Sampled at the Vale Hotel, Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe/Daybrook

THIS straw-coloured Yorkshire brewed ale is delicately hopped using Czech and German varieties. The light fruit flavours, along with the citrus and vanilla overtones add to the creamy clean taste of this invigorating easy-to-drink appetizer; an ideal accompaniment to the food dishes available at the "art deco" Vale.

Built in the 1930s, this former Home Ales pub still has reminders of the Home Brewery. Three decorated roundels, each bearing the "HB" logo can still be seen in the smoke room. Much of the inside of the pub has been preserved, thanks to a Grade-II listing. Visitors with an architectural bent should easily spot the peculiarities with the internal doors.

Six cask beers are offered, along with a variety of food. Full breakfasts, including takeaways, are served on weekdays (8am-noon); a traditional carvery is served daily noon-7pm (till 5pm on Sundays), and their "three variety" mid-week curry can be digested fortnightly. The next one's on Wednesday, alongside pub bingo. Thursdays and Sundays are quiz nights, so there's always something going on.

As for the bar doors? They were mistakenly hung upside down when the pub was built, and still remain in place today.