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The River Ale House (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale |  | 2 |
| Burning Sky - What Gives? |  | 2 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 2 |
| Mighty Oak - Medusa IPA | | 2 |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Arcadian Ale | | 2 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Burntwood Bitter |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Trip - P-Push It Real Good | Not Tried | 0 |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Superdelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Miniature Cymbals | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
03 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close with just a handful of faithfuls in situ.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - What Gives? | 4.40 | | Usual Burning Sky quality was struggling with condition here |
| Mighty Oak - Arcadian Ale | 4.00 | | Basic citrus bittering |
| Mighty Oak - Medusa IPA | 4.70 | | Fortunately just a half. Poured quite flat |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | Still soldiering on |
| Verdant - Miniature Cymbals | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried |
03 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
The quietest I can recall for footfall ever for the last 30 minutes of serving apart from my first ever visit back in 2017 days into this micro's opening. Just the hardened Sunday night regulars in. Even with a couple more usual regulars in just after me, still the lowest footfall. Not sure where the current holiday destination is but they are all flocking there it would seem and good luck to them!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Sky - What Gives? | 4.40 | | Only its second day on for this East Sussex-based APA from Firle, south-east of Lewes and home to Harvey's real ales. Came with good head and lacing and lasted well. A very fruity kick in its first bite. A good citrusy-fruit flavouring rising up on the palate aided by its pine, citrus and lightly grassy hints. Now we know why the mule had a good kick on this one! It was without doubt a powerfully fruit-infused cocktail and lingering on my taste buds. Not quite my cup of tea to go beyond this mere half! |
| Mighty Oak - Medusa IPA | 4.70 | | Only its third day on was this Essex IPA from Maldon and certainly less of a mule's fruity kick than the Burning Sky's "What Gives?" APA from just outside Lewes. Good head and lacing and lasting well. A hoppy first bite ably assisted by its Columbus (US) and Waimea (NZ) hops. A moderate fruitiness rising up and then suddenly it woke up my taste buds with a mule's lively kick. A fruity sharpness lingering. A half sufficed but good luck to those who sail onboard this one! |
| Mighty Oak - Arcadian Ale | 4.00 | | Fresh on just an hour before getting in and had replaced a very fine Goachers' Fine Light bitter which I had enjoyed since Friday evening. This Essex amber bitter from Maldon came with a lively punch packed with an entertaining fruitiness! But first to the basics: very good head and lacing and lasting as you would hope to expect. A very toffee-infused burnt caramel first bite for my taste buds. Only the tasting notes revealed it was in fact packed with peach and apricot aromas. I prefer to sup rather than sniff my real ales but somehow these fruits managed to seep into its flavouring. A fruity bitterness did indeed manage to rise up with the odd hoppy note playing out aided by its UK First Gold, which is new to me, its US Calypso and UK-based Ernest hops. The latter is said to be renowned by the British Hop Association for its fruity notes, especially apricot, citrus and spice. A pleasant maltiness rising but for me overly sweet to my taste buds! It may just have been that combination of some overly fruited hops leading to its sweetness. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Miniature Cymbals | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Evoke | 4.20 | Not Tried |
02 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Saturday regulars and the more hardened in for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Second day on now and still holding its head and lacing and lasting well. This Maidstone pale amber light bitter proved to be one of the best samplings of it for me again this evening and in first trying it Friday evening. A slightly fruited bitter first bite. A gentle bitterness rising up with the odd fruity note or two from its WGV (Whitbread Goldings Variety) lending herbal and floral flavours and East Kent Golding hops lending apart from the same, a hint of spice, honey and lemon. A pleasantly dry hoppiness certainly lingering. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - What Gives? | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Superdelic | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Miniature Cymbals | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Medusa IPA | 4.70 | Not Tried |
01 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for last 30 minutes of serving with some of the Friday regulars on parade among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Not my favourite Goacher's but on very good form on its first day on was this Maidstone amber light bitter. Very good head and lacing and lasting to the bottom of the glass. A mildly fruity first bite aided by its WGV (Whitbread Golding Variety) and East Kent Golding hops. A mildly fruity first bite. A gentle bitterness rising. A fruity hoppiness winning over aided by the herbal and floral flavours from the WGV hop. A distinctly very bitter aftertaste lingering and for me very moreish when fresh on. Perhaps it tires after its first day but certainly the best Fine Light I can recall sampling. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Superdelic | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Miniature Cymbals | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Medusa IPA | 4.70 | Not Tried |
31 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A sprinkling of regulars mixed with the not so regular for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | 4.00 | | Third night on for this golden-coloured Bermondsey bitter. Head and lacing, still good, lasting, fair. A fruit-infused bitter first bite. A mildly fruity hoppiness, aided by its mix of Ernest and Endeavour, and with a hint of a dried fig or two rising. A dry hoppy bitterness lasting with the odd biscuity malty note playing out. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - P-Push It Real Good | 4.10 | Not Tried |
31 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Where have the mid brown English hopped bitters disappeared to? One ale here then on to a bottle of Orval.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | 4.00 | | Unspectacular golden ale. Not what I really wanted |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - P-Push It Real Good | 4.10 | Not Tried |
30 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. After one uninspiring pint I opted for a bottle of Westmalle 10.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | | Pretty tasteless and lacklustre |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Outhouse (cuckoo at Jolly Boys') - Safari Juice | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - P-Push It Real Good | 4.10 | Not Tried |
29 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
For the last 30 minutes of serving, a mix of hardened regulars in along with the more occasional out the front, and the weekly fiddlers and joined by some folk singers out the back.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anspach & Hobday - The Golden Bitter | 4.00 | | Fresh on this evening and in fine form was this Bermondsey light-coloured bitter. Head and lacing, very good, and lasting to the bottom of the glass, good. A hoppy fruit-infused first bite. A moderately fruity bitterness rising aided by a hint of dried figs. A hoppiness getting in on the act care of the English hops, Ernest and Endeavour. A malty biscuity touch in its fruit-infused dry hoppiness lingering. Very moreish and so stuck to it. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Big Trip - P-Push It Real Good | 4.10 | Not Tried |
27 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A few hardened regulars on parade among just a small sprinkling of the more occasional for the last 40 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Fresh on today and being a Sunday that could be anytime from the 1pm opening. It came with good head and lacing and lasted did this Surrey pale from Dorking. A hoppy-infused first bite. A mildly hoppy bitterness rising up but its maltiness winning over. It tasted rather too sweet for my taste buds. Its caramel-infused malt flavourings prevailing and perhaps not so common for the typical pale. Its sweetness may also be derived from its hints of grapefruit and lemon in on the mix. A touch of, and unwelcome to me, citrus did not greatly endear it to my taste buds, never mind its caramel-sweetness. Its hoppy bitterness did its best to placate me but there was still that slight fruitiness bobbing up and down and sailing off into the sunset. It was though greatly loved by many in 2019 at CAMRA's Great British Beer Festival as voted Champion Beer of Britain no less. I stuck with this pale despite its caramel-sweetness and fruitiness as my usual preference for a bitter was not upheld by the same rather flat bitter that was on Saturday evening still daring to be on this evening. |
| Mighty Oak - Burntwood Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Only its third day on was this Essex bitter from Maldon. I saw someone else with a pint of this as I walked in and it looked as flat as a pancake from its almost 100% presence just served into their pint glass. One had sufficed for me the night before when it was very lacklustre in flavouring due to its tired conditioning. |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | Not Tried | Reputed by others to be overly sickly-sweet was this North Yorkshire vanilla-flavoured porter and so definitely not my cup of tea! |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
27 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Good but had better Shere Drop |
| Brass Castle - Bad Kitty | 5.50 | | Did not deliver the dream of a porter the tasting notes promised |
| Mighty Oak - Burntwood Bitter | 4.00 | | Poured flat with little life |
| Vibrant Forest - Summerlands (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 12 |
| 701 |
| 1796 |
| 537 |
 | 44 |
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 1418 times, seen 1858 different beers and tried 1084 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ