Three further Festival Ales sampled in the Gatehouse last night ...

Maxim Northern Knight 4.2% - A blond-coloured golden ale, a little too flowery and fruity for my taste.

RCH Return From The Ashes 5.0% - Yet another ale golden in colour but brewed as a premium bitter.

Afro-Caribbean Hop Session 4.3% - Brewed at Everards brewery by International brewers Shawn Duthie and Greg Casey (South Africa). My preference of the three, but still a golden pale ale - Really looking forward to some mid to dark ales.

The Red Lion offered two to try last night ...

Cotleigh Hip Hop Hooray 3.9% - A copper coloured bitter, pleasant if unspectacular.

Morland Old Crafty Hen 6.5% - Malty with fruit flavours and deep amber in colour. A very nice strong ale.

Then onwards to the Gatehouse who seriously look like they are trying to get through all 30 Festival Ales. Three more available and sampled ...

Banks's Gold Ingot 4.3% - Golden coloured and brewed as an IPA. Very citrus-laden and not to my taste.

Shepherd Neame (No. 18 Yard) Kentish Saison 4.5% - Another golden ale but paler than the Banks's and slightly more to my taste with a malty flavour with a hint of pepper.

Birrificio Foglie D'Erba Hot Night at the Village 5.0% - Brewed at Shepherd Neame brewery by International brewer Gino Perissutti (Italy) in the style of an English porter. Coffee and chocolate very evident and my favourite of the festival so far.

Sheffield today to see what is on offer there.

Should be next weekend. Steel City real ale festival based at Kelham Island Museum cheap to get in (unlike some festivals) about £8 return on the train, whats not to like.

A South Yorkshire Travelmaster ticket at £7.70 allows train and tram travel - as you say, what's not to like

Yesterday ... Rawson Spring, Hillsborough;

Bentspoke Braddon Bitter 4.5% - Brewed at Wadworth brewery by International brewer Richard Watkins (Australia), a pleasant enough drink in the style of an English bitter.

Yesterday ... Bankers Draft, Sheffield;

Caledonian Deuchars Imperial 5.5% - Classified as a strong ale, this IPA brewed to celebrate 25 years of Deuchars IPA has a bitter (earthy) / sweet (honey) combination.

Titanic S E A 5.0% - A very nice red / brown premium bitter, very quaffable.

Yesterday ... Sheffield Waterworks Company;

Wadworth Epic Brew 4.5% - A golden coloured best bitter.

Arundel (Sussex Craft) Coffee Milk Stout 5.0% - A gorgeous ale with chocolate and coffee flavours, the latter courtesy of Edgcumbes coffee beans. One of my favourites so far.

Yesterday ... The Benjamin Huntsman;

Woodforde's Norfolk Bowman 5.0% - A copper coloured premium bitter with a taste of toffee, very pleasant.

As a postscript to yesterday's visit to Sheffield, the Swim Inn on West Street is no longer a Wetherspoons, having been purchased by the Hawthorn Leisure group. The group elected to purchase 11 Wetherspoons last May including another fairly local establishment, the Corn Law Rymer in Rotherham.

Nearly forgot, the Sheffield Tap had the excellent Thornbridge Lord Marples available yesterday.

Yesterday ... The Red Lion;

Roosters Hope & Glory 4.3% - An amber coloured ale brewed as a best bitter and fruity in flavour.

Everards Pitch Black 4.3% - A stout which sadly failed in comparison with the Arundel brew sampled previously.

Nothing new in the Gatehouse ... hopefully a few changes for this evening.

Only one new one found across the two Doncaster 'Spoons last night ...

Theakston Vanilla Stout 4.5% - In truth, I have had this delicious ale before but was still looking forward to it again and it didn't disappoint.

19 of 30 now sampled.

Yesterday ... The Joseph Else, Nottingham;

JW Lees British Autumn Ale 4.1% - A very pleasant chestnut coloured ale.

Castle Rock Phoenix Red 5.5% - Malty with spices and fruit in the after-taste, this mahogany coloured ale is very palatable.

Yesterday ... The Roebuck Inn, Nottingham;

Evan Evans Autumn Frenzy 4.6% - An amber ale, malty with fruit flavours. Enjoyable.

Purity Pure ERA 4.5% - English Red Ale, deep red in colour, rich and malty in taste. Excellent.

Adnams Sloe Porter 5.0% - A delicious porter with chocolate and mixed fruits and a hint of berry.

Three very enjoyable ales here.

24 of 30 now sampled.