great xmas treat for me as the lad brought down a crate of Adnams Broadside from blighty - surely the best bottled ale in the world ?

Was that the 6.3% Strong Original version? ... I had a bottle of that on New Years Eve.

yeh, the 6.3% stuff - sheer nectar in a bottle and i've three bottles left !!!

better than the french cr@p tho' some of the belgian ale is quite drinkable ....

Had a nice pint of Wentworth Brewary Camberwell Beauty 4% in Lick (Hull) on Saturday.

I read at the weekend in Tyke Taverner how CAMRA, Greg Mullholland & others have accused our morally corrupt government of colluding with the giant PubCo's to arrive at a voluntary self-regulatory agreement & maintain the current PubCo sytem that is decimating the industry. Apparently the government only spoke to the PubCo's during the consultation.

Visited two of my favourite real ale pubs in Hull on Saturday, sampled the following:

Wensleydale Falconer 3.9% (Hop & Vine)

Wellington Inn First Duke 3.7%
York Terrier 4.2%
(both at the Wellington Inn)

Called in at the Hare and Tortoise at Parrots Corner on Friday (just gone) after work with Mrs M. Pint of York Terrier (in good nick mind) was £3.30 and a large glass of an average Argentinian Rose wine, £5.75. Must call in again when I win the Lottery. Why real ale has to be that price is beyond me and to the casual drinker the John Smiths Smooth at £2.30 was an obvious bargain. Not the way IMO to convert folk to the Good Stuff.

The least patronised pub in Bentley now doesn't open midweek .... which is a fantastic cure for my laziness ... I now have to walk to other pubs in the village which do have Real Ale ... Win / Win

Popped into Hop & Vine in Hull last night before my regular club, sampled the following:

Grafton Moon Frost 4%
Tom Woods Bomber County 4.8%

Wasn't all that keen on the Tom Woods (think it was a stout), but the Grafton was excellent, went down very easily.

went with the good lady to elsecar,market hotel for refreshments!!!!.
two roses "chinook"
acorn "barnsley gold",
one of my favourite pubs.