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ