Indeed.

Sampled Dunstons Ships (4.1%) the latest offering from the Thorne Brewery in the Gatehouse earlier this week. Very nice indeed for those of us who prefer the slightly darker malty ales. Also sampled whilst there, Thornbridge Seaforth, an IPA which unsurprisingly for that brewery was a decent strength at 5.9%.

Brew Dog Alpha Dog (Tut) & Cotleigh Tawny Owl (Old Angel) as well as Toad Tadpole 3.8% (Cask Corner) also enjoyed.

Another enjoyable evening in Cask Corner yesterday after popping into the Gatehouse in the way up.

Tried Phoenix Black Bee 4.5% (for the first time) in the Gatehouse. A very enjoyable honey porter.

The interestingly named Fugelestou Pride of Fulstow 4.5% was a very pleasant surprise in Cask Corner (dark brown and malty). Tried the Sadlers JPA 3.8% and for a Pale Ale it was more appealing to my taste than I expected.

Of the Toad brews, Tadpole and Mature Toad were once again enjoyed.

York today.

The wonderful Thornbridge Lord Marples in the Pivni WF.
Adnams Extra 4.3% (not seen this one before) in Ye Olde Starre Inn.
York Constantine in the Yorkshire Terrier.
Rudgate Battle Axe 4.2% in Judges Cellar Bar.
Amber Chocolate Stout 4.0% in the Maltings.

What about the other 360 pubs?

Had a corking pint of Lupus Lupus from the Wolf Brewery, Norfolk at the George and Dragon, Wentworth yesterday, a very fruity IPA and the best pint of Acorn Barnsley Bitter I have ever tasted away from the brewery itself. A very nutty ale with a liquorice aftertaste. Superb! Am not usually a fan of Barnsley Bitter but that one knocked my socks off. Must have a helluva cellarman at the George.

Oh yes! Had my first pint of Old Peculier there in 1981 and well remember the selection of beers they had on from the Linfit brewery at Linthwaite and several Tim Taylor's beers that you rarely see around here ( Ram Tam Porter being one ). Heady days. Much more upmarket nowadays, though they still have the flagstones in the lounge area.

www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Beer ... 6476917.jp

www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Beer ... 6476917.jp

Had a couple of days in Worcester last week for the Ale and Cider festival. Brilliant two nights and sampled amongst others the 2010 Champion Beer of Britain, Castle Rocks Harvest Pale 3.8% blonde beer that was really nice and easy to see why it won in London. My favourite though was the same breweries Screech Owl a 5.5% IPA of exceptional quality. I never thought I would say this but it was better than the Gold standard of IPA's that is Jaipur. I have never seen the Cider half of a marquee so busy and Mrs C can vouch for the quality of some of those beautiful crafted drinks. Her favourite was Hecks - Dunkertons Late Sweet

Oh dear. Paid a visit to the Hare and Hounds at Fishlake yesterday, only to be told that all three real ales had to be tapped, so I was reduced to drinking Mansfield Dark Ale Smooth. Tasteless, insipid, bland and that's being kind. The fact that it was freezing cold and set my teeth on edge was a minor distraction.

Was so hacked off I drove to Sykehouse for a pint of Milestone Lionheart at the Old George, which was much more appealing.

Went in town yesterday afternoon, leaving do from work ... not mine I add. Spent 7 hours between the Trades and Manana Manana. No Cask Corner, no Yorkshire Grey, not even a JDW's. I'll have to make up for it tonight.

Cask Corner had the interestingly named Mrs Simpsons Thriller in Vanilla 5.1% (from the Brown Cow Brewery) available last night. One of two very nice Porters on offer, the other being Milestones Black Pearl 4.3%.

Toad Tadpole and Mature Toad again imbibed.

Also gave a couple of the 100 available World Bottled Beers a try ... Brooklyn Brown Ale 5.6% (USA) and Mongozo Banana 3.6% (Belgium). The former could have been Newcastle Brown Ale but the latter was very distinctive and very nice.

Had a second beer from the Fulstow Brewery on Thursday evening, again badged as a Fugelestou Ale, this time it was Fulstow Common 3.8%. It's only since the emergence of Cask Corner that I have been introduced to this brewery from Louth but both beers sampled to date have been very good.

I look forward to the rest of the range as they do a Ruby Ale, a Mild and two Stouts (one at 8.0%) as well as an IPA.

Also on the same evening sampled Nutbrook Brewery's Bitlyke 4.2% (another brewery who's ales are new to me).

Had an enjoyable evening in town yesterday including bumping into Stand-Offish (not literally of course) and his good lady outside Cask Corner. The following were enjoyed during the course of the evening;

Thorne Dunstons Ships (Gatehouse)
Toad Mature Toad & Fulstow Fulstow Common (Cask Corner - first visit)
Batemans XB (Salutation)
Yorkshire Grey BB (Yorkshire Grey)

then back to Cask Corner for Bottles of Floris Apple, Floris Honey and Floris Chocolat (Belgian) from their 100 bottled beers from around the world.