Back to Dranklokaal 1650 for this craziness. From Breda's Big Belly Brewing I give you Grannie's Hazelnut Apple Pie Quadrupel at 10.5%. Well made and great fun.

Last night in Leiden and the Netherlands. We have walked down to the lovely Bonte Koe, and have tried two beers from local brewery Pronck. The Citra Rye IPA did what you'd expect and was very enjoyable. This is the tripel (9%) which is satisfactorily tripel-y.

After a lengthy and very enjoyable visit to the botanical gardens, followed by lunch in its café, now dropped into Dranklokaal 1650. Starting with Cantillon Gueze on draught. This is just one of about 230 beers on their list.

Christmas Update: well if they’re selling crackers in the shops, we’re not so outrageous selling tktts for our Christmas ales tastings with @beer4john.bsky.social Both dates 14 and 21 Dec are over half sold so both will likely sell out. 6 amazing beers plus cheese and home made cake £30

Still at Borefts Bierfestival of course. Been having too much fun to post but this 14% stout with vanilla and maple from California's Bottle Logic is superb.

Finally made it to Borefts after rail issues. Starting with a kriek from my old pal Tommie Sjef...

Today is going to be great fun but also slightly poignant as it's the first day of the last ever Borefts Bierfestival.

Staying at Stadsbrouwerij Leiden for a final beer. This is Hippy Hippy, a black IPA from the always reliable VandeStreek. It's very good of course.

Staying at Stadsbrouwerij Leiden on this excellent West Coast IPA from Brouwerij Kees, although here it's on tap. brouwerijkees.nl/onze-bieren/...

Starting my first visit to Leiden with a visit to Stadsbrouwerij Leiden for beer and food. This Super Session Sipper is a beautifully refreshing 4% saison. On my second glass. I have now ordered the tripel.

I don't know what all the beers are but one, which we've not had before, is a real star turn.

As you’d expect the Christmas ales are totalling up to be another classic afternoon with @beer4john.bsky.social Still plenty of tickets left so , well, just saying…

Final beer at Brugs Bierfestival. Vliegende Paard Quadrupel (brandy cask aged). A warming 10%.

Currently on Nico Forus from Brouwerij De Hophemel. It's a 7.3% white stout (which actually works) so one for @goodfordshire.bsky.social

Day two of Brugs Bierfestival and I am starting with De Ranke again. This is the IPA, Amer Amer. Good to see De Ranke are going to be putting their sour beers in 37.5cl bottles.

Starting to wind this session down as we are eating at 7pm. So this is Rye Tuos from Straete Brouwerie. It's a rye wine aged in a Portuguese cherry liqueur cask. It's very tasty. It's also 16%.

Moving on to this from BramBrass, a 11% peated whisky imperial stout called Autopsy of the Devil's Brain. Not half bad.

And we're off -;De Ranke San Francisco Porter...

Ready to go at Brugs bierfestival

Not the first beer of the day but have now met up with friends and enjoying a St Bernardus Prior in De Garre...

Finished at Le Trappiste with two solid contenders...

Last beer here and staying with a classic...

Staying with the classics...

Off to a good start...

Good to be back...

Champers on the train again...

More cider - from a variety none of us had heard of.

Cider now...

More Perry...

Perry time...

I had a couple of friends around for some beers on Sunday - these, from @heritagebrewingco.bsky.social and @burtonbridgebrew.bsky.social were a delight.

I appear to have a green beer...

Here at the Old Shoe beer festival it's Barley Wine o'clock...

Settling in at the Old Shoe beer festival in Sheffield. This from Low Key is seriously good....

As ever, a great piece by @petebrownbeer.bsky.social but I am going to stick my neck out and say the best fruit beers currently being made in the UK are from Crossover Blendery.

After a CAMRA meeting in Hyde I had a walk up to the wonderfully quirky Relics 'n' Rust. Still going strong with plans to expand the bar area and the range. No draft but a good selection of bottles - including up to 30 from @torrside.bsky.social .

Unusually I am staying in tonight so I have treated myself to a bottle of barley wine from the cellar. This beauty is starting to show its age but remains a splendid drink...

If you haven't bought this yet, then you really should. It's a wonderful read and left me wanting more. I hope there will be a follow up.

On the Bathams at #gbbf - started on a half but so good I swapped my glass for a pint and went back for more...

Having a day out at @burtonbridgeinn.bsky.social where I plan to try a few beers from @burtonbridgebrew.bsky.social

It's chutney today - spiced red gooseberry. I did some of the prep last night and mixed in the soft light brown sugar and cider vinegar today...

Today's jam is blackcurrant and raspberry - a personal favourite...

It's jam and chutney week here. Today's jam is red gooseberry...

Finishing a very enjoyable afternoon at @torrside.bsky.social tap with this interesting beer which is perhaps classic Torrside...

@daveratkins.bsky.social and myself are having another Mills and Crossover catch-up. We have let the bottles accumulate a bit so have recruited @jamesksowerby.bsky.social as a reinforcement...

A birthday treat for me and my mate Richard. It was £35 for a 500ml bottle but, my @God, it's sensational.

While I was away, the rest of my gooseberries ripened. I've just picked most of them. Already had around three kilos and there are even more here. Now for some topping and tailing prior to the freezer. I have plans for some of these later in July.

So, it's goodbye to Eindhoven and the superb Van Moll Fest. It's been great fun and, with the demise of the Borefts Bierfestival, I will certainly be back.

Final beer of the Van Moll Festival. This is from Romanian Brewery Blackout and is a 13% imperial stout aged in a whisky cask with coffee and dulche de leche. It is rich, indulgent and rather boozy.

I wasn't going to have a UK beer but this collaboration between Left Handed Giant and Mills (called Polyphema)was too tempting. It's basically a blend of beers from the two and it is very, very good.