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Crewe on Saturday evening and a visit to the excellent Borough Arms. Nine real ales were available and the following were sampled;

Courage Directors 4.8%
Bradfield Farmers Stout 4.5%
Bradfield Yorkshire Farmer 4.0%

The first two are long-standing favourites. The latter, new to me but a very enjoyable golden coloured bitter.

Also visited Hops and tried Cross Bay's Vesper Bitter 3.8%.

Wakefield yesterday, the highlights being;

Adnams Old Ale 4.1%, a dark winter warmer, in Fernandes Brewery Tap.
The Hop Studio Avenoir 6.0%, a rich oatmeal stout, in the Six Chimneys.
Acorn Black Oak 4.5%, a dark ale, in the Black Rock.
Titanic Plum Porter 4.9% in the Old Printworks.
Neepsend Rollabout Stout 5.0% in Harrys Bar.
Timothy Taylors Ram Tam 4.3%, a dark winter warmer and my favourite TT brew, in Henry Boons.

Happy days!

Looking forward to;
Sambrook's Flat White Stout
Tring American Brown
Hydes California Red Ale
Elgood's Warrior
Salopian Bertza

There are also 5 UK Ciders available during the festival, I may give one or two a try.

Sadlers Peaky Blinder 4.4% in the Tut n Shive. A very palatable Black IPA with roasted and fruit flavours.

First 'Spoons festival ale today ...

Wadworth Game of Stones 3.8% in the Gatehouse, Doncaster. A tad too fruity for my palate

6 further Festival Ales yesterday in Doncaster;

The Red Lion
Caledonian Port of Leith 5.0%, a copper coloured IPA with malt and caramel flavours. IPA's are not generally to my taste, but this one was very nice.
Exmoor Exile Whakatu 4.2%, an amber ale brewed with New Zealand hops. Hints of spice, lime and vanilla. Very enjoyable indeed.
Saltaire Onyx 3.8%, a black IPA, a little light on flavour for my taste.
Oakham Attila 7.5%, the brew with the highest ABV of this Festival. This golden coloured strong ale is malty and has citrus and berry flavours. Very nice!

The Gatehouse
Green Beacon 3 Bolt 4.5%, a pale ale brewed at Wadworth Brewery by Australian brewer Johann van der Walt. Citrus and mango flavours. My first International brew of this festival.
Tring American Brown 4.5%, British malt and American hops combine to create a delicious nut brown ale. One I was looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. My favourite so far.

Sheffield yesterday;

The Rawson Spring, Hillsborough
Grapes & Gratification Old World New England IPA 5.0%, a golden beer brewed at Banks's Brewery by Cretan Kjetil Jikiun (International brew number two).
Hydes Provenance California Red Ale 5.2%, a ruby coloured strong ale with malt, toffee and fruit flavours. Very nice.
Adnams Gunhill 4.0%, another ruby ale which is part dark mild and part brown ale. Toffee and Chocolate flavours. Always enjoyable.
Sambrook's Flat White Stout 4.5%, a dark russet brown coloured stout. Coffee, milk and nuts dominate the flavour. Very enjoyable.

The Old Waterworks
Coach House Elderflower 4.1%, a speciality ale, blond in colour. Too much grapefruit for my taste.
Shepherd Neame Early Bird 4.3%, a golden best bitter with a hint of biscuit but again, too much grapefruit for me.

The Benjamin Huntsman
Black Sheep Monty Python's Flying Circus 4.5%, a spicy red coloured IPA.
Salopian Bertza 5.5%, a delicious stout with chocolate and vanilla flavours. Winner!

Also sampled the Broadoak Moonshine Cider 7.5% in the Bankers Draft.

15 of 30 real ales sampled.

Leeds on Friday;

The Cuthbert Brodrick
Mordue Sterling 4.5%, a cask lager.
Holden Irish Red Rye 4.8%, an Irish Red ale with malt and rye flavours.

The Hedley Verity
Strange Fellows Talisman 4.0%, a Canadian golden ale brewed by Iain Hill at Caledonian Brewery (International brew).
Foglie D'Erba Hot Night in the Village 5.0%, a festival return for this Italian porter brewed at Shepherd Neame Brewery by Gino Perissutti (International brew). Very nice.

Stick or Twist
Bru Red Ale 4.2%, a Republic of Ireland red ale flavoured with Caramel. Also very nice.

Beckett's Bank
Sixpoint Lo-Res 4.5%, brewed at Adnams Brewery by US brewers Keir Hamilton and Eric Bachli, this is a citrus-laden golden ale (International brew).

21 of 30 real ales sampled including all 5 international brews.

York today;

The Postern Gate
St Peters Twisted Edge 4.3%, a golden coloured lemon flavoured pale ale.
Titanic Nine Tenths Below 5.9%, a citrus flavoured strong ale.
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil 4.5%, a porter with just a hint of chocolate.
Elgood's Warrior 5.5%, a chestnut coloured strong ale. Taste-wise, blander than expected.

5 ales left to locate.

The Gatehouse, Doncaster tonight;

Greene King Heritage 5.0%, referred to as a Suffolk Pale Ale. Nice enough in truth.

4 left to find.