Bury (again) last night after a trip to the Reebok ...

Outstanding Red 4.4% at the Trackside (Bolton Street Station, East Lancs Railway)
Irwell Works Brewery Steam Plate Bitter 4.3% and JW Lees The Govenor 3.8% at the Malt Real Ale (& Whisky) Bar
Shepherd Neame Rudolphs Reward 3.7% and Acorn 10th Noel 5.7% at the Art Picture House (Lloyds)

Talking about ale, was it the Rovers Christmas party on Friday night?

Brains The Reverend James 4.5%
Hardy & Hanson Rocking Rudolph 4.2%
on in The Drum, Bentley at the moment.

Merry Christmas

Called in the Sheffield Tap en-route back from the Reebok yesterday ...

Highland Brewing Company (Orkney) Dark Munro 4.0%
Thornbridge Black Harry 3.9%

A couple of very pleasant dark ales.

A good night in Bolton on Saturday after the 2-2 FA Cup draw with Sunderland ...

Dog & Partridge - Bank Top Flat Cap 4.0%
Man & Scythe - Moorhouse's Pride of Pendle 4.1% and Wychwood Bah Humbug 4.3%
Barristers - Youngs Winter Warmer 5.0% and Hook Norton Old Hooky 4.6%

The Man & Scythe was a real find ... a short walk from Barristers, yet previously undiscovered!

York yesterday afternoon ...

Pivni WBF - Oakham JHB 3.8%
Maltings - Downton Chocolate Orange Delight 5.8%
York Tap - Bristol Beer Factory Seven 4.2% and Fullers Traitors Gate 4.5%
(Seven was very nice, an amber Ale with Toffee overtones)

Hi Gary
Thought we might have had a Christmas/New Year special edition

What have you been partaking of over the recent festivities Paul?

Quote ="Wanderer"York Tap - Bristol Beer Factory Seven 4.2% and Fullers Traitors Gate 4.5% '" Is this the York Brewery Tap Room which is part of York Brwery? If not it is well worth a visit, don't let the outside fool you. www.york-brewery.co.uk/pubs_detail.php?p=11

Quote ="Wanderer"York Tap - Bristol Beer Factory Seven 4.2% and Fullers Traitors Gate 4.5% '" Is this the York Brewery Tap Room which is part of York Brwery? If not it is well worth a visit, don't let the outside fool you. www.york-brewery.co.uk/pubs_detail.php?p=11

Christmas Eve in Thorne , so started with Old Mill in the Punchbowl then Timothy Taylor in the Windmill.

New Years Eve , party at a friends with bottled real ale .

Quote ="tigertot"Is this the York Brewery Tap Room which is part of York Brwery? If not it is well worth a visit, don't let the outside fool you. www.york-brewery.co.uk/pubs_detail.php?p=11'" No, it's the one adjacent to York Railway Station (a Thornbridge pub).

Quote ="tigertot"Is this the York Brewery Tap Room which is part of York Brwery? If not it is well worth a visit, don't let the outside fool you. www.york-brewery.co.uk/pubs_detail.php?p=11'" No, it's the one adjacent to York Railway Station (a Thornbridge pub).

Oh aye, re-opened a year or 2 back. Gorgeous conversion.

Moorhouse's Pride of Pendle (Man & Scythe)
Moorhouse's Barristers Brief, Youngs Winter Warmer, SN Spitfire & SN Bishops Finger (Barristers Bar)

Bolton, Saturday (26/01/13) evening.

Just had a week of Bath Ales Gem 4.1% in the Drum - Gorgeous stuff.

Greene King IPA on now with Thwaites Lancaster Bomber due next to replace the Rev. James when that runs out.

Broadside and OP at The Harvey Arms at Finningley, both in top condition. Just one little gripe, get the log fire on more, when its a tad cool outside, and it would be a top notch boozer.

Oldham last Saturday evening after a trip to the Reebok ...

Greenfield Vanilla Stout 5.2%, Robinsons Roadrunner 4.0% & Moorhouses Black Cat 3.4% in the Up Steps (Wetherspoons).

Titanic Cappuccino 4.5% & Dark Star Original 5.0% in the Ashton Arms.

JW Lees The Govenor 3.8% in the Boat and Horses.

The Vanilla Stout and the Cappuccino were very nice as one-offs (couldn't drink them all night). The Dark Star brew was the best of the evening.

went on the trans-pennine trail yesterday,

staylybridge,station buffet,Brodies - citra,
greenfield "the railway",Millstone - tiger rut,
marsden "riverhead brewery tap",Riverhead - butterly bitter,
huddersfield "king's head",Pictish - claymore,Magic rock - curious,
dewsbury "west riding refreshment rooms",Taylors - dark mild,Dark star - hophead,
leeds "leeds brewery tap",Leeds - pale,

sheffield tap's own brewery "The tapped brewery' own beers are going to be unveiled on tuesday night,all being well i should be in there to sample them so i shall report back.

York last Friday evening following a swift pint of Marston Sweet Chariot in the White Swan at Deighton en-route;

Leeds Midnight Bell x 2 in Brigantes
Springhead The Leveller in the Punch Bowl (W'spoons)

York Saturday;

Theakston Black Bull Bitter, Golden Fleece
Bradfield Farmers Bitter, Blue Bell
York Centurion Ghost Ale, Last Drop Inn
Moorhouses Cold Spell *, Pivni WBF
Maxim Double Maxim, Golden Lion
Brains Captain Cat *, Old White Swan
Big River Windjammer *, Ye Olde Starre
Great Heck Peace & Love *, Guy Fawkes Inn

* 4 not previously sampled.

Not a poor drink all day

Thwaites Lancaster Bomber the latest Real Ale to be available in The Drum, Bentley.

Warrington on Saturday evening after the Reebok (intention to complete the pub crawl planned after the Dons victory at the HJ - it was incomplete that night due to the incessant rain) ...

Ring O'Bells - closed ... not a good start (but did at least get in that one last time)
Marquis of Granby ... Pedigree and Abbot (hopeful of better to follow)
Bulls Head ... Brains Bread of Heaven (very nice)
Tavern ... Butcombe Old Vic (also very nice)
Lower Angel ... Their own Tipsy Angel Winter Warmer (at 6% nice but only one required)
The Looking Glass (Wetherspoons) ... O'Hanlons Port Stout (again very nice)

A very enjoyable evening.

Today prior to the Dons game at Leigh ...

The Fiddle I'th Bag, Burtonwood ... Thwaites Nutty Black (a nice easy start at just 3.3%)
The Cherry Tree, Culcheth ... Cottage MGA (a golden coloured bitter 4.0%)
Boathouse Inn, Astley Green ... Jennings Cumberland Ale.

Leeds last night ...

Whitelocks ... Great Heck Angel (a little too fruity for my taste)
Horse & Trumpet ... Naylors Black & Tan (a blend of Pinnacle Bitter and Pinnacle Porter 4.4% ... very nice)
Mr Foleys ... Saltaire Hazelnut Coffee Porter 4.6% (also very nice)
Victoria & Commercial ... Green Jack Trawlerboys Best Bitter 4.6% & Brains Captain Cat 4.2% (the former a little bland, the latter tasted for the second time in a couple of weeks and very enjoyable).

For the lovers of Cask Corner in the Town Centre, if you get a chance check out The Cooper & Griffin in Bawtry ( The Old Granby) Same ownership as the Cask but a lot smarter and warmer and no funny smell

, Eight handpulled, two Real Ciders and loads (50) different Foreign beers in the fridge.

Had a pint of Milestone Honey Porter in the Church House at Wath this evening. I always feel that their brews are a little bland (for my taste at least).