That's why I knew that you would know.

Last Wednesday in Warrington, highlights were ...

Coastal Brewery Cornish Porter 5.0% in the Lower Angel and Rudgate York Chocolate Stout 5.0% in the Looking Glass.

Yesterday after the Semi-final double-header ...

A couple in Hogarths Bolton, both from the pubs micro brewery. The Bruiser 4.0%, a best bitter which I've had before and The Stage Coach 4.2%, a pale ale which was new to me.

The ever-reliable Camerons Strongarm 4.0%, a ruby ale was next up in Ye Olde Man and Scythe, quickly followed by a pint of Bad To The Bone 4.0%, a locally brewed best bitter from the Bank Top Brewery sampled in Barristers.

As a trip was planned to the award-winning Royal Balti House at Farnworth, we de-camped via taxi to the Freemasons Arms (Farnworth) for a quick pre-curry beer. Reedley Hallows New Zealand pale ale 4.5% was the single option but was nice enough. The curry didn't disappoint

Cairngorm Wildcat 5.1%, was a welcome treat in the Gatehouse, Doncaster yesterday.

Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8% in the Little Plough v Stancill Barnsley Bitter 3.8% in the Corner Pin. Wouldn't say no to either, but 'advantage' Stancill

.

The Rev. James is still on good form in the Pin too.

I am still in the Palladium and supping a pint that Gary would dislike ... what type of beer is it?
Its name is Pacifica.

Saltaire brewery IPA at 5.5%

The Stancill version of BB is a thing of beauty, if you get chance to read the blurb that goes with the ale they have done their research and a half. Mind you £2.50 a pint in the Little Plough for the Acorn version is quality.

Correct.

Exmoor brews featured yesterday with their strong ale Stag 5.2%, partaken of in the Red Lion, Doncaster and their Best Bitter Fox, 4.2% sampled in the Corner Pin.

If I remember correctly, I've only previously had three ales from this Somerset brewery, the other being Beast (a strong dark ale).

Jennings Sneck Lifter 5.1%, also on good form in the Pin.

Tornado Jet RAF 100 an English bitter at 4.5% brewed by Milestone sampled in The Coliseum Picture Theatre at Cleggy. Very nice indeed. Mrs M had a couple of Cuban storms (Rum)

A couple of excellent beers in the Lower Angel, Warrington yesterday. An old favourite in Brains SA 4.2% and a new one to me, Derwent Brewery Marshall Port Stout 5.2%.

Later, I was presented with a bottle of Batemans Mocha 6.0% to accompany my evening meal, both absolutely delicious

It just came did it?
"Gary Fox ... we have heard so much about you! Single-handedly keeping the brewing trade vibrant. As a thank you may we present you with a bottle of Batemans Mocha."
lol

Nothing so grand

the lovely lady bought it for me

Bridgehouse Porter 4.5% in the Red Lion, Doncaster this afternoon was very nice, a dark ruby ale with toffee and malt flavours.

Welbeck Abbey Portland Black 4.5% in the Tut n Shive wasn't so nice, which was highlighted all the more when the Corner Pin had the same drink available and the quality was so obvious by comparison.

Tried a couple of different ales post-match yesterday in the Corner Pin ...

St Austell Tribute, a Cornish pale ale 4.2%, which I have sampled before and Welbeck Abbey Seth's Hillbilly Red Rye 4.5% which I hadn't.

Had my first taste of Stancill's Avalon 3.9% in the Corner Pin yesterday. It's a Blonde Ale and not really to my taste but as a one-off was fine.

Yesterday, a trip out to the Hope Valley area with a friend I've known for most of my life ...

Edale - The Old Nags Head - Nags 1577 5.1%, house ale (seemingly brewed by Keltek in Cornwall), dark ruby coloured with bread, chocolate and toffee flavours.

Edale - The Rambler Inn - Mansfield England's Pride 4.5% (brewed by Marstons), excellent ruby ale, malty with toffee and nut flavours.

Hope - The Old Hall - Theakston Best Bitter 3.8% and Theakston Old Peculiar 5.6%.

Bamford - Anglers Rest - Bradfield Farmers Brown Cow 4.2%, always enjoyable chestnut coloured ale with caramel, chocolate and nut flavours.

Hathersage - Little John Inn - Bradfield Farmers Brown Cow (again).

Stopped off at the Sheffield Tap en-route home ...

Alechemy Blood Orange Shake 3.9%, described as a Blood Orange infused Milkshake IPA.

Thornbridge Salted Caramel Lucaria 4.5%, closely related to the recently sampled Strawberry Lucaria and every bit as nice. Both are badged as Ice Cream Porters and are delicious.

Both the Stancill Barnsley Bitter and the Brains The Rev. James are on good form in the Corner Pin this week

It appears that there will be a real ale on sale at the Keepmoat Belle Vue bar for the Rovers season. No details as yet but this is the link to the Rovers Vikings chat forum where it has been discussed. https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=267034.0

It appears that there will be a real ale on sale at the Keepmoat Belle Vue bar for the Rovers season. No details as yet but this is the link to the Rovers Vikings chat forum where it has been discussed. https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=267034.0

'Lift my leg'
'Empty my wallet'
'Acid belly'

Highlights from York yesterday;

Wilde Child Brewing Co. Days of Wilde 4.9%, a delicious Banoffee Stout, in Brigantes.

Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4%, in the Ackhorne Inn.

NRB Mocha Porter 4.5% and Timothy Taylor 1858 5.3%, the latter a Brown ale, both in the York Tap.

Wrexham yesterday as a base for a trip to Bangor on Dee races, the highlights being ...

Box Steam Brewery Tunnel Vision 4.2% (an amber bitter) and Weetwood Mad Hatter 3.9% (described as a red-brown ale) both in the Elihu Yale.

GK Abbot Reserve 6.5%, a winter warmer with fruit and toffee flavours, in the North and South Wales Bank.

Had a couple of particularly enjoyable ales in Doncaster yesterday;

Pheasantry's Black Pheasant (dark ale) 4.2% in the Red Lion and

Magpie Brewery Raven Stout 4.4% in the Corner Pin.

Pre CC Final drinks ...

Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3%, in the Sawyers Arms, Paddington.

Greene King London Glory 4.1%, in Dickens, Paddington.

Wimbledon (Brewery) Common 3.7%, an orange-flavoured pale ale, in the Warrington, Maida Vale.

Exeter Brewery Ferryman 4.2%, a deliciously malty best bitter, in the Warwick Castle, Little Venice.