Five Points Brewing Co. Derailed Porter 5.9%, in Brigantes.... very, very nice.

Arundel Brewery Pickled Mouse 4.1%, in the Corner Pin last night, malty, fruity and very nice.

Great Heck Vanilla Wheat Stout 5.4%, in the Draughtsman, Doncaster yesterday, highly recommended.

The Wetherspoons Spring 2018 Real Ale Festival kicks off on Wednesday 14 March, running through until Sunday 25 March.

30 ales will be available including 5 brewed in the UK by International brewers from Australia, Canada, Crete, Italy and the United States of America.

'Home' breweries represented are ...
Adnams, Black Sheep, Coach House, Elgoods, Exmoor, Greene King, Hydes, Mordue, Oakham, Otter, Purity, Salopian, Saltaire, Sambrooks, St Peters, Shepherd Neame, Titanic, Tring, Wadworth & Wychwood (Eng)
Hilden (N Ire)
Bru (Rep Ire)
Caledonian & Harviestoun (Scot)
Conwy (Wal)

Had my first taste of Stancill's Full of Dank range in the shape of Charlie Brown 4.5% in the Corner Pin last night. A delicious malty Brown Ale, very nice indeed.

Crewe on Saturday evening and a visit to the excellent Borough Arms. Nine real ales were available and the following were sampled;

Courage Directors 4.8%
Bradfield Farmers Stout 4.5%
Bradfield Yorkshire Farmer 4.0%

The first two are long-standing favourites. The latter, new to me but a very enjoyable golden coloured bitter.

Also visited Hops and tried Cross Bay's Vesper Bitter 3.8%.

Wakefield yesterday, the highlights being;

Adnams Old Ale 4.1%, a dark winter warmer, in Fernandes Brewery Tap.
The Hop Studio Avenoir 6.0%, a rich oatmeal stout, in the Six Chimneys.
Acorn Black Oak 4.5%, a dark ale, in the Black Rock.
Titanic Plum Porter 4.9% in the Old Printworks.
Neepsend Rollabout Stout 5.0% in Harrys Bar.
Timothy Taylors Ram Tam 4.3%, a dark winter warmer and my favourite TT brew, in Henry Boons.

Happy days!

Looking forward to;
Sambrook's Flat White Stout
Tring American Brown
Hydes California Red Ale
Elgood's Warrior
Salopian Bertza

There are also 5 UK Ciders available during the festival, I may give one or two a try.

Sadlers Peaky Blinder 4.4% in the Tut n Shive. A very palatable Black IPA with roasted and fruit flavours.

First 'Spoons festival ale today ...

Wadworth Game of Stones 3.8% in the Gatehouse, Doncaster. A tad too fruity for my palate

6 further Festival Ales yesterday in Doncaster;

The Red Lion
Caledonian Port of Leith 5.0%, a copper coloured IPA with malt and caramel flavours. IPA's are not generally to my taste, but this one was very nice.
Exmoor Exile Whakatu 4.2%, an amber ale brewed with New Zealand hops. Hints of spice, lime and vanilla. Very enjoyable indeed.
Saltaire Onyx 3.8%, a black IPA, a little light on flavour for my taste.
Oakham Attila 7.5%, the brew with the highest ABV of this Festival. This golden coloured strong ale is malty and has citrus and berry flavours. Very nice!

The Gatehouse
Green Beacon 3 Bolt 4.5%, a pale ale brewed at Wadworth Brewery by Australian brewer Johann van der Walt. Citrus and mango flavours. My first International brew of this festival.
Tring American Brown 4.5%, British malt and American hops combine to create a delicious nut brown ale. One I was looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. My favourite so far.

Sheffield yesterday;

The Rawson Spring, Hillsborough
Grapes & Gratification Old World New England IPA 5.0%, a golden beer brewed at Banks's Brewery by Cretan Kjetil Jikiun (International brew number two).
Hydes Provenance California Red Ale 5.2%, a ruby coloured strong ale with malt, toffee and fruit flavours. Very nice.
Adnams Gunhill 4.0%, another ruby ale which is part dark mild and part brown ale. Toffee and Chocolate flavours. Always enjoyable.
Sambrook's Flat White Stout 4.5%, a dark russet brown coloured stout. Coffee, milk and nuts dominate the flavour. Very enjoyable.

The Old Waterworks
Coach House Elderflower 4.1%, a speciality ale, blond in colour. Too much grapefruit for my taste.
Shepherd Neame Early Bird 4.3%, a golden best bitter with a hint of biscuit but again, too much grapefruit for me.

The Benjamin Huntsman
Black Sheep Monty Python's Flying Circus 4.5%, a spicy red coloured IPA.
Salopian Bertza 5.5%, a delicious stout with chocolate and vanilla flavours. Winner!

Also sampled the Broadoak Moonshine Cider 7.5% in the Bankers Draft.

15 of 30 real ales sampled.

Leeds on Friday;

The Cuthbert Brodrick
Mordue Sterling 4.5%, a cask lager.
Holden Irish Red Rye 4.8%, an Irish Red ale with malt and rye flavours.

The Hedley Verity
Strange Fellows Talisman 4.0%, a Canadian golden ale brewed by Iain Hill at Caledonian Brewery (International brew).
Foglie D'Erba Hot Night in the Village 5.0%, a festival return for this Italian porter brewed at Shepherd Neame Brewery by Gino Perissutti (International brew). Very nice.

Stick or Twist
Bru Red Ale 4.2%, a Republic of Ireland red ale flavoured with Caramel. Also very nice.

Beckett's Bank
Sixpoint Lo-Res 4.5%, brewed at Adnams Brewery by US brewers Keir Hamilton and Eric Bachli, this is a citrus-laden golden ale (International brew).

21 of 30 real ales sampled including all 5 international brews.

York today;

The Postern Gate
St Peters Twisted Edge 4.3%, a golden coloured lemon flavoured pale ale.
Titanic Nine Tenths Below 5.9%, a citrus flavoured strong ale.
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil 4.5%, a porter with just a hint of chocolate.
Elgood's Warrior 5.5%, a chestnut coloured strong ale. Taste-wise, blander than expected.

5 ales left to locate.

The Gatehouse, Doncaster tonight;

Greene King Heritage 5.0%, referred to as a Suffolk Pale Ale. Nice enough in truth.

4 left to find.