It would appear that there has been some interesting posts on scoopgen regarding the unavailability of Darwin recently. I find this very odd as the BLO because at GBBF there were both Ghost and the Bottle Conditioned Richmond Ale, both which sold very well.
The pub beer festival in the West Midlands were supplied via Flying Firkin who contacted the brewery on the phone listed in the Good Beer Guide. Alternatively you can use the Brewlab number (see advert in What's Brewing) or the info email address on the brewery's website. Failing that you could always call round at the brewery or office at the University.

None of which explains why they can't be ar**ed to deliver to local festivals! Nor does it explain why they NEVER collect their empty (or to be more correct, not quite empty - I'm being diplomatic) casks either! Even the BLO has "alleged" in recent conversations that he has had difficulty communicating with them. What's changed, Chris (or should that be Ciderbum)?

Try lack of a delivery vehicle. Since Tom was made surplus to requirements deliveries have been made by Flying Firkin to far flung places. Local deliveries tend to be done by car but as both the partners are more involved with Brewlab courses the brewery gets overlooked sometimes. They are aware of the cask at newcastle Uni as I told them last time I spoke to them but obviously they havn't got round to sorting it out yet. As for the local festivals I believe there is some at Darlington but I'm not 100% sure on that one. There most reliable local outlet is the spoons in Gosforth, the Job Bulman and seeing as I'm cider surveying the Brandling today I'll call in and see if they have any on. If they havn't then local deliveries havn't been made recently (although Sunderland Best was on in the Lambton WOrm, Sunderland last week).

No delivery vehicle? No staff? So more brewing gets done at the Brewlab micro plant than at Darwin? Are Darwin what Quaffale refers to as a "hobby" brewery?
As for Tom, I'd heard he'd walked of his own accord.
The empty casks I refered to are actually outside Dunelm House in Durham, where the two (three, by now) empties have spent some time "swimming with the fishes" in the Wear.
The Newcastle empties went walkabout after this year's festival, obviously having got sick of waiting to be collected.
No doubt the Flag Porter on the Darlo list will be delivered, after all the good doctor does live that way and it's on his way home (if he can be bothered!).

No Brewlab is the Hobby Brewery. Supplies from the main brewery are currently being delivered by Siba and Flying firkin with very limited local deliveries. Upon inspection of some local outlets it would appear that Northumberland (Tom) have now got the nod against Darwin. As for the Darlo list if it's FLAG porter then that was last brewed in Alloa and has never been cask. I suspect it's more likely to be Hammonds Porter which incedently is done on the small plant at Brewlab.
I will inform them of the casks at Dunelm house.