It's the first day of the Wetherspoon Real Ale and Cider festival.
Lasts until the 23rd I believe.

Was in the Wetherspoon opposite the Hallamshire hospital today, the Francis Newton (used to be called Aunt Sally).
Had three thirds ... Milestone Lemon and Ginger Ale (different), Maxim Samson (4.7%) and by mistake a cider from Wales, Black Dragon (7.2%).
The wife had Fat Head's Yakima Sun from the USA (5.0%).
She got the best ... so I had a pint as well.



I noted they also had Ward's Best Bitter and that also comes under the Maxim banner.

PS I have got the tasting notes booklet Wanderer, so don't be plagerising their descriptions and passing them off as your own.

There's a new real ale bar opened in Hull in the city centre called Bar Exchange, apparantly they have a selection of around fifteen ales available.





Will post on here about it when I manage to visit.

Folkestone on Tuesday evening (en-route to France) ...

Visited the Brickfield as it was opposite the Hotel and was pleasantly surprised to find Hook Norton Jackpot and Shepherd Neame Spitfire

Giving it a go in town this evening.

First ales of this Autumn's JDW festival last night;

Wharfebank Treacle Toffee Stout 4.4% (in the Red Lion) ... very disappointing, the sort of drink I expect to like but simply insipid and in honesty the 'alleged' toffee and treacle flavours in the aftertaste came across more as involving cheap cocoa powder.

Wychwood Ginger Beard 4.5% (also in the Red Lion) ... slightly better although not as 'fiery' as advertised.

Gave the Gatehouse a miss as it was pretty busy and it always seems a struggle to get served in there on a Saturday evening unless it's bordering on empty.



Not for the first time, the Old Angel didn't have half the beers 'on show' (and they certainly didn't say 'available soon'). I did however sample Kalamazoo Black Silk from Bells Brewery in Michigan, US a 4.0% porter which was much more palatable than the previous two ales and Batemans XB (which needs no explanation / description).

Best drink of the night was Wentworth Mild Chilli and Chocolate Stout 4.8% in Cask Corner. Bits of everything in the mix, toffee and coffee complimenting the chilli and chocolate. Very nice

A couple of decent ales sampled on Saturday evening in Sheffield were;

Thornbridge Coalition Burton Ale 7.2% in the Sheffield Tap and
Ringwood Old Scrumper 4.0% in The Howard

Hobgoblin 4.5% on tap, very nice.

The Copper Dragon BB was very nice in the Rose and Crown Hoylandswaine on Sunday as was the Acorn Barnsley Bitter in the Cherry Tree at nearby High Hoyland.

Didn't make it out last night but did manage one bottle of Holts Fifth Sense 4.3% which was very nice.

Final day of the JDW festival was Sunday so despite not feeling 100% thought I should make the effort.

Red Lion - Odell Brewing Co (US) 90 Shilling Ale 5.3% and Belhaven St Andrews Ale 4.9% - a couple of stronger bitters. Slight preference for the latter but both were very nice.

Old Angel - Woodfordes Ketts Rebellion 4.3% another enjoyable Bitter from the Norfolk Brewery.

Gatehouse - Moorhouse Pendle Porter 5.0% a very decent Chocolate-influenced Porter to conclude the session.

Sheffield last Tuesday ...

Flowers IPA (Old House)
Oakwell Barnsley Bitter (Devonshire Cat)
Farmers Brown Cow (Henrys)
Thornbridge Evenlode (Sheffield Tap)

Not a poor one amongst them