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Old Doctor Butler's Head (Shepherd Neame)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Shepherd Neame - Late RedUndrinkable1
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)Acceptable1
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale AleGood1
Shepherd Neame - Bishops FingerNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Kent's BestNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew BitterNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Premium AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. Old Doctor Butler's Head, City, Central London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

21 Nov 2019 (ChrisE)
Well in to the Thursday lunchtime session and very busy. I was disappointed that they did not have either Master Brew or the monthly special.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale3.90Good
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)4.20Not Tried
03 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Quite busy, both in the little pub and with people standing in the alleyway outside on a very mild evening. I was not impressed with the beer, nor with the fact that it remained on sale after I complained.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Late Red4.50UndrinkableYuk. Vinegary smell and taste. ‘Late’ in more than one sense of the word.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)4.20Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Bishops Finger5.00Not Tried
09 May 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Predictably busy in here in the peak after-work session.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)4.20AcceptableIt’s a long time since I’ve drunk this beer. It is strangely lacking in flavour. The sort of beer that is enhanced (rather than detracted from) by a bag of salted peanuts.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Bishops Finger5.00Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Kent's Best4.10Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Whitstable Bay Premium Ale4.10Not Tried

About the Old Doctor Butler's Head

The pub sign. Old Doctor Butler's Head, City, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent-
Good1
Acceptable1
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in City, Central London, EC2V 5BT.

This pub in Mason's Avenue was established in 1610 and by 1616 was one of the many pubs to sell Dr Butler’s (apparently highly laxative) medicinal ale. It is now the last such pub in the City to be named after the quack doctor, the penultimate one having been just five minutes’ walk away, but demolished in 2002. The pub is tucked away in an alleyway close to Bank station and gives a good impression of an old time City pub, although not everything is in reality quite as old as it seems. Acquired by Shepherd Neame in 2001.

We have visited this pub 3 times, seen 7 different beers and tried 3 of them.

Map location

Postcode: EC2V 5BT