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Great Expectations (Relax Innz)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dickens - Artful DodgerAcceptable1
Dickens - Old CuriosityAcceptable1
Dickens - Mr BumbleAcceptable1
Dickens - Tiny TimPoor1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PridePoor1
Hammerpot - Mosaic PaleNot Tried0
Dickens - Chuzzlewit's Fine Wheat BeerNot Tried0
Dickens - Sikes IPANot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Butcombe - Bitter (or Original Beer)Not Tried0
Picture 1. Great Expectations, Reading, Berkshire
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

08 Sep 2020 (Magnus Greel)
Mid afternoon just one other customer in this eclectic hotel bar with the various 'shop' room areas made for a fascinating visit. Shame about the beer quality
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10PoorSlightly hazy with a grassy twang
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not TriedUnusual to see this so far from its home territory
10 Feb 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Pub quiet in the late afternoon and a little wait before I was spotted and served. Not impressed with my pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dickens - Tiny Tim4.40PoorA dark beer, thin, sweetish and spiced. Also has a faint whiff of vinegar and some sourish notes that suggest it was not in peak condition.
Dickens - Mr Bumble3.80Not Tried
Dickens - Old Curiosity4.80Not Tried
Dickens - Chuzzlewit's Fine Wheat Beer4.30Not Tried
Dickens - Sikes IPA5.00Not Tried
12 Jun 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Large pub, beginning to fill after work on a Friday. I felt the beers to be a bit work in progress.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dickens - Mr Bumble3.80AcceptableGolden, light and crisp.
Dickens - Artful Dodger4.00AcceptableAmber-coloured. A decent enough, standard Bitter.
Dickens - Old Curiosity4.80AcceptableVery dark brown, almost black in colour. Middle of the road Porter with dry finish.
Butcombe - Bitter (or Original Beer)4.00Not Tried
Hammerpot - Mosaic Pale4.10Not Tried

About the Great Expectations

The pub sign. Great Expectations, Reading, Berkshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent-
Good-
Acceptable3
Poor2

The pub is found in Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4PS.

A large pub occupying the former institute of Literacy, Science & Mechanics, opened grandly in 1843 by Charles Dickens himself. It subsequently served mostly as a Methodist Chapel, before being converted to a pub and hotel in 1997. A small micro-brewery was installed in the spring of 2015 in a space formerly occupied by the pool table. At the edge of the town centre.

We have visited this pub 3 times, seen 10 different beers and tried 5 of them.

Map location

Postcode: RG1 4PS