Chatty Monks Brewing

Chatty Monks BrewingChatty Monks Brewing
Chatty Monks BrewingChatty Monks Brewing
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

610 Penn Ave
West Reading, Pennsylvania, 19611
United States

(484) 818-0176 | map
chattymonks.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.64
Beers:
59
Ratings:
166
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.8
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
29
pDev:
17.37%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Slatetank:
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Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I checked out Chatty Monks with wife and while it is very small that is not as big a deal as the noise level for me. The service was quick and friendly and the food was excellent -we tried the salmon dip which was seasoned with dill and served with toasted pita points. The beers were all decent or very goo d- not exceptional just fit the style well without any huge flaws. The quality of food and service with the prices being very reasonable makes me want to return. I liked the cheddar bratwurst soup since it was not heavy and my wife enjoyed the cole slaw with her pulled pork which is something she doesn't normally like. I found the variety of beer choices enough for a rather young brewery (1 yr old) with saison, sweet stout, IPA, double IPA , ESB and black ale to be a good start.
Jul 05, 2015
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.91/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Storefront location on this eating strip in West Reading. A few tables on the sidewalk, tables and bar inside, upstairs area too. Funky food menu leveraging Indian cuisine. Good service, taplist takes a Belgian lean. Cool little place.
Oct 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.61 by Boone757 from Virginia

Aug 09, 2019
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Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.11/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Cozy spot on two levels

They offer their own brews on tap, and in cans to go

Friendly bartender, always a plus

Tasty food options

Worthy beer, better then decent food, comfortable and pleasant room....worthy spot to check out for beers and a bite to eat
Jul 31, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Aug 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by TheIPAHunter from California

Jan 24, 2018
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Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Ate lunch here and had a couple of beers. Its a two story brewpub, with main bar downstairs (along with tables), and more tables and a small bar upstairs. Modern rustic decor (weathered wood, exposed brick, metal fixtures, etc). Nice vibe. They had 8 beers on tap plus a third party hard cider. Nice mix of styles, and both flagship and one-off beers. The two beers I drank were average. the service was good, and they have options for either 5 oz or pints of beer. The food was pretty good.
Jan 06, 2018
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Chatty Monks is right on the main drag in West Reading, and just a block away from The Barley Mow.

It's nicely designed with a wood floor, copper topped bar, exposed brick, and wrap-around church pews in the front room. There's also seating on the street, and upstairs.

They offer 8 beers on tap, and they're fairly varied but unusual - they don't just do the basics. Currently on tap as I write this:
Thelonius Milk Stout
Indulgence White IPA (Belgian IPA)
The Monastery Pale Ale (APA)
Revelation Porter/Ale (Citrusy Porter)
The Lemon Song Saison
227 (Double IPA)
Saison Van Liefde
Berks Bitter

The food is good, and I think, reasonably priced for what you get. Items include: Chipotle BBW Wings, Nachos, Salad, Flatbread, Banh Mi, Fish Tacos, Fish & Chips, Mussels, Buffalo Chicken Panini, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Strip Steak.

I feel as if the beer itself is good enough to visit, but that the food is an extra incentive.
Sep 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.64 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by ogman from Pennsylvania

Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by AMarkle6524 from Pennsylvania

Sep 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by Blwissler from Pennsylvania

Jul 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.97 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Mar 23, 2016
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Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
A couple friends and I were in the area this weekend so we decided to check the place out. It was a very clean, new feeling establishment. We ordered and shared samples of all the beer on tap and all were above average examples of their particular style. (Which im happy to report because my prior exposure to one of their growlered beers left a lot to be desired. So its nice to see/assume that this place is evolving and hitting their stride.) Fairly decent spread of brew: milk stout on nitro, pale ale, ipa, belgian blonde, cranberry saison, grisette and pumpkin were available while an imperial stout just kicked prior to our arrival.

We sat downstairs (evidently they just remodeled/opened the upstairs but we didnt scope it out.) There appeared to be room for about a dozen people at the bar. Being a party of 5 we couldnt sit there so we pulled a couple tables together that looked like they were designed for just pairs of people to sit or move together as needed.

Service was prompt, attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Really, couldnt have asked for anything better. We ordered some early lunch/late brunch and everything was great. Im really happy that we took the time to check this place out. If im in the area I will certainly be stopping by for a bite to eat and a couple of brews.
Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.21 by DerekE4750 from New York

Jul 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.76 by SharkNado from Pennsylvania

Jul 08, 2015
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Rated by crag from Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
When the kitchen get slammed the service is very slow. Beer is good and food is ok
Jul 03, 2015
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Rated by ShanePB from Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -26.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 4 | selection: 2 | food: 4
Small, cramped space. Beers aren't regularly rotating while being average or below-average. Service and food are good though.
Jan 20, 2015
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Rated by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Getting much better since it opened. Beer quality is much improved, food is very good. Very nice owners, hope to see more variety next time.
Dec 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.4 by kmatth from Pennsylvania

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by awesomea from Pennsylvania

Nov 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mademiere from Pennsylvania

Nov 08, 2014
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Reviewed by BrianBoruma from Pennsylvania

1.5/5  rDev -60.5%
I hear the food is good. Haven't tried it so can't vouch for that.

The beer needs improvement. I say this as a BJCP judge, several of their beers are flawed, but they're young so hopefully they work out some of the kinks.

The staff isn't that friendly, or for that matter attentive. I've been here twice. My first visit I sat at the bar, with an empty glass for an embarrasingly long time while the bartender played with his smart phone. A second one walked by, noticed the empty glass and called him out on it, so he did at that point make an effort to chat with us and engage us. To be fair, it might not have helped that my wife was visibly pregnant and would not be drinking, but still.
Oct 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by themagickallife from Pennsylvania

Oct 04, 2014
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Reviewed by sdaly3 from New Hampshire

2.97/5  rDev -21.8%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.75
Stopped in on Thursday night after dinner. It was 8:45pm and I guess they closed at 9. We were greeted by our server with " just so you know its last call we can only do samples". 4 of us each ordered a few samples as the rest of the crew moved tables, stacked chairs and started sweeping the floor around us. They were turning people away left and right at the front door. Poor 1st experience at this new Brewery. A few other parties I spoke to had similar experience over this past weekend. Hopefully they become more welcoming as they work out the kinks.
Jul 14, 2014
 
 
Rated: 4 by DLSheidy from Pennsylvania

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by whatname from Pennsylvania

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.09 by yourefragile from District of Columbia

Jun 28, 2014
Chatty Monks Brewing in West Reading, PA
Brewery rating: 3.64 out of 5 with 166 ratings