Paid my first visit to a relatively new pub in Doncaster yesterday, The Lockwood on Hallgate and sampled a decent pint of Black Sheep Blitzen 4.0%.

Also ticked off another festival ale, H&H Rocking Rudolph 4.2% whilst out and had a pint of Farmers Belgian Blue 4.9% in the Yorkshire Grey.

Also ventured into the Corner Pin for a couple more of their Christmas Ales having had a decent evening there on Wednesday.

I seem to have run out of Festival Ales at 19 of 25. The Christmas one is always hard work as no matter which ones are advertised they always end up with other Christmas Ales on sale.

The Lockwood, Doncaster had H & H Rock On With Rudolph last night. Same ABV (4.2%) as Rocking Rudolph, it just seemed slightly heavier on the malt.

Milestone Auld Ale 4.5%, in the Red Lion, was dark, malty and very nice.

The Gatehouse had the nutty and always enjoyable Saltaire Stout No5 4.2% and the Corner Pin supplied Salamander Porter in a Pear Tree 4.8% and Welbeck Abbey The Rink, an oatmeal stout at 5.2%, both very enjoyable.

Highlights of a recent visit to Sheffield;

Half Moon Port Out 4.6%, a delicious smoked porter, in the Kelham Island Tavern

Neepsend Kaldi 4.8%, another delicious porter with chocolate and coffee flavours, in the Wellington

Framework Treacle Stout 3.9%, treacle, chocolate and coffee, what's not to like? - This one in the Red Deer.

Doncaster Tap's Pumpkin Porter AD71 4.5%, was on good form last week.

Had a couple of excellent ales in Warrington last night;

Belhaven Robert Burns Brown Ale 4.2% in the Looking Glass (had this before but not for a while).

Littleover Brewery The Panther 4.2%, an oatmeal stout not previously sampled, in Wilkies Tavern.

Based on a recommendation, I met up with friends in the Old No.7 in Barnsley yesterday.

The Acorn Brewery Tap, it is well worth a visit and had 8 real ales on offer, 3 of which were guest ales.

Most enjoyable were;
Acorn Malthouse 4.4%, a rich ruby ale and
Redemption Urban Dusk 4.6%, a deliciously malty dark ale.

The near-by Joseph Bramah ('Spoons) had Stancill's excellent Black Gold (Stout) 5.0% available.

Maxim John Bull Stout 5.0% on form in the Punch Bowl ('Spoons), York.

Brew Dog Cocoa Psycho 10.0% in York's Brew Dog ... you really wouldn't want more than one, nice as it is.

Five Points Brewing Co. Derailed Porter 5.9%, in Brigantes.... very, very nice.

Arundel Brewery Pickled Mouse 4.1%, in the Corner Pin last night, malty, fruity and very nice.

Great Heck Vanilla Wheat Stout 5.4%, in the Draughtsman, Doncaster yesterday, highly recommended.

The Wetherspoons Spring 2018 Real Ale Festival kicks off on Wednesday 14 March, running through until Sunday 25 March.

30 ales will be available including 5 brewed in the UK by International brewers from Australia, Canada, Crete, Italy and the United States of America.

'Home' breweries represented are ...
Adnams, Black Sheep, Coach House, Elgoods, Exmoor, Greene King, Hydes, Mordue, Oakham, Otter, Purity, Salopian, Saltaire, Sambrooks, St Peters, Shepherd Neame, Titanic, Tring, Wadworth & Wychwood (Eng)
Hilden (N Ire)
Bru (Rep Ire)
Caledonian & Harviestoun (Scot)
Conwy (Wal)

Had my first taste of Stancill's Full of Dank range in the shape of Charlie Brown 4.5% in the Corner Pin last night. A delicious malty Brown Ale, very nice indeed.

Crewe on Saturday evening and a visit to the excellent Borough Arms. Nine real ales were available and the following were sampled;

Courage Directors 4.8%
Bradfield Farmers Stout 4.5%
Bradfield Yorkshire Farmer 4.0%

The first two are long-standing favourites. The latter, new to me but a very enjoyable golden coloured bitter.

Also visited Hops and tried Cross Bay's Vesper Bitter 3.8%.

Wakefield yesterday, the highlights being;

Adnams Old Ale 4.1%, a dark winter warmer, in Fernandes Brewery Tap.
The Hop Studio Avenoir 6.0%, a rich oatmeal stout, in the Six Chimneys.
Acorn Black Oak 4.5%, a dark ale, in the Black Rock.
Titanic Plum Porter 4.9% in the Old Printworks.
Neepsend Rollabout Stout 5.0% in Harrys Bar.
Timothy Taylors Ram Tam 4.3%, a dark winter warmer and my favourite TT brew, in Henry Boons.

Happy days!

Looking forward to;
Sambrook's Flat White Stout
Tring American Brown
Hydes California Red Ale
Elgood's Warrior
Salopian Bertza

There are also 5 UK Ciders available during the festival, I may give one or two a try.

Sadlers Peaky Blinder 4.4% in the Tut n Shive. A very palatable Black IPA with roasted and fruit flavours.

First 'Spoons festival ale today ...

Wadworth Game of Stones 3.8% in the Gatehouse, Doncaster. A tad too fruity for my palate

6 further Festival Ales yesterday in Doncaster;

The Red Lion
Caledonian Port of Leith 5.0%, a copper coloured IPA with malt and caramel flavours. IPA's are not generally to my taste, but this one was very nice.
Exmoor Exile Whakatu 4.2%, an amber ale brewed with New Zealand hops. Hints of spice, lime and vanilla. Very enjoyable indeed.
Saltaire Onyx 3.8%, a black IPA, a little light on flavour for my taste.
Oakham Attila 7.5%, the brew with the highest ABV of this Festival. This golden coloured strong ale is malty and has citrus and berry flavours. Very nice!

The Gatehouse
Green Beacon 3 Bolt 4.5%, a pale ale brewed at Wadworth Brewery by Australian brewer Johann van der Walt. Citrus and mango flavours. My first International brew of this festival.
Tring American Brown 4.5%, British malt and American hops combine to create a delicious nut brown ale. One I was looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. My favourite so far.

Sheffield yesterday;

The Rawson Spring, Hillsborough
Grapes & Gratification Old World New England IPA 5.0%, a golden beer brewed at Banks's Brewery by Cretan Kjetil Jikiun (International brew number two).
Hydes Provenance California Red Ale 5.2%, a ruby coloured strong ale with malt, toffee and fruit flavours. Very nice.
Adnams Gunhill 4.0%, another ruby ale which is part dark mild and part brown ale. Toffee and Chocolate flavours. Always enjoyable.
Sambrook's Flat White Stout 4.5%, a dark russet brown coloured stout. Coffee, milk and nuts dominate the flavour. Very enjoyable.

The Old Waterworks
Coach House Elderflower 4.1%, a speciality ale, blond in colour. Too much grapefruit for my taste.
Shepherd Neame Early Bird 4.3%, a golden best bitter with a hint of biscuit but again, too much grapefruit for me.

The Benjamin Huntsman
Black Sheep Monty Python's Flying Circus 4.5%, a spicy red coloured IPA.
Salopian Bertza 5.5%, a delicious stout with chocolate and vanilla flavours. Winner!

Also sampled the Broadoak Moonshine Cider 7.5% in the Bankers Draft.

15 of 30 real ales sampled.

Leeds on Friday;

The Cuthbert Brodrick
Mordue Sterling 4.5%, a cask lager.
Holden Irish Red Rye 4.8%, an Irish Red ale with malt and rye flavours.

The Hedley Verity
Strange Fellows Talisman 4.0%, a Canadian golden ale brewed by Iain Hill at Caledonian Brewery (International brew).
Foglie D'Erba Hot Night in the Village 5.0%, a festival return for this Italian porter brewed at Shepherd Neame Brewery by Gino Perissutti (International brew). Very nice.

Stick or Twist
Bru Red Ale 4.2%, a Republic of Ireland red ale flavoured with Caramel. Also very nice.

Beckett's Bank
Sixpoint Lo-Res 4.5%, brewed at Adnams Brewery by US brewers Keir Hamilton and Eric Bachli, this is a citrus-laden golden ale (International brew).

21 of 30 real ales sampled including all 5 international brews.

York today;

The Postern Gate
St Peters Twisted Edge 4.3%, a golden coloured lemon flavoured pale ale.
Titanic Nine Tenths Below 5.9%, a citrus flavoured strong ale.
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil 4.5%, a porter with just a hint of chocolate.
Elgood's Warrior 5.5%, a chestnut coloured strong ale. Taste-wise, blander than expected.

5 ales left to locate.

The Gatehouse, Doncaster tonight;

Greene King Heritage 5.0%, referred to as a Suffolk Pale Ale. Nice enough in truth.

4 left to find.

The Yarborough Hotel, Grimsby today;

Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA 5.6%, a golden IPA in strong ale territory. Decent.
Purity Warlord 5.0%, another IPA in strong ale territory, this one an amber coloured ale. I preferred this to the previous one.
Conwy Riptide 4.3%, a black IPA, a little on the bland side for my taste.

Just one left to find....