Enjoyed in York on Friday (not the rugby obviously) ...

North Riding Brewery Dark Mild 4.5% in the Maltings
(the ever reliable) Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4% in the Guy Fawkes
Black Sheep Riggwelter 5.9% in Ye Olde Starre Inne
Bad Seed Brewery Doctrine 5.5% (a belgian style brown ale) in the York Tap

York again on Sunday ... a couple of highlights being ...

Tapped Dry English Stout 4.0% in Pivni
The Flying Dutchman Nomad Brew Co. More Complicated Than Your Girlfriend Stout 8.0% in the Maltings

Highlights of a visit to Leeds on Thursday;

Tapped Porter 5.0% in Tapped
The Hop Studio Vanilla Porter 4.3% in Baht'ap
Black Wolf Florida Black (Wild Oat Stout) 4.5% in the Scarborough Arms
Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8% and Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4% in the Leeds Brewery Tap

Ventured into the alehouse on Doncaster station yesterday after returning from the Macron.

Situated on Platform 3B, the new venture is called The Draughtsman. Although much smaller than such as the Sheffield Tap or York Tap, it's still well worth a visit.

The Sentinel Orange Stout 4.2% was very enjoyable.

Theakston Hogshead Bitter 4.1%, malty and very nice, in the Culcheth Arms, Culcheth nr Warrington last night.

A couple of very enjoyable pints this week;

Abbeydale Salvation No2 Rice Pudding Stout 5.9% in the Draughtsman, Doncaster.

Navigation Britannia 3.8%, a malty amber ale in the Millhouse, Houghton Green nr Warrington.

Hilltop Plum Porter 4.7% in the Draughtsman ... very nice.

North Riding's Anniversary Porter 6.5% was very nice in the Queens last night.

Whitby Black Death 5.0% in the Leopard - very nice.

Harvey's Best Bitter 4.0% in the Prince of Wales, Clapham Common last night was very pleasant.

McMullens Nags Head Bitter 4.3% in the Nags Head, Covent Garden (along with the aforementioned Harvey's Best Bitter) were probably the best two ales of a few days in London.

The Wild Beer Co. Millionaire 4.7%, a delicious Caramel and Chocolate Stout, sampled in the Draughtsman on Doncaster railway station yesterday evening.

Cinnamon Brow beer festival at the Farm Club, Cinnamon Brow (Warrington) this weekend. Took a look on Friday evening whilst Wire were getting pasted at Leeds.

Nine ales available, with my favourites being;

Twisted Brew Co Rider, an amber ale at 4.0% and
Castle Eden Ale 4.2%, a bitter now brewed by Camerons.

Favourite ales of the weekend;

Revolutions Brewing Co Clash, a porter 4.5%, the Queens (Friday evening).
Greene King Abbot Reserve, a strong ale 6.5%, the Gatehouse (Friday evening).
Fuzzy Duck Ruby Duck, a dark ruby ale 5.3%, the Corner Pin (Saturday evening).
The Hop Studio Vanilla Porter 4.3%, the Red Lion (Sunday lunchtime).

Highlights of Royal Ascot and Ale week



Bridgehouse Brewery Baltic Rum Porter 6.0%, Red Lion, Doncaster.
Partners Stout n About 3.9%, Red Lion, Doncaster.
Sheffield Brew Co. Sheffield Porter 4.4%, Benjamin Huntsman, Sheffield.

... also a special mention for both pub and ale ...

The Kelham Island Brewery now has a brewery tap near Sheffield City Hall. Called the Tap & Tankard, it was for many years The Sportsman.

The ale sampled on the day of the visit was Shout (Scottish Ale) 4.7% complete with pump clip showing a 60's style portrait of Lulu.

Pheasantry Mikado Mild 5.0% in the Gatehouse, Doncaster ... very nice indeed.

Tring Colley's Dog, a strong ruby ale 5.2% in the Red Lion last night was very enjoyable.

The Corner Pin had two very nice brews from the Cotleigh Brewery available last weekend. Honey Buzzard 4.5% was very nice but possibly too sweet to drink all evening and preference was for Buzzard Dark Ale 4.8%. The latter combined biscuit, chocolate and nut flavours for an extremely satisfying traditional ale.

One for you Wanderer. Dog And Gun at East Butterwick had Dark Tribe Mild on 3.6%. It was delicious and one of the best Milds Mrs M said she had ever sampled.

It's a good few years since I've been in the Dog and Gun. I'll look out for the Dark Tribe Mild on my travels.

Visited the Lymm Brewery Tap last Saturday and as usual the beers were on top form.

The Deer Beer 4.5% is, as described, a full bodied malty ale - very nice. Slight preference was for the excellent Dunham Porter 5.2%.

Sambrook's Powerhouse Porter 4.9% in the Tap On The Line at Kew Gardens tube station ... very nice indeed.

... also sampled ...

Ilkley Ruby Jane in the Swan, Hammersmith and
XT13 in Indo, Whitechapel

Best drink of the day yesterday ...

Harbour Brewing Co. India Brown Ale 4.9% in the Hoop & Grapes, Aldgate.