The Drum at Bentley currently has as it's second cask ale Ringwood Best Bitter 3.8%.


(in addition to Black Sheep Best Bitter)

Visited the Ferry at Cawood twice recently and have sampled Everards' Sunchaser, Caledonian Deuchars and Taylor's Landlord, all of exceptional quality. Food looks good too.

Have tried Doncaster's Gold Cup, which despite being billed as a Golden Ale, looks and tastes like a bitter - a very good one mind ( pretty sure that the brewer himself was at the bar, as a customer, when I bought it ) and previously at Cask Corner, the Axholme IPA, which tasted a little bit like cough medicine ( the tasting notes mention herbal flavours ), but I had been drinking porter so my taste buds may have been a bit overwhelmed! Luddington Lager at the Bluecoat in Rotherham was pleasant although not outstanding.

A trip round Doncasters three Wetherspoons last night ...

Red Lion ...
Great Newsome Frothingham Best & Thornbridge Sequoia

Olde Angel ...
Pinnacle Porter

Gatehouse ...
Ossett Ambler Gambler & Jennings Snecklifter

I do like the Snecklifter.

Narrowly missed being flooded this week.

The tables and parasols were so much driftwood against the swing-bridge though

Glad to hear that the pub itself survived. Building has a long history.

Went to the Beer Festival at The New Clarence in Hull last night, tried the following:

Great Heck Dave 3.8% (a dark ale)
Moonshine Abbey Dale Brewery 4.3% (a light one)


Then had a Rudgate On Target 3.6% in Hop & Vine, followed by a Wellington Inn 1st Duke 3.7% in The Wellington Inn (obviously, lol).



Have realised that I definitely prefer light ales (e.g. Pale Ale) to dark ones.

Had a short list of 5 or 6 pubs lined up for last night in Warrington. However, due to a combination of poor weather and a rock juke box ended up only visiting 2 of them.

However on the plus side, both the Ring O' Bells & the Marquis of Granby had the wonderful Courage Directors available

which went some way to making up for the Lord Rodney having no Cask Ale available after the match.

Very enjoyable evening including bumping into a Northern Soul fan who is into Motorhead (interesting discussion

)

That's a coincidence, we were on about Directors only hours earlier at the Rodney.
You were right about the beer in the Red Lion ........shoite!

... and again today

Robinson's Unicorn Premium Ale at the Prince William Inn at Dalton (between Wigan and Skelmersdale) went down very well with Red Snapper & Rice followed by a Cheeseboard yesterday evening.

I had a bottle of Hobgoblin and a chicken kiev...I'm easily pleased

I reckon

Had Muirhouse Foundaries (sic) IPA ( which was rather underwhelming but I think may have been bottom of the barrel ) and the rather splendid Raw Anubis Porter, very chocolatey and lovely coffee flavour, to take the taste away, at the Arkwright Arms, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton.

Lovely pint of Doombar at Harvey Arms & Havercake Ale at the Eagle&Child

Bury last night after a trip to the Reebok ...

Greenfield The Full Malty 4.5% at the Trackside (Bolton Street Station, East Lancs Railway)
Phoenix Black Bee 4.5% at the Art Picture House (Lloyds)
Irwell Works Brewery Steam Plate Bitter 4.3% and Brightside The Beast 3.8% at the Malt Real Ale (& Whisky) Bar
Moorhouse Black Cat 3.4% at the Robert Peel (Wetherspoons)
Thwaites Original 3.6% at the Two Tubs

Every one a winner (including the Wanderers)

Spent yesterday afternoon in Barristers Bar in Bolton watching the RL International prior to venturing to the Reebok for the evening Kick Off ...

Moorhouse Barristers Brief 4.2%
Holts Maplemoon 4.3%
Thwaites Wainwright 4.1%
JW Lees Bitter 4.0%

£2 per pint, except for the Barristers Brief £1.85


(even the lager was £2 per pint)

went on a trip to warwickshire to do beer guide pubs yesterday,
henley in arden-the black swan,"batemans"xb,
stratford-upon-avon - bear at the swans nest hotel,"hook norton" bitter+old hooky,
the west end-"timmy taylors" golden best,
warwick-wild boar,"slaugterhouse"saddleback best bitter,pacific pale ale and hog goblin,
birmingham-the post office,"salopian"oracle,"hobsons"mild.

A night out in Bolton yesterday after the Wanderers disappointing draw with Barnsley centred around just 2 pubs ...

The Alma - Ringwood Fortyniner

Barristers Bar - Moorhouse Barristers Brief, Coniston Bluebird, Thwaites Wainwright, Wadworth 6X and both Spitfire and Bishops Finger from Shepherd Neame.

Yep, I like it in Barristers

Yesterday afternoon ...

Final Whistle, Southwell - Oldershaw Best Bitter 4.3% & Saltaire Pride 3.9%
(preference for the former)

Red Hart, Blyth - Ossett Movember 3.9%

Adnams Broadside 4.7% now on along with the Ringwood BB

Brains The Reverend James on in the Drum now

Can't think who's suggesting these ...

Just returned from a couple of days in London ...

Brodies Bethnal Green Bitter in the Cross Keys, Covent Garden
Shepherd Neame Late Red in the Freemasons Arms, Covent Garden
Adnams Bitter in the Nell of Old Drury, Covent Garden
Fullers London Pride in The Imperial, Leicester Square
Red Squirrel London Porter in the Argyll Arms, Oxford Circus
Fullers Traitors Gate in the Red Lion, Westminster
Shepherd Neame Master Brew in the Spanish Galleon, Greenwich
Cotleigh Red Nose Reinbeer in the Liberty Bounds, Tower Hamlets
St Austell Tribute in Ye Olde London, St Pauls
Fullers Jack Frost in the Euston Flyer, Euston Rd
Woodfordes Wherry & Sole Bay Santa's Spirit in The Courtfield, Earls Court

Pick of the pubs ... the Cross Keys (a little gem in Covent Garden)

Pick of the beers ... too close to call between Late Red, Traitors Gate, Jack Frost & Santa's Spirit.

Tuesday evening visited the Auckley Christmas Market. The Eagle & Child had an outside bar on, two on from Doncaster Brewing Company at £2.50 a pint

The Brewing Companies Porter was nothing short of fabulous, dark, mocha and just stunning. The pale ale was and also in really good nick but completly blown away by the Porter. A few of those and a hot roast pork sandwich on a bitterly cold evening, nowt better.

Green with envy looking at that list Gary. Could'nt agree more about the Cross Keys, superb pub.