PubsandBeer

History: Home > The Hope Tap

The Hope Tap (Wetherspoon)

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Exmoor - AntlerExcellent1
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Stickle PikeExcellent1
Titanic - Red Indian Pale AleExcellent1
Skinner's - Mousehole MoonshineExcellent1
Wadworth - Cambridge Brewing Heather AleGood1
Oakham - Hare FlickGood1
White Horse - Crazy Horse IPAGood1
Shepherd Neame - Fremlins BitterGood1
Harviestoun - Gold RushGood1
Brewster's - Seven HeavenGood1
Wadworth - Yeastie Boys Golden PerchAcceptable1
Smiles - Turkey's DelightAcceptable1
Rooster's - Ale & SpicyAcceptable1
Spinning Dog - Brass in PocketAcceptable1
Springhead - Another Bite of the CherryPoor1
Rudgate - Green Hop MonsterNot Tried0
Wychwood - Zululand Pale AleNot Tried0
Adnams - Young Henrys NewtownerNot Tried0
Inveralmond - DarachaNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Banks's - Arcadia Autumn WheatNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Triple fff - MoondanceNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's HealerNot Tried0
Vale - Black Swan MildNot Tried0
Vale - Red KiteNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Loddon - HullabalooNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - CanberraNot Tried0
Wild Weather - Black NightNot Tried0
Rooster's - Pistol RiverNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Hope Tap, Reading, Berkshire

Visits Details

17 Oct 2017 (Stephen Harris)
A couple of quick halves in the mid-afternoon before catching a train to London.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Red Indian Pale Ale5.00ExcellentGolden. Really good US hop flavours – liked this one a lot.
Brewster's - Seven Heaven4.70GoodA brown Bitter with a rich and complex malt flavour and spicy hops.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Rooster's - Pistol River4.00Not Tried
Rudgate - Green Hop Monster4.00Not Tried
Wychwood - Zululand Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
Adnams - Young Henrys Newtowner4.80Not Tried
Inveralmond - Daracha5.20Not Tried
Banks's - Arcadia Autumn Wheat6.00Not Tried
11 Jan 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Quick visit in the mid-afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
White Horse - Crazy Horse IPA4.70GoodGolden and full-flavoured. Quite a long way removed from the beers I have tried from this brewery in the past.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Loddon - Hullabaloo4.20Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Canberra4.00Not Tried
Wild Weather - Black Night3.90Not Tried
12 Jun 2015 (Stephen Harris)
A swift pint in passing, on the way to the railway station. Busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wadworth - Yeastie Boys Golden Perch4.40AcceptableI continue to find these ‘guest brewer’ beers disappointing. Surely this is just a shadow of what it should be?
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Triple fff - Moondance4.20Not Tried
West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer5.00Not Tried
Vale - Black Swan Mild3.90Not Tried
Vale - Red Kite4.30Not Tried
25 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy early evening on a Thursday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wadworth - Cambridge Brewing Heather Ale4.00GoodSweet amber ale, little hop character and just a faint taste of heather. Wadworth yeasty flavour evident too. My score 15/20.
23 Mar 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy on the first night of the Spring Beer Festival.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Skinner's - Mousehole Moonshine4.30ExcellentA real malty kick to the start of this amber beer. Towards the finish hoppiness appears. The finish is sweetish and fruity. My score 16/20.
10 Apr 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Not too busy on a Saturday lunchtime as many people were outside enjoying the sunshine.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Stickle Pike3.80ExcellentPale in colour and very fruity. Initial sweetness then tempered by good hoppiness with malt kicking in towards the finish. My score 16/20.
Shepherd Neame - Fremlins Bitter3.50GoodReminded me of the Cheltenham (Flowers) brewed version, but better. Good tangy hop taste from the Styrians and good balance and depth of flaovur for its strength. A good effort from Shep's. My score 15/20.
11 Dec 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Smiles - Turkey's Delight3.80AcceptableBrewed by Highgate with characteristic dry, malty flavour. My score 14/20.
04 Nov 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Exmoor - Antler4.00ExcellentVery well balanced beer with hops just having the edge over malt. Unusually for this outlet, served in excellent condition with quite a high carbonation level. My score 16/20.
Spinning Dog - Brass in Pocket4.30AcceptableBitter, not from hops but from crystal or amber malt. Not particularly well balanced and rather flat in condition. My score 14/20.
30 Apr 2009 (Ian)
Second visit of the day as the beers seemed to go through pretty quickly here and there were another 2 new beers for me.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harviestoun - Gold Rush3.90GoodPaleish gold, thick creeam head. Nettle hop blond beer. Quite harsh on finish. It’s an ok slightly sweaty beer, but very bitter hoppy finish, especially for the ABV, quite spicy.
Springhead - Another Bite of the Cherry4.50Poor Copper colour, lasting beige head. Fake cherry aroma. It’s a bland bitter with sweet cherry syrup. It’s poor.
30 Apr 2009 (Ian)
I had to wait for my hotel room to be ready and I had walked past this pub on the way from the station, so popped in to see if anything new on from the festival. Largeish spoons with plenty of different drinking areas and some of the friendliest staff I’ve met in a spoons.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Hare Flick4.20GoodGold, thin off white head. Typical sherberty hoppy Oakham beer. Nice enough blond beer. Good tropical fruit and hops throughout
Rooster's - Ale & Spicy3.90AcceptableGold, lasting thick off white head. Looking forward to this as I like Roosters. Fragrant spice runs through it, doesn’t dominate but definite presence. Subtle perfumed spice on aroma, bit of caramel in flavour. Finish is pretty muted. Not very hoppy.

[More Visits]

About The Hope Tap

The pub sign. The Hope Tap, Reading, Berkshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent4
Good7
Acceptable4
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1EP.

Large Wetherspoon's in the centre of Reading, near the railway station. Typical 'Spoon's with the normal 'Spoon's fare.

We have visited this pub 11 times, seen 36 different beers and tried 16 of them.

Map location

Postcode: RG1 1EP