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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Tonbridge - Blonde AmbitionExcellent1
Tonbridge - RusticExcellent2
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleExcellent2
Five Points - PaleExcellent1
Oakham - Green Devil IPAExcellent1
Oakham - Maelstrom Cask AgedGood2
Ossett - ButterleyGood3
Goacher's - Fine Light AleGood2
Mighty Oak - Old OakyGood2
Kent - The Quiet AmericanGood2
Park - Winter XPAGood2
Mighty Oak - SaintGood1
Elusive - Oregon TrailGood1
Siren Craft - Mum's The WordAcceptable2
Bexley - RedhousePoor1
Siren Craft - LuminaNot Tried0
Sureshot - Small Man's WetsuitNot Tried0
Park - Saw PitNot Tried0
Verdant - LightbulbNot Tried0
Oakham - PerunNot Tried0
Northern Monk - SupNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)Not 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

02 Mar 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Good to see a pair of 6%+ers on the same menu.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00ExcellentPeak condition
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70GoodSlight woody taste
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)4.20Not Tried
Bexley - Redhouse4.20Not Tried
Five Points - Pale4.40Not Tried
Northern Monk - Sup3.40Not Tried
01 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall throughout with many of the Saturday regulars in and for the last hour of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentFresh on today was this Maidstone Strong Ale and a very creamy head with much lacing to it. A sweetish bitter first hit. It had a sweetness like a sherry which I have not done for many a year! A pleasantly dry hoppy mouthfeel and also with a caramelly sweetness from those malts lingering.
Five Points - Pale4.40ExcellentSuperb in every way after the Bexley. Very good head and lacing on this Hackney pale fresh on today. A hoppy and moreishly dry first hit. A mildly fruity, as in citrusy, first hit with a pleasant oiliness from the hops used. It was also like a beer from the wood with resinous notes in it and was suitably dry in its aftertaste. Another had to follow and much liked by the other Saturday regulars as well and indeed was recommended by them.
Bexley - Redhouse4.20PoorNot much head and lacing on this Erith-based ruby bitter and soon vanished. The consensus from the Saturday regulars was not to have more than one and I soon came to that conclusion as well! It had a first hit of biscuity and caramelly maltiness but otherwise was hugely lacklustre in flavouring. Little conditioning seemed to be apparent. A shame as fresh on today to be so flat!
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20Not Tried
Oakham - Perun5.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not TriedEighth night and not surprised still on as definitely an acquired taste!
Northern Monk - Sup3.40Not Tried
28 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Unbelievably busy in every crevice of this two-roomed micro-pub for last 30 minutes of serving. Maybe a second day of almost constant sunshine has brought everyone out of hibernation after all? I spotted a seat when I came in amongst regulars and got that after ordering a first pint and which like a pint the night before ceased immediately upon asking for it! Just three remaining beers out of normally 6 to 7 on. The governor was having a night off and left it to a sole barmaid to manage the evening's proceedings by all accounts! I cannot recall so few beers on since almost this time last year. There was though the porter from Siren Craft with the hot chili in it and now on 7 nights from last Saturday's first appearance. It shows that I was not the only one to find it rather too hot for the palette!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20ExcellentFresh on and immediately asked the barmaid, how many roughly still left? She assured me it would last its premier night on and with just two other casks on. Came with loads of head and lacing to die for, thankfully! A very hoppy and fresh first hit with a slight bite to it! Not in the least sweet with a moreishly bitter mouthfeel and a lovely dry hoppiness lingering. I was blessed with that joy!
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not TriedRan out on first getting here and ordering it on just its second night on!
Oakham - Perun5.50Not TriedFresh on today is worth noting.
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not TriedNow its seventh night on for this not evidently popular porter with a few helpings of chipotle flavourings! It is apparently used for seasoning, the chili additive that is, in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cooking, and comprising smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper!
27 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall with the usual regulars and the not so frequent in for last 30 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70GoodFresh on this evening and a great head and lacing. A lightly hoppy and bitter first hit. This continued into the on-going mouthfeel, and well into the aftertaste of this lightly coloured pale bitter from Maidstone.
Kent - The Quiet American4.20GoodGot one of the last out of the barrel and second time round I ordered this Kent-brewed pale from Birling, north of West Malling, it ran out. A great shame as was holding its head and lacing well. As for the taste, it was suitably dry and hoppy with a touch of sweetness from being citrusy with a hint of grapefruit flavouring. It was very moreish and only lasted two nights on by all accounts.
Mighty Oak - Saint3.70GoodGood head and lacing on this Maldon-based golden ale and which was new on since my Tuesday visit. A first hit of real hoppiness. A slightly citrusy mouthfeel lingering.
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not Tried
Park - Saw Pit4.30Not Tried
Verdant - Lightbulb4.50Not Tried
27 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70GoodGood basic bitter
Kent - The Quiet American4.20GoodGood despite being one of the last out of the cask
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50AcceptablePoured quite flat, only redeeming factor was to pick up the chipotle warmth in the flavouring
Park - Saw Pit4.30Not Tried
Verdant - Lightbulb4.50Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Saint3.70Not Tried
25 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with a number of the regulars in and the more occasional as well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00ExcellentFresh on this evening was this bitter from the East Peckham-based brewery, north-east of Tonbridge. A very frothy head with good lacing down the side of the glass to follow. A dry and moreish mouthfeel with a bitterness lingering. Almost stuck to it apart from one other recommended by a fellow customer.
Oakham - Maelstrom Cask Aged5.00GoodSecond night on for this Peterborough cask-aged IPA. A hoppy first hit followed by a dry hoppy mouthfeel. It had a slight kick to it and no doubt from its riot of citrus and tropical fruit flavours. A half sufficed.
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Park - Saw Pit4.30Not Tried
Sureshot - Small Man's Wetsuit3.90Not Tried
25 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00GoodDrank rather without noticing
Oakham - Maelstrom Cask Aged5.00GoodThe tasting notes "flavour-bomb" was not achieved
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Park - Saw Pit4.30Not Tried
Sureshot - Small Man's Wetsuit3.90Not Tried
23 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with a few regulars in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ossett - Butterley3.80GoodSecond day on for this Yorkshire bitter and the head and lacing absent on its first day has emerged from its slumber and was fully evident. A very bitter and malty first hit. A bitter bite in the mouthfeel and a sweetness from the honey-infused hops. There was a maltiness lingering and like garlic can apparently cause, this was trying to make my toes open and shut with a click!
Mighty Oak - Old Oaky5.20GoodIts third night on for this Maldon winter ale and some head and lacing evident. A very dry and sweetish mouthfeel with the odd fruitiness. A dry hoppiness lingering.
Park - Winter XPA4.10GoodSecond day on also. Some head and lacing on this Kingston extra pale ale. Less of a kick with its fruitiness apparent in the mouthfeel from its mandarin-infused dry hops.
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Sureshot - Small Man's Wetsuit3.90Not Tried
23 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ossett - Butterley3.80GoodBasic sharp bittered ale
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80GoodWell balanced and strong flavoured
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Sureshot - Small Man's Wetsuit3.90Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Old Oaky5.20Not Tried
Park - Winter XPA4.10Not Tried
22 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 45 minutes of serving with many a Saturday regular in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mighty Oak - Old Oaky5.20GoodSecond night on and some head and lacing to start off with on this Maldon winter ale. A malty sweetness in the mouthfeel with a dryness lingering.
Park - Winter XPA4.10GoodGood head and lacing on this Kingston extra pale ale fresh on today. A medicinal kick to it from its citrus flavourings and a fruitiness lingering from its dry hops being partly infused with mandarin.
Siren Craft - Mum's The Word5.50AcceptableNo head and lacing came as an omen. A very spicy first hit. It was overly peppery and was like being on fire in the mouthfeel. A fellow real ale drinker was brave enough to drink the rest of the half. I will forever be wary of Siren Craft Brew from Berkshire moving forward. The governor had tried it the night before and did warn me that it could taste like a "Grim Reaper" curry that I had some years earlier described to him as so hot I could manage but a few spoonfuls of it! A fellow customer at the time pointed out from the packaging I brought in for the "Grim Reaper" that surely I knew it was going to be too hot from the number of hot chilli symbols he managed to count on it! Should certainly have hot chilli symbols on this porter with cherry and chipotle in it, and the latter is a smoked hot chilli pepper used in Mexican cooking!
Ossett - Butterley3.80AcceptableFresh on today was this Yorkshire bitter. Minimal head and lacing and which did not last. A lightly bitter first hit. A slightly hoppy mouthfeel lingering.
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Sureshot - Small Man's Wetsuit3.90Not 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