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The Shepherds Rest (Greene King)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Inveralmond - Thrappledouser |  | 1 |
| Inveralmond - Lia Fail | | 1 |
| Isle of Skye - Black Cuillin | | 1 |
| Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale) |  | 1 |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | | 1 |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | | 3 |
| Greene King - Treacle Stout. | | 1 |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | | 2 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | | 1 |
| Marston's - Pedigree |  | 1 |
| Greene King - Abbot | | 2 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Directors (use Banks's entry now please) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Isle of Skye - Red Cuillin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Belhaven - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph | Not Tried | 0 |
| Belhaven - Barn Dancer | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
07 Nov 2019 (McGargle)
Early evening crowd. Friendly staff and a barman who enthused about his beers and offered tasters.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Served in excellent, fresh condition. Made the best of the beer. |
| Greene King - Treacle Stout. | 5.40 | | A brave try but very sweet. Collaboration with Tapestry. |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Belhaven - Barn Dancer | 4.50 | Not Tried |
09 Jan 2015 (McGargle)
Quiet early evening. Most tables set for diners. Good marks to the friendly bar maid who topped my glass without being asked. Shame I feel the need to comment on this though.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | | Malty and not noticeably troubled by hops. |
| Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph | 5.00 | Not Tried | On 9th January? |
06 Aug 2013 (McGargle)
Now owned by Greene King it took three attempts and a considerable wait to get a fair measure in the glass. Use of a tight sparkler didn't help.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | I was surprised but this was a good pint. Nothing exceptional but well crafted with a good malt hop balance and a moreish almost citrus finish. |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2012 (Ray)
Busy at 7, dead by 9.
Definitely not worth coming for the beer selection but the food is OK and service excellent.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Belhaven - IPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
23 Apr 2011 (Ray)
Quiet. Tendered £20 got change for £10.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inveralmond - Thrappledouser | 4.30 | | Pleasantly surprised. Served a bit cold but a good malty taste and not too sweet. |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Isle of Skye - Red Cuillin | 4.20 | Not Tried |
24 Nov 2010 (McGargle)
As the snow came down we were forced to retreat in here. Warm, cosy atmosphere and friendly service was let down by spectacularly poor beer quality and the inability to supply a fork with which to eat supper.
Only two pumps in use. Old Speckled Hen, Belhaven 80/- and St. Andrews 'available soon'.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | 3.80 | | Much better. Some citrussy hops and a smoother malt. Suspect previous pint was the first serve of the session and it hadn't been pulled through. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | Noticed that the manager used beer from the new cask to clean the line! Didn't seem to consider what would happen if the pump syphoned back. Young but clear, balance of hops and malt hadn't settled. |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | 3.80 | | No hops. Absolutely lifeless. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 |  | Vinegar. The manager explained that 'someone had connected up an old barrel'??!! |
14 Jan 2010 (McGargle)
Quiet. No real attempt to clear icy footpaths made the visit potentially dangerous for the less nimble.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inveralmond - Lia Fail | 4.70 | | Malty, brown beer served in excellent condition. |
| Inveralmond - Thrappledouser | 4.30 | Not Tried |
26 Sep 2009 (McGargle)
Disappointing how the ale selection has gone downhill. When opened beers were sourced from The Beer Seller and the bar offered, perhaps, the most imaginative selection in Aberdeen. Cost control saw ales coming from S&N's Cellarman's Choice range supplemented by a Skye guest instead.
Now there are no ales from Skye and a beer list dominated by national blands. What a shame.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | | Boring, brown beer. |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale) | 4.40 | Not Tried | "Coming soon" you could look forward to Pedigree, Old Speckled Hen and other undemanding national blands. |
26 Aug 2009 (McGargle)
Bar dominated by national blands with more 'available soon'. Busy with diners - slightly slow service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please) | 4.00 | | Another dull brown beer. Seemed very sweet. |
| Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale) | 4.40 | | Not quite at its 'best before' but nearly. Totally unbalanced. |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Directors (use Banks's entry now please) | 4.80 | Not Tried |
27 Jun 2009 (McGargle)
Surprisingly quiet for Friday evening. The staff, as always, were both friendly and efficient.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Skye - Black Cuillin | 4.50 | | Stout like with plenty of roasty flavours from the malt and a little smoke from peat in the water. Served in fine condition but I've yet to taste the honey. |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | | Although served in good condition there was nothing to commend here. This with no clear tastes or aroma. Years ago this used to be one of my favourite ales. Either I've changed or the beer has! |
About The Shepherds Rest
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
 | 3 |
| 24 |
| 19 |
| 5 |
The pub is found in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, AB32 6HF.
Near the Arnhall Business Park and adjacent to a Premier Inn, The Shepherds Rest was opened in 2001 but skilfully aged to look 200 years older. Although it's a big place it has been carefully divided to provide plenty of cosy areas. Food led, beer choice now only a shadow of what it once was. Now owned by Greene King (Belhaven).
We have visited this pub 40 times, seen 56 different beers and tried 35 of them.
Postcode: AB32 6HF