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The Black Friar (Nicholson's (Mitchells & Butlers))

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
East London (ELB) - Truman's RunnerExcellent1
Dorset Brewing Company - Portland PorterExcellent1
Camerons - 150 Commemorative BrewExcellent1
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Sly FoxGood1
Andwell - Ding DongGood1
Little Critters - Sleepy BadgerGood1
Fuller's / Steel City Collaboration - SteelGood1
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost AleGood1
Marston's - PedigreeGood1
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale AleGood1
Wadworth - Chilli & ChocolateAcceptable1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideAcceptable1
Greene King - Morland Old Golden HenNot Tried0
Wold Top - Against the GrainNot Tried0
Brains - The Rev James GoldNot Tried0
By The Horns - The SaintNot Tried0
Banks's - WainwrightNot Tried0
Purity - Pure UBUNot Tried0
Cotleigh - TawnyNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Legally BlondeNot Tried0
Oakham - CitraNot Tried0
Milestone - American Pale AleNot Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - RunnerNot Tried0
Ossett - Yorkshire BrunetteNot Tried0
Adnams - Topaz GoldNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - McEwan's SignatureNot Tried0
Kelburn - Cart NoirNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Bitter & TwistedNot Tried0
Hop Back - Summer LightningNot Tried0
Harviestoun - Broken DialNot Tried0
Caledonian - Flying Scotsman (superseded by 3.5% version)Not Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's Seafarers AleNot Tried0
Lancaster - LemongrassNot Tried0
Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version)Not Tried0
Butcombe - Great Grey OwlNot Tried0
Marston's - Pedigree New World Pale AleNot Tried0
Downton - Ed's American RedNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - The Mad Squirrels Unhinged Beers : Milk StoutNot Tried0
By The Horns - Old SmokeNot Tried0
Broughton - Dark DunterNot Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale AleNot Tried0
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)Not Tried0
Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wild HarvestNot Tried0
St Austell - Proper JobNot Tried0
Caledonian - Autumn RedNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Black Friar, Blackfriars, Central London
Picture 2. The Black Friar, Blackfriars, Central London

Visits Details

06 Jun 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Frantic atmosphere in the early evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Little Critters - Sleepy Badger4.50GoodA roasty and chocolatey and relatively dry Oatmeal Stout.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Cotleigh - Tawny3.80Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Ossett - Yorkshire Brunette3.70Not Tried
30 Jan 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening on a Monday in January but still so crowded that I was elbowed out of my position at the bar and ended up standing outside.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Sly Fox4.00GoodA golden beer flavoured with ginger. Seemed a bit weedy at first, but it grew on me as the ginger became more pronounced as the glass went down.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20Not Tried
St Austell - Proper Job4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Morland Old Golden Hen4.10Not Tried
Brains - The Rev James Gold4.10Not Tried
Banks's - Wainwright4.10Not Tried
13 Jul 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Standing at the bar counter once again marred by a mass of unwashed glasses at the left hand end. Also annoying that the small room with friezes and quotations is now table service restaurant only.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Marston's - Pedigree4.50GoodBut none of the Burton snatch of old
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's Seafarers Ale3.60Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version)4.80Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree New World Pale Ale3.80Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - The Mad Squirrels Unhinged Beers : Milk Stout4.00Not Tried
By The Horns - Old Smoke5.00Not Tried
16 May 2015 (Wittenden)
Mid morning:a few tourists breakfasting.I was passing enroute for Liverpool Street and looked in for old times sake.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Camerons - 150 Commemorative Brew5.00ExcellentAh, Camerons.Tried this for old times sake. Dark and malty.
Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted3.80Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner4.00Not Tried
Harviestoun - Broken Dial4.50Not Tried
31 Mar 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Overcrowded in the immediately after work period. I was only able to see the pump clips on the left side of the bar – not sure what else was on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dorset Brewing Company - Portland Porter4.70ExcellentBlack and smooth and creamy and full of vanilla flavours. Nice.
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner4.00Not Tried
11 Feb 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Uncomfortably busy in here after work at around 7:30pm. Luckily it is a bit warmer tonight and many people were able to stand outside. A friend arrived, took one look at the crowds and decided not to attempt to buy a drink. I had heeded Michael Croxford’s recent sage advice, and used my Nicholson’s app to score a 25p reduction in the price of a pint – only the second time I have remembered to do this.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wadworth - Chilli & Chocolate5.50AcceptableDisappointing. Mostly a sweet malt taste (Crystal Malt?). Not a lot of chocolate and the chilli is underplayed too.
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Purity - Pure UBU4.50Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Legally Blonde4.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - McEwan's Signature4.80Not Tried
24 Sep 2014 (Magnus Greel)
Very quiet mid afternoon before the office rush
BeerABVScoreNotes
East London (ELB) - Truman's Runner4.00ExcellentMalty toffee apple flavour very moreish unlike Truman's of yesteryear.
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale5.40GoodLiquorice and burnt coffee not quite to my taste
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00GoodBland watery and tasteless
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not TriedWhat a find, though didn't sample unfortunately
Caledonian - Autumn Red4.40Not Tried
Wold Top - Against the Grain4.50Not Tried
By The Horns - The Saint4.80Not Tried
09 Jan 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Just a quick after-work visit on the way home.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's / Steel City Collaboration - Steel3.50GoodSharp, malty, pale beer.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Broughton - Dark Dunter4.80Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wild Harvest3.80Not Tried
10 Aug 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Potentially superb pub but marred on this visit by a pile of unwashed glasses just sitting at the main bar end.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10AcceptableA not quite right tang
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Caledonian - Flying Scotsman (superseded by 3.5% version)4.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Lancaster - Lemongrass4.00Not Tried
Butcombe - Great Grey Owl3.60Not Tried
Downton - Ed's American Red4.80Not Tried
27 Nov 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Crowded at 6:30pm, in the evening rush-hour peak. I would have stayed for a second but the crush was becoming uncomfortable.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Andwell - Ding Dong4.50GoodChestnut-coloured, richly malty, slightly spicy hint.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Milestone - American Pale Ale4.60Not Tried
Adnams - Topaz Gold4.00Not Tried
Kelburn - Cart Noir4.80Not Tried

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About The Black Friar

The pub sign. The Black Friar, Blackfriars, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent6
Good8
Acceptable5
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Blackfriars, Central London, EC4V 4EG.

Cheese wedge-shaped pub near Blackfriars Bridge and adjacent to Blackfriars main line and Underground stations too. Very historical interior. 4 + 4 handpumps on the bar counter. Spectacular interior decorations.

We have visited this pub 15 times, seen 65 different beers and tried 19 of them.

Map location

Postcode: EC4V 4EG