A pint of: Robinsons - Old Tom

This beer proudly proclaims to be the worlds best ale. It won the world beer awards 2009. It was first brewed by the Robinson family in 1899, cool.

The beer is very dark, almost as dark as Guinness. The beer is very bitter & like Guinness I consider this a stout. It has a strong port, almost burnt finish. I rather like it!

I was disappointed at first to discover the beer in a 330ml bottle. But after drinking it I stood up. And promptly as well as swiftly sat back down. The beer is 8.5% abv & my god did I know it. So thats why it's in a small bottle then. A pint would floor a horse. To be fair the bottle does advise caution. I was impressed by the strength I often find very alcoholic beers are ruined & taste worse for being so strong. Not so with old Tom. I give it 9 out of 10. If you like strong beer or stouts then you'll love this beer.

A pint of: Wychwood - Hobgoblin

This is Hobgoblin, brewed by Wychwood which is still doing its own thing but is owned by Marston's.

This is I confess a favourite beer of mine. It's dark amber & quite bitter. It's quite fizzy in the bottle. The draft version is much flatter & the caramel comes through much stronger than in the bottle.

The beer is 5.2%abv in bottle form & comes in a 500ml size. At the time of writing it costs £1.75 in Sainsburys .

I give it 8.5 out of 10. Purely because I prefer it on tap.

A glass of Morrison's Soave Classico for the lady

An unusual tipple for me everyone. Soave used to be a favoured bottle during my student days, but a few too many regretful Sunday mornings has led to me neglecting this variety in recent years. However, this bottle was a present and I'm not one to avoid a free bottle!

And, I must say, I think this could be a good argument for the return of Soave into my selection process. It is, indeed, a 'delicate and dry white wine', as promised by the label and went beautifully with my Gino D'Acampo white ragu. On its own it's big on citrus, but lacking the harsh finish that can imperil this grape, providing a please by drink to accompany 'The Voice'. It's not as quaffable as a good Pinot Grigio (a vital unit of measurement in my wine drinking) but certainly not a criticism. I'd suggest this wine is a better Sunday night glass, rather than a Friday might bottle.

I must also note the quality of the labelling on this Morrison's own-brand bottle.

A pint of: Sainsburys - Westmorland ale.

This is a Sainsburys taste the difference beer. Part of an expanding range of quality own brand beers & wines there currently offering. This ale is brewed for Sainsburys by Marston's at Jennings brewery. So the beer is brewed by those who know now to make it & it also has that I think is important. I think it's good that Sainsburys have taken the time to brew this beer in a local brewery. They could easily have called it Westmorland. Brewed a style that is in keeping with Cumbria but made it in London or abroad where it's cheap.

The beer is 4%abv & comes in a 500ml bottle. Although it curiously states on the bottle that it gives two glasses. Two 250ml glasses. But why wouldn't you serve it in a 500ml pint glass? It currently costs £1.69 which is pretty cheap.

In colour it's golden amber. It's not to bitter but does have quite a sharp after taste. It uses a combination of fuggles, goldings & challenger hops. This is s beer I would enjoy on a hop summers day. During a BBQ perhaps with the Cumberland sausages.

My score for this is 7 out of 10. A nice pleasant beer at a reasonable price. But nothing ground braking or exceptional.