When you're up there again, it's worth a trip to the Crown Posada on Quayside. Excellent selection of microbrewed beers on every time I've been in and it's worth it just to see the old record player at the end of the bar playing vinyl!! Remember that kids? I know S-O will

How could I forget? Went to the George and Dragon as part of my extended celebrations for my big 5-0 on Saturday. For some reason, I had a pint of Woppass or WPA55, to give it its correct title and then kept on having more.

Peterborough yesterday ... visited a number of pubs, some better than others as you'd expect but not one I'd be against visiting again if out that way. A couple that are definitely worth a mention are Charters (a barge on the River Nene) with 12 handpumps and the Brewery Tap which also has 12 handpumps and a custom made brew-plant (Oakham Ales). Sadly, the latter appears under threat if a proposed development gets the green light.

Ale of the day ... a close call between Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge 4.5% (at the Hand & Heart) or Cathedral Ales Red Imp 4.2% (in the aforementioned Brewery Tap) with the former just edging it.

The Drapers Arms (town-centre Wetherspoons) had a number of 'festival ales' available and the Czech brew Herold Black Chalice 4.8% was a sound choice.

A very enjoyable few hours and trains running on time too.

Am spending the next few days at the Kings Head in Llangennith on the Gower Peninsula, which has on several local beers, I understand. Will be sure to report back next week with my findings.

Sounds interesting.

Britannia Inn, Llanmadoc and Worm's Head Hotel, Rhosilli both get good reviews in the GBG (the latter has a house ale, Tomos Watkin Worm's Head Ale brewed down the road in Swansea).

You're not too far away from a brewery I have massive respect for too ... Brains (Cardiff) ... love both Rev James and Merlins Oak.

Managed a couple of hours in three JDW establishments this evening. First 'real' session at the festival ...

Okells Alt 5.0% in the Red Lion.
Maui Coconut Porter (Hawaiian ale) 5.0% and Wadworth Farmers Glory 4.7% in the Old Angel.
Nethergate Red Poll 4.2% in the Gatehouse.

All very nice brews.

Friday evening ...

Rugby at Fylde RUFC - no local brew this time but the Black Sheep was decent.

Afterwards into Lytham to visit two pubs. One which had been recommended by friends and I noted was in the current GBG and another which is also listed in the same publication.

First to the Ship & Royal which had been recommended and offered five real ales. Three were sampled two new ones (Lytham English Ale 3.9% and Northumberland Wucking Mords Fuddled 3.9%) plus one old favourite (Courage Directors). All excellent indeed. There was a real mixed crowd in the pub in terms of age and a band on stage when we arrived. A 'must visit' if in the area.

Then onto the Taps (10 real ales available). Two more drinks again including a new one, Spitting Feathers Farmhouse Ale 3.6%, the other being Batemans XB. Another very popular pub and two more very good pints. Again, well worth seeking out for any real ale fan visiting the area.

The added bonus, less than two minutes walk from one to another.

Saturday ...

Pre-Football. Visited the Crown in at Horwich (a Holts house) and sampled their Fifth Sense 5.0%. Palatable if unspectacular.
Also the Thatch & Thistle at Blackrod. A much nicer venue and a better pint in the shape of Bank Top Flat Cap 4.0%.

Back from my travels.

Firstly, the King's Head at Llangennith. Great food,shame about the beer.
Hancock's HB, Rhymney Bitter and Tomos Watkins' OB were sampled and all were a little on the bland side for my taste.

Went to the Worm's Head Hotel, otherwise known as the Bar Helvetia, due to the "wreck" of the Helvetia on Rhossili Beach ( a quite outstanding view from the rear terrace ) Sadly, the Worm's Head brew was off and I didn't fancy the OB.

Went to the Hope and Anchor in Tenby, which sold a decent pint of Felinfoel Stout then tried to get into a pub at Llandarrog, which strangely does not feature in the West Wales section of the GBG, despite the fact that it is the home of the Coles family brewery. It does however, appear in the Independent Breweries section. Said pub was unfortunately not open. will have to do that one next time.

Undeterred, I went to the Mansel Arms just outside Drefach in Carmarthenshire and had a very good pint of Evan Evans Spring Fever.. Not surprisingly, it's Carmarthen CAMRA's pub of the year.

Found a lovely little drinkers' pub on Park Street in Mumbles ( locals don't even know there's a pub on the street! ) and had a good pint of Felinfoel Double Dragon.

And last but not least, the Joiners' Arms at Bishopston, where we both agreed the best pint of our trip was to be had. The Swansea Brewery's Three Cliffs Gold, nectar in a glass. Closely followed by a pint called the Wood, which was dangerously drinkable at 5.2% .

Day out in Manchester yesterday ...

Kicked off at the Smithfield Hotel on Swan Street and a reasonable pint of Wadworth George & Dragon 4.5% and then across the road to Bar Fringe (very similar in looks and feel to the North Bar in Leeds) for a pint of the excellent Whites Conqueror 5.1%.

Next up following a lengthy walk of all of 50 yards, a visit to the Crown & Kettle on Oldham Road and a pint of the ever-reliable Ossett Big Red 4.0%.

The next port-of-call was by far the biggest disappointment of the day. The Unicorn on Church Street where the bar staff struggled to understand which ales were available and which weren't and then finally served up a luke-worm pint of Bass Premium Ale 4.4% - dreadful pub and an utterly shocking pint - how the place got in the GBG is beyond me.

Following a short tram ride to St. Peters Square, the City Arms was located on Kennedy Street and the wonderful sight of a Brains The Rev James clip met us. Top beer on top form!

Finally, next door to the Waterhouse on Princess Street (yes they are next door even though on different streets) and a final pint in Manchester and a final pint from the JDW real ale festival. The selection was Chicago's Goose Island Honker's Ale 4.2% and a decent pint it was.

With exception of the Unicorn, a very enjoyable day out.

I'm thinking it's about time you wrote a book.
Who knows how long before your liver gives out.

Tonight's imbibing ( after two hours of tennis against someone 18 years younger than me- you can tell I'm getting old, can't you? Wouldn't have if I'd lost to the whippersnapper ) constituted Three B's Oatmeal Stout, one I would definitely drink again, followed by Brain's On His Tail or Honest Ale, which tasted good even after starting with the stout! However, my pint-of-the-night had to be the Wooden Hand Brewery of Truro's Cornish Buccaneer, a classic premium bitter.