IT isn't just metric measurements which are giving trouble. The older measures of liquid are causing confusion at one Darlington pub.

A blackboard outside promises the chance to win "a firkin of Black Sheep".

Ten pints of Paul Theakston's brew are, it seems, to be given away weekly. Now a firkin is a nine-gallon barrel (half a kilderkin, since you ask).

Either the weekly winner will get seriously short measure or the competition will last seven weeks - and a quart over.

However, as the Brown Trout actually spells it "ferkin", we could be looking at something else entirely.

Drinkers should be told.

Raise a glass

Still on a beery theme, Spectator was gladdened by the Good Pub Guide's choice of the aforesaid Black Sheep as its brewery of the year.

The success of Paul Theakston's venture, and the fall in the reputation of the beer which still bears his family name now it is part of the S&N conglomerate, is a classic David and Goliath story.

In this week's D&S Times, we also chart the progress of Swaled Ale, a booming micro-brewery based in Gunnerside.

At the same time, we learn of the imminent demise of Cameron's Brewery at Hartlepool - not big enough to be one of the giants, but not small and well-liked enough to be part of the local brewing boom.

Sad though the loss of jobs at Hartlepool might be, if Cameron's demise sees more variety among the handpumps of North-East pubs, Spectator will raise a glass.