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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The UnionGood1
Iron Pier - Truckin' to YpresGood2
Verdant - Lamanva Best BitterGood1
Elusive - Handheld (collaboration with Hand Brew)Good1
Southwark - Bermondsey BestGood2
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Series BitterGood1
Crouch Vale - MosaicGood2
Five Points - Brick Field BrownGood4
Disruption IS Brewing (sub-brand of Ascot) - DemockracyGood1
Brew York - Maris the OtterGood2
Brew York - TonkokoGood1
Vibrant Forest - CrosswindsGood3
Loddon - Citra QuadAcceptable1
Oakham - Zig ZagNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - PupaNot Tried0
Lost Pier - Resting Beach FaceNot Tried0
Elusive - ResonanceNot 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
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

09 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - The Union6.00GoodAs soon as I saw this was on there was no other choice to make
Crouch Vale - Mosaic4.10Not TriedRan out as I arrived
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40Not TriedStill soldiering on
Brew York - Maris the Otter3.90Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face3.80Not Tried
Elusive - Resonance4.50Not Tried
08 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crouch Vale - Mosaic4.10GoodA zesty single hopper
Brew York - Maris the Otter3.90GoodGood enough
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face3.80Not Tried
08 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not so busy on arrival for last 30 minutes of serving and with a few regulars in and the fiddlers out the back strumming their fiddles. A late night crowd of the younger customer of about 6 arrived just before 10.50pm, as in the first bell's ringing time, and so beat them just to the bar for a second one. Must have sensed they were coming!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crouch Vale - Mosaic4.10GoodFresh on and positively foaming at the mouth with its head and lacing from this Essex-based brewery at South Woodham Ferrers. Head and lacing held throughout its tropical fruit-infused performance. A first hit of fruity hoppiness from its US Mosaic hops. A fruity hoppy mouthfeel lived on into the aftertaste and the odd grapefruit comes to my mind, whether it was harmed in the making of this pale ale or not. One sufficed for me!
Brew York - Maris the Otter3.90GoodSecond night on and holding its head and lacing like a trooper on this York-based brewery's bitter! A very malty first hit. A dry malty bitterness on the mouthfeel and holding. Even the head and lacing were holding! Only five different malts but it was a thoroughly malty explosion on the palate. There was the moreish bitter dryness lingering and just in case you asked! Another had to follow the first!
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Lost Pier - Resting Beach Face3.80Not Tried
06 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for Sunday for last 30 minutes of serving with just a handful of hardened regulars in and compared to the week before. Perhaps the Easter holidays are already under way for many and they are taking advantage of the sunny weather on top?
BeerABVScoreNotes
Iron Pier - Truckin' to Ypres5.80GoodThis Northfleet Belgian Blonde from just outside Gravesend came with good head and lacing and hung on to it. A fruity first hit. A bitter and mildly spicy mouthfeel and lingering.
Southwark - Bermondsey Best4.40AcceptableOnly its second night on for this Southwark Best Bitter but minimal head and lacing on being served it and any remaining soon legged it out of the glass. A very malty first hit. A bitterness winning through. I was left with a sweet maltiness but also a strangely watery finish as if it had been starved of the usual flavourings you get in the majority of bitters.
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40AcceptableThird day on and minus its head and lacing for long on this Hackney-based brown ale. A malty first hit. A bitterness winning over in the slightly sweet mouthfeel. A maltiness was then presented in its aftertaste.
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest3.80Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
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 - Canopy Series Bitter4.00GoodThird 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 - Canopy Series Bitter4.00Not 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 - Canopy Series Bitter4.00Not Tried
Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice4.50Not 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
Exceptional15
Excellent800
Good2194
Acceptable741
Poor63

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 1775 times, seen 2037 different beers and tried 1206 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ