Some enjoyable ales in York on Sunday ...

Valhalla - Valhalla Odins Judgement 6.0%, badged as Valhalla but brewed by Yorkshire Heart, this is a surprisingly easy drinking amber winter ale considering it's strength. Malty and fruity.

The Punch Bowl (Nicholsons) - Black Sheep Special Ale 4.4%, nice and malty and preferred to the bitter.

The Maltings - Settle Brewery Nine Standards Porter 4.7%, an excellent caramel and coffee porter from a brewery which is new to me.

York Tap - Five Points Brewing Co Railway Porter 4.8%, roasted malts, coffee and just a hint of liquorice.

Peerless Oatmeal Stout 5.0% in the Looking Glass, Warrington at the weekend was very nice. A slightly roasted dark mahogany stout with oatmeal, coffee and molasses.

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby 6.0%, enjoyed again, this time in the Lower Angel. Flavours include caramel, toffee and dried fruits. Although sweet, this dark ruby ale has a slightly nutty taste.

A few 'winners' in Doncaster on Sunday & Monday ...

Corner Pin - Doncaster Brewery Cheswold Bitter 4.2%, chestnut in colour and malty with caramel and toffee flavours. Easy drinking and very nice.

Red Lion - Jolly Sailor Winter Mild 5.2%, a dark brown winter warmer with a few flavours evident, roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, winter fruits and spices all at play here. Very enjoyable.

Tut n Shive - Bradfield Yorkshire Farmer 4.0%, a dark golden bitter. Some sweetness, probably caramel and toffee. Malty with s bready mouthfeel. Easy drinking.

Best of a visit to Leeds yesterday ...

Naylors Velvet 4.0% in the Griffin. A dark brown coloured mild, malty with some chocolate and hints of both fruit and nut. Quite pleasant.

Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8% in the Brewery Tap

Old Dairy Snow Top 6.0% in the Scarbrough Hotel. This is gorgeous, like a subtle fruitcake with marmalade and malt.

The Lower Angel, Warrington had the excellent Tiny Rebel Stay Puft 5.2% last night. A wonderfully sweet marshmallow porter.

Best of today's beers in Toon ...

Orkney Red MacGregor 4.0%, an old favourite, not sampled for a while. An excellent Scottish bitter. Malty, smoky, peaty and some caramel. Ticks a lot of boxes.

Yeovil Ales Star Gazer 4.0%, clear brown in colour, a slightly malty typical old fashioned bitter. One you could happily drink all evening.

Timothy Taylor's Ram Ram 4.3% was a welcome find at the Leeds Brudenell concert venue last night.

A couple of interesting brews on Wednesday evening in Warrington ...

Kelham Island Night Rider 4.5%, in the Looking Glass. Not a brewery who's beers I always get on with but this caught my attention. A dark brown Stout, on the dry side but nice roasted malts, coffee, toffee and a pleasant nuttiness.

Castle Rock Arthur Skill 4.2%, in the Lower Angel. A very enjoyable coffee flavoured Milk Stout, not a full bodied one but not thin or bland either.

Sad to report that after 11 years at the Corner Pin, the management team (Dave and Ruth) will be leaving the pub in May.

The final trading day will be Sunday 19 May 2019. Quite what is in store for the Pin thereafter remains to be seen.

This appears to be another case where the management reach a point where working for Enterprise becomes untenable.

Whilst not ruling out remaining in the trade in Doncaster (I think there is a decent chance), Dave and Ruth have so far been unable to confirm their next move.

That is a real shame, its a pity they don't have their own premises.

Gloucester Monday evening ... highlights ...

Turks Head - Bespoke Brewing Co. Beware The Bear 4.2%, a deliciously malty best bitter.

TANK - Gloucester Brewery Cascade 4.2%, an amber bitter, malty with toffee and biscuit. Very enjoyable.
Gloucester Brewery Six Malt Porter 4.5%, rich and roasted malts, some chocolate, coffee and dark berries. Excellent!

The Pelican - Wye Valley Brewery Wholesome Stout 4.6%, an easy drinking smooth stout. Roasted malts, coffee and plum. Delicious.

Bristol Tuesday evening ... highlights ...

Cornubia - Neepsend Bollenhut 5.3%, a sweet and delicious (probably in moderation) Black Forest Gateaux Stout.

Seven Stars - Granite Rock Glasney College Porter 5.4%, roast malt, cocoa, toffee and dark fruits. Very nice.

King Street Brewhouse - King Steet Brewhouse Brexit Means Breakfast 4.3%, an excellent oatmeal stout with chocolate and coffee flavours.

The Beer Emporium - Stealth Brew Co Mint Spy 4.4%, a pint of After Eight Mints in a glass. What's not to like? Wonderful!

Bristol Bedminster Wednesday evening ... highlights ...

Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room - Bristol Beer Factory Fortitude 4.0%, an amber ale which has a nice malty start with some toffee. A dry bitter finish. Quite quaffable.

The Leveret - Twisted Oak Old Barn 4.5%, a ruby ale from a Somerset brewery I hadn't heard of before. Malty, nutty, some caramel and dark fruits. Very nice.

Footnote: The pint of Bath Gem 4.1% sampled in the Robert Fitzharding last night was poor compared to the excellent pint sampled in the Sidings, Bristol whilst waiting to go out to Gloucester on Monday evening.

Bristol Hotwells yesterday evening ... highlights ...

The Grain Barge - Bristol Beer Factory Independence 4.6%, a copper coloured pale ale. The aroma is tropical fruit and pine and the initial taste is much the same but with some malt. A slightly bitter finish.
New Bristol Brewery OohLaLa 4.6%, described as a red ale, it actually pours hazy orange / amber. A peachy aroma and the flavours although light are orange, lemon and peach.

The Merchants Arms - Cheddar Ales Gorge Best 4.0%, a copper coloured best bitter. A little malt, caramel and toffee with some nuttiness. Quite quaffable.
3D Beer Sheridan's Irish Coffee Milk Stout 5.0%, an Irish Stout packed full of Irish whisky, coffee and vanilla. Sweet and stunning!

Bristol yesterday evening ... highlights ...

The Christmas Steps - Twisted Oak Slippery Slope 5.3%, a porter where lightly roasted malts, cocoa and some subtle dark fruits combine. Nice.

The Gryphon - Reunion Ales Frost Fair 4.5%, a dark winter ale with roasted grain flavours along winter berries, cinnamon and some subtle chocolate. Decent.

The Commercial Rooms - Summerskills Plymouth Porter 5.0%, a deep brown porter. Chocolate, hazelnut and berries. Nice.

Small Bar - New Bristol Brewery Coffee Maple Bacon 7.0%, a stout. Quite a bizarre combination but it works. Potent.