Thought you may have sampled some Rotherham ales today, Gary. Pity about the result.

We had originally planned to go until finding out some weeks ago that there would be no trains. Probably had a lucky escape ... something Wanderers have no chance of sadly. Years of financial mismanagement coming home to roost coupled with a manager who couldn't get a team to defend if his life depended on it.

Sampled two ales new to me last night in Doncaster;

in the Angel, Acorn brewery The 13th Noel 6.0% described as Christmas pudding in a glass and
in the Gatehouse, Stone Brewing Co (Germany) Amber Ale brewed for JDW's at Adnams brewery.

The Gatehouse offered a couple of new ones on Tuesday ...

Driftwood Pale Ale 5.0%, a Canadian ale brewed for JDW's at Banks brewery and
Dukeries Farmers Branch 5.0%, another Pale Ale

Both nice enough for a change.

Derby yesterday ...

StationInn - Bass Premium Ale
Babington Arms - Grafton Christmas Present 4.5% & Caerphilly The Lost Antlers 4.4%
Royal Telegraph - Marstons Christmas Pudding 3.9%
The Brunswick - Brunswick Brewing Co Father Mikes 5.8%

Best of the bunch was the Father Mikes, a dark rich ruby ale.

Called in the Sheffield Tap en-route back and had a pint of Thornbridge McConnels 5.0%, a delicious vanilla and coffee stout.

Rapscallion 4.2% from Problem Child Brewing (of Parbold) was a welcome find in the Albion, Warrington last night. A deep amber best bitter with delicious malt and fruit flavours. Excellent!

A couple of interesting Caledonian brews on offer in the White Hart, Warrington last Saturday;

Double Dark, a dark roasted Oatmeal Stout 4.6% and
Winter Brau, a seasonal spiced Dark Ale 4.3%

Hardy & Hanson's Rocked Out 4.2% was very enjoyable in the Tut n Shive last night.

Acorn Kashmir 4.5% was on form in the Gatehouse.

Chantry Black Diamond Stout 4.5% in the Flying Scotsman was the pick of the ales sampled in Doncaster on Saturday evening, although the Wentworth Vanilla Stout 4.5% in Cask Corner was also nice enough.

Orkney Dragonhead 4.0% (Stout) and Moorhouses Winter Looms 4.2% (Ruby Ale) were two excellent finds in the Robert Shaw, Westhoughton yesterday lunchtime pre-Football. The latter had gorgeous Chocolate overtones.

Chorley, in the evening, was a tad disappointing in terms of my tastes with a number of pubs only having golden and pale ales. The Sir Henry Tate came to the rescue though with Belhaven Robert Burns 4.2%, a Brown Ale deliciously malty with Caramel and Toffee flavours.

I can't say that I've always got on with Springhead's beers but Robin Hood, a chestnut bitter at 4.0%, was pleasant enough in the Red Lion on Sunday lunchtime.

A couple of recently enjoyed ales ...

Fuggle Bunny Ruby Red Ale 4.5% (Tut n Shive, Doncaster) - Thursday evening.
Sonnet 43 Bourbon Milk Stout 4.3% (Tut n Shive, Doncaster) - last night.

Double Top Madhouse 5.2%, a very nice Porter found in the Flying Scotsman last night.

Talking of Porters, was also reacquainted with the delicious Brass Castle Bad Kitty 5.5% in Cask Corner.

Sampled two very nice ales in the Robert Shaw, Westhoughton on Saturday lunchtime ...

Peerless Oatmeal Stout 5.0% and
Naylors Velvet 4.0% (a mild)

Sunday lunch pre-Dons v Leeds ...

Derventio Mabon 4.3%, an excellent bitter in the Red Lion
but even that was surpassed by
Acorn Requiem 4.5%, a gorgeously rich premium bitter in the Gatehouse.