Its a shame the Sal has appeared to have turned its back on the beer. It was May the last time I was in and agree about the price. The damn TV screens playing out loud put me off, not my idea of a pub.

PS SO yes very good word play on the description of the Sal, if they are making the money out of that venture, fair play.

Exit 33 Mocha Milk Stout 6.5% in the Draughtsman, Doncaster railway station last night - very nice.

The Boltmaker was on form in the Pin last night

A return visit to Mobberley, Cheshire yesterday, just over two years since the last visit;

The Church Inn
Bragdy Heavy Industry Collaborator 5.0%, a hoppy ruby-coloured best bitter.
Tatton Brewery Church Inn Ale-Alujah 4.2%, a bitter and the house ale.

The Bulls Head
Weetwood Brewery A Brunette for Christmas 3.9%, a malty and fruity brown christmas ale.
Storm Brewing Company Red Mist 3.9%, a dark red malty session beer.
Weetwood Brewery Bulls Head Bitter 4.5%, a rich malty amber beer with hints of fruit, the house ale.
Merlins Micro Brewery Castle Black 4.4%, a dark creamy stout.

The two 'house ales' were exactly the sort of tipple I could drink all night in the local but my favourite on the night was the stout.

The Bulls Head is a particular favourite of mine, the house bitter is a credit to them. I really do wish we had a Pub of its ilk around here - excellent ale, food, warm and inviting, just superb.

The Punchbowl at Thorne owned by The Old Mill Brewery at Snaith had their Winter Warmer on 4.7%, first time I had been in for a few years. The beer was in really good nick and the place was warm, decked out for Christmas and the food was good with good staff.

Rocking Rudolph is on at The Harvey Arms in Finningley and was excellent, the place was busy (the food has improved no end over the past few years) but they need to get their real fire blazing more often it makes a big difference on a cold day.

Moonshine I frequent the Punch Bowl on a Sat night then sometimes the Windmill or the Canal Tavern where they sometimes have the Boltmaker .

The Corner Pin last night - festive ales have arrived;

Yorkshire Heart Santa's Little Belcha! 5.0%, a pale ale with spices - I liked it.

Black Sheep Blitzen 4.0%, a ruby ale with a hint of orange. Very nice.

Fullers Holly Bush 4.5%, a fruity amber-coloured Christmas ale. Another winner!

Wetherspoons are currently advertising '25 Christmas Ales', including tipples from Adnams, Batemans, Cotleigh and Rudgate breweries (amongst others).

They did something similar last year but I tended to find that whilst their outlets would all have festive ales available, not all were those listed.

Anyway, I do tend to enjoy the vast majority of Christmas Ales so let's see how many can be located ...

The first three up last night were;

Ringwood XXXX Porter 4.7%, a malty and smoky dark ruby ale, in the Red Lion.

Mauldons Bah Humbug 4.9%, a tawny red strong ale with fruits and spices, a glorious winter warmer, in the Gatehouse.

Rudgate Evil Elf 4.0%, a biscuit and fruit flavoured straw coloured ale, also in the Gatehouse.

Two more last night In the Gatehouse, Doncaster;

Caledonian Bitter Winter 4.8%, a malty amber bitter with caramel and fruit flavours.

Naylor's Santa's Dark Side 4.4%, a ruby-black roasted malt flavoured old ale.

Bankers Draft, Sheffield;

Adnams Old Ale 4.1%, a dark red ale combining fruits, nuts and caramel flavours.

The Rawson Spring, Hillsborough;

Cotleigh Snowy (Single Malt) 5.0%, a golden strong ale with hints of citrus fruits.

On a side note, I've been in 4 'Spoons in Sheffield (inc. Hillsborough).

No joy in the Waterworks or the Benjamin Huntsman with regard to the Christmas Festival ales but all 4 had the wonderful Bradfield Brewery Farmers Belgian Blue 4.9% so that was sampled in the BH.

Back with the Christmas Festival ales and still in the Rawson Spring;

An old favourite in terms of Christmas in 'Spoons, Hook Norton Twelve Days 5.5%, rich, malty and fruity with a nutty flavour on the palate ... wonderful!

8 of 25 so far.

RIP Cask Corner.

Sadly, had moved too far away from it's core business IMHO.