A couple of pleasant ales in the York Tap awaiting transportation back to South Yorkshire ...

Half Moon Brewery Old Forge, a steady bitter at 3.8% with hints of honey and lemon. Brewed in the York area.

Charnwood Vixen 4.0%, a Loughborough brew, badged as a copper ale but effectively a best bitter with fruit flavours (and again a hint of honey).

Draughtsman Doncaster for one before heading home ...

Box Social Brewing's Campfire Porter 7.0%. Cocoa, coffee, marshmallow and vanilla ... what's not to like!

Highlights of an afternoon / evening in Sheffield;

North Riding Brewery Milk Chocolate Stout 5.0%, in the Sheffield Tap ... does what it says on the label ... delicious.

North Riding Brewery Hazelnut Porter 4.5%, in the Kelham Island Tavern ... again self explanatory, again delicious.

Neepsend Lubin 5.2%, in the Red Deer, an excellent oak smoked wheat porter.

Black Sheep Milk Stout 4.4%, in the Dove and Rainbow. I love this but have only ever seen it in bottles before.

Rochdale last night.

Visited the Baum for only the second time, although the beer of the evening was Wily Fox Dark Flagon 4.4% in the Flying Horse, a wonderful rum porter.

Almost forgot a fantastic find in Wakefield on Friday in the Hop ... Beartown Creme Bearlee 4.8%, caramel, vanilla and molasses combining to create a delicious stout. Up there with the very best.

Always enjoy York;

Half Moon Port Out 4.6%, a porter was a good start in the Maltings.

Other highlights were a couple of old favourites, Courage Directors 4.8%, in the Hole In The Wall (pre-match) and Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell 4.8% in the Eagle & Child (post-rugby).

Northern Whisper Beltie, a stout 4.8% in the York Tap was also worthy of a mention.

Had some decent ale in Sheffield last night;

Hillfoot Best Bitter 4.0% (Red Deer), Isaac Poad All Four 4.2% - a red ale (Frog & Parrot), Chantry Huntsman's Stout 4.5% (Benjamin Huntsman) and Great Yorkshire Blackout Porter 5.0% (Sheffield Tap) were the pick.

Took the opportunity to pop in to the Boot and Shoe at Ackworth before the match. Had a pint of the house bitter brewed by Marstons and badged as Boot and Shoe Brew 3.8%.

The pub has had quite a makeover since my last visit.

Took a detour on the way back from the match to call at Hamelsworde Brewery & Tap, Hemsworth. They had, and I sampled, their Spanish Stout 4.2% which had a roasted malt flavour with a hint of liquorice.

Highlights of a successful visit to Wolverhampton for the racing (Monday evening) ...

Woodforde's Red Admiral 4.0%, a pleasant malt and fruit combination, in the Moon Under Water.

Gloucester Brewery Cascade 4.2%, another brew combining malt and fruit. A very nice easy drinking bitter, in the Hogshead.

A visit to Leeds kicks off with Salamander Golden Salamander 4.5% in the Griffin.

Described as a premium pale ale, it's citrusy with a peppery aftertaste.

Next up, across the road in Tapped, the always welcome Chocolate Mint Stout from Thornbridge known as Baize 5.5% ... absolutely glorious!

Still in Tapped ... A Norwegian brew, Amundsen Marshmallow Psycho Cognac BA 12.3%, an Imperial Stout ... it would have been rude not to!

Brass Castle Bad Kitty 5.5%, in the Head of Steam, an old favourite which reminds me of Cask Corner.

Scarborough Arms, one of Leeds finest, and a Glasgow brew, Jaw Brew Fathom 4.0%.

Described as Dark and Deep, it falls onto the dark ale / mild category but is very palatable.

Leeds Brewery Tap, it had to be the wonderful Midnight Bell 4.8% ... one of the absolute best!

Nottingham yesterday for the racing.

A couple of pre-race drinks in the Canalhouse not far from the railway station.

Pheasantry Mikado Mild 5.0% and Ossett Black Forest Rateaux (you can see what they've done there) 4.5%. Both very enjoyable.

Also visited the Barley Twist, post racing, an outlet for Castle Rock Brewery and sampled their Sherwood Reserve, a Stout 4.5%.

Sheffield Tap en-route home;

Brass Castle Mob Rule 5.0%, an interesting raspberry and ginger farmhouse ale and the ever-reliable Tapped Stout 4.0% partaken of.

A flying visit to the Garden Gate, Hunslet pre-match. It's a Leeds Brewery pub and their Best Bitter 4.3% is going down very nicely.

Even better if it was post match

Just opened the first of three bottles for a fiver (Co-op) of Henry Westons Vintage Cider 8.2% in tribute to a cracking win. Good health everyone.

Enjoy!

Celebratory pint of Ringwood Boondoggle 4.2% in the Sun Inn on York Road.

A couple of pints pre-racing at Newcastle (I know you're watching S-O);

First up a Scottish Ruby Ale from the Redcastle Brewery, Red Lady 4.0% in the Victoria Comet opposite Newcastle station.

Followed by Bad Seed Brewery's Rule The Roost, an espresso stout 5.6% in the Newcastle Tap.

Both very enjoyable.

Have you won the lottery?
Or making a living from successful betting?
Warren Beatty never had a better lethario style life.

Lottery, no just enjoying retirement



Successful betting, I do ok