We've had drinks threads but not for a long time and never one devoted solely to the joys of real ale. My three favourites that are widely available are Brain's Old Dark, Theakston's Old Peculiar and Badger's Golden Glory. I've had better ones from smaller Breweries but these have been on single occassions when i've seen them in a pub or off licence. Sadly most of the time I don't even remember the names, some I do remember are Witchfinder Stout and some Scottish beer flavoured with heather, Jon Horse told me the name and I forgot and I had one from Bragdy brewery which was possibly the best ale I've ever had but cannot remember which one it was.

As infuriating as it is to forget the names of these beers it's the hard to find nature of some of the beers is part of the fun, as is th echance you can find a really good new one at any point. I had some green real ale last summer, it was naturally green, it didn't taste in any way exceptional but it certainly did look it.

The area with the highest concentration of good ales seems to be the Westcountry. I'll try to go to the Great British Beerfest at Earl's court this year, I've been a few other times and it's always been good, any takers?

Good call on Golden Glory, Myr.

I forgot to add that ale should be quaffed from a pewter tankard, the difference it makes to temperature and even taste is surprising. My mum recently bought me one which I have yet to see, it has a dragon on it and "dragon scales" for the handle, which might be a bit much, but is Metal As Fuck.

A mad bloke my friend met in a pub in London who was drinking out of his own pewter tankard said a leather one is much superior.

Innis and Gunn.

Beautiful, but can induce the WORST hangovers when drunk in large quantities.

DOOM BAR!!!!!!!!

It's been mentioned before but my favourites are Old Speckled Hen, Rivet Catcher, Snecklifter and Hobgoblin from the Wytchwood brewery.

Doom Bar has a great name but I find it a bit dull. I prefer dark ales, or summer ales. Ales with ginger are nice, there's one called Sly Fox or something similar. You can get Banana Bread Bitter, which tastes exactly like banana brad.

Carling Black label.

Early bird is my favourite.

Summer Lightning is fine. Definitely one for these warm, er, balmy evenings.

What's the Scottish one flavoured with heather Jon?

A lovely golden colour.

When is the Earls court beer festival?

Thank you.

Fraioch. Very nice it is too. There might be a couple of others to use heather, maybe from a few artisan producers, but you can get Fraioch everywhere.

I'm well up for that beer fest.

It's about £8 to get in and then most stuff is £1 for a half, it's best to drink halves, becuase you get to try more- although after about 5-6 you they all start to taste the same. I've been on the Friday noight which was really good and once on the Saturday afternoon which was shit because loads of beers had sold out and we had to resort to drinking big name ones we already knew. The food is pretty good too.

Miniature board meet? We can all wear false beards and Myr can talk about his pagan nonsense, so we'll fit right in.

I'll bring my tankard and use it to smite Saxons, after 5-6 pints I am invincable.