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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown |  | 2 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | | 1 |
| Oakham - Ernest | | 2 |
| Vocation - Not My First |  | 1 |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | | 1 |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | | 2 |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | | 4 |
| Five Points - Pale | | 1 |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | | 1 |
| Bexley - Redhouse | | 3 |
| Vocation - Across the Pond | | 1 |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #4 |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | | 4 |
| Redemption - Hopspur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
19 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual on a Tuesday for a long while with a mix of the hardened regulars and the odd lesser spotted. Even the fiddlers were still strumming their instruments at this late arrival time of half past ten or thereabouts and marking the first time I have heard them still playing at this time for a month or more.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This East London-based brown Ale from Hackney also presented a superb head. It was positively creamy and lacing the sides of the glass in its performance all the way down. A malty sweet first hit aided by its lashings of demerara sugar. A malty bitterness climbing up with hints of fruitiness in on the act such as from hedgerow fruits, elderberry and red berries, and the merest dash of citrus. A hoppy bitterness winning over from its US Willamette hops exuding earthy notes with touches of damp cedar, alongside herbal and spicy flavours. Aided by its British barley and Golden Naked oats tantalising my taste buds, a malty bitterness saddling out with a hazelnut or two joining in for good measure with a very pronounced final bitter note lingering. Served in very good nick and so another was in keeping! |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on this evening was this Peterborough-brewed Single Hop Pale and displaying very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A lightly fruited first hit. A hoppy fruit-infused bitterness rising from its UK hop variety, Ernest, that assumes New World flavours including apricot and citrus but quite subtle methinks and mixed with a sprinkling of spice. Not too overly fruited in the least for my taste buds’ disapproval. A lasting hoppy fruitiness lingering. Served in top condition with a great mouthfeel about it. |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 |  | A taster told me it was deceased! |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | Not Tried |
19 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Good Tuesday footfall in front room and the fiddlers' backroom.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Brick Field Brown | 5.40 | | One of Five Points's best ales |
| Oakham - Ernest | 4.00 | | Lively pint but same old citrus taste. Odd back-taste |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vibrant Forest - Pupa | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | Not Tried |
17 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | | Good condition but just plain citrus stuff |
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Disappointing with little condition or mouthfeel |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | Will it last forever? |
17 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet footfall for the last half an hour with just a sprinkling of two tables of the Sunday hardened in but for a few odd lesser spotted very belatedly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | Presented on its second night on with good head and lacing on this Maidstone-brewed amber-to-classic copper-brown hued Kentish bitter and a cross between Goacher’s Fine Light and Best Dark. A fruited bitter first hit from its floral hops. A rising bitterness with a hoppy fruitiness prevailing from its 100% whole Kentish hops, sourced from local farms with a combination of East Kent Goldings lending floral and smooth bittering notes, and Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) or Fuggles aiding a pleasant earthy, woody, and slightly fruity spice to the finish. A sweet, bready and lightly toasted malt base entertaining in a brief encounter my taste buds with a biscuity touch in its finale. Its caramel sweetness aided by its Maris Otter barley, sourced from traditional floor-maltings like Warminster Maltings, and Crystal malt alongside deeply roasted chocolate and black malts sliding down my gullet. Served with a head but not overly keeping it and slightly lacklustre in conditioning for only its second day on. |
| Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | A fellow regular recalled it has been on for a good week by now and indeed from my records, it came on Saturday 9th May, making this day its ninth. |
| Vocation - Not My First | 5.20 | Not Tried |
16 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall with just a few of the Saturday regulars and hardened on parade for the last three quarters of an hour of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Special House Ale | 3.80 | | A cross between Goacher’s Fine Light and Best Dark, this was fresh on literally as was unveiled as I got to the bar. Presented with good head and lacing on this Maidstone-brewed amber-hued Kentish bitter. A bitter but fruity first bite. A hoppy fruitiness persisting and derived from is exclusively whole Kentish hops. Its East Kent Goldings behind its floral bitterness; its Whitbread Golding Variety (WGV) or Fuggles behind an earthy woodiness with the odd spice thrown in for good measure. The momentary encounter with its malts lending a sweet, bready, biscuity and lightly toasted touch. Maris Otter barley, sourced from traditional floor-maltings like Warminster Maltings, aiding its caramel sweetness, alongside a Crystal malt and roasted chocolate and black malts apparent on its slide downwards. Served in good condition as fresh on but perhaps just a tad too fresh having been woken up from its slumber before my arrival literally. |
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I arrived to the bar for my first drink. |
| Vocation - Heart & Soul | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA Cask Aged | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza - Pale | 3.40 | Not Tried |
14 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Green Devil IPA | 6.00 | | Excellent condition and as clear as a mountain spring |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | 2nd pint out of a new cask. Foaming head, quite fresh |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | 3.80 | | Thin gruel |
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | Tiring |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I ordered |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | Not Tried |
12 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Ticking over with a good few of the hardened on parade for the last half an hour of serving. No musical notes heard again from the Tuesday fiddlers but a few spotted on their exit through the front room of this micro.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | 1st beer of this visit: Either its first or second day on and presenting good head and lacing but not lasting as well as it could on this Erith-brewed ruby bitter from the neighbouring Bexley borough. A very malty first hit with hints of biscuit and caramelised toffee. A dry hoppy bitterness rising from its English Goldings behind its earthy, floral-honey and spicy notes, and Challenger hops behind its citrus-marmalade and cedar woodiness flavours. A prevailing maltiness winning over from its Crystal malts but not overly so. A dry bitterness paddling out. Served in good form but not full of conditioning on the mouthfeel. |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Fourth night on and still presenting good head and lacing but not quite lasting on this Cambridgeshire cask aged coffee porter from Peterborough. A dry hoppy first bite from its mix of Amarillo from the USA alongside British Challenger, Goldings and Jester. Its Maris Otter, Brown and Black malts greatly contributing to that malty mouthfeel with a smokiness rising. Oakham Brewery’s collaboration with a local artisan coffee roastery ensuring in this brew that ground roasted coffee flavours are winning over. A spicy hoppiness sailing out. Presented in good form but not as much conditioning as when tried on Sunday and not holding its lacing. |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Across the Pond | 4.70 | Not Tried |
12 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | | Good condition but too malty for my liking |
| Vocation - Across the Pond | 4.70 | | Good head and lacing but same old citrus pale |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | | Flavour still there but tired in condition |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Burnt Mill - Pintle Pale Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Stanza XPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
10 May 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
A good table or two of the hardened regulars for the last half an hour of serving among the otherwise odd lesser spotted also on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Third day on and still presenting good head and lacing and lasting on this Peterborough-brewed golden ale from Cambridgeshire, and originally set up in Oakham, Rutland, in 1993 before moving to Peterborough in 1998. A dry hoppy first hit. A dry zesty fruited hoppiness rising but not overly citrusy in the least for my taste buds. UK-sourced Pioneer, Goldings and Challenger hops are here doing battle with the more citrusy fruited Cascade from the USA. A mildly sweetened fruitiness prevailing aided by its Maris Otter and Wheat malts. A dry hoppy note or two floating out. Still very moreish and served still in good condition. |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: Fresh on and exhibiting a good head and lacing and lasting the whole way on this West Yorkshire-brewed dry hopped pale from about 3 miles from the centre of Hebden Bridge, with Halifax approximately 9 miles east. A very fruited first hit. Its US hops, notably Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe, were coming at my taste buds with piney, peachy hints and mixed with the odd mission from a lychee and citrusy fruit. Its British malts, including Extra Pale lending it a bready flavouring, doing their best to quell the US hoppy infusions. It was too fruited for me and so one sufficed but presented on its augural day in fine form. |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Third day on and still very good head and lacing on show on this Peterborough-based brewery’s collaboration with Two Chimps Coffee, an award-winning artisan roastery based in the brewery's namesake town of Oakham. A malty first hit. A dry bitterness rising with a fruity and spicy touch aided but its mix of Amarillo from the USA alongside British Challenger, Goldings and Jester. A malty note prevailing and winning over from its Maris Otter, Brown and Black malts. Freshly ground roasted coffee flavours tantalising my taste buds with a malty bitterness sailing out. Served in good condition still on its third day on. |
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #4 | 4.00 | Not Tried |
10 May 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening until close. Lots of disagreements about the efficacy of AI.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | Seems like a changed recipe to me |
| Oakham - Hell Bent Cask Aged | 5.00 | | Coffee dominated flavouring |
| Ossett - Trip Hop #4 | 4.00 | | Basic hopping, not much natural carbonation. |
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Two by Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot | 6.00 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 15 |
| 760 |
| 2108 |
| 676 |
 | 58 |
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 1672 times, seen 1990 different beers and tried 1172 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ