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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - IPA |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter |  | 2 |
| Church End - Goats Milk | | 1 |
| Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | | 2 |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | | 3 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | | 2 |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | | 3 |
| Kent - Pale | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | | 1 |
| Oakham - JHB | | 2 |
| Squawk - Mallard GF |  | 1 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | | 3 |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Target | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - Riwaka | Not Tried | 0 |
| Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Squawk - Mallard | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
17 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall on this humid summer's evening for the last 30 minutes of serving with the fiddlers and their fiddles out the back and a good turnout of regulars out the front.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | | Third night on for this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and not now holding its head and lacing and so needed a decant or two from the start but this little helped. A moreishly dry oily first hit. A pleasant fruity hoppiness rising up and a hoppy dryness lasting. |
| Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 | | Fresh on and so holding its head and lacing well and lasting on this Leicestershire single-hopped Citra Pale from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, south-east of Burton-upon-Trent. Very much that citrusy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up and lingering among its many citrusy notes. One sufficed but in fine condition as fresh on. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | | Third night on and has lost much of its conditioning from trying it on Sunday. Not holding its head and lacing very well and a few decants only woke it up temporarily. A malty first hit on this ruby bitter from south-west of Canterbury itself. A malty first hit. A toffee-infused bitterness rising up and lingering. |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Squawk - Mallard | 4.50 | Not Tried |
17 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherbritches - Citra Pale | 4.20 | | New cask on today and good head and lacing |
| Squawk - Mallard GF | 4.50 | | Lumbered with a hazy ale with no pre-warning |
| Tonbridge - IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
16 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | | Served with a good head |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | | OK condition for this darkish ale |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
15 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
The usual Sunday regulars out and ticking over for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - IPA | 4.80 | | Fresh on today and holding its head and lacing very well and lasting on this India Pale Ale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge itself. A pleasantly hoppy first hit. A dry hoppiness rising up mixed with a moreish oiliness lingering. I was being well oiled care of this fine IPA. |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | | Second night on for this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting. A hoppy oily first hit. A pleasant hoppiness rising up on the taste buds and an oiliness lingering. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | | Fresh on today was this ruby bitter, south-west of Canterbury, and holding its head and lacing to the end. A very bitter first hit. A sweetish maltiness from its toffee notes coming to the fore. A dry bitterness aided by those fruity hops winning over and lingering. Very moreish. |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
15 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. The regulars abounded.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | | Best of the evening by far. Good condition |
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | | Head dissipated almost immediately. Lacklustre |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | | Flat in glass as poured |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall with some of the Saturday regulars on parade for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phipps NBC - IPA | 4.30 | | Fresh on today and so very good head and lacing on this Northampton golden ale, south-east of Coventry, and lasting. A very hoppy first bite to it derived from its Goldings and Fuggles hops. A dry resinous and oily hoppiness rising up on the mouthfeel. Very moreish to my taste buds and following a 1930s' recipe, and relying solely on the pale ale malt for its colour. A pleasant bitterness coming to the fore and a moreish hoppiness lingering. I stuck to this one like a limpet for the session. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - New World Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
13 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with many a Friday regular in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Third night on for this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend and some head and lacing but not holding well some 10 minutes in. A very malty first hit. A moreishly bitter and malty hoppiness rising up from its English hops and malts used. The odd sweet note from its honey and toffee flavours and a hoppy bitterness lingering. |
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Man O' Hoy | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Riwaka | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Aitcheson's (formerly East Yorkshire) - Kiwi IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
12 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes with many regulars in among the more occasional. Rather warm in the main bar as only the front entrance-door propped open for ventilation. None of the windows at front open unlike the windows in the rear-room seating area. A portable fan I have still had charge from late last summer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | Recommended by others as fresh on this evening. Very good head and lacing on this Peterborough-based golden and lasting to the end. A very fruit-infused hoppy first hit. A riot of citrusy fruits erupting on the palate and winning over the odd bitter maltiness in on the act. Slightly too fruity for me but a pleasant dry hoppy finish lingering. |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | Fourth night on for this pale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and ran out shortly after ordering this one. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry fruitiness still evident in the mouthfeel and rising up and lingering among its hoppy notes. Has lasted to the end of its barrel very well. |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | | Second night on and good head and lacing to start with on this Northfleet bitter from just outside Gravesend. A few decants towards the end were needed. A very malty first hit from those 100% English malts involved. A malty bitterness rising up on the mouthfeel and a bitter-infused hoppiness lingering from using also 100% English hops. |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
12 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. After one ale and a lacklustre remaining ale range I moved on to halves of ginger cider and raspberry ripple cider.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - JHB | 3.80 | | Tastes just like so many other Oakham Ales, seems its house style |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I was ready to order |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
10 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet for last 30 minutes of serving on usual regulars but fiddlers playing out the back and the more occasional helped to fill this little micro.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church End - Goats Milk | 3.80 | | Third night on and nearly over. Nothing like the same level of conditioning as when first sampled and enjoyed on Sunday. It was evidently very popular to have gone so quickly. There was still some head and lacing on this pale from north-west of Nuneaton and north-east of Birmingham. A dry fruit-infused hoppy first hit. A dry sourness rising up in the mouthfeel among the hoppiness. This lingered on so only opted for the one. I would readily try more as recall only ever having tried this one before and last year at this same micro as I recall. Sadly no others from Church End listed as coming next on the governor's tasting sheet and so it may be a wait for a little while before sampling again. |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | | Second night on for this pale from East Peckham, north-east of Tonbridge, and holding its good head and lacing well. A dry hoppy first hit. A subtle fruitiness rising up with a touch of citrus flavouring from its Kent Challenger and First Gold hops. A pleasant dry hoppiness on show throughout and lingering in its finale on my palate. |
| Kent - Pale | 4.00 | | Second night on for this Kent pale from Birling, north of West Malling, and presenting very good head and lacing and lasting. A strikingly hoppy first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising up among a maltiness from its Maris Otter pale malt. A moreishly hoppy dryness lingering. |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | | Third night on and still holding its head and lacing well on this East Peckham Kentish bitter, north-east of Tonbridge. A dry bitter first hit. A touch of toffee-infused maltiness in the mouthfeel and a bitterness winning over and lingering. |
| Iron Pier - Killick's Mill | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 685 |
| 1713 |
| 502 |
 | 41 |
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 1353 times, seen 1825 different beers and tried 1061 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ