Surtees Arms Ferryhill Mini Beer Fest 28th April to 30th April

Still looking for something to do over the Bank Holiday weekend?

Mithril Ales Big Fat Royal Wedding being served and a selection of other ales from around the country.

There is a barbeque and music on Saturday night, which starts from 7.30pm

The Surtees Arms & Yard of Ale Brew Co. Ltd.
NORTH EAST CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2010
Chilton Lane, Ferryhill Station, DL17 0DH.
01740 655724,07828712744
www.thesurteesarms.co.uk & Facebook

Beer Festival at The Grand Bishop Auckland - Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

Still looking for something to do over the Bank Holiday weekend?
Serving two Mithril Ales - renamed and even recoloured for charity (don't blame me if the food colouring goes wrong) - Kill Ale Manjaro, Chris's R'aleway

The Grand, Holdforth Crest, South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6DU
Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

Approximately 20 real ales will be available at the festival with a ‘local and not so local’ theme.

FESTIVAL OPENING TIMES:

Friday 29th:
Saturday 30th:
Sunday 1st:
Monday 2nd:
Noon - midnight.
Noon - midnight.
Noon - 10.30pm.
Noon - 11.30pm.

Food will also be available with a barbecue on throughout the festival in the beer garden at the rear.

On Friday evening a ‘prince and pauper’ themed fancy dress competition will be taking place with prizes for the winners. The Grand’s ‘Cellar Dwellers’ ie. The Model Railway Club will also be in attendance with a model railway exhibition.

For further information contact Sandra at The Grand on 07746 360573

THE CROWN INN AT MANFIELD BEER FESTIVAL Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

Looking for something to do over bank holiday weekend? Mithril Ales Big Fat Royal Wedding will be on as well as other great nuptial/royal themed ales

The Crown Inn, Vicars Lane, Manfield, North Yorkshire DL2 2RF
Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

Approximately 20 real ales will be available at the festival.

FESTIVAL OPENING TIMES:

Friday 29th:
Saturday 30th:
Sunday 1st:
Monday 2nd:
Noon - midnight.
Noon - midnight.
Noon - 10.30pm.
Noon - 11.30pm.

A presentation will be made to licensees Peter and Karen Hynes of the Crown Inn on Saturday lunchtime for winning Darlington CAMRA’s Country Pub of the Year for 2011.

Food will also be available at the festival along with live entertainment on the evenings and Sunday afternoon (to be confirmed). For further information contact Peter or Karen Hynes at the Crown Inn on 01325 374243.

MY BIG FAT ROYAL WEDDING

ROYAL WEDDING (4%) HAS GONE OUT TO THE FOLLOWING FINE ESTABLISHMENTS, WHOM I ASSUME WILL BE SAVING IT FOR THE NUPTIALS LATER IN THE WEEK:

THE CROWN INN AT MANFIELD
THE VANE ARMS AT LONG NEWTON

THE SHIP AT MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE

THE BLACK BULL AT MELSONBY

THE BRIDGE AT WHORLTON

THE SHOULDER OF MUTTON AT KIRBY HILL

THE WHITE SWAN AT GILLING WEST

THE SURTEES ARMS AT FERRYHILL

THE STANWICK INN IN ALDBROUGH

THE OLD YARD TAPAS BAR IN DARLINGTON

THE GRAND HOTEL IN BISHOP AUCKLAND

THE BLACK SWAN IN STAINDROP

THE MANOR HOUSE AT MALTBY

THE QUAKERHOUSE IN DARLINGTON

THE GEORGE AT PIERCEBRIDGE

THE OLD WELL AT BARNARD CASTLE

THE FROG AND FERRET AT SPENNYMOOR

THE NAGS HEAD AT SEDGEFIELD

THE COUNTY AT AYCLIFFE VILLAGE

HAPPY ST GEORGE'S - ENGLANDS ALE

YOU MAY RECALL I CELEBRATED BURNS NIGHT WITH A COMMEMORATIVE BEER - AND SO I HAVE ALSO CELEBRATED ST GEORGE'S IN SIMILAR FITTING STYLE.

WHEN I NEXT WORK OUT HOW TO ADD SOUND (PROBABLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR), I HOPE TO HAVE THE ROUSING DEEP BARITONE OF BRIAN BLESSED PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. HOWEVER, UNTIL THAT TIME COMES ENGLAND'S ALE HAS GONE OUT TO THE FOLLOWING:

THE SHIP INN AT MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE

THE BRIDGE AT MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE

THE BLACK SWAN IN STAINDROP

THE BLACK BULL AT MELSONBY

THE OLD WELL AT BARNARD CASTLE

THE BRIDGE AT WHORLTON

THE WHITE SWAN AT GILLING WEST

THE GEORGE AT PIERCEBRIDGE

AND A SURPRISE DESTINATION TO FEATURE SHORTLY THIS WEEK!

BEER FESTIVAL AT THE OLD WELL IN BARNARD CASTLE FROM 22ND APRIL TO 2ND MAY

MOST BEER FESTIVALS LAST A DAY, SOME A COUPLE OF DAYS OR EVEN A LONG WEEKEND. NOT THE OLD WELL IN BARNARD CASTLE. THEIR FESTIVAL IS RUNNING FROM THE 22ND APRIL TO THE 2ND MAY! 11 DAYS OF PURE BEER FESTING, WHAT MORE COULD BARNIE ASK FOR.

THE FESTIVAL OPENED AT 12.00 TODAY, AND RUNS EVERYDAY FROM 12-12PM. THERE ARE OVER 20 BEERS AND 2 CIDERS, FOOD SERVED 12-2.30 AND 6-8.30 - PLUS FRIDAY TO MONDAY THERE IS FREE MUSIC FROM 3.00PM.

AS BEERS RUN OUT, NEW ONES TAKE THEIR PLACE - AND PETER THE LANDLORD IS PUTTING OUT A FRESH BEER LIST EACH DAY. THERE IS A FESTIVAL SPECIAL GLASS FOR £3.00, AND YOU CAN GET 10 HALVES FOR £14.00.

WE WERE THERE TODAY AND THE PLACE WAS JUMPING, THEY HAVE A DECENT SIZE BEER GARDEN - JUST GET THERE QUICK IF YOU WANT A SEAT.

THREE MITHRIL ALES ARE BEING SERVED, ROUTE A66, ENGLANDS ALE AND ROYAL WEDDING - PLUS MANY OTHER WELL KNOWN NORTHERN ALES, WYLAM AND YARD OF ALE TO NAME A FEW. THE FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY YORK BREWERY AND THEIR GUZZLER WAS ON FINE FORM - IDEAL FOR THIS SUMMER WEATHER

SPRINGTIME, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SUMMER'S HERE

YOU'D THINK I'D LEARN AFTER THE LAST CUTE PICTURE POSTING OF AN ANIMAL. BUT, AS I AM

A COUNTRY DWELLER AND THIS IS A BUSY

TIME FOR SHEEP FARMERS (WHO CAN FAIL TO NOTICE THE LITTLE LAMBS IN THE FIELDS) THE LAMB SEEMED TO CONJURE UP THE ESSENCE OF THIS 4.0% AMBER ALE, MALTY WITH A HOPPY FINISH.

IT'S GONE OUT TO THE FOLLOWING PUBS, MINT SAUCE OPTIONAL:

THE CROWN INN - WHERE IS WAS BADGED WITH A SPECIAL PUMP CLIP FOR KAREN'S 50TH BIRTHDAY

THE SHIP INN AT MIDDLESTON VILLAGE

THE BRIDGE AT MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE

THE BLACK BULL IN MELSONBY

THE OLD WELL BARNARD CASTLE

THE QUAKERHOUSE

THE GEORGE AT PIERCEBRIDGE

THE WHITE SWAN AT GILLING WEST

AND TWO TO BOGGARTS, DESTINTATION UNKNOWN - IF YOU SPY IT LET ME KNOW!

NICE PAIR OF HANDPUMPS, SHAME ABOUT THE FACE - ANNIVERSARY ALE

MITHRIL ALES REACHED IT'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON THE 7TH APRIL.

TO COMMEMORATE THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION I APPEAR ON THE PUMP CLIP

LIKE A Z LIST CELEBRITY, TRYING TO GET IN ON THE ACT OF THE FINE AWARD WINNING ALES THAT ARE ROUTE A66 AND FLOWER POWER. APOLOGIES TO ANYONE WHO MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENED WHEN AT THE BAR OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PUBS:

THE SHIP INN AT MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE

THE BRIDGE AT MIDDLETON TEESDALE

THE BLACK SWAN AT STAINDROP

THE BLACK BULL AT MELSONBY

THE QUAKERHOUSE

THE WHEATSHEAF AT BORROWBY

THE WHITE SWAN IN GILLING WEST

THE GEORGE HOTEL IN PIERCEBRIDGE

GEOFF'S PARTY TIME IN THE VILLAGE, ON AT 8.00 AND FINISHED BY 10.15PM!!!

THE QUAYS IN DARLINGTON

THE GRAND HOTEL IN BISHOP

THE DARLINGTON SNOOKER CLUB

THANKS TO ALL PUBS, CLUBS, PRIVATE PARTYS, BEER FESTIVALS AND THEIR ATTENDANT DRINKERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME OVER THE LAST YEAR - I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!!!!

Re-Opening of the Bridge at Whorlton and New House Beer, McLoughlin Gold

Mithril Ales are proud to present the first commissioned house beer 'McLoughlin Gold'.

It is now the house beer for Steve McLoughlin's pubs which include:

The Black Swan at Staindrop, which readers of this blog will recall is much favoured by this brewer for the very tasty steak at bargainous prices (and real chips)

The Bridge at Middleton Teesdale, which Steve took over recently after it had been shut for some time.

The Bridge at Whorlton, which is reopening tomorrow - and in addition to the house beer my Anniversary Ale is also being served (to follow on blog shortly)

and also The Croxdale Inn at Croxdale, which reopens from next week.

I wish Steve and his family all the best with their ventures!

Guiseley Factory Workers Club 5th Beer Festival 8th and 9th April

A you may recall two Mithril Ales have travelled down to the Festival being held this weekend. To refresh they are Route A66 and April Fool in addition to thirty other beers, ciders and perries. I have enclosed a link below. Another trip I am unfortunately missing, due to going on a Mick Slaughter tour round York on Saturday. The link is enclosed below http://www.guiseleyfactoryworkersclub.co.uk/beers.html