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Nags Head (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Castle Rock - Stone LoachExcellent1
Crouch Vale - Yakima GoldExcellent1
Vale - Black Beauty Vanilla PorterExcellent1
Ascot - Beer on the RailsExcellent1
West Berkshire - Swift Pale AleExcellent1
Arbor Ales - Smokehouse PorterExcellent1
Butts - Blackguard PorterExcellent1
Binghams - Vanilla Hoppy IPAExcellent1
RCH - Hewish MildExcellent1
Loddon - HullabalooExcellent1
Wolf - Lupus LupusExcellent1
Butts - Barbus BarbusExcellent1
Binghams - Doodle Stout (with ginger)Excellent1
Sherfield Village - Pioneer StoutExcellent1
Arbor Ales - Inferiority ComplexExcellent1
Triple fff - I Can't Remember !Excellent1
West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's HealerGood1
Bespoke - Over a BarrelGood1
Rebellion - MildGood1
West Berkshire - Madge & Edgar's Christmas WhirlGood1
Two Bridges - Inkpen MildGood1
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & WarthogGood1
Butts - BarflyGood1
Little Ale Cart - Duke of RothesayGood1
Sarah Hughes - Dark RubyGood1
Loddon - Hocus PocusGood1
Art Brew - Hip Hop RiwakaGood1
Triple fff - Old DrayGood1
Downton - Gooseberry WheatAcceptable1
Art Brew - I BeerAcceptable1
Andwell - Ruddy DarterAcceptable1
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel (superseded by 4% version)Acceptable1
Sherfield Village - Christmas BeerAcceptable1
Hardknott - Millom 1873Poor1
Andwell - Porter No 1Not Tried0
XT Brewing - No. 6 Rich RubyNot Tried0
Sherfield Village - Quintessential 2Not Tried0
East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla MildNot Tried0
Art Brew - Hip Hop ColumbusNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Jack BlackNot Tried0
Loddon - Ferryman's GoldNot Tried0
Triple fff - Alton's PrideNot Tried0
Blue Monkey - Tie a Yellow GibbonNot Tried0
Dark Star - OriginalNot Tried0
Hop Back - Entire StoutNot Tried0
Stonehenge - Great BustardNot Tried0
Arbor Ales - Old KnobbleyNot Tried0
Box Steam - Funnel BlowerNot Tried0
Humpty Dumpty - Humpty Dumpty AleNot Tried0
Vale - GravitasNot Tried0
Moles - Double MM MildNot Tried0
Ascot - 5/4 Favourite (formerly Alligator Ale)Not Tried0
Wolf - Battle of BritainNot Tried0
Downton - Roman Imperial StoutNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - SunriseNot Tried0
Redemption - Fellowship PorterNot Tried0
Weltons - Heat Was In The Very SodNot Tried0
Jo C's - Norfolk KiwiNot Tried0
Triple fff - Ramble Tamble (previously 4.6%)Not Tried0
Tring - Brookman's Winter AleNot Tried0
Tring - Bring Me SunshineNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent MildNot Tried0
Sherfield Village - Solo Southern GoldNot Tried0
Franklins - Grumpy GuvnorNot Tried0
Hop Back - Spring ZingNot Tried0
Box Steam - Golden BoltNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde MildNot Tried0
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Piston PorterNot Tried0
Great Orme - Welsh BlackNot Tried0
Milton - DionysusNot Tried0
Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Summer SaisonNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Windsor KnotNot Tried0
Ramsbury - Silver ShadowNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror 1075Not Tried0
Picture 1. Nags Head, Reading, Berkshire

Visits Details

03 May 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Always a magnificent beer exhibition here and friendly atmosphere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Binghams - Vanilla Hoppy IPA5.00ExcellentPlayed with the palate
Binghams - Doodle Stout (with ginger)5.00ExcellentHeartwarming
Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby6.00Good£3.20 pp great value making a mockery of some prices in Godalming earlier today
Stonehenge - Great Bustard4.80Not Tried
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
Humpty Dumpty - Humpty Dumpty Ale4.10Not Tried
Ascot - 5/4 Favourite (formerly Alligator Ale)4.60Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Sunrise4.40Not Tried
Jo C's - Norfolk Kiwi3.80Not Tried
Tring - Bring Me Sunshine4.20Not Tried
Franklins - Grumpy Guvnor4.50Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild3.60Not Tried
06 Mar 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Loddon - Hullabaloo4.20Excellent
Sherfield Village - Pioneer Stout5.00ExcellentUnfined
Loddon - Hocus Pocus4.60GoodNew on - replaced the Oakleaf which ran out
West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's Healer5.00Good
Hardknott - Millom 18733.90PoorFelt is was as flat as a pancake and lacked any flavour. Gracefully swapped over by bar staff which is admirable service
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Piston Porter4.60Not TriedRan out during visit
Milton - Dionysus3.60Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot4.00Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror 10757.40Not Tried
XT Brewing - No. 6 Rich Ruby4.50Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild3.60Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Jack Black4.80Not Tried
Blue Monkey - Tie a Yellow Gibbon4.30Not Tried
08 Jan 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening - last visit of the day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Triple fff - I Can't Remember !6.00ExcellentJust a thimble taster that came on just as I was leaving
Bespoke - Over a Barrel5.00GoodRather flat
West Berkshire - Madge & Edgar's Christmas Whirl4.20GoodFlattish
Triple fff - Alton's Pride3.80Not Tried
Butts - Barbus Barbus4.60Not Tried
Hop Back - Entire Stout4.50Not Tried
Box Steam - Funnel Blower4.50Not Tried
Moles - Double MM Mild3.60Not Tried
Downton - Roman Imperial Stout9.00Not TriedComing on next - what a pity as would have made a superb nightcap
Weltons - Heat Was In The Very Sod4.90Not Tried
Tring - Brookman's Winter Ale4.30Not Tried
Sherfield Village - Solo Southern Gold4.00Not Tried
Box Steam - Golden Bolt3.80Not Tried
23 Nov 2012 (HSB)
Late afternoon. Bustling. Good beer and snacks.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Crouch Vale - Yakima Gold4.20Excellent
Butts - Barfly6.00Good
Downton - Gooseberry Wheat4.40Acceptable
25 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Very busy with a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog3.80GoodDark brown mild on the hoppy side but with some toasted malt flavour too. Dryish fiish. My score 15/20.
Art Brew - Hip Hop Riwaka4.30GoodGood pale hoppy beer with citrus notes. Some malt for balance. My score 15/20.
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel (superseded by 4% version)4.30AcceptableAmber bitter with a sweetish character but not much hop or malt flavour. My score 14/20.
07 May 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Bank Holiday evening visit - well packed. Large screen TV showing Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic Barclays Premier League relegation battle including a chicken invading the pitch egged on by fans. Impressive array of 12 beers with boards above showing what will be the next beer on each pump.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Butts - Barbus Barbus4.60ExcellentBest of the evening. Full bodied bitter
Castle Rock - Stone Loach5.00ExcellentA rare sharp hoppy bitter from Castle Rock
West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale3.80Excellent
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
Hop Back - Spring Zing4.20Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Great Orme - Welsh Black4.00Not Tried
Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Summer Saison8.00Not Tried
Ramsbury - Silver Shadow4.70Not Tried
Andwell - Porter No 14.90Not Tried
Sherfield Village - Quintessential 24.50Not TriedWas offered a taster. Distinctive burnt caramel taste
Art Brew - Hip Hop Columbus4.30Not Tried
31 Dec 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Little Ale Cart - Duke of Rothesay4.30GoodPale and hoppy with good balance of hop and malt. My score 15/20.
Sherfield Village - Christmas Beer5.80AcceptableRather too much spice for my liking. Dark in colour. My score 12/20
24 Nov 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
Very busy with a large private dining group and a visit by the London mild drinkers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Butts - Blackguard Porter4.50ExcellentDark brown porter with a good bitter and malty character. Some hop for balance. My score 16/20.
RCH - Hewish Mild3.60ExcellentBlack, sweet and malty. A proper mild with a full flavour without use of many hops. My score 16/20.
Vale - Black Beauty Vanilla Porter4.30ExcellentBrown porter with the subtle sweet taste of vanilla not too prominent. Full flavoured with a sweetish fruity finish. My score 16/20.
Arbor Ales - Smokehouse Porter4.00ExcellentBlack porter that is both well hopped and well smoked with roast malt. Still manages a fruity finish through all that. My score 16/20.
Triple fff - Old Dray4.80GoodAmber premium bitter with a bitter flavour backed up by malt and hoppiness. Dryish finish. My score 15/20.
16 Sep 2011 (ChrisE)
A busy Friday evening. Service at the bar was fast and friendly, and I was impressed at how they manage to arrange the beers on the pumps in (almost) order of ABV.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wolf - Lupus Lupus5.00Excellent
Arbor Ales - Inferiority Complex3.40ExcellentA good dark, tasty, rich, and chocolaty dark ale.
Ascot - Beer on the Rails3.80ExcellentA good tasty dark mild.
Art Brew - I Beer4.00AcceptableVanilla. I really did not like this, perfectly well kept though.
Loddon - Ferryman's Gold4.40Not TriedThis ran out during the evening.
Dark Star - Original5.00Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Old Knobbley4.50Not Tried
Vale - Gravitas4.80Not Tried
Wolf - Battle of Britain3.90Not Tried
Redemption - Fellowship Porter5.10Not Tried
Triple fff - Ramble Tamble (previously 4.6%)5.00Not Tried
Sherfield Village - Pioneer Stout5.00Not Tried
07 Oct 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rebellion - Mild3.50GoodNot quite as sweet and malty as some samples, a little dry fruitiness on the finish. My score 15/20.
Two Bridges - Inkpen Mild3.50GoodBlack mild with a burnt treacle and toasty flavour imparting quite a high bitterness to this beer. My score 15/20.
Andwell - Ruddy Darter4.60AcceptableMalty red ale style beer with bitterness coming from malts rather than hops. Quite a dry finish. My score 14/20.

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About the Nags Head

The pub sign. Nags Head, Reading, Berkshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent36
Good30
Acceptable16
Poor2

Website.

The pub is found in Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7XD.

Excellent single roomed pub just out of the city centre (no more than 10 minutes walk) with 13 handpumps, 1 of which usually carries a local cider. These dispense a wide range of beers, mainly from local breweries although odd ones from further afield creep in. A mild is always on and also a stout or porter. Good value food is also available at certain times. Blackboards above the bar identify the next beer for each handpump - showing a high degree of logistical organisation here.

We have visited this pub 27 times, seen 195 different beers and tried 84 of them.

Map location

Postcode: RG1 7XD