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The Half Moon (Wetherspoon)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Brewster's - Et Citra Et CitraExcellent1
East London (ELB) - NightwatchmanExcellent1
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Afro Caribbean HopsessionExcellent1
Shepherd Neame - Terrapin Tree HuggerExcellent1
Wadworth - BentSpoke Braddon BitterGood1
Cotleigh - Hip Hop HoorayAcceptable1
Portobello - From Russia with LoveAcceptable1
Hackney - Golden AlePoor1
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier (was Bombardier Glorious English) (use Eagle entry now please)Not Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Pumpkin AleNot Tried0
Exmoor - BeastNot Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)Not Tried0
Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale)Not Tried0
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Sneck LifterNot Tried0
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - The World's Biggest LiarNot Tried0
JW Lees (see also Lees) - British Autumn AleNot Tried0
Marston's - Revisionist Green Hop BeerNot Tried0
Mauldons - White AdderNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)Not Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Kentish Saison with Elderflower (No. 18 Yard Brewhouse)Not Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)Not Tried0
Titanic - CappuccinoNot Tried0
Wadworth - Ishii Brewing Minagof Smoked PorterNot Tried0
Wimbledon - SW19 Summer AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Half Moon, Stepney Green, Greater London

Visits Details

27 Jun 2018 (Stephen Harris)
There are not many pubs left around here, so this one is always busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Portobello - From Russia with Love4.30AcceptableMalty Bitter with a dash of fruit.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Sneck Lifter5.10Not Tried
Mauldons - White Adder5.30Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier (was Bombardier Glorious English) (use Eagle entry now please)4.10Not Tried
Sambrook's - Lavender Hill (originally exclusively for Nicholson's)4.50Not Tried
Wimbledon - SW19 Summer Ale4.00Not Tried
13 Oct 2016 (Stephen Harris)
My token glance at the Wetherspoon festival list. Crowded to the point of discomfort in here. I eventually found a seat in the former theatre bit of the pub and had a flashback to seeing Josie Lawrence star in a wonderful production of ‘Poppy’ here back in 1989 – an altogether more pleasant experience than tonight.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Afro Caribbean Hopsession4.30ExcellentThese visiting brewers trying to recreate their beers but using British ingredients have been very hit and miss over the years. This one really works in my view. Golden in colour. A spicy and fruity hop mix with Bramling Cross prominent.
Wadworth - BentSpoke Braddon Bitter4.50GoodAmber in colour. An Australian beer that usually has US hops but has been brewed in Wiltshire with English hops. It comes out as a pretty good Bitter with good hop flavours.
Cotleigh - Hip Hop Hooray3.90AcceptableCopper-coloured. A fruity Bitter that gives a lot of prominence to Bramling Cross hops. For me it is a bit lacking in balance.
East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman4.50Not Tried
JW Lees (see also Lees) - British Autumn Ale4.10Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Kentish Saison with Elderflower (No. 18 Yard Brewhouse)4.50Not Tried
03 Dec 2015 (HSB)
16:30 Meal stop. Very busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hackney - Golden Ale4.00PoorNot quite bad enough to take back.
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman4.50Not Tried
Hop Stuff - A.P.A. (Arsenal Pale Ale)3.80Not Tried
29 Oct 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Crowded in the early evening, with lots of students in and, seemingly, a craze for drinking Tequila.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Brewster's - Et Citra Et Citra4.00ExcellentPale gold in colour. The full Citra flavour. Anybody familiar with Oakham Citra would know what to expect here.
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Wadworth - Ishii Brewing Minagof Smoked Porter5.50Not Tried
Marston's - Revisionist Green Hop Beer4.50Not Tried
23 Oct 2013 (Stephen Harris)
With the paucity of other pubs in the area, it was unsurprising to find this place very busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Terrapin Tree Hugger5.00ExcellentChestnut-coloured. Nicely balanced caramel and bitter tastes.
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - The World's Biggest Liar4.30Not Tried
Titanic - Cappuccino4.50Not Tried
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Pumpkin Ale3.80Not Tried
12 Feb 2013 (Stephen Harris)
The rolling programme of London brewery showcases has reached the East London Wetherspoon pubs this week. Disappointing to find just one ‘on’ here – the barmaid said she was baffled as to why everyone was ordering the ELB when there was a wide choice of other beers available.
BeerABVScoreNotes
East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman4.50ExcellentA dark, fruity, chocolaty beer with hops in the finish.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Exmoor - Beast6.60Not Tried

About The Half Moon

The pub sign. The Half Moon, Stepney Green, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent4
Good1
Acceptable2
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Stepney Green, Greater London, E1 4AA.

A JD Wetherspoon pub which takes in two buildings, one a former Methodist Chapel, built in 1900, and the other a former extension dating from the period when the whole complex became the Half Moon Theatre. Converted to pub use in 1997, the front bar is in the former chapel and features a high, octagonal ceiling. This is connected to the rear bar by a wide corridor, giving the pub a rather disjointed feel. There is also a large, enclosed courtyard. Now almost the only surviving pub in an area where many pubs have closed in recent years.

We have visited this pub 6 times, seen 28 different beers and tried 8 of them.

Map location

Postcode: E1 4AA