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The Monks' Retreat (Stonegate Pub Co)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Oakham - RollercoasterExcellent1
Summerskills - Barley MowExcellent1
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Black Dragon MildGood1
Banks's - Howling WolfGood1
Cairngorm - HowlerGood1
Loddon - Screaming MonkGood1
Rebellion - Election PromiseGood1
Titanic - TomahawkGood1
Woodforde's - Norfolk HawkerGood1
Tetley - Northern CrackerAcceptable1
Vale - InklingsAcceptable1
Vale - Red Kite (superseded by 4.3% version)Acceptable1
Picture 1. The Monks' Retreat, Reading, Berkshire

Visits Details

25 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quite busy late afternoon on a Thursday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Howling Wolf3.80GoodBlack mild with low hop rate and a fairly dryish malt character. Probably served too fresh, thought this beer could be better. My score 15/20.
Woodforde's - Norfolk Hawker4.40GoodMalty amber bitter, with biscuity malt dominating and just a little fruity hop in the finish. My score 15/20.
24 Nov 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Fairly busy but got a table early evening on a Thursday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Loddon - Screaming Monk5.50GoodHouse brew for this 'spoons. Well balanced strong amber bitter with good hop character. Full bodied with a fruity finish. My score 15/20.
01 May 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Called in here for breakfast before Reading beer festival and opened my mild May account.
BeerABVScoreNotes
B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Black Dragon Mild4.30GoodDark brown stronger mild with some maltiness and some raisiny fruit in the finish. My score 15/20.
05 Nov 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Getting busy late on a Friday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Vale - Red Kite (superseded by 4.3% version)4.00AcceptableAmber bitter with dryish malt and hop character. Dry finish. My score 14/20.
10 Apr 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Rollercoaster4.80ExcellentExcellent citrus hop character to this, sweetish and fruity with a pleasant lingering aftertaste. My score 17/20.
Titanic - Tomahawk5.00GoodAmber best bitter with good hoppiness and a little malt balance. My score 15/20.
06 Mar 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rebellion - Election Promise4.20GoodDark red bitter with a strong taste of burnt toffee to start, mellowing out to a fruitier finish. My score 15/20.
Vale - Inklings4.30AcceptableVery bitter and rather unbalanced. My score 12/20.
11 Dec 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tetley - Northern Cracker4.30AcceptableRather cloying vanilla toffee flavour which became a little overdominating as the beer went down. Wouldn't bother seeking this out again. My score 14/20.
15 Sep 2009 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Summerskills - Barley Mow4.80ExcellentVery good strong mild with low hop rate and a sweet, malty full bodied taste. My score 17/20.
30 Apr 2009 (Ian)
Had to walk past this on the way back from the Reading Beer Festival, only came in to see if there was a new Spoons festival beer on and there was.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cairngorm - Howler5.80GoodCopper, slight haze, lasting beige head. Cascades really show through on aroma and then the fruity Willametter enhance and develop the malt, the finish is pure stinging blackcurrant Willamette. One ofthe better ones of the 50 festival beers.

About The Monks' Retreat

The pub sign. The Monks' Retreat, Reading, Berkshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent2
Good7
Acceptable3
Poor-

Website.

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

L shaped town centre former Wetherspoon's with 2 bars. Low ceilinged bar on two levels. Close to main shopping street and railway station. Located in Friar Street the name of this pub, and the street it is in, recalls the Franciscan monks who came to Reading in the 13th century. The friary built by the monks stood on the site of Greyfriars Church, in Friar Street. Sold by Wetherspoon to Stonegate in late 2016.

We have visited this pub 9 times, seen 12 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: RG1 1HE