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The River Ale House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Tonbridge - TSB Special BrewGood1
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)Good5
Castle Rock - MysteronsGood1
Kent - Hygge Good1
Goacher's - Fine Light AleGood1
Ossett - World Hop Series USAGood1
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleGood4
Kent - Prohibition XAcceptable1
Brew York - Maris the OtterAcceptable1
Brew York - Natalie PortermanAcceptable2
Elusive - Oregon TrailNot Tried0
Titanic - Idaho PaleNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - EverytimeNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Vibrant Forest - KaleidoscopeNot Tried0
Oakham - Cosmic JellyfishNot Tried0
Siren Craft - LuminaNot Tried0
Brew York - Calmer ChameleonNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - Canopy GoldenNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Kings (was 3.9% before 2013)Not Tried0
Oakham - Green Devil IPANot Tried0
Verdant - PenpolNot Tried0
New Bristol - Bristol BitterNot Tried0
Vocation - Deck The PalmsNot Tried0
Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate OrangeNot Tried0
Vocation - Heart & SoulNot 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

07 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Hygge 5.00GoodNot a stout really to my taste
Ossett - World Hop Series USA4.30GoodA lively mouthfeel
Kent - Prohibition X6.80AcceptableDisappointing - I would expect more of a 10th anniversary ale. Just a sourish citrus brew and definitely not the promised "double the hoppiness"
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Oakham - Cosmic Jellyfish4.00Not Tried
04 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70GoodHolding on to good condition by its fingertips
Castle Rock - Mysterons4.10GoodAn ale with no USP. Boring citrus
Vocation - Heart & Soul4.40Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not TriedRan out
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime3.80Not TriedCame on at very last knockings
Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew4.60Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
03 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70GoodHolding up well
Tonbridge - TSB Special Brew4.60GoodHeld reasonable head and lacing
Vocation - Heart & Soul4.40Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
02 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70GoodNew cask on today - a winter classic
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20AcceptableNow tiring
Vocation - Heart & Soul4.40Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
02 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Lively evening for last half an hour of serving with some of the hardened on brigade among the more occasional.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentFresh on with a creamy head and lasting in sticking to the sides of the glass. A very malty bitter first hit on this Maidstone-brewed barley wine of an old ale and produced by this brewer since the winter of 1983. A fruity sweetness with a tangy marmalade flavouring rising. Its maltiness exhibiting a dark fruity note aided by the odd red berry in on the mix lingering before its final paddling out with a black treacle hint.
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20GoodNow its third night on and still pulling a punch and presenting a good head and lacing. A dry bitter first hit on this bitter from near Farnham, Surrey, and named after the village of Tongham. An unmistakable maltiness rising before its hoppy sweetness wins over from its Fuggles hops. A definite fruitiness paddling out. As moreish as Sunday so again stuck to it but for a mere Goacher's 1066 Old Ale.
Vocation - Heart & Soul4.40Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Elusive - Oregon Trail5.80Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
01 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20GoodAs yesterday - unchanged
Brew York - Natalie Porterman5.20AcceptableExactly as yesterday's - flavoured but flat
Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope6.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
30 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A mix of the Sunday regulars and the hardened for the last half an hour of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20GoodFresh 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 - Kaleidoscope6.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
Brew York - Natalie Porterman5.20Not Tried
30 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20GoodNew on today. Fresh but good
Brew York - Natalie Porterman5.20AcceptableNeeded condition to carry off the heavy body but it had none. Quite flat
Vibrant Forest - Kaleidoscope6.50Not Tried
Siren Craft - Lumina4.20Not Tried
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Canopy Golden3.70Not Tried
29 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A good few Saturday regulars among the hardened for the last 40 minutes of serving.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brew York - Maris the Otter3.90AcceptableThis 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 - Kaleidoscope6.50Not Tried
Brew York - Calmer Chameleon4.10Not Tried
Titanic - Idaho Pale4.30Not Tried
Brew York - Natalie Porterman5.20Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70GoodThis 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)4.20Not Tried
Oakham - Green Devil IPA6.00Not Tried
Verdant - Penpol3.80Not Tried
New Bristol - Bristol Bitter4.00Not TriedJust ran out.
Vocation - Deck The Palms4.20Not Tried
Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Orange4.50Not 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
Exceptional14
Excellent715
Good1885
Acceptable578
Poor46

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 1490 times, seen 1892 different beers and tried 1111 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE10 0RJ