PubsandBeer
Nags Head (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Butts - Blackguard Porter |  | 1 |
| Binghams - Vanilla Hoppy IPA | | 1 |
| Loddon - Hullabaloo | | 1 |
| RCH - Hewish Mild | | 1 |
| Wolf - Lupus Lupus | | 1 |
| Binghams - Doodle Stout (with ginger) | | 1 |
| Butts - Barbus Barbus | | 1 |
| Sherfield Village - Pioneer Stout | | 1 |
| Triple fff - I Can't Remember ! | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Inferiority Complex | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Yakima Gold | | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Stone Loach | | 1 |
| Vale - Black Beauty Vanilla Porter | | 1 |
| Ascot - Beer on the Rails | | 1 |
| West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Smokehouse Porter | | 1 |
| Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby |  | 1 |
| Little Ale Cart - Duke of Rothesay | | 1 |
| Loddon - Hocus Pocus | | 1 |
| Art Brew - Hip Hop Riwaka | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Old Dray | | 1 |
| West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's Healer | | 1 |
| Bespoke - Over a Barrel | | 1 |
| Rebellion - Mild | | 1 |
| West Berkshire - Madge & Edgar's Christmas Whirl | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | | 1 |
| Butts - Barfly | | 1 |
| Two Bridges - Inkpen Mild | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel (superseded by 4% version) |  | 1 |
| Andwell - Ruddy Darter | | 1 |
| Sherfield Village - Christmas Beer | | 1 |
| Downton - Gooseberry Wheat | | 1 |
| Art Brew - I Beer | | 1 |
| Hardknott - Millom 1873 |  | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Conqueror 1075 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsbury - Silver Shadow | Not Tried | 0 |
| XT Brewing - No. 6 Rich Ruby | Not Tried | 0 |
| Andwell - Porter No 1 | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sherfield Village - Quintessential 2 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Jack Black | Not Tried | 0 |
| Art Brew - Hip Hop Columbus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Blue Monkey - Tie a Yellow Gibbon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Loddon - Ferryman's Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Entire Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Great Bustard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Box Steam - Funnel Blower | Not Tried | 0 |
| Humpty Dumpty - Humpty Dumpty Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Old Knobbley | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moles - Double MM Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ascot - 5/4 Favourite (formerly Alligator Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Gravitas | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Roman Imperial Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Sunrise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wolf - Battle of Britain | Not Tried | 0 |
| Weltons - Heat Was In The Very Sod | Not Tried | 0 |
| Jo C's - Norfolk Kiwi | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Brookman's Winter Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tring - Bring Me Sunshine | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Ramble Tamble (previously 4.6%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sherfield Village - Solo Southern Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Franklins - Grumpy Guvnor | Not Tried | 0 |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Box Steam - Golden Bolt | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Spring Zing | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Piston Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milton - Dionysus | Not Tried | 0 |
| Great Orme - Welsh Black | Not Tried | 0 |
| Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Summer Saison | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
03 May 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Always a magnificent beer exhibition here and friendly atmosphere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghams - Vanilla Hoppy IPA | 5.00 | | Played with the palate |
| Binghams - Doodle Stout (with ginger) | 5.00 | | Heartwarming |
| Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby | 6.00 | | £3.20 pp great value making a mockery of some prices in Godalming earlier today |
| Stonehenge - Great Bustard | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Humpty Dumpty - Humpty Dumpty Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Ascot - 5/4 Favourite (formerly Alligator Ale) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Sunrise | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Jo C's - Norfolk Kiwi | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Bring Me Sunshine | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Franklins - Grumpy Guvnor | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild | 3.60 | Not Tried |
06 Mar 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loddon - Hullabaloo | 4.20 | | |
| Sherfield Village - Pioneer Stout | 5.00 | | Unfined |
| Loddon - Hocus Pocus | 4.60 | | New on - replaced the Oakleaf which ran out |
| West Berkshire - Dr Hexter's Healer | 5.00 | | |
| Hardknott - Millom 1873 | 3.90 | | Felt 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 Porter | 4.60 | Not Tried | Ran out during visit |
| Milton - Dionysus | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Windsor & Eton - Conqueror 1075 | 7.40 | Not Tried | |
| XT Brewing - No. 6 Rich Ruby | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| East London (ELB) - Orchid Vanilla Mild | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Jack Black | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Blue Monkey - Tie a Yellow Gibbon | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Jan 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening - last visit of the day.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple fff - I Can't Remember ! | 6.00 | | Just a thimble taster that came on just as I was leaving |
| Bespoke - Over a Barrel | 5.00 | | Rather flat |
| West Berkshire - Madge & Edgar's Christmas Whirl | 4.20 | | Flattish |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Butts - Barbus Barbus | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Entire Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Box Steam - Funnel Blower | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Moles - Double MM Mild | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Roman Imperial Stout | 9.00 | Not Tried | Coming on next - what a pity as would have made a superb nightcap |
| Weltons - Heat Was In The Very Sod | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Tring - Brookman's Winter Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Sherfield Village - Solo Southern Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Box Steam - Golden Bolt | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2012 (HSB)
Late afternoon. Bustling. Good beer and snacks.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crouch Vale - Yakima Gold | 4.20 | | |
| Butts - Barfly | 6.00 | | |
| Downton - Gooseberry Wheat | 4.40 | |
25 Oct 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Very busy with a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | | Dark brown mild on the hoppy side but with some toasted malt flavour too. Dryish fiish. My score 15/20. |
| Art Brew - Hip Hop Riwaka | 4.30 | | Good 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) | 4.30 | | Amber 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butts - Barbus Barbus | 4.60 | | Best of the evening. Full bodied bitter |
| Castle Rock - Stone Loach | 5.00 | | A rare sharp hoppy bitter from Castle Rock |
| West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale | 3.80 | | |
| West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Spring Zing | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Great Orme - Welsh Black | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brodie's (latterly contract brewed by Rhymney) - Summer Saison | 8.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsbury - Silver Shadow | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Andwell - Porter No 1 | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Sherfield Village - Quintessential 2 | 4.50 | Not Tried | Was offered a taster. Distinctive burnt caramel taste |
| Art Brew - Hip Hop Columbus | 4.30 | Not Tried |
31 Dec 2011 (Martin the Mildman)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Ale Cart - Duke of Rothesay | 4.30 | | Pale and hoppy with good balance of hop and malt. My score 15/20. |
| Sherfield Village - Christmas Beer | 5.80 | | Rather 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butts - Blackguard Porter | 4.50 | | Dark brown porter with a good bitter and malty character. Some hop for balance. My score 16/20. |
| RCH - Hewish Mild | 3.60 | | Black, sweet and malty. A proper mild with a full flavour without use of many hops. My score 16/20. |
| Vale - Black Beauty Vanilla Porter | 4.30 | | Brown 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 Porter | 4.00 | | Black 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 Dray | 4.80 | | Amber 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf - Lupus Lupus | 5.00 | | |
| Arbor Ales - Inferiority Complex | 3.40 | | A good dark, tasty, rich, and chocolaty dark ale. |
| Ascot - Beer on the Rails | 3.80 | | A good tasty dark mild. |
| Art Brew - I Beer | 4.00 | | Vanilla. I really did not like this, perfectly well kept though. |
| Loddon - Ferryman's Gold | 4.40 | Not Tried | This ran out during the evening. |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Old Knobbley | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Gravitas | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wolf - Battle of Britain | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Fellowship Porter | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Ramble Tamble (previously 4.6%) | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sherfield Village - Pioneer Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried |
07 Oct 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with a visit from the Thursday evening mild drinkers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebellion - Mild | 3.50 | | Not quite as sweet and malty as some samples, a little dry fruitiness on the finish. My score 15/20. |
| Two Bridges - Inkpen Mild | 3.50 | | Black mild with a burnt treacle and toasty flavour imparting quite a high bitterness to this beer. My score 15/20. |
| Andwell - Ruddy Darter | 4.60 | | Malty red ale style beer with bitterness coming from malts rather than hops. Quite a dry finish. My score 14/20. |
About the Nags Head
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 36 |
| 30 |
| 16 |
| 2 |
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.
Postcode: RG1 7XD