Thanks for taking my mind off the rugby !

Enjoyed over the weekend;

Mobberley Brewhouse 1924 4.0%, an amber bitter, in the Looking Glass, Warrington.
Thornbridge McConnells 5.0%, a vanilla stout and old favourite, in the Red Lion, Doncaster.
Thornbridge Lucaria 6.0%, an ice cream porter, in Cask Corner, Doncaster.

A couple of very pleasant 'finds' last night;

Goffs Brewery Winter Ale 4.5%, a blackberry porter, in the Corner Pin.
Ossett Snake Mocha 5.0%, a coffee and chocolate stout, in the Tut n Shive.

Paid a visit to the Unity Brew House at Suckley on Saturday during a short break in Worcester. One of the joint co-founders and owner Sarah gave us a tour of the brewery and we sampled two of their brews.

The Silkie Amber is an excellent amber-coloured malty bitter at 4.2% but even that was surpassed by one of the best porters I have had the pleasure of.

Phoenix Porter 5.2% is a stunning dark ale with chocolate and molasses amongst it's flavours.

The brewery is a relatively new venture having been set up in late 2016 but I wish Sarah and partner Hani every success. If you are ever in the area, check them out, you'll be made very welcome.

The Flying Scotsman in Doncaster has just gone down dramatically in my estimation. Having mentioned their usual CAMRA discount, I was advised that 'I've never heard of it, is it just a Doncaster thing, I usually work in Rotherham'. To my right were a number of leaflets which offered the opportunity to join CAMRA. Shambolic!!!!

Nice to find Bradfield Farmers Brown Cow 4.2% in the Tut n Shive this week.

Also very enjoyable were;

Acorn St Leger Porter 4.4%, in the Red Lion.
Caledonian Over The Bar (Bitter) 4.2%, in the Black Bull.
Beer Ink Noire (Stout) 5.0%, in Cask Corner.

Enjoyed a couple of Irish-themed ales in the Rawson Spring, Hillsborough yesterday;

Two Brewers Irish Red 4.5% and Bradfield Farmers Irish Dexter 4.8%.

Also enjoyed;

Little Critters Hazelnut Milk Stout 6.0% in the Sheffield Waterworks.
Saltaire Hazelnut Coffee Porter 4.6% in the Head of Steam, Sheffield.
Thornbridge Baize (Chocolate Mint Stout) 5.5% in the Sheffield Tap.

Most enjoyed over the weekend;

Stonehenge Pigswill (yes it really is called that) 4.0%, a bitter, in the Robert Shaw Westhoughton.
Lytham St Patrick's Stout 4.6%, in the Spinning Mule Bolton.
Timothy Taylor Boltmaker 4.0%, a bitter, in Ye Olde Man & Scythe Bolton.
Reedley Hallows Nook of Pendle 5.0%, a strong ale, in Hogarths Bolton.
The Brew Foundation Janet's Treat 4.8%, a cherry porter, in the Queens Doncaster.
Salamander Periwinkle Porter 4.8%, in Cask Corner Doncaster.
Great Newsome Jem's Stout 4.3%, in the Tut n Shive Doncaster.

The Wetherspoons 2017 Spring Real Ale Festival kicks off on Wednesday (22 March).

30 ales including 5 brewed at UK breweries by International brewers from Brazil, the Netherlands and Italy, along with 2 from the United States.

I am especially looking forward to sampling the following;
Mauldons Blackberry Porter 4.8%
Robinsons Trooper Red n Black 5.8%
Greene King The Abbot's Confession 8.5%.
The latter sounds like the next one up from Abbot Reserve.

Sampled 6 of the 'Spoons festival ales last night in Warrington;

Oakham Ales Enough Rope 4.3%, a golden seasonal best bitter with citrus fruit flavours.
Mauldons Blackberry Porter 4.8%, a speciality ale / porter with chocolate and fruit tastes.
Bagby Beer Co. Back Garden 4.0%, a golden ale, brewed at Everards Brewery by Californian brewer Jeff Bagby.
(these three in the Looking Glass)

Black Sheep Pathmaker 4.0%, a pale golden beer mixing malt and fruit flavours.
Everards Midland Red 4.5%, a red coloured best bitter which mixes blackcurrant and citrus fruits with black pepper and biscuit.
Birrificio Mild The Gap 4.5%, a mahogany coloured mild with hazelnut and coffee flavours, brewed at Hook Norton Brewery by Italian brewer Matteo Pomposini.
(these three in the Friar Penketh)

... and a further 5 festival ales last night in Doncaster;

Robinsons Trooper Red n Black 5.8%, a ruby porter featuring caramel, liquorice and honey flavours.
Whitstable Bay Red IPA 4.5%, a best bitter, rich and malty.
Abbot Confession 8.5%, a mahogany coloured strong ale, strong and sweet - a proper winter warmer.
(these three in the Red Lion)

Bodebrown Brazilian Burton Pale Ale 5.0%, a dark copper coloured premium bitter with malt, toffee and fruit flavours, brewed at Banks's Brewery by Paulo & Samuel Cavalcanti from Brazil.
Saltaire New World Red 5.2%, a deep red strong ale.
(these two in the Gatehouse)

... and a further 6 festival ales in Doncaster yesterday;

Titanic Cappuccino 4.5%, a black speciality beer and old favourite - delicious!
Hook Norton Amarillo Gold 4.7%, a pale golden beer with grapefruit and orange flavours.
Daleside Thai.p.a 4.0%, a straw coloured speciality ale infused with lemongrass.
Elgoods Thin Ice 4.7%, a ruby coloured malty premium bitter.
Brouwerij 'Tij Flink 4.7%, a golden coloured premium bitter with fruit flavours, brewed at Caledonian Brewery by Paul Van Nugteren & Allard Zwart from the Netherlands.
(these five in the Red Lion)

Moorhouse's Spring Watch 3.9%, a fruity golden coloured bitter.
(this one in the Gatehouse)

... and 3 more in Sheffield yesterday evening;

Hogs Back Hogswallop 4.2%, a ruby coloured rye flavoured best bitter.
(in the Bankers Draft)

Conwy San Francisco 5.5%, a golden coloured strong ale brewed in the style of an American IPA.
Salopian Lemon Dream 4.5%, a golden speciality ale, zesty and citrus flavoured.
(these two in the Waterworks)

20 of 30 now sampled.

4 more today;

Adnams Regatta 4.3%, a blond beer, lemon and biscuit flavours.
(in the Gatehouse, Doncaster)

Hilden Pale Oat Ale 4.8%, a golden coloured premium bitter brewed in the style of an American pale ale.
(in the Bluecoat, Rotherham)

Caledonian Charmed Circle 4.4%, a golden coloured best bitter with citrus flavours.
(in the Rhinoceros, Rotherham)

St Louis Continental IPA 6.5%, an amber strong ale with a mixture of fruits, brewed at Shepherd Neame brewery by US brewer Dan Kopman.
(in the Old Market Hall, Mexborough)


6 still to find ....

4 more yesterday;

Exmoor Urban Fox 4.2%, a golden brown best bitter with citrus and tropical fruit flavours.
(in the Bankers Draft, Sheffield)

Wychwood King Goblin 6.0%, a dark brown strong ale, rich and potent.
Acorn Darkness 4.2%, a deep red malty flavoured ale - familiar but very nice.
(these two in the Benjamin Huntsman, Sheffield)

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted 3.8%, a golden ale with citrus flavours.
(in the Bluecoat, Rotherham)

2 left to find ....