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The Anchor (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Offbeat - Off The RailsExcellent1
Wye Valley - BitterExcellent2
Liverpool Organic - Best BitterExcellent1
Late Knights - Crack of Dawn Pale AleExcellent1
Griffin - Super Black Magic WomanExcellent1
Wye Valley - Butty BachGood1
Hobsons - MildGood1
Loch Ness - Hoppy NessGood1
Holden's - GoodfellowGood1
Sperrin Brewery Victory Beers (Lord Nelson) - Head HunterAcceptable1
Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wee BeastieAcceptable1
Barney's - Red RyeAcceptable1
Loch Leven - RavenmadAcceptable1
Bridgetown - Dartness StoutAcceptable1
Topsham - Passing LoopAcceptable1
Loch Lomond - Kessog Dark AleAcceptable1
Brewshed - Cocoa PorterNot Tried0
Church End - Goats MilkNot Tried0
Banks's - MildNot Tried0
Box Steam - Derail AleNot Tried0
Box Steam - Broad GaugeNot Tried0
Halton Turner - WhiplashNot Tried0
Whitworth - SobrietyNot Tried0
Church End - Gerry's SherryNot Tried0
Church End - Old RiderNot Tried0
White Gypsy - MustangNot Tried0
Gloucester - Dockside DarkNot Tried0
Church End - Horny DevilNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Anchor, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands
Picture 2. The Anchor, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands
Picture 3. The Anchor, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands

Visits Details

26 Mar 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Even on approaching it was obvious this pub has gone downhill, loud music and colourful 'rainbow era' younger folk were attracted here, sadly no longer the old boy with flat cap and whippet's pub any more. The interior was run down, neglected and shabby but not in a charming 'chic' way. We supped our halves and moved on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wye Valley - Bitter3.70Good
Wye Valley - Butty Bach4.50Not Tried
Halton Turner - Whiplash5.40Not Tried
24 Jul 2018 (Magnus Greel)
We were the first customers not long after 1700 opening on Mons & Tues, which is contrary to Whatpub's 1200 advised opening time. *Update* Courtesy of P&B luminary Mr Pirrip, Whatpub's times are now correct.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wye Valley - Bitter3.70ExcellentPerfectly chilled and carbonated, a proper English bitter but lacking the sweet malty flavour IMO as it should be.
12 Apr 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Mid afternoon and quiet in the main bar 4 others here. Many years since my last visit, well before the inception of this website and it hasn't changed a bit. Superb.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wye Valley - Butty Bach4.50GoodDry with a peppery finish
Box Steam - Derail Ale5.20Not Tried
Box Steam - Broad Gauge4.80Not Tried
01 Mar 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon and I arrived soaking wet after an unexpected downpour as I was walking here. Most people are in the Public Bar area in the corner of the building, studiously ignoring the football on one screen and rugby on the other. There were almost certainly additional beers available, but I failed to notice the blackboard until I was about to leave.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Offbeat - Off The Rails4.30ExcellentA dark, rich, chocolaty Porter/Stout.
Holden's - Goodfellow5.30GoodA malt-heavy, amber beer.
Church End - Goats Milk3.80Not Tried
Banks's - Mild3.50Not Tried
18 Feb 2014 (HSB)
15:20 Making our way back to New Street via a few pubs. Only two other customers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Late Knights - Crack of Dawn Pale Ale3.90Excellent
Gloucester - Dockside Dark5.20Not Tried
Church End - Horny Devil3.80Not Tried
Brewshed - Cocoa Porter4.70Not Tried
12 Mar 2013 (Andrew)
this pub is kind of stood out on its own really. Impressive exterior. Only one other customer in when I was there.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hobsons - Mild3.20GoodExcellent roasted sweet mild
Whitworth - Sobriety4.00Not Tried
Church End - Gerry's Sherry4.20Not Tried
Church End - Old Rider4.10Not Tried
White Gypsy - Mustang7.50Not Tried
26 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
More beer festival refugees here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sperrin Brewery Victory Beers (Lord Nelson) - Head Hunter3.80AcceptableGolden ale with faint hoppiness and little malt character. Rather musty flavour. My score 13/20.
25 Jul 2012 (HSB)
Busy as usual.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Liverpool Organic - Best Bitter4.20Excellent
28 Jan 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Burns festival in progress with rare Scottish brews.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Loch Ness - Hoppy Ness5.00GoodVery pale but with more malt flavour than hops. Biscuity malt with some citrus hop. My score 15/20.
Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wee Beastie3.60AcceptableGolden bitter with a bitter, malty character and some hoppiness. My score 14/20.
Barney's - Red Rye4.50AcceptableMore amber than red, with a bitter hop character and a little citrus flavour. Dryish finish. My score 14/20.
Loch Leven - Ravenmad5.10AcceptableA ruby coloured strong dark bitter with strong caramel and toffee flavours counteracted by hop bitterness. My score 14/20.
Loch Lomond - Kessog Dark Ale5.20AcceptableStrong ruby bitter with a strange herbal flavour suggesting it might be brewed with heather or some such. Certainly low hopped with a dry finish. My score 12/20.
27 Oct 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Autumn Beer Festival in progress with gravity casks in the side room and cellar runs available at certain times.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Griffin - Super Black Magic Woman6.20ExcellentBlack strong mild style beer with some malty sweetness and a low hop rate. Some fruit in the finish. My score 16/20.
Bridgetown - Dartness Stout4.50AcceptableDry roast black stout with a dry roasty finish. My score 15/20.
Topsham - Passing Loop3.60AcceptableRare appearance of a beer from the tiny Topsham brewery, not to be confused with Topsham & Exminster which is now called Exeter brewery. Although pale golden in colour there was a strong smoked flavour to this beer, maybe due to a brewing problem. My score 14/20.

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About The Anchor

The pub sign. The Anchor, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent28
Good38
Acceptable14
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 6ET.

This pub is a Grade II listed building, on Bradford Street, and situated in Birmingham's Irish Quarter, at the rear of the old Digbeth Coach Station. Can have up to 14 different real ales on at any one time. Also hosts beer festivals with themes.

We have visited this pub 22 times, seen 90 different beers and tried 76 of them.

Map location

Postcode: B5 6ET