Took a trip out to my old haunt, the Concertina Band Club at Mexborough and had a pint of Club Extreme and Marston's Old Empire. The Extreme is delicious. Nice to see brewer Andy hasn't lost his touch.

Had a good pint of Ruddles at the Station Hotel Pickering . Good food also. Plus a discussion about rugby on the platform of the station with another Dons fan.

Couldn't get away from the one beer today, Thornbridge's Jay Wick, an impeccable "American pale ale". Wonderful

Were you on your way to Grosmont, Goathland or Whitby, weighman?
Some good ale to be found in Whitby. Never tried the Goathland/Grosmont establishments though.

No ,just stayed the night in Pickering.

The place shuts about9pm mid week.

Blowing the cobwebs off this thread. Tasted some excellent ales lately, none more so than Castle Rock Elsie Mo, Whim Arbor Lights and Nottingham Extra Pale Ale. All of the above are golden in colour but with differing tastes and all on at the Arkwright Arms, Duckmanton.

Today have sampled Goodison's Gold( Kelham Island - definitely would re-visit ) which is probably a re-badge celebrating the achievements of Greasborough's own Paul Goodison in gaining an Olympic gold medal in sailing at Beijing. Good on yer, Paul. Also sampled Spire Chesterfield Best Bitter at 4.5%, one of the better premium bitters I have come across.

At the Eight Jolly Brewers, Gainsborough, I sampled Wold Top Wold Gold, always a delight, Marston Moor Merriemaker and Rudgate Byrnies ( both brewed by Rudgate ). All of them well-kept, as I expect at this cracking little pub. Also on were two Glentworth beers, a Castle Rock beer, a further Rudgate beer and Oakham JHB. Another time perhaps?

Just had a week in Ayrshire so have been drinking a number of beers that I had not sampled before.

Some to recommend;

Arran - Sunset
Caledonian- Golden Promise (organic)
Houston - Killellan Bitter
Houston - Peters Well
Houston - Texas
Kelburn -Dark Moor
Kelburn - Red Smiddy
Strathaven - Red Ale
Windie Goat - Priests Wheel

If I had to pick the best, it would be the Golden Promise from the Golden / Amber Ales, the Texas from the Red / Brown Bitters and the Dark Moor from the Dark / Porters.

Visited York last week - always good for Real Ale ... the most enjoyable drink on the day was one of Wychwood's seasonal ales Big Bertha, a deep ruby ale which was sampled in the Minster Inn.

Of beers recently tasted, Highgate's Davenport Fox's Nob at the Bluecoat and Wooden Hand Brewery's delightfully hoppy Cornish Mutiny at the Chequers, Whiston, are two definite highlights.