Saturday ...

Pre-Football. Visited the Crown in at Horwich (a Holts house) and sampled their Fifth Sense 5.0%. Palatable if unspectacular.
Also the Thatch & Thistle at Blackrod. A much nicer venue and a better pint in the shape of Bank Top Flat Cap 4.0%.

Back from my travels.

Firstly, the King's Head at Llangennith. Great food,shame about the beer.
Hancock's HB, Rhymney Bitter and Tomos Watkins' OB were sampled and all were a little on the bland side for my taste.

Went to the Worm's Head Hotel, otherwise known as the Bar Helvetia, due to the "wreck" of the Helvetia on Rhossili Beach ( a quite outstanding view from the rear terrace ) Sadly, the Worm's Head brew was off and I didn't fancy the OB.

Went to the Hope and Anchor in Tenby, which sold a decent pint of Felinfoel Stout then tried to get into a pub at Llandarrog, which strangely does not feature in the West Wales section of the GBG, despite the fact that it is the home of the Coles family brewery. It does however, appear in the Independent Breweries section. Said pub was unfortunately not open. will have to do that one next time.

Undeterred, I went to the Mansel Arms just outside Drefach in Carmarthenshire and had a very good pint of Evan Evans Spring Fever.. Not surprisingly, it's Carmarthen CAMRA's pub of the year.

Found a lovely little drinkers' pub on Park Street in Mumbles ( locals don't even know there's a pub on the street! ) and had a good pint of Felinfoel Double Dragon.

And last but not least, the Joiners' Arms at Bishopston, where we both agreed the best pint of our trip was to be had. The Swansea Brewery's Three Cliffs Gold, nectar in a glass. Closely followed by a pint called the Wood, which was dangerously drinkable at 5.2% .

Day out in Manchester yesterday ...

Kicked off at the Smithfield Hotel on Swan Street and a reasonable pint of Wadworth George & Dragon 4.5% and then across the road to Bar Fringe (very similar in looks and feel to the North Bar in Leeds) for a pint of the excellent Whites Conqueror 5.1%.

Next up following a lengthy walk of all of 50 yards, a visit to the Crown & Kettle on Oldham Road and a pint of the ever-reliable Ossett Big Red 4.0%.

The next port-of-call was by far the biggest disappointment of the day. The Unicorn on Church Street where the bar staff struggled to understand which ales were available and which weren't and then finally served up a luke-worm pint of Bass Premium Ale 4.4% - dreadful pub and an utterly shocking pint - how the place got in the GBG is beyond me.

Following a short tram ride to St. Peters Square, the City Arms was located on Kennedy Street and the wonderful sight of a Brains The Rev James clip met us. Top beer on top form!

Finally, next door to the Waterhouse on Princess Street (yes they are next door even though on different streets) and a final pint in Manchester and a final pint from the JDW real ale festival. The selection was Chicago's Goose Island Honker's Ale 4.2% and a decent pint it was.

With exception of the Unicorn, a very enjoyable day out.

I'm thinking it's about time you wrote a book.
Who knows how long before your liver gives out.

Interesting title for a book.

Tonight's imbibing ( after two hours of tennis against someone 18 years younger than me- you can tell I'm getting old, can't you? Wouldn't have if I'd lost to the whippersnapper

) constituted Three B's Oatmeal Stout, one I would definitely drink again, followed by Brain's On His Tail or Honest Ale, which tasted good even after starting with the stout! However, my pint-of-the-night had to be the Wooden Hand Brewery of Truro's Cornish Buccaneer, a classic premium bitter.

Stand-Offish wrote:I'm thinking it's about time you wrote a book.
Who knows how long before your liver gives out.





Interesting title for a book.

I think you're obsessed with Gary's liver, S-O



I only wish I had his capacity!!!

I do worry about the lad.


I could just be jealous though, I like my real ale.

Nearly forgot to mention that the Gatehouse had the wonderful Leeds Midnight Bell available on Tuesday evening.

Had a very good pint of Burton Bridge Bramble Stout at the Greendale Oak, Cuckney. Pity it was £2.95!!!!

The Red Lion had another 'new' Thornbridge brew on last night. Raven 6.6% is a black IPA and very enjoyable it is too. Also a positive mention once again for the Yorkshire Greys Yorkshire Grey Best 4.0%, wonderful stuff.

... nearly forgot ... what have they done to the Gatehouse???

When you walk through the door, you are now confronted with the settee's and low tables which used to reside near the door to upstairs. It makes it incredibly cramped around the bar.

Sat night in Sheffield , West St area:-

Lloyds bar Wadworth Brewery- Farmers Glory
Varsity -Wells Bombardier
The Wick- couple of Thornbridge Airtight
Henrys Bar - Elland Brewery Nettlethrasher & Leeds Brewery Leeds Bitter.

An enjoyable evening with a nice meal included.

One or two there that I've not yet visited ... will have to check them out when next in Sheffield.

I have to say that the John's Cask in the Drum was on top form yesterday evening - wish it could be that good all the time.

John Smiths.........yuck!!
Now if you had said Sam's.

Visited the Loco at Haxey last night and wish I hadn't, ostensibly for the curry, which was ok. The beer used to be excellent there but I had a very forgettable pint of Allendale's Real Chilli Ale. Went flat in minutes. Avoid.

They seem to have turned it into an Indian restaurant and the part-loco in the bar seems really incongruous.
A pity.

Needed some quality quiet time away at the weekend with much to think about. Harrogate was chosen and of course one or two ales had to be partaken.

Plenty of the local Daleside ales to choose from and a couple sampled but the beer that really stood out for me was Saltaires Bulldog Brown Ale 4.8% in the Old Bell Tavern.

I would recommend any of the following if visiting Harrogate;

Hales Bar
Old Bell Tavern
(the above two being 50 yards apart and also close to the JDW's Winter Gardens)
Tap & Spile
Coach & Horses

Visited the Trackside on the East Lancs Railway in Bury. Had a stonking pint of Idle Landlord and Titanic Nautical Mild. At home, had several pints of the imperious Bateman's Salem Porter

Went to the West Riding refreshment rooms at Dewsbury station today, first visit, and there is no wonder the place is held in high regard. Fantastic staff, decor, ambience and of course stunningly well kept ales. The Dark Mild from Timothy Taylors was the best pint of mild consumed in my forty years of beer drinking. The lady that is in charge of the food certainly knows her stuff as well.

A Bar with it's own Railway Station--rather than a Railway Station with a Bar.

Hope and Hathersage last Sunday ...

Peak Ales Barn Brewery Swift Nick 3.8% at the Cheshire Cheese, Hope and bumped into someone from work



Wychwood Ushers 1824 3.6% at the Millhouse Inn, Hathersage along with a very nice carvery lunch.

Spot on DF.

Bridlington is just the same.

What I also like about Dewsbury station is the parking fees and free after 6pm. Ideal for the Pie (Tues) Curry (Wed) and Steak (Thurs) nights.

Can't tell I'm hooked can you

Had several pints of the Champion Beer of Britain at lunchtime and, for once, I must wholeheartedly agree with the tasters at the GBBF. Rudgate Ruby Mild is undoubtedly the best of its type I've tasted.

The Tut had it on recently. Always have it wherever it's on offer.