After a busy day at work and at home, clearing up (or at least, starting to clear up) the mess left by the installation of my new central heating (ta dah!), I took myself down the pub for a well-earned pint. I went into the University Arms, the nearest good pub to my house, only to discover the well-remembered atmosphere of the dreaded PUB QUIZ.

I beat a hasty retreat, going quickly through my memory to rule out any other pubs that might be having a quiz tonight. KIT and Fat Cat are Mondays, but too far to walk there late on a Tuesday night, so I made my way to the Red Deer. Sure, their quiz is on a Sunday. I got to within 20 metres, when the booming PA produced those dread words "Question 6!"

An abrupt about-face took me almost without thinking in the direction of the Bath Hotel. Surely there's no quiz on there? As I approached, a blackboard leaning against the wall made a hazy appearance through the December drizzle: "Brains at the Bath", it seemed to imply. Closer perusal confirmed though, that Quiz Night here is on a Thursday (phew!), so I made my way, with some relief, to the bar.

My last visit to the Bath a couple of weeks ago ended with me walking out with no drink, as all the beers were Thornbridge (my bête noire) or made with new world hops (bête noire #2). On this occasion I was in luck: Blackjack Bramling Cross 4.0% - an English-hopped beer from one of my favourite breweries - I can even tolerate their new world hopped beers (in small measure). This one was so good it would have passed the three pint test, had closing time not intervened. I'll not be back on Thursday, though, even if it's still on.