Caledonian Flying Dutchman in the Boat Inn earlier this week ... £3.25 per pint

You'll not be back there in a hurry.

I like the venue but I've had the same drink in a 'Spoons for half the price.

An evening in Preston yesterday (four real ale pubs all on one street) ...



Banks & Taylor Black Dragon Mild 4.3% and Naylors Draymans Delight 4.8% in the Grey Friar (Wetherspoons)

Brass Monkey Mandrill 4.2% in the Black Bull

Robinsons Old Stockport 3.5% in the Black Horse

Little Valley Stoodley Stout 4.8% in the Dog & Partridge

then back to the Spoons for a couple of pints of Moorhouse Pride of Pendle 4.1%



very enjoyable ... a real ale oasis.

Beer Festival at the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown at Rawcliffe this Friday and Saturday (3rd 4th June)If you have not been you are missing a real treat. This place is first class, welcoming, unspoilt, original, unique. and consistently excellent beers. If you can make it, it is well worth the journey. Enjoy.

Set off to go to York last Saturday but ended up in Leeds as a result of issues on the East Coast Main Line.



Leeds Midnight Bell in top form in Whitelocks ... also sampled Lest Best in the Scarbrough Arms, Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger in Becketts Bank and Acorn Barnsley Bitter in Leeds Brewery Tap.

Last Monday (Bank Holiday) was a good day for Real Ale In Doncaster;



The Red Lion had available two very nice Ales in the shape of Jem's Stout 4.3% from the Great Newsome Brewery at Frodingham, East Yorks plus Banks's Ruby Mild 3.9%.



Cask Corner had another enjoyable Stout sampled for the first time, Tring Tea Kettle Stout 4.7%.



Two old favourites were then the conclusion to a pleasant afternoon, Brains The Rev James (Old Angel) and Abbot Reserve (Gatehouse).

The Boat Inn, Sprotbrough had Adnams Broadside available on Sunday evening. Boy that pub is pricey, couldn't be a regular! However, I guess if you can afford to live nearby, you can afford to drink there

popped into bankers draft sheffield. holdens best bitter one of the west midlands finest.

Hey Wanderer, my folks have just got back from a week in Cumbria, they brought me the following ales back:



Coniston Brewing Co Winter Warmer Blacksmith's Ale (5%)

Keswick Brewing Co Thirst Out (4.5%)

Cumbrian Legendary Ales Grasmoor Dark Ale (4.3%)

Jennings Cumberland Ale (4.7%)



Have so far had the Coniston + Jennings, both very nice.

Sounds like a nice selection ... Enjoy mate

Having missed out on York a couple of weeks previously, got there last weekend ...



Tried a new brew (to me at least) in Thornbridge Evenlode 6.2% a brown porter certainly mean't to be sipped and savoured rather than guzzled. That was in the Pivni where a second drink followed in the shape of Brew Dog Riptide 4.1 (another one not previously tasted).



Also sampled ...



Copper Dragon Scotts 1816 4.1% in the Guy Fawkes Inn

Adnams Southwold Bitter 3.7% in Ye Olde Starre

(also both new to me)



and a couple of 'standards' in York Centurion Ghost Ale (Yorkshire Terrier) and Black Sheep Bitter (the Maltings).



All very enjoyable indeed