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The River Ale House (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter |  | 5 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | | 3 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | | 3 |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | | 2 |
| Five Points - Five Points Pale | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 3 |
| Five Points - Pale |  | 1 |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | | 1 |
| Squawk - Mariana | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Superdelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salopian - Cypher | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - First Brew: Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - XPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Explorer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Harlequin | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
04 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A cluster or two of the more occasional regulars in among the hardened for the last 30 minutes of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | | Now the third night on for this Essex golden pale ale from Maldon. Head and lacing, still good, and lasting, still fair. A dry hoppy first bite. A citrusy note or two still playing. But it has developed a citrusy kick to it that may score many a goal but was somewhat out of the blue for my liking. Mildly fruity otherwise and lingering with the odd hoppiness pervading. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | Second day supposedly on but not advertised as on, on a blackboard until too late as just after 11pm as on, was this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury. Not as good as its tasting the night before. Was offered it after first bell and as only one pint maximum. Its head and lacing, still good. Lasting, good. A bitter first bite. A malty bitterness rising up and a moreish honey-infused dryness lingering. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - First Brew: Pale Ale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Citra | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | Very unusual for a bitter, as only ever one on at a time, still to be on, and on its 7th day. |
03 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of regulars on parade among the more occasional.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 |  | Fresh on, not advertised on a blackboard yet, was this amber best bitter from Chartham, south-west of Canterbury, and so very good head and lacing to die for and clinging onto the sides of the glass like a limpet. A dry bitter first hit. A hint of fruitiness rising up, with a gentle sweetness aided by its honey malts, and lingering in its moreish bitterness. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Third night on for this Maidstone-based strong pale ale. Head and lacing and holding onto it, fair. A hoppy bitter first bite. Its hoppiness gently rising up aided by its English hops. A bitterness prevailing and a sweet maltiness sailing off into the sunset. |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Now its sixth night on and so about to hit the buffers in terms of being at its all-time best for this Hackney porter. Some head and lacing still prevailing and lasting. A dry bitter first bite with a hint of roasted coffee. A hoppy undertone veering upwards aided by its 100% British Goldings from Hukins Hops. A malty chocolatiness, supported by seven different malts, rising up and lingering. |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | | Second night on for this Essex golden pale ale from Maldon and head and lacing, good, and lasting, fair. A dry hoppy first bite. A hoppiness gently rising, with the odd fruit-infused citrusy note or two playing, and prevailing into the summer sunset. |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Cypher | 4.10 | Not Tried |
03 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | | New cask on, not even advertised on beer boards |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | A few days on, tired |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Cypher | 4.10 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. A handful in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | Good condition but not one of my favourite Goacher's ales |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | | Little life, basically poured flat |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Here Comes Summer | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried |
01 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for last 30 minutes of serving with a local club nearby in after their meeting and even the fiddlers out the back ordered a second beverage by all accounts due to the heatwave. Just a handful of regulars on parade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Now fourth night on and still holding a good head and lacing but not lasting as well on this Hackney-based porter as on my most recent tasting of it on its second night on. A few decants came into play. A smoky chocolatey first bite made it rather lovely. A hint of coffee-flavouring veering up in its maltiness. A dry maltiness prevailing mixed in with a moderate hoppiness thanks to its East Kent Goldings. Not again in the least sweet and the same dry moreishly malty bitterness as on Sunday lingering. |
| Five Points - Five Points Pale | 4.40 | | First night on and presenting some head and lacing but keeping it, only fair, on this Hackney pale. A very fruity first bite. A citrusy fruit-infused hoppiness rising up. A dry hoppy bitterness prevailing and lingering aided by its Amarillo, Cascade and Citra hops from the West Coast of the USA. Slightly too fruited for my taste buds but stuck with it before hitting the buffers with the same brewery's porter. |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Superdelic | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy on arriving for last 30 minutes of serving with a mix of regulars in and then three separate Aladdin groups of the less frequent comprising about four in each group being rubbed by a genie until closing. Managed to time my visits to the bar with masterly co-ordination so as to avoid a queue or two which formed towards the end of serving.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Out of the trio this evening this was the best as echoed from the previous night's late visit. Second night on and still holding a good head and lacing and lasting on this Hackney-based porter. Still an unmistakably liquid-chocolatey first bite. Coffee-infused flavourings veering up in its maltiness. Only seven different malts to blame and competing with its one moderately hoppy note or two rising up from its East Kent Goldings. Not as overly-sweet as in the previous evening's tasting. A dry moreishly malty bitterness lingering. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | This collaborative Downlands from north-west of Brighton and Evening Star was still puffing well with good head and lacing and lasting on this retro American pale ale now on its second day on. Still a dry and mildly fruity first bite. Its dry full-blown fruitiness prevailing on the mouthfeel. A very strong moreishly hoppy dryness lingering. Did not taste like a 4.8% whereas some can punch above their weight. Notably, this boxer of a pale was punching well below it! |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | | Now second night on and still only momentary head and lacing barely visible as was the case the evening before on this amber bitter from this Cromwell-based brewery north of Newark-on-Trent and south-west of Lincoln. Still tasted ok in spite of its appearance and so lack of conditioning. Same malty hoppiness from its first bite aided by its exclusively English hops. A dry maltiness in the first slurp. A bitterness pervading the mouthfeel. Caramel biscuity notes rising and good. A bitter maltiness sailing off into the sunset and lingering. Opted again for another as some other alternatives were strong and also perhaps very fruity-infused. Same poor head and lacing evident on second pint and so the general synopsis is drinkable but does not quite look all the ticket! |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Good head and lacing |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | Basic citrus job with great clarity |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Mesmerist | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
28 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very quiet footfall for last 30 minutes of serving with just a handful of regulars in among a few of the Saturday faces. Noticeably more humid back in London than in cooler Hastings.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | Good head and lacing and lasting on this Hackney-based porter on its first day on. A dark chocolatey first hit. Coffee-infused flavourings also veering up in the malty mouthfeel, aided by seven different malts. Slightly over-sweet for my taste buds. A dry lingering bitterness prevailing. The odd hoppy note rising up from its East Kent Goldings, moderate. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | A co-incidence it was this brewery's ale I last tasted earlier on my day-trip to Hastings albeit it was a bitter and not as now a pale. A collaboration between Downlands from north-west of Brighton and Evening Star Brewery, it came full steam ahead with good head and lacing and lasting on this first day on. The tasting notes tell us that this brew follows a classic recipe from 2005 and is a retro American pale ale. My tasting commenced with a dry and mildly fruity bite on the palate. Prevailing was a dry full-blown fruity dryness rising up. Its fruitiness veering into sunset was marked by its very strong hoppy dryness lingering. Not overly fruited I thought for my taste buds. |
| Milestone - Cromwell Best Bitter | 4.40 | | Fresh on and yet only momentary head and lacing barely visible on this amber bitter from this Cromwell-based brewery set up in 2004 and north of Newark-on-Trent and south-west of Lincoln. I think I had the first one out. Tasted ok but had no life about it. A malty hoppiness from its first bite aided by its Challenger, Progress and Goldings hops. A dry maltiness veering up and pervading the mouthfeel. Caramel biscuity notes rising. A bitter malty mix prevailing and lingering. Opted for another as some other alternatives were perhaps very fruity-infused and still a poor head and lacing evident. |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Explorer | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
27 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for last 30 minutes of serving. We waited patiently as we attempted to enter for three dogs and their three owners to come out. Just a sprinkling of regulars in and the less frequent when my faithful hound and I ambled in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Third night on for this best bitter from Finchampstead, south-east of Reading, in Berkshire. Head and lacing, surprisingly good. Holding onto it, fair. A good bitter first bite on it minus its maltiness from yesterday. The sourness gone also from my previous visit and so very poor. The odd biscuity and caramel-flavouring also not as pronounced. Far less fruit-infused in its hoppiness. It has improved for me from yesterday's visit in my general synopsis. Still a dry bitterness from the odd Cascade hop or two. A citrus-fruity kick in its finale not now evident thankfully and so very poor. |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Explorer | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Squawk - Mariana | 5.30 | Not Tried |
26 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for last 30 minutes of serving save for a group of six who were preferring to stand close to the bar but not quite blocking it from the rest of us.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | | Second night on for this best bitter from Finchampstead, south-east of Reading, in Berkshire. Head and lacing and holding onto it, good. A bitter malty first bite. A slightly astringent sourness rising up among the odd biscuity and caramel-infused maltiness. A fruit-infused hoppiness from its English hops winning over. In its finale, a dry bitterness aided by a touch of Cascade hop veering up but a good citrus-fruity kick prevailing and strong. |
| Riverhead - Spring Pale | 4.20 | | This Riverhead brew from Marsden, south-west of Huddersfield, was perhaps my first tasting of it. Riverhead is a brewpub which opened in 1995 and owned from 2009 by the Ossett Brewery, south-west of Wakefield and south of Leeds. The Riverhead range is brewed independently from Ossett. Second night on and head and lacing, fair. Not lasting. A first bite of mildly fruit-infused hoppiness. Its fruitiness on the taste buds was moderate; its hoppiness rising up, strong. A note of apricot and mandarin, lasting. Slightly too overly fruited for my liking. |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - XPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Iron Pier - Wealdway IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Explorer | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Harlequin | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Squawk - Mariana | 5.30 | Not Tried |
About The River Ale House
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 675 |
| 1651 |
| 477 |
 | 38 |
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 1303 times, seen 1800 different beers and tried 1046 of them.
Postcode: SE10 0RJ