Cask Corner had Thornbridge McConnels 5.0% available yesterday. It's a very pleasant vanilla stout.

Had two excellent ales whilst visiting Bridlington today. Firstly Wold Top's Headland Red 4.3% in the Brunswick Hotel and then Bradfield's Farmers Brown Cow 4.2% in the Prior John. Marvellous!

Sampled three very nice ales in town last night.

Charles Wells Poppy 3.6% (in the Corner Pin) - A malty amber ale and not lacking in taste even at 3.6%. 10p from each pint sold donated to the Royal British Legion.

Box Steam Chuffin Ale 4.0% (Corner Pin) - Smooth and rich, a dark amber best bitter.

Whitby Saltwick Nab 4.2% (Leopard) - A dark ruby ale with toffee and a hint of vanilla.

A couple of very pleasant ales tasted at the weekend in the Warrington area.

Firstly, the Swan at Walton's very own The Wire 3.8%, dark brown in colour and malty & spicy in taste.

Also, Weetwood Ambush 4.8% in the Ring O'Bells, Daresbury. An amber coloured premium ale with caramel and fruits amongst the flavours.

Nice to see that Doncaster has another real ale outlet in the shape of the Queens Crafthouse, Sunny Bar (the former Queens Hotel in a past life).

They had available a number of the Bad Co brews last night but I ended up trying Craic Fox from the Slightly Foxed brewery. A very enjoyable Irish Stout at 4.5%.

Also enjoyed Chantry's Two Magpies Porter 4.5% in the Flying Scotsman and Caledonian Cold Comfort (a Winter Ale) 4.5% in the Red Lion.

Made a return visit to the Queens Crafthouse yesterday and had the Bad Co Satisfaction 6.7%. A very nice brown ale but you wouldn't want more than a couple.

Wetherspoons are currently doing a mini festival of Christmas ales and winter warmers. 25 in total, runs up to 22 December 2016. Right up my street!

Sampled over the weekend;

Friday in the Red Lion, Doncaster - Caledonian Cold Comfort 4.5%, malty with caramel and a hint of vanilla.
Saturday in the Gatehouse, Doncaster - Titanic Plum Porter 4.9%, dark and strong - an old favourite.
Sunday in the Gatehouse, Doncaster - Exmoor Exmas 5.0%, a strong malty ruby coloured ale.
Sunday in the Red Lion, Doncaster - Hook Norton Twelve Days 5.5% - A regular Christmas offering, malty with fruit, spices and a nutty aftertaste.

Other nice ales enjoyed over the weekend were;

Rudgate York Chocolate Stout 5.0% in the Corner Pin.
Pennine Blackfell Porter 4.5% in the Leopard.
Sonnet 43 Create Those Moments (Spiced Pear and Brandy Porter) 4.2% in the Tut n Shive.

A couple more Spoons Christmas festival ales partaken of on Tuesday, both in the Red Lion;

Adnams Yuletide 4.5%, a dark ruby coloured spicy winter warmer.
Batemans Rosey Nosey 4.9%, rich, fruity and malty. A regular Christmas favourite.

Two more Spoons Christmas festival ales sampled;

Thursday in the Red Lion - Long Man Old Man 4.3%, rich and malty, coffee and chocolate flavoured.
Friday in the Hedley Verity, Leeds - Vale Good King 5.0%, a ruby red ale with toffee and spices.

Another Spoons Christmas festival ale ticked off today in the Red Lion;

Orkney Clootie Dumpling 4.3%, a best bitter, malty & spicy and named after a Scottish pudding.

9 of 25 sampled.

As an aside from the Spoons Christmas festival, I encountered the very enjoyable Bootleg Brew Co Back Street 4.3% at the Plough, Croft (outskirts of Warrington). A dark amber ale which includes amongst its ingredients, maple syrup.

Another Spoons Christmas festival ale sampled last night in the Gatehouse;

Wharfebank Angel Delight 4.5%, a golden coloured best bitter.

A further two Spoons Christmas festival ales yesterday;

Butcombe Chris Moose 4.1%, a deep red best bitter, in the Rawson Spring, Hillsborough.

Oakham Inferno 4.0%, a golden ale, in the Benjamin Huntsman, Sheffield. Not a clue why this is included as a Christmas ale?

Four other seasonal ales enjoyed yesterday in Sheffield;

Bradfield Farmers Belgian Blue 4.9% in the Bankers Draft.
Kelham Island Festive Reserve 6.0% in the Sheffield Waterworks.
Bad Seed Trembling Madness Descent Into Madness (Winter Stout) 7.0% in the Head of Steam.
Thornbridge Merrie T 5.9% in the Sheffield Tap.

A further three Spoons Christmas festival ales yesterday;

Lymestone Stone Cold 4.7%, a copper coloured malty premium bitter with biscuit and toffee flavours, in the Red Lion.

JW Lees Christmas Plum Pudding 4.8%, a mahogany coloured malty premium bitter with fruit flavours, in the Red Lion.

Greene King Fireside 4.5%, deep copper in colour, a best bitter with malt and citrus flavours, in the Gatehouse.

15 of 25 sampled.

Other ales enjoyed this week;

Partners Christmas Cracker 4.2%, a winter ale with hints of caramel, in the Red Lion.

Kelham Island Fairytale of New York 4.2%, a christmas dark ale, malty with chocolate and orange flavours, in the Red Lion.

Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph 4.2%, a dark copper premium bitter and christmas regular, malty with currants and toffee apple flavours, in the Millhouse, Houghton Green, Warrington.

Chantry Bow Jingles 4.4%, a ruby coloured Christmas ale with malt and fruit flavours, in the Flying Scotsman.

Marble Chocolate Marble 5.5%, a stout packed full of flavours including chocolate, coffee, biscuit and fruit, in the Queens.

Great Yorkshire Yorkshire Blackout 5.0%, a porter with chocolate and vanilla flavours, in the Queens.

Two more Spoons Christmas festival ales spotted in Sheffield on Tuesday;

Burton Bridge Santi-Freeze 4.5%, a golden coloured best bitter, dry and bitter with a hint of orange, in the Rawson Spring, Hillsborough.

Wickwar A Christmas Tall Tale 4.5%, a red ale with caramel and spice flavours, in the Bankers Draft.

17 of 25 sampled.

Four delicious ales sampled in Sheffield yesterday, 2 new, 2 old favourites;

Tiny Rebel Stay Puft 5.2%, new, a marshmallow porter in the Fat Cat.
Neepsend Port Stout 5.5%, new, laced with tawny port in the Wellington.
Titanic Cappuccino 4.5%, a coffee stout in the Red Deer.
Thornbridge McConnels 5.0%, a vanilla stout in the Sheffield Tap.

Enjoyed Waen Brewery Snowball 7.0% in the 9 Gallon, Warrington yesterday. The Welsh brewery wasn't one I was familiar with, but this seasonal ale, a stout with chocolate, vanilla and coconut flavours was delicious.

The Tut n Shive had an excellent seasonal brew available yesterday in the shape of Welbeck Abbey Cocoa Noel. A chocolate stout at 5.5%, brewed with roasted cocoa nibs.

Ale highlights of a couple of days in Oxford;

Tring Tea Kettle Stout 4.7% in St Aldate's Tavern
Thornbridge Wild Holly (a winter warmer) 4.8% in the Chequers
H&H Olde Trip (an old favourite) 4.3% in the Turf Tavern
George Gale HSB (premium bitter) 4.8% in the Bear Inn
Shotover Porter 5.0% in the White Rabbit
Knops Musselburgh Broke (a malty Scottish ale) 4.5% in the Eagle & Child
Loose Cannon Dark Horse (a seasonal winter ale) 4.3% in the Lamb & Flag
Bath Gem (another old favourite) 4.1% in Beerd

Had an excellent pint of Elland Black Gold last night in the Gatehouse. A caramel stout at 4.8% - recommended.

Three decent 'finds' in Warrington at the weekend;

Lytham Brewery Lytham Royal 4.4%, a ruby ale, in 9 Gallon.
Cottage Duchess 4.2%, a best bitter, in the Lower Angel.
Coach House Postlethwaites 4.6%, an amber bitter, in the Looking Glass.

A couple of very nice pints in Doncaster yesterday;

Geeves Oaty McOatface 4.5%, an oatmeal stout, in the Corner Pin.
Whitby Black Death 5.0%, a stout originally brewed for the Goth festival, in the Leopard.