Some very nice one's tasted so far, but a few to go yet.

More 'festival' ales today;

Truman's Ben Truman 1883 Export Pale Ale 5.4% in the Gatehouse
before
Conwy Alt Bier 4.8% in the Rawson Spring, Hillsborough
Strathaven Festival Ale 4.5% & Theakston Infallible 4.2% in the Swim Inn, Sheffield
Arundel Smokehouse 6.0% in the Benjamin Huntsman

The two in the Swim Inn were the picks of the day.

Sheffield again last night (having spotted opportunities on Sunday);

Belhaven Old Gold 5.0% & Long Man Old Man 4.3% in the Swim Inn, Sheffield
Green Jack Rising Sun 4.8%, Brewster's Et Citra Et Citra 4.0% & Tring Moloko 4.5% in the Benjamin Huntsman
Batemans QED 4.0% in the Bankers Draft

The Old Gold (whisky-aged beer) was a pleasant surprise but the best on the night was the Tring Moloko.

42 of 50 located and sampled - 8 left to find.

Sheffield again last night (City Hall for Dara O'Briain);

Just one new one ... Everards Stateside Rye 4.5% in the Benjamin Huntsman.

7 to go now.

Another one ticked off in the Red Lion today;

Marston's Green Hop Pale Ale 4.5%

Rooster's Nectar 5.2% & Harviestoun Old Manor 4.6% in the Red Lion yesterday evening.

The latter, a dark-coloured old ale, was very enjoyable

46 out of 50 done now.

Evan Evans Cennen 4.6% in the Gatehouse this lunchtime.

3 left to find.

Cotleigh Redfire 4.8% in the Gatehouse last night, very nice indeed.

2 to go, but running out of time and opportunity.

Coach House Ale of Arrows 4.0% in the Rawson Spring this afternoon made it 49 out of 50.

So it looks like close but no cigar, 49 out of 50 it is.

Favourite International ales were the Norwegian Oatmeal Stout, the Dutch Spiced Ale and the Smoked Porter from Guam.

Of the 'home' brews, Theakston Infallible, Oakleaf 10 Little Acorns, Wood's Ebony, Harviestoun Old Manor, Cotleigh Redfire, Maxim John Bull Stout & Wadworth Cooper's Vice ticked the most boxes but an honourable mention must go to Belhaven Old Gold which was a very pleasant surprise.

... and the one I missed ...

Kelham Island Wild Rider IPA.

Quite an irony since I spent a fair amount of time in Sheffield during the festival.

Mobberley (nr Knutsford), Cheshire on Saturday evening;

Dunham Massey Treacle Treat 4.1% in the Railway Inn
Storm Brewing Co Red Mist 3.9%, Wincle Brew Co Woodsman 4.4%, Weetwood Ales Bulls Head Bitter 4.5% & Weetwood Ales Mobberley Wobbly Ale 3.9% in the Bulls Head.

Enjoyed every one of them!

Two excellent pubs you probably would never visit without a driver - fortunately, not me

York yesterday afternoon started with a bang;

Fallen Brew Co Chew Chew 6.0% (described as a Salted Caramel Milk Stout) in Pivni.
Redemption Rising Sun 5.0% in the Cross Keys and Ilkley Rosa Ostara 4.6% in the Punch Bowl followed. The latter a gamble on my part considering my taste and its description as a Rose Petal Ale (brewed with real rose petals).
Bad Co Smashing Pumpkin 5.5% was next in the Maltings, whilst the final tipple of the afternoon was Anarchy Brew Co Smoke Bomb 3.9% in the York Tap. The Anarchy brew being a lovely smoked ale with hints of toffee.

The Sal had the wonderful Bradfield Farmers Belgian Blue 4.9% yesterday.

Camerons Thirst Blood 4.3% was interesting in Cask Corner and Sonnet 43 Bourbon Milk Stout 4.3% enjoyable in the Tut.

Found an old favourite of mine, Orkney Red McGregor 4.0% in the Lower Angel in Warrington last night.

Recent highlights ...

Last Thursday;
Partners Evolution 4.0% in the Red Lion, a brown ale with hints of honey.
Sudwerk Inbetween 4.8% in the Gatehouse, a Swiss dark brown ale brewed for JDW's at Everards brewery.
Thornbridge Lord Marples 4.0%, an old favourite spotted in the Tut n Shive.

Saturday;
Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph 4.2% in the Tut n Shive, a malty seasonal ale, always welcome.
Cairngorm Wildcat 5.1% in the Red Lion, a strong malty amber ale.

Ventured into the Salutation after yesterday evening's Meeting and tried Yorkshire Heart Sunny Heart 3.7%. Not bad but it would need to be at £3.35 per pint.

The pub appears to have changed hands and last night they were running out of beer left, right and centre. I hope that was just a 'blip' as it's a pub I've always liked.

Highlights of an afternoon in Bakewell yesterday were;

Marstons Old Empire in the Queens Arms and Peak Ales Bakewell Best Bitter 4.2% in the Peacock.

Bolton yesterday - both of the best couple of ales were in the Spinning Mule, Bank Top's Bad To The Bone 4.0% & Moorhouses Red Witch 4.6%.

The Man & Scythe had an Otter brew I'd not had before Otter Amber 4.0% and the Dragonfly another new one to me, Robinsons Wizard 3.7%, both nice enough.

The Red Lion had some very nice beers available on Thursday evening. Burton Bridge Burton Porter 4.5% which I've had previously along with Grafton Caramel Stout 4.8% and Everards Nutcracker 5.0%. The Porter and the Stout are pretty self explanatory with the Stout being my favourite on the evening. The Nutcracker is a seasonal Red ale.

A visit to Little Manor in Thelwall village (Cheshire) on Saturday evening resulted in sampling 3 very enjoyable ales ...

Coach House Cromwell's Bitter 4.0%, a delicious malty bitter
Tatton Red Hot Poker 6.0%, a ruby coloured winter warmer with orange and ginger flavours
Mobberley Brew House Red Vienna 4.2%, an American-style red ale

Found a couple of potent ones in Doncaster last night ...

Stancill Red Velvet 6.0%, a Russian-style stout in the Red Lion and Arran Black IPA 6.0% (coffee flavoured).

Also enjoyed Tetleys Christmas Cracker 4.3%, a dark seasonal ale with toffee and fruit flavours.

The Flying Scotsman had a couple of interesting 'guest' ales on Friday evening, Geeves Renaissance, a red ale 4.1% and Wall's County Town Brewery Northallerton Dark, a chocolate and orange flavoured Mild 4.4%.

The Gatehouse provided a seasonal ale from Stancill in the shape of Mistletoe 4.3% which was light green in colour.

Atherton last night ...

Two Allgates brews in the Jolly Naylor, Wigan Junction 3.9% a traditional bitter and Mad Monk 7.1% an imperial stout.

Moorhouses Pendle Porter 5.0% (caramel flavoured) in the Pendle Witch.

The Porter was so enjoyable a repeat was in order.