North Yorkshire over the last 3 days ... highlights ...

Rudgate Ruby Mild at the Royal Oak, Dacre Banks
Theakston Old Peculier at the Cover Bridge Inn, East Witton
H&H Olde Trip at the Bay Horse, Masham
Ossett Big Red at the Cross Keys, Knareborough

... slight negative ...

Middleham (we were based there) ... four pubs in the town square all serving Black Sheep Bitter ... admittedly, a couple had a Theakston brew on too (one had Black Bull Bitter and another had Old Peculiar) ... my real complaint, why couldn't one of them serve Black Sheep Ale or Riggwelter?

York on Friday ...

Moor Brewery Merlins Magic 4.3% (Pivni)
Theakstons Black Bull Bitter 3.9% (Golden Fleece)
Kelham Island Firestarter 3.8% (Ye Olde Starre)
Bartrams Cherry Stout 4.8% (Maltings)
Thornbridge Black Harry 3.9% & Thornbridge Lord Marples 4.0% (York Tap)

A very enjoyable afternoon.

Info: The Maltings has had a facelift and been extended.

Worcester Beer and Cider Festival Friday 2.30pm till sometime o'clock, can't give you a report (obvious reasons are Cider Block

) Top Venue, Top day and evening and My God them Country Folk can drink. Gawd knows if there was owt left for the Saturday session.

Bridlington last weekend ... sampled a number of Wold Top brews (Bitter, Wold Liz & 52-12) the best of which, Wold Liz, was on special offer in the Prior John (W'spoons) at £1.09 per pint.



Also had a very nice Porter, Big River Brewery's Sailmaker Porter 5.2% in The Telegraph.

Oldham on Saturday afternoon / evening ... mainly JW Lees but had a very nice Three Bs brew called Knocker Up

Scarborough last night ...

Tap & Spile to kick off the evening ... a couple of pints of Strongarm Ruby Red Ale whilst a band called Snatch played a mixture of Green Day, Thin Lizzy and even Monty Python (all with a punk edge).

Finally got a pint of Wold Top Headland Red (missed out in Brid the previous weekend) in the Lord Rosebery (W'spoons).

Also spent time in the Angel ... York Terrier was the drink of choice.

Ventured to the Old Scalby Mills for the first time last Monday ... Wold Top North Bay 4.2% ... very appropriate.



The Goodmanham Arms (Goodmanham) had a Real Ale festival on ... only one pint as we were just passing through ... Wharfebank Tykes Tipple 3.7%.

Same story at the Barnes Wallis (North Howden) just time for one pint from their 'festival' selection .... Black Dog Rhatas 4.6%.

Dark Star Original 5.0% in Cask Corner last night ... very enjoyable

As is the norm with trips to the Skolars, it was a few beers in Wood Green before kick off.

Spouters Corner (W'spoons) had a dozen or so Dons supporters in and as usual a good choice of real ales including a couple of favourites of mine, Bath Ales Gem and Adnams Broadside both of which went down very well.

A pint of Wells Bombadier (in the Goose) and it was off to the stadium.

Afterwards, back to Spouters for a quick pint of Gem before heading back to Central London for a very decent pint of Fullers London Pride in the Euston Flyer.

Not always a fan of Thwaites beer but their Half Nelson I have been thoroughly enjoying recently, a 4.4% pale ale.

Tried a York Guzzler (3.6%) in the Wellington Inn, Hull last night, excellent pint.

Old Mill Traditional Bitter in good form this lunchtime in the Bay Horse at Heck.