Brew Wales

Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival - Beer list

2013-05-17T16:00:00.000+01:00

The Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival 2013 is only a few weeks away, held in the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Full details from the Festival website here

Provisional Beer list below:
Artisan Alt 5.0

Big Bog Swampy 4.7

Big Hand

Brains Dark 3.5

Brains SA Gold 4.7

Brains Rev James 4.5

Brains Craft Brewery Bragging Rights 5.0

Brains Craft Brewery Touch paws Engage

Brains Craft Brewery Terry's

Brains Craft Brewery Stars and Stripes

Brains Craft Brewery Low-Hanging Fruit

Brains Craft Brewery Farmer Walloon 4.5

Brains Craft Brewery Simon’s 1000th Beer

Brecon Three Beacons 3.0

Brecon Welsh Beacons 3.7

Brecon Red Beacons 5.0

Brecon Gold Beacons 4.2

Brecon Twilight Brecon 4.0

Brecon Orange Beacons 4.1

Brecon Prophet's Porter 5.6

Brecon Imperious Beacons 7.5

Breconshire Ramblers Ruin 5.0

Bryncelyn Buddy Marvellous 4.0

Bryncelyn Oh Boy 4.5

Bryncelyn Holly Hop 3.9

Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch 6.0

Bullmastiff Welsh Black 4.8

Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale 3.8

Celt Experience Bleddyn 5.6

Celt Experience Dark Age 4.0

Celt Experience Golden 4.2

Celt Experience Native Storm 4.4

Celt Experience Danish Monster 6.2

Celt Experience Cat Scratched Celt 5.8

Celt Experience Silures 4.6

Cerddin Solar 4.1

Cerddin Cascade 4.8

Coniston Bluebird Bitter 3.6

Conwy Mulberry Mild 3.8

Conwy Shipwreaked 5.0

Cwrw Cader Red Bandit 4.1

Cwrw llyn Cochyn 4.5

Dark Star APA 4.7

Denbigh Black Denbeer 4.1

Evan Evans Warrior 4.6

Facer's Dave's Hoppy Beer 4.3

Facer's North Star 4.0

Gower Best Bitter 3.8

Gower Gold 4.5

Great Orme Celtica 4.5

Great Orme Welsh Black 4.0

Grey Trees Rechabites Bitter 4.0

Gwaun Valley Bitter Ale 4.0

Hafod Moel Famau 4.1

Hapax Ruby 4.2

Harveys Sussex Bitter 4.0

Heart of Wales High as a Kite 10.5

Heart of Wales Welsh Black 4.4

Henllan

Hobsons Mild 3.2

Hobsons Town Crier 4.5

Hopback Entire Stout 4.5

Jacobi Light Ale 3.8

Jacobi Red Squirrel 4.0

Kingstone 1503 4.8

Kingstone Stout 4.4

Kite Cwrw Haf 4.1

Kite Gold Wing 4.2

Kite Gorslas 4.0

Kite Thunderbird 4.5

Llangollen Llangollen Bitter 4.2

Llangollen Welsh Black Bitter 5.5

McGivern Porter 4.5

McGivern

Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild 3.7

Monty's Midnight Stout 4.0

Monty's Mischief 5.0

Monty's Sunshine 4.2

Mumbles Gold 4.0

Nant Mwnci Nell 5.5

Neath Black 5.5

Neath Gold 5.0

Nethergate Umbel Magna 5.0

New Plassey Porter 4.5

Oakham JHB 3.8

Otley Croeso 4.2

Otley Motley Brew 7.5

Otley O9 4.8

Otley O1 4.0

Otley O3 Boss 4.4

Otley O4 Columbo 4.1

Otley Hop Angeles 4.8

Otley O6 Porter 6.6

Otley Odessa Stout 7.4

Otley O7 Weissen 5.0

Otley A.P.A.

Otley Oxymoron Black IPA 5.5

Otley Thai Bo 4.6

Pixie Spring Deliverance APA 4.5

Pixie Spring Black Army Stout 4.3

Pixie Spring Golden Pixie 3.8

Pixie Spring Special/Seaonsal

Pixie Spring Special/Seaonsal

Pixie Spring Prince of Bengal IPA 5.5

Preseli Baggywrinkle 4.5

Preseli Rocky Bottom 4.5

Purple Moose Dark Side of the Moose 4.6

Purple Moose Glaslyn 4.2

Purple Moose Snowdonia 3.6

Purple Moose Cwrw Madog 3.7

Radnorshire Whimble Gold 3.8

RCH Pitchfork 4.3

Red Stone

Rhymney Dark 4.0

Rhymney Export 5.0

Rotters Whipping Tree 3.6

Sandstone Onyx 4.0

Sandstone Edge 3.8

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby 6.0

Skinners Betty Stogs Bitter 4.0

Snowdonia Carmen Sutra 4.4

St Austell Proper Job 4.5

Swansea Deep Slade Dark 4.0

Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 5.9

Tiny Rebel Cwtch 4.6

Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out 5.0

Tiny Rebel Fubar 4.4

Tiny Rebel Full Nelson 4.8

Tiny Rebel Billabong 4.6

Tiny Rebel Hadouken IPA 7.4

Tiny Rebel Urban IPA 5.5

Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf 4.2

Tomos Watkin Cwrw Braf 4.2

Tudor Blorenge Pale Ale 3.8

Untapped Tripple S Milk Stout 4.9

Untapped Crystal 6.0

Violet Cottage Shine On 4.0

Violet Cottage Zigzag 5.0

VoG Cwrw Dewi 5.0

VoG Summer Daze 4.2

Waen Blackberry Stout 3.8

Waen Chilli Plum Porter 6.1

Waen Festival Gold 4.2

Wickwar Station Porter 6.1

York Centurion's Ghost 5.4

Zero Degrees Wheat 4.2

Vote for the best pub in Wales

2013-05-17T14:13:00.001+01:00

Wales Online, publishers of the Western Mail and Echo have launched a compettion to find the best pub pub in Wales. You can vote for your favourite pub here or you can leave a comment below the article to add a pub to the list. It's a long list and I have been to most of the pubs over the years! All Welsh CAMRA branch pubs of the year for 2013 have been included in the list, together with a few old favourites so get voting!

The Pear Tree, Roath

2013-05-14T09:30:00.000+01:00

The Pear Tree, Wellfield Road, Cardiff, CF24 3PE, Roath

Open all day from 0830

The Pear Tree is an unusual modern polygonal building on the corner of Albany and Wellfield Roads. The pub has gone under other names previously, once it was Bar Billabong – an Australian-themed pub and before that it was 42nd Street as this was the last film shown in the Globe Cinema which used to occupy part of the site that now forms the Pear Tree. The pub has been extensively refurbished both outside and inside since it’s incarnation as an Australian theme pub, today the Pear Tree Café Bar is much more like a traditional pub with bare wooden floors and stripped pine tables, wooden settles and couches. The dark red-brick of the old Bar Billabong has been rendered in an off-white covering to give it a lighter, more pleasant appearance.

A central feature is the spiral staircase that leads up to the first-floor level with views across to the road to the Victorian church opposite. The spiral staircase also leads down to the basement toilets or, alternatively there are disabled toilets on the ground floor. There is plenty of wood panelling and shelving in the pub which are used for books for customers to enjoy. Daily papers are also available for customers to read. Old and somewhat eccentric photographs are on the walls and there is free WiFi for customers to use throughout the pub.

The dark wooden bar is on the left-hand side of the pub features two gleaming chrome handpumps with Brains Bitter and a house beer ‘Grumpy Landlord’. Wales largest cask ale brewery SA Brain also use the Pear Tree to put their keg craft beers on so that the wheat beer Weiss Weiss Baby and the American IPA Barry Island IPA have been on tap here. SA and SA Gold are also available in bottles along with some of their bottled craft ales. All the beers are served in the new branded glassware from Brains Brewery. Alternatively there is an extensive wine list as well as a full range of coffee.

Food is served all day from 0830 to 2200 with extensive chalkboard menus with breakfasts, tapas and flat bread or sour dough sandwiches and burgers available.

The Pear Tree regularly hosts live music and is also home to the Pear Tree Bake Off – a charity competition to find the best home baker in Roath. The Pear Tree markets itself as a café bar but appeals to a wide range of clientele as customers of all ages enjoy this pub.

Street view has the pub as it looked when Aussified:

View Larger Map

Brains brew ale for Marks & Sparks

2013-05-13T10:02:00.001+01:00

The latest addition to Marks & Spencer’s beer range ‘Welsh Golden Ale’ has been brewed exclusively by Brains Brewery in Cardiff.
‘Welsh Golden Ale’ (£2.26, Alc 4.6% Vol) is now available in over 250 Marks & Spencer’s stores nationwide.

This hoppy, refreshing ale is brewed with Challenger hops to create a bitter beer balanced by a vibrant citrus from late-hopped Cascade and Styrian Goldings.

The design of ‘Welsh Golden Ale’ is in keeping with the Marks & Spencer range, and draws on the heritage of Brains, Cardiff’s most famous brewery, with the emblem of the sea horse which graces Cardiff’s coat of arms.
Paul Harvey, Head of Multiple Retail Groups said; “This is our first private label beer and we’re proud to be part of the Marks & Spencer range. In creating ‘Welsh Golden Ale’ we were able to use our 15 barrel craft brewery to conduct trial brews. This demonstrates the craft brewery’s importance in enabling us to trial new beers, which further highlights our brewing credentials and drives our awareness across the U.K.”
Jenny Rea, Marks & Spencer’s Beer Product Developer said: “We are delighted to add this new Welsh Golden Ale from Brains Brewery into our regional beer range”.
TASTING NOTES:
This hoppy, refreshing ale is made with Challenger hops to create a satisfying bitterness that’s perfectly balanced by vibrant citrus aromas and a delicious complexity from the late-hopping Cascade and Styrian Goldings varieties. Enjoy this golden ale with light dishes like white fish or a chicken salad. It also works really well with cheese.

SIBA Wales & West beer competition

2013-05-11T07:45:00.001+01:00

The SIBA beer competition was held in Ludlow yesterday and there were some very good results for Welsh breweries, especially Celt Experience of Caerphilly who took both the Gold and the Silver of the overall competition. Full results below:

Overall Champion of the Competition
Gold Celt Experience Celt Golden 4.2

Silver Celt Experience Celt Dark Age 4.0
Bronze Cotswold Spring Brewery OSM 3.9
Standard Mild Ales
Sponsored by Clarke Dove (Insurance Brokers) Ltd
Gold Cotswold Spring Brewery OSM 3.9
Silver Hobsons Brewery Hobsons Mild 3.2
Bronze Prescott Ales Seasons Best Spring 3.8
Standard Bitters
Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
Gold Stonehouse Brewery Station Bitter 3.9
Silver Rowton Brewery Total Eclipse 3.8
Bronze Salopian Brewery Shropshire Gold 3.8
Best Bitters Sponsored by Charles Faram & Co Ltd
Gold Celt Experience Celt Golden 4.2
Silver Salopian Brewery Oracle 4.0
Bronze Tiny Rebel Brew Co. FUBAR 4.4
Premium Bitters
Sponsored by Warminster Maltings
Gold Tiny Rebel Brew Co. Billabong 4.6
Silver Tiny Rebel Brew Co. Cwtch 4.6
Bronze Cerddin Brewery Cascade 4.8
Strong Bitters
Sponsored by Jigsaw Bag in Box Ltd
Gold Salopian Brewery Golden Thread 5.0
Silver Cotswold Spring Brewery Trooper 5.2
Bronze Hobsons Brewery Hobsons Old Henry 5.2
Premium Strong BeersSponsored by Bush & Associates
Gold Salopian Brewery Automaton 7.0
Silver Otley Brewing Company Motley Brew 7.5
Bronze Cotswold Spring Brewery Walloonatic 8.5

Porters, Stouts, Old Ales and Strong Milds
Sponsored by Brewery Plastics
Gold Celt Experience Celt Dark Age 4.0
Silver Stonehouse Brewery Off The Rails 4.8
Bronze Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd Money for Old Rope 4.8
Speciality Beers
Sponsored by freerbutler graphic design
Gold Salopian Brewery Lemon Dream 4.5
Silver Purple Moose Brewery Ltd Ysgawen 4.0
Bronze The Six Bells Brewery Cloud Nine 4.2
Bottled Beers
Sponsored by Label Apeel
Gold Celt Experience Celt Bleddyn 5.6
Silver Salopian Brewery Oracle 4.0
Bronze Bird’s Brewery Apocalypse 4.8
Bottled Bitter (up to 4.9%)
Sponsored by Murphy & Son Ltd
Gold Bird’s Brewery Apocalypse 4.8
Silver Cotswold Spring Brewery Codger 4.2
Bronze Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd Saved by the Bell 3.8
Bottled Bitters (over 5%)
Sponsored by Muntons Plc
Gold Celt Experience Celt Bleddyn 5.6
Silver Cotswold Spring Brewery Trooper 5.2
Bronze Celt Experience Celt Ogham Willow Imperial IPA 8.8
Bottled Gold Beers
Sponsored by Croxsons
Gold Salopian Brewery Oracle 4.0
Silver Stonehouse Brewery Sunlander 3.7
Bronze Ludlow Brewing Co Ltd Gold 4.2
Bottled Speciality Beers
Sponsored by VIGO Limited
Gold Purple Moose Brewery Ltd Ysgawen 4.0
Silver Stroud Brewery Teasel 4.2
Bronze The Waen Brewery Chilli Plum Porter 6.1

Bottled Porters, Milds, Old Ales & Stouts
Sponsored by Bollington Insurance Brokers Limited
Gold Gloucester Brewery Dockside Dark 5.4
Silver Cotswold Spring Brewery Guv’nor 4.6
Bronze The Waen Brewery Blackberry Stout 3.8

Best ciders and perries 2013

2013-05-04T15:09:00.001+01:00

CAMRA names the UK’s
best Ciders and Perries
Cider
GOLD – Springfield Wobbly Munk,
Monmouthshire
SILVER – C.J.’s Surprise, Gwent
BRONZE – West Milton, Dorset
Perry
GOLD – Dunkertons, Herefordshire
SILVER – Gwynt Y Ddraig Two Trees,
Glamorgan
BRONZE – Raglan Cider Mill Snowy Owl,
Monmouthshire
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has
today announced the winners of its National
Cider and Perry Championships.
The winner of the Cider Gold medal is
Springfield Wobbly Munk which the judges
described as having ‘fantastic balance with
a pleasantly sharp aftertaste of apple and
bitter lemon’ .
The winner of the Perry Gold medal is
Dunkertons Perry which the judges
described as ‘initially sweet but develops
into a dry, complex, white wine-like
character with a lasting aftertaste’ .
The final round of judging for CAMRA’s
National Cider and Perry Championships
2013 took place at the popular Reading Beer
and Cider festival today. The competition
featured ciders and perries from across the
UK, with each cider and perry judged on its
individual taste, aroma, flavour, after-taste
and overall appeal. The top prizes were
awarded by a specially chosen panel of
judges including publicans, drinks writers
and CAMRA members.
Alan Wordsworth, owner of Springfield Cider,
had this to say on hearing Wobbly Munk
had taken the top spot,
“I’m absolutely delighted, if anything a little
surprised because we thought the Wobbly
Munk we made the previous year was even
better – but it’s gratifying to know it still
pleases people!”
Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and
Perry Committee Chairman, had this to say
on the quality and diversity of entries
“This year it was impressive to see the
sheer range of flavour within what was a
very accomplished field of entries. The
quality of ciders and perries was genuinely
outstanding in 2013, but the diversity is
what really impresses and which makes
these beautiful beverages something we
think everybody should give a try.”

Weekend beer festivals

2013-05-04T08:12:00.001+01:00

First off is the Artisan Brewery, Kings Road, Pontcanna who have rebranded as 'Pipes' after a tiff with a well-known soft drinks company.
Open from midday Saturday
Beers:
*Bohemian Pilsner
*Bavarian Wheat
*Vienna Red Lager
*Smoked Lager
*Chocolate Wheat
(They will also have a very special house cider to introduce, wine and soft-drinks for the non-beer drinkers too-boot).

Next to Rhondda-Cynon-Taff where the Brynfynnon at Llanwonno are holding their annual 3-day Festival
http://www.brynffynonhotel.com/

Finally on Sunday, Neath Ales are holding their Festival at Neath Cricket Club, which is located in the centre of town, behind the rugby club.

Neath Cricket Club
Dyfed Road, Neath, West Glamorgan
SA11 3AW
Open 1100-2300

Firebrick 4.2% best bitter
Witchunter 4.2% fruity ruby
Black 5.5% stout porter
The Biz 4.0% pale (topaz)
Warbow 4.5% pale (wilamette)
Hophazard 6.8% pale (chinook)
ABT 4.2 % fruity amber session (goldings)
Dewi Sant 4.8% pale (cluster)
Some guest breweries:
Cerddin (Maesteg)
Gower
Rhymney

No Green Bullet beer :-( but I'm sure Hophazard will make up for it!

Brains expands craft brewery

2013-05-01T16:25:00.002+01:00

Brains invests further in its Craft Brewery
Wales' largest real ale brewer, SA Brain and Co Ltd, announced that it is to invest further in its craft brewery infrastructure to meet the unprecedented demand in the first year of its operation.

The brewer will increase capacity of its craft brewery with the addition of another fermentation vessel and extra cold storage tanks which will enable the business to increase capacity.

Ian Beattie, Brand Manager at Brains, explains: “Since we launched the craft brewery last year we have been struggling to meet demand and have been overwhelmed by the positive consumer reaction for our craft brewery beers. Our brand is connecting with the target consumer and it is fundamental that we remain at the forefront of the emerging craft beer market in the UK. In order to achieve this we need more capacity and the investment will ensure that we are able to meet the increased demand.

Since the craft brewery commenced production we have brewed 22 new beers. Some have sold out in less than 40 minutes and two - Barry Island IPA and Boilermaker - have gained national distribution with Morrisons and Tesco.”

Last year Brains Craft Brewery ran ‘The Ultimate IPA Challenge’ with beer writers and bloggers, which was won by Boilermaker, a collaboration beer with Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland of Thinking Drinkers. This year ‘The Ultimate Continental Beer Challenge’ will see Pete Brown, Robyn Black, Sophie Atherton, Adrian Tierney-Jones, Des De Moor and Glenn Payne battle it out to be crowned the brewer of the ‘Ultimate Continental Beer’ in December 2013.

Bill Dobson, Head Brewer at Brains, added: “Since we opened the craft brewery last year we have concentrated on adding variety to our portfolio and engaging with consumers who are demanding quality beer from a brand they know and trust. Look out for a number of new beers that we will be taking to the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival in June and the Great British Beer Festival in August. ”

A couple of beer festivals this weekend

2013-04-26T13:21:00.001+01:00

Sorry for the lack of blog updates recently but as some of my readers already know I'm currently on crutches due to knee and ankle injuries. If that as not bad enough my right arm is now in a sling so typing is a bit difficult!

First beer festival is at the Pen & Wig, Newport, where Jacko is hosting one last festival before he leaves the pub. A range of beers on including a selection from Portobelo Brewery in London and one from Liverpool Organic. Festival starts today (Friday) at 5pm and is open all day Saturday when there will be live music on.

The other festival is at the Mid-Glamorgan CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Boars Head, Tyla Garw, Pontyclun. The pub is only a short walk from Pontyclun railway station and is well-worth visiting.

Golden Beers to feature at the Bunch

2013-04-09T21:32:00.000+01:00

The award-winning Bunch of Grapes pub in Pontypridd will be holding a Golden Ale Festival this Friday and Saturday with beers from Dark Star, Burton Bridge, Bristol Beer Factory, Monty’s, Red Squirrel, Hopback, Cerddin and of course, Otley Brewing Company.

LIVE MUSIC Friday 12th – 8.30pm

The Garth Mountain Boys
A 5/6 piece band consisting of a typical Bluegrass set up of guitar, banjo, mandolin and double bass with the addition of harmonica and dobro.
The music they play is an eclectic mix of traditional bluegrass songs and instrumentals, old and new Country, self – penned new songs and a selection of pop favourites – all arranged in a ‘Bluegrass’ style.
LIVE MUSIC Saturday 13th April – 8.30pm
Bethan Louise Horton
South Wales solo singer/songwriter playing Country and Pop Covers in her own style. Extremely talented young artist playing a relaxed, acoustic set in the bar

Now and Then - Former Salutation, Newport

2013-04-08T18:12:00.000+01:00

The Salutation was at 200 Commercial Road, Newport and was first mentioned in 1812. Owned by Hancock's Brewery, the roof of which can be seen in the old picture, to the right of the building.
Have previously covered the former Hancock's Brewery, Newport here.
The Salutation was demolished in 1963 to create the traffic island known as 'Gilligan's Island' that we see today. This was needed as part of the interchange for George Street Bridge.
There were plenty of other pubs nearby - immediately behind the photographer was the King William IV and the Prince of Wales is to the photographer's right with the Alma on the left of the photo and a couple of others Golden Hart and General Picton also nearby.

Weekend beer festivals

2013-04-05T11:27:00.002+01:00

For those of you not heading down to Swansea Bay Beer & Cider Festival, first, why ever not? Its the second biggest beer and cider festival in Wales and the beer and cider list are online, added to that the grandeur of the Brangwyn Hall is well worth seeing.

There are a few other festivals around South Wales this weekend:

First up, the Hollybush in Draethen near Machen is holding a festival starting today (Friday) at 5pm and continuing on until Sunday. More details on their Facebook event page here. The pub is situated between Newport and Machen and the Number 50 Newport-Caerphilly-Bargoed bus stops in Lower Machen, at the top of the lane to the hamlet.
The Hollybush

Draethen
Lower Machen
Newport, NP10 8GB

Google Map:

View Larger Map

Next up in Cardiff

Artisan Brewery are back to holding their monthly open days at their brewery in Pontcanna.
ARTISAN BREWERY
183A KINGS RD
CARDIFF
CF119DF
According to Simon the brewer the following will be available:
*Bohemian Pilsner

*Bavarian Wheat
*Smoked Lager
*ALTbeer
*Midnight IPA

(we'll also have our house blended vintage cider, wine and soft-drinks for the non-beer drinkers).

We'll have some hot food - for cold fingers.

Upping the anti on last months mysterious Jaffle Sadwitches, we're going back for some toasted focaccia/panini style hot grub - all gourmet - as we do, with vegetarians considered also.

Our new - non ‘BARE NAKED’ brand is out there. We're a tad behind on the website and other bits and bobs (bare with us). But, we're sure you'll recognise the beer and the new PIPES brand in and around Cardiff as being the same tasty - all natural pint you've been enjoying these past 4 years.

As usual our BAR OPEN event is FREE to all.

Further East in Tintern, Meadow Farm, the home of Kingstone Brewery will be playing host to live music from 1830 hrs with band Western Skyline.
Meadow Farm

Tintern,
Chepstow,
Monmouthshire
NP16 7NX

And a bit of advanced notice if you fancy some beer and sausages on Wednesday 10th April in Cardiff, Gwdihw, that unusual little venue at the rear of Motorpoint Arena is holding a Beer & Sausage-Fest in association with the Bottle Shop from Roath. Should be an interesting evening!
Gwdihŵ Café Bar

6 Guildford Crescent
Off Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HJ

Try a selection of artisan beers including Brewers & Union Beast of the Deep, Goose Island IPA, Purple Moose Glaslyn and more, alongside a specially selected flavour-complementary sausage.

Chinese Take-away for Swansea Brewery!

2013-04-05T08:00:00.000+01:00

Swansea-based Tomos Watkin Brewery - are shipping their bottles to China and their beers will soon be available in Shanghai.

It’s another first for the Swansea based Hurns Brewing Company which now exports its award winning range of beers, lager and cider to Australia, USA, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

This latest deal was clinched after exhibiting on the Welsh Government stand at the Food and Hotel China 2012 trade show in Shanghai last November when the Tomos Watkin range went down a treat.

CEO Connie Parry said:"There was a huge amount of interest at the event and I am confident this is the start of a great relationship with our importers in China and the first of many orders. We are also following up leads from other interested parties we met out there. China was one of our target markets and has great potential so we are delighted to have secured our first order so soon after the trade mission. The exhibitions are proving to be invaluable for us and have literally opened doors to enable us to trade with countries from around the world. Without that support we simply would not have won this business".

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said, "The Welsh Government is supporting an extensive programme of trade missions and exhibitions worldwide to help and support businesses in Wales access new markets. I am delighted to hear of businesses like the Hurns Brewing Company benefiting from these events and winning orders and exporting to new countries. A consignment of Llanllyr SOURCE, a premium quality bottled water that comes from sources beneath certified organic fields near Lampeter, is also en route to Shanghai following a recommendation from Connie. Our new trading partners asked me to recommend a high quality supplier and as I have been on trade missions with Llanllyr Water I know the integrity of their products and had no hesitation in recommending them".

Best pubs in Wales 2013

2013-04-04T14:20:00.000+01:00

It's Community Pubs Month and as such CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, have released a list of the top pubs in Wales, selected by local branches and based on customer service, value for money, decor, customer mix, atmosphere and, of course, the quality of the beer!

Albion Ale House, Conwy, LL32 8FA.
Abercolwyn Branch
Druid Inn, Goginan, SY23 3NT
Bae Ceredigion

The Star, Talybont on Usk, LD3 7YX
Brecknockshire Branch

Gwaelod Y Garth Inn, South Glamorgan, CF15 9HH
Cardiff Branch
The Queens Hotel, Carmarthen, SA31 1JR
Carmarthenshire Branch

Coach and Horses, Chepstow, NP16 LN (Urban)
Gwent Branch
Star Inn, LLanfihangel Tor-y Mynydd, NP15 1DT (Rural)
Gwent Branch
*BEER FESTIVAL THIS FRIDAY 5th April*

Snowdonia Parc Brewpub, Waunfawr, LL55 4AQ
Gwynedd A Mon Branch

Boar's Head, Tyla Garw, Pontyclun, CF72 9EZ
Mid Glamorgan Branch

The Sportsman, Newtown, SY16 2AQ
Montgomeryshire Branch

Taberna Inn, Herbrandston, SA73 3TD
Pembroke Branch
The Fox, Ysceifiog, CH8 8NJ
Vale of Clwyd Branch

The Cross Inn, Cwmfelin, CF349LB
Vale of Glamorgan, Branch

The majority of these winning pubs will now move forward to CAMRA’s Regional Pub of the Year competition (announced in September) with the winner of that award standing a chance of winning CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year (announced in February 2014).
“Community Pubs Month is a month long celebration of the Great British Pub and its importance to the surrounding community. These winning pubs have been voted the best in their local areas by the local CAMRA members and are examples of the kind of well run and valued community pubs we hope to see more of throughout the UK.” Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive.
Community Pubs Month encourages pubs to organise events that will encourage more of the community to use them throughout April. The national campaign also encourages pubs to try different marketing ideas that they may have not tried before. CAMRA hopes the positive outcomes will help pubs in the future.
6,000 pubs across the UK have been sent a promotional packs and are involved in Community Pubs Month. A list of events that have been fed back to CAMRA and happening across Britain can be found here.

Continental Beer Challenge launched by Brains

2013-04-04T08:15:00.000+01:00

After the success of the IPA series of beers last year, Wales' biggest real ale brewer SA Brain, launch their 2013 challenge for 2013 with Continental beers.
The Challenge will see esteemed figures from the brewing industry come to the Brains Craft Brewery to brew their favourite continental style kegged beer.
The first in the series was brewed with the author Pete Brown. Pete came to the Brains Craft Brewery last week to brew a Belgian dubbel, a style of beer traditionally brewed by Trappist monks.
Other collaborators in the Continental Keg Challenge are Sophie Atherton, journalist and beer sommelier; Adrian Tierney-Jones, beer writer and journalist; Robyn Black, drinks editor of the Publican Morning Advertiser; Des de Moor, author of the CAMRA Guide to London’s Best Beer, Pubs & Bars and Glenn Payne, brewing maven.

The Continental Keg Challenge beers will be independently judged at the end of the year and the winning beer will become part of Brains’ beer festival programme.
Each limited edition beer will be available in Brains outlets. A full list of stockists is available here.
The first Annual Challenge held in 2012 was the Ultimate IPA which was won by Boilermaker. Boilermaker was brewed by Ben and Tom from Thinking Drinkers and will soon be available nationwide in Morrisons.

New brews at the Bottle Shop

2013-04-03T18:30:00.000+01:00

Okay not a very good picture but still trying to get used to my new Android phone!

Visited the Bottle Shop in Roath the other day, my first visit since August as Foursquare told me! Good to see there is now another cabinet for Welsh/Scottish beers including the full range of beers from Brains Craft Brewery, so if you missed any of the IPA series this is where to stock up. Only three bottles left of Tiny Rebel Chocoholic as well! Celt Silures was there along with Purple Moose and Untapped beers.
There was also an excellent selection of American beers, including my favourite US brewery, Flying Dog, not had a bad beer from them yet and they love their hops so always a brewery to seek out and try.

Also picked up my first couple bottles of Brewers & Union - an unfiltered lager and a wheat beer - the Steph Weiss was one of the best wheat beers I have ever tried - brewed in Bavaria by South African/Portuguese brewers. Must get around to trying the rest of the range.

Follow their blog for more details

The Bottle Shop

4 Pen-Y-Lan Road
Cardiff
CF24 3PF

Goolge Map:

View Larger Map

Swansea Beerex to feature more ciders than ever before this week!

2013-04-03T16:45:00.000+01:00

Its Swansea Bay Beer & Cider Festival this weekend and I have previously posted the provisional beer list here and below is the provisional cider and perry list - a lot more ciders and perries than before at this event, hence the name change! The change of date is due to the Brangwyn Hall being closed for a refurbishment this August, the usual time of the festival.

Festival is from Thursday 4th April to Saturday 6th April 2013

Open 1700-2300 Thursday 4th

12-2300 Friday 5th & Saturday 6th
Admission £5 (£3 CAMRA members) includes glass and programme. Please note: due to venue restrictions, imposed by on-going renovation work within the Guildhall buildings, no children can be admitted to the Festival this year. 18+ event only!

Bands:
The Brothel Creepers - Thursday 4th April 9pm
Afternoon in Paris - Friday 5th April 6pm
LAF - Friday 5th April 9pm
Nomads Duo - Saturday 6th April 4pm
Burghers - Saturday 6th April 7pm.

Provisional cider and perry list below:

Blindgranny Farm Blindfold
Blindgranny Farm Hallets
Blindgranny Farm Heart breaker
Blindgranny Farm National treasure
Bridge Farm perry
Broadoak premium perry
Butford farm perry
Chafford 'Hellishly Strong' cider
Chuclehead cider
Double vision Elderflower perry
Double vision Impeared Vision perry
Gower Heritage Perry
Gwatkins Kingston Black cider
Gwatkins Yarlington Mill cider
Gwynt-y-ddraig Ancient Warrior
Gwynt-y-ddraig Black Dragon
Gwynt-y-ddraig Dog Dancer
Gwynt-y-ddraig Farmers pride
Gwynt-y-ddraig Fiery Fox
Gwynt-y-ddraig Happy Daze
Gwynt-y-ddraig Haymaker
Gwynt-y-ddraig Pyder
Gwynt-y-ddraig Sweet
Gwynt-y-ddraig Two Trees
Hecks Kingston Black cider
Hecks Blakeney Red perry
Middle farm Little Red Rooster

Mr Whitehead Apples and pears
Mr Whitehead Blackberry cider
Mr Whitehead Boxing Dog
Mr Whitehead Devil's Device
Mr Whitehead Katy
Mr Whitehead Legbender
Mr Whitehead Midnight special
Mr Whitehead Rum Cask
Mr Whitehead Russet
Oakwood perry
Polygoon Vineyard cider
Portslade WILD THING
Rich's Farmhouse cider
Rich's Legbender
Rosie's Black Bart's cider
Rosie's Wicked Wasp cider
Sandford Orchard Bumbleberry cider
Sandford Orchard Shaky Bridge cider
Swallowfields Moody Old Cow cider
Swallowfields Wonky Donkey cider
Troggi Troggi cider C 7.1
Troggi Troggi perry
West Croft Janet'sJungleJuice
Wilkins Farmhouse cider
Wiscombe Suicider cider

Brains Boilermaker goes national

2013-04-03T14:34:00.002+01:00

Boilermaker, a collaboration brew between Welsh brewer Brains and Thinking Drinkers (aka Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham) will soon be available in Morrisons stores throughout the UK.

Above: Tom Sandham from Thinking Drinkers after winning the Brains IPA Challenge last year

Thinking Drinkers, award-winning beer writers and the brains behind the acclaimed comedic show ‘The Thinking Drinker’s Guide to Alcohol’, brewed the Penderyn-whisky based India Pale Ale with Brains in 2012 in their small craft brewery plant as part of Brains’ IPA Challenge. Boilermaker was crowned the winner of the Challenge by a panel of independent judges at an event in London in December.

This latest Morrisons deal will see the beer stocked in over 320 stores nationwide.

Boilermaker is the second Brains craft beer to gain national listings. Barry Island IPA, a 6% American-style IPA, is available nationwide in Morrisons and in Tesco.

Paul Harvey, head of retail multiple groups, said; “We are delighted that our major customers can see the opportunity that our craft beer range offers the beer category, and we are looking forward to working together to give new and existing consumers more and more variety underpinning our 130 years of brewing credentials”.

For a full list of stockists visit the Brains Craft Brewery stockists page here

TASTING NOTES
Boilermaker is a copper-coloured IPA brewed with Ben and Tom from Thinking Drinkers. Brewed with Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade and Willamette hops and matured with Penderyn whisky infused oak chips in casks from the distillery, the arts of distillation and brewing combine to create an epic Welsh IPA adorned with a fragrant citrus aroma, a touch of spice with hints of vanilla and a warm whisky finish.

Baa! Brains brew Lamb-ic Ale

2013-03-31T21:07:00.001+01:00

We've had horse in burgers so what will be the next culinary inspiration?
Press release from Brains below:

Brains’ craft brewery team has taken an interesting angle to their latest cask beer. Taking inspiration from the traditional lambic style of beer from Belgium, Lamb-ic has an added unique Welsh twist with the addition of finest Welsh lamb to the brew.

Brewed with malted barley, un-malted wheat and a blend of Fuggles and Golding hops, the beer has been matured for up to 12 months in open barrels with chops of finest lamb from the Welsh hills of Ceredigion. Open barrel fermenting allows Lamb-ic to be naturally fermented with wild yeasts that give lambic styles of beer their unique taste. A naturally cloudy, orange beer, Lamb-ic (5.3%) has a sour lemon juice beginning which blends into a deep richness from the lamb. Each pint will be served with mint sprinkles on top which adds fresh and herby notes to the pint.

The Brains craft brewery team were inspired by a trip to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver where they tried a hickory-smoked bacon porter. An increasingly popular type of beer in the US, the team set to it to brew their unique Welsh version.

Lamb-ic is the latest experimental brew from Brains’ 15 barrel brewery and follows a American White IPA, a Bavarian-style Weiss beer, a Czech style pilsner, and a coconut porter.

The beer will be available in 30 Brains pubs from Friday 5th April. For a full list of stockists visit www.brainscraftbrewery.com/find-our-beer

Easter Beer Festivals in South Wales

2013-03-29T07:44:00.001Z

Just a quick roundup of what's occuring this weekend

First up is the Coach in Bridgend with their third annual beerex. Beers available:

Tiny Rebel Brewing Co 'Coach Cwtch'' & 'Hadouken'
Wye Valley 'Dorothy Goodbody's
Springtime Ale'
Cerddin Brewery 'Solar'
Skinners 'Hunny Bunny'
Great Yorkshire Brewery
'Golden'
Milk Street 'March Madness'
Williams Bros 'Roisin' 'Seven
Giraffes'
Arbor Ales 'Brown Beer Dammit'
& 'Neomexicanus'
Arbor/Bristol Beer Factory
'English IPA'
Saltaire 'Elderflower'
Coach House 'Rabbit Punch' &
'Gingernut'
Black Hole 'Milky Way' 'Super
Nova'
East London Brewing
'Nightwatchman'
Traditional Scottish Ales 'Ben
Nevis'
Otley 'O7 Weissen

Next to Cardiff where Fire Island are holding a beer and meat weekend

Beer list:
Beat Box - Tiny Rebel
Cwtch - Tiny Rebel
Jamboree - East London
Brewing Comp.
Pale Ale- East London Brewing
Comp
Illusion - Moor
Revival - Moor
Directionless - Red Willow
Wreckless - Red Willow
Beat Red - Revolutions
EP Session Pale - Revolutions
Guest keg this week is
Brooklyn Lager!

Also heard a rumour that the White Cross, Groeswen, Caerphilly is holding a beer festival this weekend but there is nothing on their website to say so
http://www.thewhitecrossinn.co.uk/

One of my nearby pubs

2013-03-24T16:03:00.001Z

I'm fortunate in having a few pubs close to where I live, unfortunately most are pretty shit, the Man of Gwent in Newport being no execption. This visit is only my second in two years, which beats my usual record of once every 4 years.
Popped in on a Sunday afternoon to find the place packed and feral kids running wild throughout the pub. Only one beer on, an average pint of Wells Bombardier at £2.85/pint and, according to the staff a 50 minute wait for food. The pub is a former Courage/pubco that went bust pub, now operated by Flaming Grill Pub Co. The one redeeming feature of the place is free WiFi via The Cloud.
Apparently, the pub held a beer festival last year but it was not very successful as they failed to tell anyone about it! Hint for Flaming Grill Pub Co there are 2 beer-guzzling hacks who live 10 minutes walk away from the pub and would be happy to support your beer festival if we knew about it! It was not even mentioned in the email newsletter sent out by the pub!
Rant over!

Swansea Beer Festival Beer List

2013-03-12T11:51:00.000Z

What? Already time for another Swansea Bay Beer & Cider Festival? But it's not Summer yet!

Well the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea will be closed for a refurbishment this Summer so the second-biggest CAMRA beer festival in Wales will be held in April this year on the 4th, 5th and 6th April (Thurs-Sat), with over 100 real ales, ciders and perries.
Open 1700-2300 Thursday 4th
12-2300 Friday 5th & Saturday 6th
Admission £5 (£3 CAMRA members) includes glass and programme. Over 18s only due to venue restrictions.
Bands:

Cakehole Presley - Thursday 4th April 9pm
Afternoon in Paris - Friday 5th April 6pm
LAF - Friday 5th April 9pm
Nomads Duo - Saturday 6th April 4pm

Burghers - Saturday 6th April 7pm.

Provisional Beer List & Tasting Notes. NB may be subject to change!
ART BREW, North Chideock, Dorset, England. (artbrew.co.uk)

Spanked Monkey 6.4% SB

A proper I.P.A., so stuffed with hops it will make your tongue tingle. This

spanked version has root ginger and chilli added to the cask

BLACK JACK, Manchester, England.

Double Bluff 4.8% B

Started last year, Black Jack ales are brewed by Rob Hamilton, of ex Marble

fame. Double Bluff is an amber ale with full aroma and bitter notes.

New Deck 4.2% G

Traditional golden bitter, hopped largely with Goldings

BRAINS, Cardiff, Wales. (sabrain.com)

Barry Island IPA 6.0% SB

Brains Craft Brewery: an American style IPA brewed using three types of US hops

Dark 3.5% M

Treacle-coloured, brewed with Chocolate malt; hints of liquorice and ground coffee.

Milk Wood 4.3% B

The unique character of rye crystal and malted oats brings russet red colouring and smooth toffee, poetically balanced by a crisp bitterness from Goldings hops.

Reverend James 4.5% B

Full-bodied and warming. Rich spicy aromatic palate with a deeply satisfying finish.

SA Gold 4.3% G

Full-flavoured hoppy golden ale with complex refreshing citrus aromas and flavours.

BRASS CASTLE, Pocklington, East Yorkshire, England. (brasscastlebrewery.co.uk/)

Bad Kitty 5.5% PS

A chewy chocolate vanilla dream of a porter.

BRECON BREWING, Brecon, Powys, Wales. (breconbrewing.com)

Genesis 2:ii Imperious Beacons 7.5% PS

The Imperial Welsh Stout – velvety smooth, deep black and with hints of smoky

coffee, toffee and luscious Black Forrest gateaux.

Three Beacons 3.0% B

Pale golden APA remarkably full flavoured and extensively hopped a beer that truly defies its strength.

BRISTOL BEER FACTORY, Bristol, England. (bristolbeerfactory.co.uk/)

Acer 3.8% G

A low alcohol beer with a huge hop kick to it (Soracchi Ace); ripe tangerines,

resinous hops and a blast of citrus play around on a solid bready malt backbone.

Southville Hop 6.5% SB

American inspired IPA, heavily hopped. Big sweet malt backbone, followed by a

wash of tropical fruits; long, moreish resinous bitter finish. SIBA 2011 reg’l winner

BRYN CEYLN, Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, Wales.

Oh Boy 4.5% B

An enticing golden colour with a taste full of hops and fruit. Winning Best

Bitter at the 2012 Great Welsh.

Sleeping Giant 4.3% B

A light amber beer, with a smooth bitter taste and floral spicy hop aroma.

BULLMASTIFF, Cardiff, Wales.

Son of a Bitch 6.0% SB

Amber-coloured, rich and warming. A complex blend of malt, hops and fruit

with good bitterness and lasting finish.

BUTCOMBE, Bristol, England. (butcombe.com)

Blonde 4.4% G

A refreshing golden bitter brimming with citrus hops and fruit

CELT EXPERIENCE, Caerphilly, Wales. (theceltexperience.co.uk)

Cat Scratched Celt 4.9% S

Modern, citrus and angry tropical notes. Enjoy a Shanghai experience!

Silures 4.6% B

Powerful and deep bodied pale-amber ale with fruit aromas. A balance of flavour

malts and Pacific and Alantic hops result in a massive beer with bitterness, sweet

vanilla maltiness and a blend of citrus passion fruit and mango on the finish.

CERDDIN, Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. (cerddinbrewery.co.uk)

Cwrw Tri 4.5% M

A dark, easy drinking ale, somewhere in between bitter and mild. Mainly coffee

and chocolate with liquorice on the front, with a dark and malty finish.

WPA 4.0% B

A 19th century Welsh Pale Ale recipe, brewed to re-hydrate the heavy industrial

workers. Uses traditional ingredients to deliver a fruity finish with lots of hops.

COTSWOLD SPRING, Chipping Sodbury, Glos., England. (springbrewery.co.uk)

Ambler 3.8% B

Agreeably smooth session beer with a lovely long palate. A good malty start is complemented with a well rounded hoppy finish.

OSM (Old Sodbury Mild) 3.9% M

Complex 7 grain mild. Initially dry with a bitter sweetness. Chocolatey notes and

a long finish. SIBA Supreme National Champion 2011 and Mild winner 2012.

Stunner 4.0% G

A straw coloured ale with mouth-filling malt complemented by a lovely tropical

fruitiness on the nose and palate, and a long refreshing finish

CROUCH VALE, Chelmsford, Essex, England. (crouchvale.co.uk)

Brewers Gold 4.0% G

A pale, refreshing and hoppy beer with gorgeous aromas of tropical fruits

DARK STAR, Partridge Green, Sussex, England. (darkstarbrewing.co.uk)

American Pale 4.7% G

Maris Otter malt complements the crisp taste and full aroma of the hops.

Hophead 3.8% G

Pale golden ale, strong floral aroma and elderflower notes

EVAN EVANS, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (evanevansbrewery.com)

Archers Old Glory 4.5% B

Fruity hop aroma, mouth-filling dark amber bitter with a spicy full fruit

bitterness. A classic premium ale for the winter international rugby season

W H Buckley Wrecker 4.4% B

An exciting beer brewed with light malt. Amber in colour, light and fruity,

with a dry, clean bitter finish

EVERARDS, Narborough, Leicestershire, England. (everards.co.uk)

Tiger 4.2% B

Chestnut brown in colour; spicy hop aromas with toffee undertones.

FULLERS, Chiswick, London, England. (fullers.co.uk)

ESB 5.5% SB

A liquid legend – winner of three CAMRA Beer of the Year awards, among

numerous other gold medals.

GOWER, Oldwalls, Gower, Swansea, Wales. (gowerbrewery.com)

Gower Gold 4.5% G

Thirst quenching golden ale, refreshing citrus flavours and the lovely aroma

of Cascade hops.

Lighthouse 4.5% S

A light thirst quenching continental style lager packed with flavour.

Gower Power 5.5% SB

Brewed with traditional floor malted barley and packed full of choice quality hops

to give a powerful Welsh example of a true British classic – Indian Pale Ale.

Gower Rumour 5.0% SB

Brewed with traditional floor malted barley and packed full of choice quality hops

to give a powerful Welsh example of a true British classic – Indian Pale Ale.

GREEN JACK, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. (green-jack.com)

Baltic Trader 10.5% PS

An Extra Strong Export Stout. Smooth, rich and fruity with roasted coffee &

vanilla flavours.

GREY TREES, Red Cow Pub, Aberdare, Wales. (www.theredcowpub.com)

Diggers Gold 4.0% G

A golden, hoppy ale, brewed with American Citra Cascade and further dry hopped

for a full aroma. Brewed at the Mid and South Wales pub of the year 2012

JPR Pale Ale 4.6% B

A crisp golden ale with a lovely aromatic flavour.

HARVEYS, Lewes, East Sussex, England. (harveys.org.uk)

Sussex Best Bitter 4.0% B

A superbly balanced session bitter with a prominent hop character.

HARVIESTOUN, Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. (harviestoun.com)

Schiehallion 4.8% G

A true pilsner-style beer; dry, crisp, refreshing and flavoursome.

HEART OF WALES, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales. (neuaddarmshotel.co.uk)

High as a Kite 10.5% BW

When Bass (or Coors) stopped making their No1 Barley Wine, Heart of Wales had

a go. This potent brew was Supreme Champion Beer at the Great Welsh in 2012.

Welsh Black 4.4% PS

A fine, complex, particularly smooth stout, full of flavour with notes of liquorice.

Winning Stout and No 2 beer overall after High as a Kite at the Great Welsh 2012.

HOGS BACK, Tongham, Surrey, England. (hogsback.co.uk)

T.E.A. Traditional English Ale 4.2% B

A deep golden colour, TEA is refreshing, hoppy and well balanced.

KELHAM ISLAND, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. (kelhambrewery.co.uk )

Pale Rider 5.2% G

Well balanced strong and fruity ale flavoured with North American Hops.

KITE, Gorslas, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (thekitebrewery.com)

CPA (Carmarthenshire Pale Ale) 4.1% G

A blonde ale with fruit and sweet malt, followed by a refreshing dry finish.

Kite are currently relocating to Llantrisant.

Cwrw Gorslas 4.0% B

An accomplished balance of spicy resinous hop aroma. The bitterness remains

into the finish with dry fruit notes. Champion beer Carmarthen festival 2011.

MIGHTY OAK, Malden, Essex, England. (mightyoakbrewery.co.uk)

Oscar Wilde 3.7% M

A wonderfully mellow, moreish dark mild. Champion beer of Britain 2011

MONTY’S, Montgomery, Powys, Wales. (montysbrewery.co.uk)

Midnight Stout 4.0% P/S

Dark creamy stout, full of dark fruit and roasted malt flavours. Silver winning

stout at the 2012 Great Welsh.

MOORHOUSE’S, Burnley, Lancashire, England. (moorhouses.co.uk)

Blonde Witch 4.5% G

Moorehouse’s first ever “blonde” ale. This beer is as light as you get with a

lager colour (minus the bubbles).

Pendle Witches Brew 5.1% SB

Full-flavoured with a crisp sweet fruity aftertaste and soft citrus nose.

NEATH, Baglan, Neath-Port Talbot, Wales. (neathales.co.uk)

Dewi Saint 4.8% B

A very pale ale brewed with a single variety cluster hop. Fruity and easy

drinking with “enough hops to make it interesting”.

Firebrick 4.2% B

An Amber Best Bitter. Crystal malt soon gives way to classic British hop

flavour and bitterness.

Hophazard 6.8% SB

An amber ale, brewed with an outrageous amount of hops.

NETHERGATE, Clare , Suffolk, England. (nethergate.co.uk)

Umbel Magna 5.0% P/S

Coriander added to Old Growler wort to give a spicy, deep ruby porter

OAKHAM, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. (oakhamales.com)

Attila 7.5% BW

Fruit and elderflower aroma, with citrus and berry taste leading to a

bitter fruity finish.

Bishops Farewell 4.6% B

A strong premium beer of structured quality, dominated by elaborate fruity

hop notes, with a grainy background and dry finish.

OAKLEAF, Gosport, Hampshire, England. (oakleafbrewing.co.uk)

I Can’t Believe it’s not Bitter 4.9% S

Clean and crisp with a fruity aftertaste, a lager with a citrus finish that lingers on.

OTLEY, Pontypridd, Wales. (otleybrewing.co.uk)

O4 Columb-O 4.0% G

Pale golden ale with high bitterness and aromas of green grass and herbs. Runner

up to Croes-O in the Golden Ale category at the Great Welsh 2012.

O5 Gold 5.0% G

Light bodied golden ale using Lager malt and lightly hopped with Amarillo and

Pioneer

O-Garden 4.8% S

A clear wheat beer spiced with roasted orange peels, coriander and cloves. Good

hop aromas with a subtle bitterness. Runner up Specialty Beer Great Welsh 2012.

Oxymoron 4.2% S

Black IPA style bitter. Rich, dark chocolate flavours and a lasting bitter aftertaste

PIXIE SPRING, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. (pixiespring.com)

Deliverance APA 4.5% B

Pale/Straw Coloured American Pale Ale. hops, hops and even more hops, a taste

of Hillbillies and Blue grass to make you squeal like a pig!

Kraken’s Revenge 6.0% PS

An Imperial Russian Stout infused with Demerrera sugar and Kraken Premium

Rum, promised to deliver a strong and unforgettably quaffable taste temptation.

Not for the faint hearted!

PURPLE MOOSE, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales. (purplemoose.co.uk)

Dark Side Of The Moose 4.6% B

A delicious dark ale with a deep malt flavour from roasted barley and a fruity

bitterness from Bramling Cross hops. SIBA Wales & West 2013 Gold: Old Ales

Ysgawen 4.0% S

A refreshing pale ale brewed using Casade hops with the added indulgence of

elderflower. SIBA Wales & West Silver overall 2012, Gold: Specialty 2012/13

QUERCUS DEVON ALES, Kingsbridge, Devon, England. (quercusdevonales.com)

Shingle Bay 4.2% G

Light, easy drinking, fruity citrus aroma & flavour giving a subtle, crisp refreshing

bite. Smooth taste, crisp revitalising finish. CAMRA Devon best beer 2012

RCH, West Hewish, Somerset, England. (rchbrewery.com)

East Street Cream 5.0% SB

Enigmatic full bodied beer with malty hoppy fruit bitter with a sweet taste, all

vying for dominance in this complex well crafted premium chestnut coloured ale.

Old Slug 4.5% PS

A traditional near-black porter, full-bodied with tastes of chocolate, coffee,

blackcurrants & black cherry.

Pitchfork 4.3% G

A golden bitter with floral citric hop aroma. It has a hoppy predominate taste

which is slightly sweet and fruity and leaves you wanting more.

RED WILLOW, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. (redwillowbrewery.com)

Headless 3.9% B

Refreshingly floral Pale Ale with a restrained orange-led bitterness and a light,

straw-hued colour.
Wreckless 4.8% B

Pale Ale loaded with Citra and Amarillo hops providing massive amounts of

tropical fruit with a clean finish.

RHYMNEY, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. (rhymneybreweryltd.com)

Dark 4.0% M

Champion Beer of Wales 2011, hopped like a true stout, although actually a mild

Export 5.0% SB

A heady flavour from a combination of carefully hand mixed malts, provides

an ale of exceptional character. Full bodied yet rounded, eminently quaffable.

SADLERS, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England. (sadlersales.co.uk)

Hop Bomb 5.0% SB

A powerful India Pale Ale, brewed with American Amarillo and Citra Hops. A

balanced malt sweetness supports the epic hop aroma and flavour explosion.

SALTAIRE, Shipley, Yorkshire, England. (saltairebrewery.co.uk)

Blackberry Cascade 4.8% S

American style pale ale with the floral aromas and strong bitterness of Cascade

and Centennial hops, infused with a hint of blackberries

Elderflower Blonde 4.0% S

A refreshing blonde ale delicately infused with the flavour of elderflower.

Raspberry Blonde 4.0% S

Refreshingly blonde ale delicately infused with raspberry flavours.

SARAH HUGHES, Dudley, West Midlands, England. (sarahhughesbrewery.co.uk)

Dark Ruby Mild 6.0% M

Clear fruitiness in the aroma, followed by sweet maltiness and slightly bitter finish.

SIX BELLS, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, England. (sixbellsbrewery.co.uk)

Cloud Nine 4.2% G

Robust, well hopped beer, having citrus notes throughout its aroma, flavour and

dry lingering finish.

ST AUSTELL, St Austell, Cornwall, England. (staustellbrewery.co.uk)

Proper Job 3.7% G

A powerfully hopped golden bitter that explodes with citrus grapefruit flavours

SURREY HILLS, Dorking, Surrey, England. (www.surreyhills.co.uk)

Shere Drop 4.2% B

Pale with subtle hint of grapefruit & lemon in aroma. Wonderful hop bitterness is complemented by a balanced malt flavour. Long finish, which is moderately dry.

SWANSEA, Bishopston, Swansea, Wales. (swanseabrewing.co.uk)

Bishopswood Bitter 4.3% B

A delicate aroma, balanced taste, with bitterness growing in the finish.

Deep Slade Dark 4.0% B

Dark bitter, with a roasted barley flavour.

Original Wood 5.2% SB

Full-bodied, with complex flavours with and a firm bitter ending.

Three Cliffs Gold 4.7% G

Golden beer, with a hoppy, fruity taste and quenching bitterness.

TATTON, Knutsford, Cheshire, England. (tattonbrewery.co.uk)

Blonde 4.0% G

A blonde beer with a hoppy fruity taste and a fine fruity aroma.

Gold 4.8% G

A full-tasting, satisfying deep golden ale.

White Queen 4.2% S

A Belgian white, naturally cloudy Wheat beer, spiced with coriander, Curacao

orange peel, and cardamom - reputed to have aphrodisiac properties.

THORNBRIDGE, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. (thornbridgebrewery.co.uk)

Jaipur IPA 5.9% SB

A citrus dominated IPA, immediate impression is soft & smooth yet builds to a

crescendo of massive hoppiness accentuated by honey. An enduring, bitter finish.

TIMOTHY TAYLOR, Keighly, West Yorkshire, England. (timothytaylor.co.uk)

Landlord 4.3% B

A Classic Strong Pale Ale with a complex and hoppy aroma, Landlord has

won more awards nationally than any other beer.

TINY REBEL, Newport, Gwent, Wales. (tinyrebel.co.uk)

Cwtch 4.6% B

Hop from the US go into this red ale, refreshing zesty, citrus taste and

a light summer aroma.

Dirty Stop Out 5.0% P/S

9 malts go into this complex stout. Dark, with hints of smokiness & perfume aromas.

Urban IPA 5.5% G

A golden-brown IPA packed with hops from Germany, US and Slovenia

TOMOS WATKIN, Llansamlet, Swansea, Wales. (tomoswatkin.com)

Blodwen 4.5% B

Light crisp refreshing ale with a fruit aroma and easy on the palette.

Cwrw Haf 4.2% G

A blend of golding, fuggle and cascade hops. Refreshing zesty, citrus taste and

a light summer aroma.

OSB (Old Style Bitter) 4.5% B

Deep amber, full-bodied with good bitterness and a clean, lasting finish.

VIOLET COTTAGE, Gwaelod Inn, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff, Wales (www.gwaelodinn.co.uk)

Cardiff Pride 4.5% B

Brewed at Cardiff’s Pub of the Year this mid-brown ale has medium bitterness

and body with a bitter finish.

WAEN BREWERY, Caersws, Newtown, Wales. (thewaenbrewery.co.uk)

Blackberry Stout 3.8% PS

Full flavoured stout, distinctive bitter hop at back of the palette and fruity lift in the finish

First of the Summer Waen 3.9% B

Floral and malty dark gold ale

WYE VALLEY, Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England. (wyevalleybrewery.co.uk)

Butty Bach 4.5% G

A burnished gold premium ale. Full bodied, smooth and satisfying.

Dorothy Goodbody’s Golden Ale 4.2% G

A crisp and zesty beer, brewed with Maris Otter pale malt, with the succulent

aroma of the two finest English hop varieties, Goldings and Fuggles.

HPA 4.0% B

HPA is a truly delightful pale ale. It's smooth on the palate, and boasts a citrus

hop aroma leading to a balanced bitter finish.

Best pub in Newport for sale

2013-03-08T11:47:00.002Z

The Pen & Wig in Newport is for sale with Sidney Phillips for £397,500 freehold. Not sure if that includes the website written in Comic Sans or not. Current leaseholder Richard Jackson has had enough of the trade and the high business rates charged by the council for a thriving business in what is the ghost town of Newport and owner Billy wants to spend his retirement in Spain, not dealing with his pubs. Over the past 2 years Richard has built the Pen & Wig up to be the premier pub in Newport with a fine range of real ales and ciders, and, of course being a great local outlet for Tiny Rebel Brewery amongst others. Also Richard has cleaned up the pub a lot, banning dozens of people for their behaviour or just being chavs, giving more profit to Tim Martin and Chaverspoons in whose pubs these people now reside.
The building needs some work on it, probably about £40k to bring it up to standard so the £397k price is over-optimistic to say the least. Still at least it has a few things going for it - a large car park at the rear, upstairs bar and City Centre location. Just wait and see if anyone is willing to invest in City Centre Newport as neither shops (Marks & Spencer have left the City Centre) or the Council want to invest.

Old advertising sign

2013-03-06T15:11:00.001Z

Sign in the Heath pub, Cardiff. This sign seems to have done the rounds of Brains pubs before settling down in here. It used to hang in the Duke of Wellington in the Hayes but before that it was in the notorious Custom House which used to be owned by the Burnham Brewery as a photo taken during WWII shows.

Dating it, well its probably later than 1892 but before 1901
The companies mentioned on it are:
Salt & Co, Buton-upon-Trent
Founded 1774, taken over by Bass in 1927 and brewing ceased. Became a public company on 1892.

Georges & Co
Founded c1730, acquired by Courage 1930. Became a registered company in 1888.
Davis, Strangman & Co Limited of Waterford
Founded 1792, closed 1948. Registered 1888.

Elliotts Aerated Water of Brighton
1871-1901

I think the sign has been altered in recent years and the name of the original brewery has been removed? The one at the top with the crown trade mark, oh well a lot more research required to identify the original brewery!

Fox and Hounds, Llanharry

2013-03-05T09:17:00.000Z

Fox & Hounds, Llanharan Road, Llanharry, CF72 9LL

Open all day

The Fox & Hounds is situated on the northern outskirts of Llanharry village, set back from the main road, with an useful bus stop outside for the Bridgend-Talbot Green service. Alternatively there are car parks to the front and sides of the pub.

Above: the pub in the 1960s when it was owned by Rhymney Brewery, note the Ely Brewery logo in the window, Ely was taken over by Rhymney in 1959

The pub was formerly owned by the Ely Brewery of Cardiff, then Rhymney and Whitbread Breweries before Enterprise Inns took it over. It was sold at auction in 2011 and it is now a free house. There has been a building on this site for many centuries as a couple of the doorways are likely to date from Tudor times. An even older drinking connection was found near to the pub in the 1920s - a beaker from a burial dating to around 4000 years ago. The pub has been added to and extended over the years so much that only traces of the original building are discernible in the pub we see today. The building is built out of the local iron-rich limestone that has an unusual pinkish-red tinge. The village was once home to one of the few iron-ore mines in Wales.

The entrance is via a central porch which immediately leads to the stone-flagged bar area and light oak bar counter. To the left of the bar is the restaurant area which features an etched glass partition with foxes and hounds on the glass panels. This leads through to the beer garden with swings and benches.

To the right of the bar is the oldest part of the building with a large fireplace with a wood burning stove in it. To the right of the fireplace, one of the old doorways can be seen with its curved top beam and old hinges on the door. Leather sofas and low tables make this a comfortable part of the pub to relax in.

The bar features four gleaming brass handpumps which feature an ever-changing range of real ales from breweries such as Otley, Dark Star, and Wye Valley. Otley Brewery of Pontypridd is the most regular brewery featured on the bar with O3, O-Rosie, Croeso and O4 all featuring on the pumps soon. There is also an extensive wine list and a good range of whiskies, including Penderyn.

Food is served all day, apart from Sunday when its served 12-4 and for which booking is advisable. The Fox & Hounds features an extensive menu with home-made pies and locally-sourced ingredients are used wherever possible. Chalkboard menus in the dining area show what daily specials are available.

The pub holds a quiz night every other Sunday.

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