Very sad to hear that three Pubs in this years GBG within a 20-mile radius of Doncaster have been reported as closed subsequently.

The Robin Hood, Pontefract
The Station Hotel, Darfield
The Mill of the Black Monk, Cundy Cross (this side of Barnsley).

The later being an extremely interesting building, originally a Water Mill built by monks in 1154.

Very sad news.

A couple of dates for the diary ...

JD Wetherspoon Real Ale Festival ... Wednesday 7 - Sunday 25 April 2010.

Doncaster CAMRA Beer Festival ... Thursday 8 - Saturday 10 April 2010.

Town last night ...

Had a pint of one of the most disappointing brews ever sampled ... Hilden Gael Rua (Irish Red) 4.3% in the Gatehouse. It smelled and tasted like something you might clean the toilet with. Awful - Didn't finish it!

Fortunately the next pint in the Old Angel was much better, Granny Wouldn't Like It from the Wolf Brewery 4.8%. A very enjoyable rich dark red ale.

It was commented by someone else on here historically that the choice in the Salutation is often unambitious. It certainly was last night. 4 ales available - Marstons Pedigree, Tetley Cask Ale, Black Sheep Best Bitter and Kelham Easy Rider. I settled for a pint of the Black Sheep and then quickly moved on.

Still no real ale in the Hallcross despite rumours of its impending arrival.

A real positive in the shape of the Yorkshire Grey's own labelled Best Bitter 4.0%. Not sure who it's brewed by but definitely the best drink of the night.

Thornbridge Halcyon 7.7% in the Red Lion last night. Hoppy with hints of tangerine - Malty yet bitter aftertaste. Very nice indeed.

Another new one to me was HB Clarks Hoopoe 4.2% (Gatehouse). A pleasant light brown ale.

Glentworth Donny-gal Dew 4.2% in the Horse and Jockey (obviously in readiness for today) - Not my cup of tea. As with many of the Glentworths, a little bland for my taste.

Just returned from three days in Whitby (a little longer than would have been my preference but that's another story).

Only sampled one new ale but it was a pretty decent one ... Black Dog Whitby Abbey Ale 3.8% in the Station Inn. They also had Courage Directors (as did the Board Inn).

The Granby Arms also had a very nice pint of Camerons Strongarm available.

You didn't go into the Jolly Sailors?
Shame on you.....

Avoided the Gael Rua ale on your say-so, last Friday, Gary, but had a very satisfying Saltaire Dublin Stout and Milestone Dark Galleon, to compensate. Incidentally, the Thorne Vermuyden is a bit of alright too.

Good call - awful stuff!

The Hook Norton Old Hooky 4.6% was on form last night in the Gatehouse - lovely! Also sampled Acorn Madness 4.5% (not bad without being anything special) and earlier in the Old Angel a rather nice pint of Spire Coal Porter 4.4%.

Theakston Hogshead Bitter 4.1% (malty brown bitter) and Robinsons Dragons Fire 4.0% (ruby red ale) sampled this week - both very enjoyable.

Tonight in Thorne Old Mill Blond Bomshell 2 pints in the Punchbowl & then a few pints of Black Sheep in the Windmill.


A good night .


COYD

Was at the Gardeners' Rest in Neepsend for a pint of Ramigius, a fine Cathedral ale and a very quaffable pint of Yorkshire Dales' Askrigg Ale at the CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2008/9 on Saturday.

Sheffield is sooo lucky to have such a glorious collection of real-ale establishments. The pie and peas wasn't bad at the KIT either