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The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin) (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Temperance Union - Fentimans Ginger BeerExcellent1
Otley - Milk StoutExcellent1
Green Duck - Heaven SentExcellent1
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPAExcellent1
Temperance Union - Vfm SoftyExcellent2
West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime BitterExcellent1
Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A.Good1
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Otherworld: Batch 1 AmberGood1
Derventio - X AnnoGood1
Bad Seed - Polaris Pale AleGood1
Art Brew - Love or NothingGood1
XT Brewing - XT25 Christmas Ale (or Xmas Ale)Good1
Church End - Cupcake RevolutionGood1
West Berkshire - Tamesis Extra StoutNot Tried0
Wantsum - One Hop First GoldNot Tried0
Franklins - Franklins ExplorerNot Tried0
3 Piers - BlondeNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's HealerNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Last DropNot Tried0
Stonehenge - Eye-OpenerNot Tried0
Fisher's Brew Co. - Smoked PorterNot Tried0
Plain Ales - InnspirationNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Good Old BoyNot Tried0
Flying Monk - ElmersNot Tried0
Binghams - GanymedeNot Tried0
Hop Back - Summer LightningNot Tried0
Goffs - Black KnightNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent MildNot Tried0
Brass Castle - MisfitNot Tried0
Plain Ales - InncognitoNot Tried0
Binghams - Viennese WhirlNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Sound WaveNot Tried0
West Berkshire - BeehaveNot Tried0
Two Cocks - 1643 Roundhead BitterNot Tried0
West Berkshire - Swift Pale AleNot Tried0
Vale - GMTNot Tried0
Wild Weather - Storm in a Tea Cup Earl Grey IPANot Tried0
Burton Bridge - Thomas Sykes Old AleNot Tried0
Aylesbury (ABC) - BritpopNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin), Reading, Berkshire

Visits Details

09 Feb 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Late lunchtime and fairly busy. Our group found the two free cubby hole sized snugs at the rear of the pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter3.70ExcellentAs it was still lunchtime... superb condition and flavoursome
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
Wantsum - One Hop First Gold4.50Not Tried
3 Piers - Blonde3.70Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Last Drop4.00Not Tried
Fisher's Brew Co. - Smoked Porter4.40Not Tried
10 Jan 2018 (Stephen Harris)
A mid-afternoon visit at a quiet time for this pub. I accidentally break the ‘no mobile ‘phones’ rule, but get away with it.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Green Duck - Heaven Sent5.00ExcellentVery dark in colour. This is a great, full-bodied, roasty Stout that also has a sweet edge.
Art Brew - Love or Nothing6.00GoodHazy gold and well-hopped.
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
West Berkshire - Swift Pale Ale3.80Not Tried
Wild Weather - Storm in a Tea Cup Earl Grey IPA6.00Not Tried
Aylesbury (ABC) - Britpop5.00Not Tried
21 Jun 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon visit on a very hot day. Just a handful of regulars around the bar discussing a forthcoming expedition to London in fancy dress.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A.5.00GoodA black beer with a brown head. RDA standing for Rich Dark Ale. Verging on a Stout I think.
Derventio - X Anno4.60GoodA golden beer brewed for the brewery’s tenth anniversary. Very bitter. Less hop-forward than I would expect for an APA-style beer.
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer5.00Not Tried
Goffs - Black Knight5.30Not Tried
West Berkshire - Good Old Boy4.00Not Tried
Brass Castle - Misfit4.30Not Tried
Binghams - Viennese Whirl5.00Not Tried
West Berkshire - Beehave4.40Not Tried
15 Dec 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon following an early-finishing meeting. I sat in one of the little condemned cells at the back, out of sight of pumpclips or blackboard, so do not have a full list of beers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
XT Brewing - XT25 Christmas Ale (or Xmas Ale)4.70GoodDeep copper in colour. A spiced (but not overly so) Christmas Beer.
Church End - Cupcake Revolution5.50GoodGolden and hoppy (as Church End can usually be relied upon to be).
28 Jul 2016 (Jack William)
Just after noon for a swift half while the family sat outside Pret over the street. Glad I did - what a gem - will need to revisit and try to do it justice next time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bad Seed - Polaris Pale Ale4.50GoodSlipped down nicely.
West Berkshire - Doctor Hexter's Healer5.00Not Tried
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
Stonehenge - Eye-Opener4.50Not Tried
Plain Ales - Inncognito4.80Not Tried
Plain Ales - Innspiration4.00Not Tried
West Berkshire - Good Old Boy4.00Not Tried
Flying Monk - Elmers3.80Not Tried
Binghams - Ganymede5.00Not Tried
10 Feb 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Unexpectedly quiet in here at around 6pm. For the first time in years I took up a seat in one of the little booths at the rear. Slightly regretted this due to the proximity of the gents toilets, which looked like they could do with a good scrub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Otley - Milk Stout5.00ExcellentBlack. A bit flat. Both sweet and dry/roasty tastes.
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Otherworld: Batch 1 Amber4.50GoodA well-hopped, full-bodied, amber-coloured beer.
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
Burton Bridge - Thomas Sykes Old Ale10.00Not Tried
West Berkshire - Tamesis Extra Stout4.90Not Tried
Franklins - Franklins Explorer6.00Not Tried
20 Dec 2015 (Alenomore)
Mid-day visit and very few inside but heaving outside with shoppers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Temperance Union - Vfm Softy1.00Good
04 Dec 2015 (Alenomore)
21:00 visit and thinned out nicely. A few of the annual, St Niklaus jumper wearing morons about and sad to note that the mobile free rule here appears to have been relaxed. Some top ales noted though, including some rather nice bottles on the menu, two of which, at £13.50 each, were 'taken away', to add to my cellar!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Temperance Union - Fentimans Ginger Beer1.00ExcellentPerfect...
14 Nov 2015 (Alenomore)
12:00 visit. Kent bound, enroute stop-off. Steady crowd coming and going, avoiding the heavy rain, but keen to sample the excellent selection of real and craft ales on offer. Good to catch up with one or two old faces.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Temperance Union - Vfm Softy1.00Excellent80p for my chosen pint here...
11 Nov 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Brief late-afternoon visit after meetings nearby.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Pre-Prohibition IPA7.40ExcellentAmber-coloured. A very fierce IPA.
West Berkshire - Maggs' Magnificent Mild3.80Not Tried
West Berkshire - Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter3.70Not Tried
Plain Ales - Inncognito4.80Not Tried
Siren Craft - Sound Wave5.60Not Tried
Two Cocks - 1643 Roundhead Bitter4.20Not Tried
Vale - GMT4.30Not Tried

[More Visits]

About The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin)

The pub sign. The Alehouse (formerly Hobgoblin), Reading, Berkshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent12
Good24
Acceptable13
Poor1

The pub is found in Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2BH.

Quirky pub in Broad Street, with dark wooden interior and lots of small booths to the rear. West Berkshire beers feature plus local and not so local guests. Re-opened Monday 19th July 2021 after a very long period of Covid pandemic closure. For many years known as Hobgoblin. Re-named in March 2012. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2023.

We have visited this pub 35 times, seen 89 different beers and tried 48 of them.

Map location

Postcode: RG1 2BH