A couple of excellent ales sampled on Friday evening were;

Chin Chin Brewing Company Cow Whisperer 5.0%, a delicious Milk Stout brewed in South Elmsall and found in the Queens, Doncaster.
The Hop Studio Avenoir 6.0%, a robust Oatmeal Stout in the Red Lion, Doncaster.

Had a couple of nice ales in Bury yesterday evening;

Deeply Vale Brewery DV8 4.8%, a delicious stout, in the Clarence.

Bank Top Port O'Call 5.0%, an excellent coffee favoured smoky porter, in Rayners.

The former, brewed in Bury, was new to me but the latter, a Bolton brew, was a welcome repeat.

A couple of days in the South Lakes yielded the following gems;

Lancaster Black 4.5%, a dark velvet stout, in the Engine Inn, Cark.
Barngates Red Bull Terrier 4.8%, a ruby coloured premium bitter, in the Drunken Duck, Barngates near Ambleside.
Strands Dark Night 4.8%, a smooth dark premium ale, in the White Hart, Bouth.

My favourite of the weekend however was Unsworth's Yard Last Wolf 4.5%, a stunning dark red malty ale with chocolate and fruit flavours sampled in the following pubs;
The Engine Inn, Cark
The Royal Oak, Cartmel
The Kings Arms, Cartmel.

Called in York Tap en-route to Thirsk races today and was introduced to the very nice Sneaky Wee Orkney Stout 4.2% from the Swannay Brewery.

Also managed a pint of the excellent Papa Jangles Voodoo Stout 4.5% (Totally Brewed Brewery) in the Draughtsman on return.

Three Daggers Brewery Daggers Black Stout 4.5% was very palatable this lunchtime in the Draughtsman on Doncaster station.

Green Jack Brewing Co Lurcher Stout 4.8% enjoyed in the Butchers Dog, Driffield yesterday afternoon.

A few very nice ales sampled on Tuesday in Doncaster;

Orkney Red MacGregor 4.0%, in the Gatehouse, a very old favourite and perhaps the first real ale I fell in love with.
JW Lees Moonraker 6.5%, a dark strong ale, also in the Gatehouse.
Revolutions Brewing Co. Clash 4.5%, a porter, in Cask Corner.
Acorn St Leger Porter 4.4%, in the Red Lion.
Geeves Smokey Joe 5.0%, a chocolate and coffee stout, in the Corner Pin.

Micro Brewery in Thorne now at the Old Vault in the Market Place .

Other real ale outlets are the Canal Tavern , Windmill & Punch Bowl.

A few scoops in York yesterday before and after the match with the highlights being;

Tapped All English Hopped Porter 5.0% in Pivni.
Rudgate Atlantic Crossing 5.0%, a malty best bitter, in the Guy Fawkes.
Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8%, always a winner, in the Eagle & Child.
Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout 4.5%, in the York Tap.

Muirhouse Brewery Malibrew 4.5% was an interesting find in the Queens, Doncaster earlier this week. A rich porter with coconut and pineapple. Nice enough but you couldn't drink it all evening.

Dukeries Chapman's Map 3.9% was a pleasing Bitter found in the Red Lion and Exit 33's Northern Best 4.3% in the Leopard was also very enjoyable.

Sharp's Fathoms Deep 4.5% described as a black IPA, was a very welcome find in the Corner Pin, Doncaster last night.

A few beers in Warrington last night, the best of which were Beartown Black Bear 5.0%, a dark ruby malty strong ale, in the Looking Glass and Plain Ales Inncognito 4.8%, a port stout, in the Lower Angel.

Aldi have a bit of a bottled real/craft ale festival going on at present all at £1.29 for 500 ml. They have traditional bitters, pale ales, stouts. Personal favorites are Barn owl 4.5% by Cotleigh brewerey, Somerset (which Wanderer may like) and Butcombe Original 4.5% which I found to be what I would describe as an old fashioned bitter and extremely nice.

I do like Barn Owl, as well as Tawny Owl and Buzzard

Just a few weeks ago

So two from the night shift of Raptors and one from the day shift



Enjoy mate whatever time of day

Don't you mean raptures?

I was trying to incorporate that in but not being the wordsmith that you are SO I didn't have the written dexterity to make it work

Mrs M recommends the Cherry Head Cherry Stout (Marstons) 4.5%, from the above mentioned collection.

I shall seek it out

Milton Brewery Nero 5.0%, a stout, was new and appealing in the Queens, Doncaster last night.

Dukeries Black Swan 4.2%, a dark (in fact black) bitter was another winner from the Worksop brewery, in Cask Corner.

Visited my local Aldi (Scawsby) today but no trace of this, or the Cotleigh brews sadly.

I did however pick up a couple of bottles of Harper's Medusa, a ruby red ale along with some Brains Spill The Beans, a delicious Coffee Porter.

The Wetherspoons Autumn 2017 Real Ale Festival kicks off on Wednesday 11 October.

30 ales including 5 brewed in the UK by International brewers from Australia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United States of America.

Thornbridge Baize 5.5%, a chocolate mint stout (Looking Glass) and Electric Bear Inspector Remorse 4.7%, a porter (Lower Angel) were both very enjoyable in Warrington last night.

Went to the races at Leicester on Monday and was pleasantly surprised to find that they have a real ale bar serving ales from the Steamin' Billy Brewery.