9 Gallon, Warrington last night ...

4T's Absolutely Plummed 6.0%, a nice plum porter, strong ABV but a subtle fruity flavour.

A few beers in Doncaster yesterday, the highlights being ...

Exit 33 Oat Stout 5.0%, roasted malts and some chocolate, in The Queens.

Wychwood Bah Humbug 4.3%, a Christmas ale / Winter warmer with toffee and fruit flavours, in the Gatehouse (they had one or two other Christmas ales on already too).

Little Critters Sultanas of Swing 6.0%, a stout, not dissimilar to their Nutty Ambassador.

Hawkshead Brodies Prime 4.9%, in the Spinning Mule, Bolton last Saturday (pre Genesis tribute band Mama), was a very nice dark ale, sweet and rich with chocolate and treacle flavours.

The Corner Pin, Doncaster has had a number of festive ales / winter warmers in the past week or so, the pick being ...

Hook Norton Greedy Goose 4.2%, a malty bitter with some fruit, biscuit and toffee flavours.

Partners Christmas Cracker 4.2%, a dark brown winter warmer, malty with some spice and a hint of caramel.

A couple of new and decent ales sampled in the Lower Angel, Warrington on Thursday evening.

Ascot Brewing Company Galloping Reindeer 4.2%, a new brewery to me but a very nice winter ale. Dark brown in colour, malty with some fruit and a hint of toffee.

Wishbone Black Porter 6.0%, this packs a punch! Roasted malts in abundance, coffee, chocolate, some fruit and liquorice. Very nice but probably only in moderation.

The Corner Pin has recently had a couple of Yorkshire Heart Vale of York brews available ...

Pale Ale 6.0%, clearly a strong pale ale, some malt, slightly hoppy but a smooth drink with a slightly earthy taste. Quite pleasant.

Dark Amber Ale 6.0%, a dark strong ale with malt and chocolate overtones. Like the Pale Ale, this is smooth with an earthy taste. Nice.

Also recently available in the Corner Pin, further seasonal festive ales ...

Great Newsome Yule Do 4.3%, light brown in colour and not unlike a best bitter. Some malt, a hint of spice but definitely some apple on the aftertaste. Different.

Salamander Round Robin 4.2%, a copper coloured festive bitter. Quite quaffable.

Yorkshire Heart Santa's Little Belcha! 5.0%, a golden festive ale. Some maltiness, spicy hops, cinnamon and ginger. Not a typical Christmas ale but pleasant enough.

Warrington midweek ...

The Bear and Bottle - Black Tor Advent 4.8%, a very nice winter ale with a few flavours evident. Some malt, berries and toffee, liquorice in moderation and a subtle hint of port.

The Looking Glass - Coach House Christmas Pudding 4.4%, a chestnut coloured festive ale, some toffee, fruit and spice. Very enjoyable.

The Lower Angel - Cross Bay Killing Fields 4.6%, a blood orange and pomegranate cloudy wheat beer which does everything the badge promises and is delicious. A real find!

Another festive ale in the Corner Pin, Doncaster yesterday ...

Salamander Star of Wonder 4.5%, a stout but sadly on the bland side. A little roasted malt and some fruit although difficult to determine exactly what. I do wish this brewery would go for more flavour.

Some cracking ales sampled in Leeds on Monday evening ...

Leeds Brewery Tap - Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8%. One of my absolute favourites.

The Griffin - Hardy & Hanson's Rock On With Rudolph 4.2%. Malt, caramel, fruit and spice. Has to be Rocking Rudolph's twin brother!

Tapped - Kirkstall Dexter Gingerbread 4.5%, one of the Dexter Milk Stout series. Roasted malts with gingerbread late on the palate.

Head of Steam - Tyne Bank Vesuvius 6.0%, an ice cream inspired Stout. Cocoa (chocolate on the 'clip'), strawberry and vanilla flavours. Very nice and very sweet. One or two would suffice.

Head of Steam - Timothy Taylor Boltmaker 4.0%. Along with Ram Tam, one of my two favourite TT brews.

Scarbrough Hotel - Old Dairy Snow Top 6.0%, a dark coloured winter ale, a bit like a subtle fruit cake with some marmalade and malt. Couldn't drink it all night but it's wonderful.

A couple more Salamander brews in the Corner Pin, Doncaster yesterday ...

Baubles To That 3.8%, a pale and slightly hoppy festive ale. At the risk of repeating myself, I do wish this brewery would pack more flavour in to their ales.

Porter in a Pear Tree 4.8%, a little caramel and some fruit.

Stancill Red Velvet 5.0% in the Corner Pin, Doncaster last night. Badged as a Rich, Full-Bodied Festive Stout, the prevalent flavour was chocolate but some vanilla as you progress. Quite nice.

Merry Xmas to you and your Liver Gary.

Merry Christmas to you too Richard.

A few nice ales sampled in Sheffield yesterday ...

Bankers Draft - Bradfield Farmers Belgian Blue 4.9%

and Little Critters Plump Penguin 5.0%, a plum porter with chocolate and coffee also evident.

Sheffield Tap - Framework Sinker Stout 4.0%, an excellent brew with roasted malts, caramel, coffee and dark fruit flavours plus Thornbridge Lord Marples 4.0%

Mini real ale festival in the Corner Pin, Doncaster...

Mill Valley Black Panther 4.6%, a Christmas Stout, roasted malts, caramel, chocolate and berries. Very nice.

Headstocks Frosty the Sloeman 4.8%, effectively a gin flavoured winter ale with some malt and cocoa along with the sloe berries.

Headstocks Sleigh Rider 5.0%, malt, chocolate and toffee combine in this very nice winter ale.

Geeves Naughty Elf 6.8%, a strong ale, Christmas cake-like, dark, rich and fruity.

Two interesting ales sampled in the Lower Angel, Warrington yesterday ...

Muirhouse Simple Simons Stout 4.5%, cocoa, coffee and liquorice flavours. Roasted malts leading to a dry finish.

Empire Rum Porter 4.7%, a little rum on the nose but much more on the palate. Slightly smokey too. Nice in moderation.

Midnight Magic 4.9% from the Bristol Beer Company, recently sampled in the Sheffield Tap was a delicious lactose, fudge, roasted barley and chocolate flavoured stout.

Another couple of excellent brew, this time in the Lower Angel, Warrington were ...
Davenports Original 4.2%, a Best Bitter with biscuit, toffee and marmalade flavours, quite quaffable.
Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger 5.0%, not one I see too often on cask. Malty with caramel and toffee flavours.

Best of a recent evening in Altrincham was Severn Brewing Chocolate Stout 4.3% in the Old Market Tavern, which ticked plenty of boxes.

A few recent box-tickers in the Corner Pin ...

Black Sheep Resolution 4.0%, a dark red winter ale with roasted malts, biscuit and winter berries.

Welbeck Abbey The Rink 5.2%, a wonderful breakfast stout (chocolate cereal)



Welbeck Abbey Wake Up And Smell The Coffee 5.0%, roasted malts and ground coffee. Very nice.

Bent n Bongs Beer Bash last Friday evening in Atherton ...

Blackjack Beers King of Clubs 7.4%, smoky with caramel, coffee and toffee flavours. Potent!

Wiper and True Milkshake 5.0%, chocolate, lactose, marshmallow and vanilla. What's not to like.

Littleover Brewery The Panther 4.2%, an oatmeal, coffee and whisky flavoured stout. Very nice.

Wigan Brewhouse Plum Porter 4.4%, an enjoyable fruit porter.

Black Iris Rise & Shine 5.2%, a very enjoyable coffee stout.

Wily Fox Crafty Fox 4.0%, badged as a Lancashire Ale, this is a very nice slightly malted best bitter.

Tiny Rebel Stay Puft 5.2%, a wonderfully sweet marshmallow porter.

A very enjoyable evening in good company.

Some enjoyable ales in York on Sunday ...

Valhalla - Valhalla Odins Judgement 6.0%, badged as Valhalla but brewed by Yorkshire Heart, this is a surprisingly easy drinking amber winter ale considering it's strength. Malty and fruity.

The Punch Bowl (Nicholsons) - Black Sheep Special Ale 4.4%, nice and malty and preferred to the bitter.

The Maltings - Settle Brewery Nine Standards Porter 4.7%, an excellent caramel and coffee porter from a brewery which is new to me.

York Tap - Five Points Brewing Co Railway Porter 4.8%, roasted malts, coffee and just a hint of liquorice.

Peerless Oatmeal Stout 5.0% in the Looking Glass, Warrington at the weekend was very nice. A slightly roasted dark mahogany stout with oatmeal, coffee and molasses.

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby 6.0%, enjoyed again, this time in the Lower Angel. Flavours include caramel, toffee and dried fruits. Although sweet, this dark ruby ale has a slightly nutty taste.

A few 'winners' in Doncaster on Sunday & Monday ...

Corner Pin - Doncaster Brewery Cheswold Bitter 4.2%, chestnut in colour and malty with caramel and toffee flavours. Easy drinking and very nice.

Red Lion - Jolly Sailor Winter Mild 5.2%, a dark brown winter warmer with a few flavours evident, roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, winter fruits and spices all at play here. Very enjoyable.

Tut n Shive - Bradfield Yorkshire Farmer 4.0%, a dark golden bitter. Some sweetness, probably caramel and toffee. Malty with s bready mouthfeel. Easy drinking.

Best of a visit to Leeds yesterday ...

Naylors Velvet 4.0% in the Griffin. A dark brown coloured mild, malty with some chocolate and hints of both fruit and nut. Quite pleasant.

Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8% in the Brewery Tap



Old Dairy Snow Top 6.0% in the Scarbrough Hotel. This is gorgeous, like a subtle fruitcake with marmalade and malt.

The Lower Angel, Warrington had the excellent Tiny Rebel Stay Puft 5.2% last night. A wonderfully sweet marshmallow porter.