EMMERDALE star Chris Chittel pulled the first pints of Black Sheep Brewery's revamped ales last night.

It was a meeting of excellence as the Masham outfit, named Good Pub Guide 2006's Brewery Of The Year, hosted the relaunch in The Crown Inn at Manfield, near Darlington, CAMRA's Yorkshire Pub Of The Year.

So what of these beers? Armchair guzzlers have long enjoyed bottles of Emmerdale and Black Sheep Ale. Both are now available on draught, the latter replacing Black Sheep Special at the pumps.

Emmerdale is now being brewed to 4.2 per cent ABV, instead of five per cent, "to give wider appeal".

"It's not very often that we launch a new beer brand, and two in one night is unheard of," explained Paul Theakston, boss of Black Sheep Brewery.

THE Three Cups at Stamford Bridge celebrated Burns Night last Wednesday, offering diners haggis and a selection of single malt whiskies for them to try.

All the malts came with tasting notes. "We are trying to introduce a taste of Scotland to people who have not had the experience," said landlord Chris "Sporran" Jones.

HEALTH news. Nutritionist Carina Norris - author of You Are What You Eat - suggests we all include the following in our diet: red meat, wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans - and brewer's yeast.

Once again the beer lovers are ahead of their wine-sozzled counterparts.

THIS astonishing picture has been beamed down on to the Bar Talk desk.

It shows one of the Apollo astronauts enjoying a take-out of draught ale from the York Beer And Wine Shop, Sandringham Street.

"I thought you might be interested in the astonishing coup we've just pulled off... the first shop to supply beer outside earth's orbit," says shop owner Jim Helsby.

We are not sure how this space journey affects the specific gravity of the ale.

And we can only hope that after four pints of Jim's finest, someone was on hand to drive our spaceman home.

More moonshine next week.

Updated: 16:39 Friday, January 27, 2006