The Triple Stamps has proved problematic this year as I've approached six breweries, and none want to offer a brewery tour. Therefore, we will be visiting the Derby area where instead we will visit three brewery taps with the breweries alongside. On the agenda then are the taps of Brunswick, Dancing Duck and Shiny, with pub visits to two new top National Inventories; the Holly Bush Inn, Makeney, and Malt Shovel, Spondon. There will also be three or four GBGs on the list too. Desborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton pick-ups. Cost will, be £25 for a luxury coach. Please book.

We anticipate that this will be the first Winter Ale Trail over a weekend covering twelve pubs in Northampton with visits required to obtain a prize (but not to all of the pubs). The pubs are expected to be in clusters of four, so for today, the plan is to visit two cluster making eight pubs. Further details for the social will be provided in the February diary, while details for the trail can be found in the Winter Over The Barrel magazine or on our website.

For a change, we hold the annual curry night in Kettering at the Royal Bengal on Rockingham Road where even on a Friday, there is a fixed price banquet option with most items on the menu. The tables are booked for 19:30, so we will first meet in the Alexandra Arms from 18:00 where around a dozen beers are available. Park your car outside the St Andrews Church. Please book.