Curry with the in laws tonight, so the father in law stopped by the Toad Brewery and got a 5 litre bottle filled straight from the Tadpole barrel. It'll be a good night

Mmmm, that's 8.8 pints, Wanderer would sup that on his own.


What's it work out per pint ... if you don't mind me asking?

Charged him a tenner, cracking value

That is good value.
Nice curry?

Seems like I have a reputation to maintain.

Your maintenance schedule is simply the best.

Sampled Adnams Abbey Ale 5.0% in the Sal last night. Normally a fan of Adnams but this one was simply too sweet even for my taste. Previous to that Batemans XB ...always reliable.

Later in Cask Corner, Vale Black Beauty 4.3% and the interstingly named (but not to my taste) Doctor Mortons Cat-A-Tonic 4.3%.

Boat Inn, Sprotborough had Leeds Best, Red MacGregor and Rev James on last weekend.

Finally tracked down Jaipur 5.9% Pale Ale in the Victoria in Leeds. Deserves its reputation IMO.

Sounds like another convert to the best IPA on the market

Tangs of grapefruit ... a rare beast to find.

Jaipur is a favourite of mine. It's a regular guest ale at Keighley's Wetherspoon's and the Lord Rodney.

I had a couple of pints of Black Sheep at Cougar Park last night, rather nice.

Then to celebrate our result went back in to Keighley and had cracking pints of Timothy Taylor's Golden Best and Dark Mild.

Sheffield yesterday ...

Theakston Best in The Bessemer, Abbeydale Temptation in The Museum, Mallinsons Hidden Malt & Great Heck Treason in The Rutland Arms topped off with two Thornbridge brews, Ashford & Lord Marples in The Sheffield Tap.

It is wonderful. If you've not tried Ilkley Brewery Lotus Pale Ale (5.6%) you're in for a treat.

Not in The Volunteer I'd wager? Went in there after the Bulls friendly a few weeks back. Golden Best was vile.

Sampled another of the Toad brews 'Malted In Black' 4.2% in Cask Corner on Tuesday evening along with a couple of pints of the ever-reliable Tadpole.

Finally managed to seek out a pint of Marston's EPA too (in the Goose).

The Gatehouse had the wonderful Abbot Reserve available last night



Sampled a very nice ale in the Angel in the shape of Three B's Shuttle Ale 5.2% and two very palatable drinks in Cask Corner, College Green's Headless Dog 4.3% and Brentwood Best 4.2%.

Spouters Corner (Wood Green) yesterday ...

Wells Banana Bread Beer 4.5%
Brains Milkwood (nut brown ale) 4.3%
Adnams Gunhill 4.0%

... what a result ... then ...

Marstons EPA in the Goose (twice in a week, many miles apart

)

Two newbies for me yesterday in the Tut ... Wooden Hand Cornish Gribben 4.1% and Kelham Island Bete Noire (stout) 5.5%.

Another first-timer in the Red Lion in the shape of Thwaites Bloomin' Smoky 5.0% (very nice

) and equally matched by a dutch brew Zeunarts Ale 4.5%

in the Angel.

Also sampled my second pint of Brains Milkwood in the Gatehouse (the first being in Wood Green last Sunday) and a pint of Hilden Scullions Ale 4.6% in Cask Corner.

Nope, The Volunteers is one of the worst pubs in Keighley! We went to the Boltmakers Arms, which is even smaller than The Volunteers but the ale is fantastic.

Boltmakers is one of my favourites. We were in there before the game, sat with a strange old Irish bloke who had 4 glasses of whisk(e)y on the table & kept moving them around & pouring one into the other. It was a clever trick as he seemed to be drinking plenty but still had a fair bit left in each when we departed an hour later.

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York last Sunday ...

The Pivni WBF is currently featuring Dark Star beers ... the Old Chestnut 4.0% went down very well, as did the Rudgate Battle Axle 4.2% in the Guy Fawkes Inn.

Next up a visit to the sister pub of the Guy Fawkes, the Lamb & Lion ... all golden / pale ales so plumped for Copper Dragon Challenge IPA 4.4% (reasonable enough).

Finally, a visit to Judges Cellar Bar, sadly they were down to two ales and with one being a golden, I again (as I did on my last visit) had the Great Heck Final Judgement 4.1%

Visited the Hub last night ... mixed emotions really ... starting to look back fondly on the days when the Beer Festival was held at the Racecourse. Its great that these events are held and I for one wouldn't knock anyone who is involved, I just think the room which is used at the Hub is far too narrow for the event leading to great numbers of people who rarely move more than a foot or two from the bar. Maybe I'm looking back with rose-tinted glasses, maybe the event is just more popular now but it seemed a much more relaxed affair at the Racecourse.

Anyway, the beer ... tried a number of ales and preference on the night was for Otley Dark O 4.1% (from Pontypridd) and Townhouse GSA 5.0% (from Stoke-on-Trent).

... also popped into Cask Corner for a quick couple before heading home ... Hereford Owd Bull 3.9% and Black Country Pig on the Wall 4.3% ... the latter has been on CC's menu before and is very enjoyable.

First year that I haver missed the Doncaster Festival, in York today on a Stag Do, so that just may make up for it. Agree with you Gary over the Hub, it just seems to lack something as well, but I suppose they have to bring in what income they can. On the subject of Beer Fesitvals I much prefer the ones with the hand pumps rather than straight from the tap. The Rotherham Beer Festival is always hand pulled and that Festival IMO is top notch.