Brains The Rev. James on good form in the Bulls Head, Warrington on Saturday evening ('til it ran out).

Wolf Granny Wouldn't Like It 4.8% (a lovely deep red ale) in the Red Lion and Dukeries Lime Tree Porter 4.4% in the Gatehouse both very enjoyable yesterday evening.

Doncaster Brewery Crispinian 4.0% in the Doncaster Tap last Saturday ... marvellous!

Also had the ever-reliable Stancill Barnsley Bitter in the Gatehouse and the same brewery's India Ruby Ale 4.0% in the Angel.

Imperial Chocolate & Honey Stout in Cask Corner 5.8% ... delicious but you wouldn't want more than a couple.

The Wetherspoons in Doncaster have been favouring Dutch brewery Brouwerij 't IJ (The IJ Brewery) this past week. The Gatehouse had their Indian Red Ale 4.4% whilst The Angel had India Session Ale 4.6%. Both were nice enough.

The Tut has had GK The Rumrunner 5.2% - beer infused with Rum ... very enjoyable.

Sheffield yesterday evening;

Kicked off with the delicious Bradfield Farmers Brown Cow 4.2% in the Swim Inn. Next up, Theakstons Old Peculier 5.6% in the Red Deer.

En route to the Frog & Parrot, called in Sheffield Brew Dog for the first time to sample one of their expensively priced ales, in this case 5AM Red Ale 5.0% at £4.25 a pint The Frog & Parrot offered GK Magna Carta 5.0% and then it was on to the Benjamin Huntsman for a pint of Geeves Renaissance 4.1%.

The evening concluded with Tapped Brew Co Ale 3.5% in the Sheffield Tap.

A very pleasant evening, even allowing for Brew Dog's price list (which included one drink at £4.40 per 1/3 of a pint ).

Brewdog is just ridiculously priced. Went in there the other week for the first time and got a half for £4.40. It wasn't even that strong, around 5.5% from memory. Also, you might want to check out a website/mobile app called untappd. www.untappd.com - basically you can keep a record of your beers and rate them accordingly, and it can recommend you similar drinks based on your tastes.

Brewdog is just ridiculously priced. Went in there the other week for the first time and got a half for £4.40. It wasn't even that strong, around 5.5% from memory. Also, you might want to check out a website/mobile app called untappd. www.untappd.com - basically you can keep a record of your beers and rate them accordingly, and it can recommend you similar drinks based on your tastes.

Milestone Cool Amber 6.0% in the Angel last night ... referred to as 'a pilsner style golden ale' ... surprisingly enjoyable.

Shorpe Friday afternoon;

The town centre appears very limited for Real Ale, but at least there is a Wetherspoons (Blue Bell) ... Roosters Londinium 5.5% nice enough. The other place I would give a respectful mention to is the Honest Lawyer which is worth a visit if in the area.

Plenty of real ale pubs in Leigh town centre for anyone traveling over today, all cheaper than the Whistling Wren next to the ground although I don't think that's to badly priced to be fair.

Trans-Pennine Rail Ale Trail yesterday;

Kicked off at the Cellar Bar, Batley with a pint of Small World Beers Thunderbridge Stout 5.2%, before heading to the Navigation at Mirfield (a pub I have visited before). Theakstons Black Bull Bitter 3.9% was the selection there before it was back on the train again.

Next stop, Huddersfield. Having been in the Head of Steam more often than the Kings Head, the choice was the latter where Golcar Dark Mild 3.6% was the chosen ale. Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, the furthest point of the trail, offered George Wright Mild at 4.0% and then it was time to start working back.

First up on the return part of the trip was The Railway Inn, Greenfield and a pint Millstone Tiger Rut 4.0%. A short train ride to Marsden where the vast majority of the ale trailers, ourselves included, opted for the Railway (as opposed to the Riverhead Brewery Tap which is quoted on most lists).

Marstons EPA 3.6% was the order of the day here. The owners of this establishment had obviously cottoned on well to the Ale Trailers and were doing a roaring trade in Burgers at the front of the pub.

Slaithwaite was the next calling point and the longest walk of the day to the Commercial where Empire Moonrakers Mild 3.8% was given the nod. The problem here was it was all uphill back to the station - I'll come back to that later.

The final watering hole of the trail (for us) was the West Riding Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury and a pint of Siren Craft Liquid Mistress 5.8%.

A very enjoyable day and thanks to my trail companion (Scott) for his understanding when the trapped nerve in my back started to be a problem (yet again), from the point of the climb back up to Slaithwaite station.

Good job you had had some anaesthetic then.

Indeed.

Leeds on Saturday after the CCSF ...

Scarbrough Hotel - Red Sails Cherry Porter 4.0%
The Hop - Ossett Big Red 4.0%
Cross Keys - Black Band Porter 5.5%
Midnight Bell - Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8%

Four excellent ales

The Tut had the wonderful Greene King Rumrunner again last night.

The Looking Glass in Warrington had the excellent Peerless Red Rocks 5.0% on Saturday evening. Also tried Purple Moose Madogs Ale 3.7% in the Lower Angel.