Having taken it steady for a few days, I made up for lost time yesterday. First of all, apologies to Gary, because I had a rather nice pint of Courage Directors in Rotherham, together with, in no particular order, Nick Stafford's Starters Orders, a deceptively bitter golden ale but very tasty for all,that.Nick Stafford's splendid Stallion, the wonderful Daleside Premium Gold, Milestone' s Somers' cloudless wheat beer, Old Peculier, which were both in in excellent form and rounded the day off with a similarly excellent pint or several of Acorn Barnsley Gold at the Carlton Park Hotel in Rotherham.

Inspecting my liver this morning.

Been told that the Hallcross in Doncaster now has Real Ale again (after an absence of some years).

Checked out the Cheswold prior to yesterday's game (as we may be using it as the season progresses) - just missed out on the Wadworth 6X but the Black Sheep was decent.

Didn't make it out last night so opened a few bottles. One that I hadn't sampled before but enjoyed was Batemans Hop Bine 'Organic' Bitter (4.2%) - well worth checking out.

Did you purchase that from the Aldi ? £1.39 is good value for that drink.

Indeed - the good lady brings a variety of bottles back whenever she visits Aldi.

Nice one. The range at Aldi for £1.19 that is brewed for them by Batemans is excellent value.

Visted the Ship at Bawtry yesterday. Lovely couple of pints of Marstons Old Empire. They also had on Jennings Redbreast, Breakspears Oh Be Joyful and Rutland Best. Clean and friendly pub with a good looking menu and some eye catching events for the Bank Holday periods in May.

Agreed. We also had the Treble XB last night.

Sheffield today. Plenty of quality Real Ales pubs to choose from.

Had a very enjoyable time in Sheffield yesterday and some pretty decent ale too ...

Bradfield Belgian Blue (4.9%), Caledonian Auld Acquaintance (4.4%) & Thorne Coal Black Porter (4.3%) in the Rawson Spring at Hillsborough.
Crown Traditional Bitter (4.0%) at the Hillsborough Hotel, Langsett.
Dorset Ammonite (4.5%) at the Bankers Draft in the City Centre.
Brew Dog Black Dog (5.5%) & Thornbridge Lord Marples (4.0%) in the Sheffield Tap, Platform One, Sheffield Railway Station.

then back in Donny, a couple of pints in the Leopard of something simply advertised as Derwent Brewery 4.2%.

Not a bad pint amongst them.