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History: Home > The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin)
The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin) (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Green Duck - Heaven Sent |  | 1 |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPA | | 1 |
| Temperance Union - Vfm Softy | | 2 |
| West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter | | 1 |
| Temperance Union - Fentimans Ginger Beer | | 1 |
| Otley - Milk Stout | | 1 |
| Bad Seed - Polaris Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Art Brew - Love or Nothing | | 1 |
| XT Brewing - XT25 Christmas Ale (or Xmas Ale) | | 1 |
| Church End - Cupcake Revolution | | 1 |
| Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A. | | 1 |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Otherworld: Batch 1 Amber | | 1 |
| Derventio - X Anno | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Black Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brass Castle - Misfit | Not Tried | 0 |
| Binghams - Viennese Whirl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Plain Ales - Inncognito | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Beehave | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Sound Wave | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two Cocks - 1643 Roundhead Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wild Weather - Storm in a Tea Cup Earl Grey IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - GMT | Not Tried | 0 |
| Aylesbury (ABC) - Britpop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burton Bridge - Thomas Sykes Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - One Hop First Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Tamesis Extra Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Piers - Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Franklins - Franklins Explorer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Windsor & Eton - Last Drop | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fisher's Brew Co. - Smoked Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Eye-Opener | Not Tried | 0 |
| Plain Ales - Innspiration | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Good Old Boy | Not Tried | 0 |
| Flying Monk - Elmers | Not Tried | 0 |
| Binghams - Ganymede | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
09 Feb 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Late lunchtime and fairly busy. Our group found the two free cubby hole sized snugs at the rear of the pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter | 3.70 | | As it was still lunchtime... superb condition and flavoursome |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - One Hop First Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| 3 Piers - Blonde | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Last Drop | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fisher's Brew Co. - Smoked Porter | 4.40 | Not Tried |
10 Jan 2018 (Stephen Harris)
A mid-afternoon visit at a quiet time for this pub. I accidentally break the ‘no mobile ‘phones’ rule, but get away with it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Duck - Heaven Sent | 5.00 | | Very dark in colour. This is a great, full-bodied, roasty Stout that also has a sweet edge. |
| Art Brew - Love or Nothing | 6.00 | | Hazy gold and well-hopped. |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wild Weather - Storm in a Tea Cup Earl Grey IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Aylesbury (ABC) - Britpop | 5.00 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon visit on a very hot day. Just a handful of regulars around the bar discussing a forthcoming expedition to London in fancy dress.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A. | 5.00 | | A black beer with a brown head. RDA standing for Rich Dark Ale. Verging on a Stout I think. |
| Derventio - X Anno | 4.60 | | A golden beer brewed for the brewery’s tenth anniversary. Very bitter. Less hop-forward than I would expect for an APA-style beer. |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Goffs - Black Knight | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Good Old Boy | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brass Castle - Misfit | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Binghams - Viennese Whirl | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Beehave | 4.40 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon following an early-finishing meeting. I sat in one of the little condemned cells at the back, out of sight of pumpclips or blackboard, so do not have a full list of beers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Brewing - XT25 Christmas Ale (or Xmas Ale) | 4.70 | | Deep copper in colour. A spiced (but not overly so) Christmas Beer. |
| Church End - Cupcake Revolution | 5.50 | | Golden and hoppy (as Church End can usually be relied upon to be). |
28 Jul 2016 (Jack William)
Just after noon for a swift half while the family sat outside Pret over the street. Glad I did - what a gem - will need to revisit and try to do it justice next time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Seed - Polaris Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Slipped down nicely. |
| West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Stonehenge - Eye-Opener | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Plain Ales - Inncognito | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Plain Ales - Innspiration | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Good Old Boy | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Flying Monk - Elmers | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Binghams - Ganymede | 5.00 | Not Tried |
10 Feb 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Unexpectedly quiet in here at around 6pm. For the first time in years I took up a seat in one of the little booths at the rear. Slightly regretted this due to the proximity of the gents toilets, which looked like they could do with a good scrub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otley - Milk Stout | 5.00 | | Black. A bit flat. Both sweet and dry/roasty tastes. |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Otherworld: Batch 1 Amber | 4.50 | | A well-hopped, full-bodied, amber-coloured beer. |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Burton Bridge - Thomas Sykes Old Ale | 10.00 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Tamesis Extra Stout | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Franklins - Franklins Explorer | 6.00 | Not Tried |
20 Dec 2015 (Alenomore)
Mid-day visit and very few inside but heaving outside with shoppers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperance Union - Vfm Softy | 1.00 | |
04 Dec 2015 (Alenomore)
21:00 visit and thinned out nicely. A few of the annual, St Niklaus jumper wearing morons about and sad to note that the mobile free rule here appears to have been relaxed. Some top ales noted though, including some rather nice bottles on the menu, two of which, at £13.50 each, were 'taken away', to add to my cellar!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperance Union - Fentimans Ginger Beer | 1.00 | | Perfect... |
14 Nov 2015 (Alenomore)
12:00 visit. Kent bound, enroute stop-off. Steady crowd coming and going, avoiding the heavy rain, but keen to sample the excellent selection of real and craft ales on offer. Good to catch up with one or two old faces.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperance Union - Vfm Softy | 1.00 | | 80p for my chosen pint here... |
11 Nov 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Brief late-afternoon visit after meetings nearby.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPA | 7.40 | | Amber-coloured. A very fierce IPA. |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Plain Ales - Inncognito | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Sound Wave | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Two Cocks - 1643 Roundhead Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - GMT | 4.30 | Not Tried |
About The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 12 |
| 24 |
 | 13 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2BH.
Quirky pub in Broad Street, with dark wooden interior and lots of small booths to the rear. West Berkshire beers feature plus local and not so local guests. Re-opened Monday 19th July 2021 after a very long period of Covid pandemic closure. For many years known as Hobgoblin. Re-named in March 2012. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2023.
We have visited this pub 35 times, seen 89 different beers and tried 48 of them.
Postcode: RG1 2BH