Beer from Coal

A tweet this morning from someone I follow put me in the direction of this gem of a film. It was made in 1959 and is part of the British Film Institute archive.



The film features some great footage of Charringtons now demolished (1976) brewery in East London and the one big change from 50 years ago is the huge scale of the brewing that went on at the time. The mash tun and coppers are something you would see at Regional breweries only today and the manuel handling of the hop pockets would need a risk assessment today! . Open fermenters are still being used in the film,these are rarely used today. The cask washing of the wooden barrels is an eye opener for those of us who have only known metal casks and the bottling line is not shown not braking down every few minutes as one owned by a modern brewery I know does.
A great bit of history in this short film.

More from the BFI archive here on You Tube

True Taste Award Winners stand out at Tesco

From Brew Wales

In order to help its customers locate quality Welsh produce, Tesco is launching new signage in 29 superstores and 15 Tesco Extra stores right across Wales. Six award-winning True Taste producers, a Welsh Assembly Government brand, have been selected to feature on the new signage in Tesco supermarkets which will feature on shelves up and down the country. They include two of Wales' best breweries, Brains and Tomos Watkin.
Other food producers include Edwards of Conwy, Cadog, First Milk and South Caernarfon Creameries.
The Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, says, “One of the priorities of the Welsh Assembly Government is to make it easier for consumers to buy food and drink produced in Wales, and this new signage will significantly help in achieving that goal.
“Local sourcing of food and drink is one of our priorities as set out in One Wales and the Local Sourcing Action Plan. The Plan aims to support local food and drink producers as well as assisting them in their efforts to access local markets. The Plan also aims to help Wales maintain high standards in food safety, develop local food cultures and reduce “food miles”.”
The signage, which is of post-card size, will include some background information and a photograph of each producer along with the True Taste logo.
Mark Grant, Tesco’s Senior Buying Manager for Wales, explains, “These producers are producing award winning products that carry the True Taste logo, which are recognised by consumers and the food and drink industry as a sign of excellence.
“Our customer research tells us that people are increasingly looking out for regional and local produce and we are delighted to be able to offer them a wide range of local Welsh products.”

Statistics show that people are far more interested in food production, provenance and buying British than ever before. Research shows that 84% of customers claim they would buy more locally sourced products if made available to them in supermarkets and that 32% of people view local food as a way to take positive steps for the environment. Tesco launched a local sourcing initiative in 2008 and has 450 regional products in its Welsh stores. 

The Wales the True Taste Awards were founded in 2002 and are managed by the Welsh Assembly Government.  The awards scheme recognises and rewards quality and excellence in Welsh food and drink.  Year-on-year the True Taste Awards grow in strength and popularity and are regarded as the 'Oscars' of the Welsh food industry.  For further information about the Wales the True Taste awards please visit: www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk / www.truetaste.tv

Demolish the Vulcan?

From Brew Wales

Demolish the Vulcan? Well that was the headline in the Echo the other day as customer Alan Grainger attempted to plug his book that features the Vulcan.
He may not like the new customers in the pub, but it is now thriving every night whereas a few years ago it was closing at night due to lack of trade. The Vulcan is the last old building standing in the area and there are no more terraced houses for the foundry workers who originally frequented the area. The Vulcan has moved with the times, where once it slaked the thirsts of dehydated iron workers today thirsty media studies students from across the road crowd the small bar and lounge to quench their thirsts on pints of Brains SA and Bitter. Move with the times, that is what this successful old pub has done and the Brew Wales editor enjoyed a good night in there the other Monday, washing down a few pints of Brains Bitter, the best pint to be had of it in Cardiff.
Long may the Vulcan survive as the great little pub that it is.

There is also a response to Alan Grainger on the Save the Vulcan site here.

From Brew Wales

Brains launch Up and Under charity ale

From SA Brain:
A specially brewed ale to support a fundraising effort that will see 15 former Wales rugby captains climbing Kilimanjaro for lung cancer research, is on sale in Tesco's now..

‘Up and Over’ ale, from Welsh brewer Brains, has been created for the Brains SA Captains Climb, happening in September 2010. The 500ml bottle is being sold exclusively in all Welsh Tesco Extras and Superstores and is priced at £1.67 or 3 bottles for £4. 15p from each bottle sold will be donated to the challenge.

Last week saw six of the ex-captains, including Ieuan Evans, Rob Jones, Mark Taylor, Emyr Lewis, Bob Norster and Bleddyn Bowen, were in Tesco Talbot Green to launch the charity beer. The former captains also helped pack customers’ shopping bags to raise additional funds. Bob Nortser said: "Cancer is a disease that touches all our lives. When I was asked to take part in the climb I was more than happy to accept the invitation. It’s become an even bigger challenge as we approach the big day".

A specially brewed ale to support a fundraising effort that will see 15 former Wales rugby captains climbing Kilimanjaro for lung cancer research, will go on sale in Tesco supermarkets this week.

‘Up and Over’ ale, from Welsh brewer Brains, has been created for the Brains SA Captains Climb, happening in September 2010. The 500ml bottle is being sold exclusively in all Welsh Tesco Extras and Superstores and is priced at £1.67 or 3 bottles for £4. 15p from each bottle sold will be donated to the challenge.


Richard Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Brains said: "We’re delighted to be involved as headline sponsor of the climb. As a brewer we could think of no better way to support the cause than to create a charity beer, which we hope will raise thousands of pounds for the appeal."

Mark Grant, Tesco senior buying manager for Wales commented: "Tesco are delighted to be able to support Velindre Cancer Centre’s Stepping Stones appeal which will help raise awareness around lung cancer and the ongoing research required into the illness.’’

The event is the brainchild of WRU photographer Huw Evans. His wife Sue was diagnosed with lung cancer last year but is recovering after undergoing treatment. It is hoped the climb will raise £1m for Velindre Cancer Centre’s Stepping Stones appeal, which is designed to raise awareness about lung cancer and support research into the disease.

‘Up and Over’ will return to pubs in cask in May.

To support the Brains SA Captains Climb visit here


UP AND OVER TASTING NOTES:The name ‘Up & Over’ was the inspiration of Stephen Katchi who won a MediaWales newspaper competition to name the beer. ‘Up & Over’ is a fruity, light amber coloured beer. Fuggles, Goldings, Styrian Goldings and Cascade hops coupled with the unique Brains yeast and balanced malt flavours creates a deliciously refreshing pint guaranteed to be a high point in our ale range.

Golden Hart, Newport

The Golden Hart on Cardiff Road in Newport has only recently reopened and the new owners have made drastic improvements. Before the pub shut it had not served cask ale for years, about 15 years according to one source. Now there are up to 3 ales available with beers such as Jennings Snecklifter, Pedigree and Rev James. Now you may not think that's adventerous but for Newport it certainly is! Added to that cider from Troggi and Westons Old Rosie are also available on draught! Yes Newport finally has a pub offering draught real cider for the first time in years. The Golden Hart must be one of the smallest pubs in the City and will hopefully attract a good following to support the beers and ciders served in this bar. The pub is situated close to the town end of Cardiff Road, opposite the police station, with a bus stop outside.

White Hart Beer Festival

The White Hart pub in Machen, near Caerphilly will be hosting a beer festival this weekend and landlord Alan Carter has even brewed 2 special ales for the occaision. Empress Ale at 4.5% and Quarrymen at 5.5% will be two of the real ales on sale alongside others from around the United kingdom when this beer festival starts on Friday 5th Febuary.
Other ales are:
Breconshire Cribyn 4.5%
Evan Evans SBA 4.6%
Waen Festival Landmark 4.2%
Conwy Welsh Pride 4%
Nant Coryn 4.2%
Stonehouse Station Bitter 3.9%
Otley O Rosie - New Otley beer at the festival!
Monty's Equinox
Purple Moose Glaslyn
Newmans Red Castle Cream
Rhymney Scrum V
Bullmastiff Sloberchops
+ plus a few more. Most of the beers will be on the stillage in the rear room, others will be on the handpumps on the bar.

Journey planner:
Machen is easily reached from Newport or Caerphilly via the Number 50 bus


Below is some background information on the pub and the reason why there is a photograph of an ocean liner on the top of this post.

White Hart Inn, White Hart Lane, Nant-y-Ceisiad, Machen, Caerphilly, CF83 8QQ, 01633 441005 www.whitehartinn.org.uk

Open 11.30-2.30 (not Wednesday lunchtime), 1830-2300. Open all day Saturday and Sunday

Situated just off the Newport to Caerphilly road and next to the old railway line, the White Hart is one of the most unusual pubs in Wales. From the A468, follow the signs up the lane and under the railway bridge turn right into the large car park, the pub is there. An old 'Double Diamond' lantern hangs outside the pub which also features the pub name. The White Hart was built for the tramroad, now a cycle path and up to 1885 the pub was owned by the Morgans of Tredegar, a stag or hart's head appears on their coat of arms. Lord Tredegar leased the pub to the Griffiths Brothers brewery of Blaina who merged with Buchan's Brewery of Rhymney in 1929. It later became a free house.

On entering the pub there is a long wood-panelled corridor with the bar being entered at the end, through the doors on the left. The bar again features more wood panelling as well as an unusual oval painting on the ceiling. There are four brass handpumps dispensing real ales on the gleaming copper-topped bar. Real ales from around the United Kingdom are served, as well as more local beers from breweries such as Tomos Watkin and Otley. Beer festivals are held throughout the year, the next one starting on February 5^th  and continuing over the weekend. The White Hart is also home to Carter's Brewery, named after the landlord Alan Carter and his occasional brews feature at the festivals.

To the side of the main bar is another, smaller room, known as the Captain's room, again this is wood-panelled. The White Hart was redecorated in 1961 with wooden panelling and features from the ocean liner, the Empress of France that had been scrapped at Newport by Cashmore's in 1960. The Empress of France had been built in 1928 as the Duchess of Bedford and was owned by Canadian Pacific, plying the route between Liverpool and Montreal. These fittings give the pub an unique Art-Deco look. Opposite the bar is another room, this one used for functions as it has a separate bar. Here are more features from the Empress of France including a marble fireplace and a couple of corbels resting between the beams and walls of the room.

The White Hart offers an extensive menu with chalkboard specials, a good range of grills and seven different curries. The White Hart is a popular pub and features quiz nights on Sundays and darts nights on Mondays.


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Old Swan, Llantwit Major

Another good pub to pop into. Tonights offerings are Wye Valley HPA, Bowland Gold, Vale of Glamorgan Chocs Away and Lytham Dark. On the 5% Lytham Dark at the moment, a rich dark and chocolately beer with a bitter finish. Loving the stuff at the moment. Time for another.

Glantaff pub, Quakers Yard

From Drop Box

Glantaff Inn, Cardiff Road, Quakers' Yard, CF46 5AH

Bus Nos X78, 78 from Pontypridd-Merthyr Tydfil

The Glantaff is a two-story stone-built building, situated just uphill from the centre of Quakers' Yard. Situated not far from the Taff Trail, the Glantaff is close to a bus stop and there is a car park outside the pub.

The old Courage emblem of a cockerel hangs on the outside of the pub as well as  'Free House' in lettering underneath. The original name of Quakers' Yard was 'Rhyd y Grug' or 'Ford of the Rustling Waters' and the sound of the Bargoed Taff can still be heard rustling across the weir below the pub.

The interior of the Glantaff Inn features bare stone walls decorated with gleaming brasswork and some fascinating old photographs of the local area including the building of the Quakers' Yard viaduct and tunnel in the nineteenth century. Open fireplaces are also features in the pub, a welcoming warm fire or two are ideal for the winter nights.

Although there are only two bar servery areas, the internal layout with a central stairwell and a raised area to the rear offer distinct and different areas for drinkers and drivers to seek out and enjoy. The smaller lounge, to the side of the bar features boxing memorabilia on the walls, Jimmy Wide, World Flyweight champion 1916-21 was born nearby.

The ceiling of the bar and lounge is dominated by a collection of dozens old water jugs, some of which bare the names of long-gone breweries and distilleries such as Buckley's Brewery and Booth's gin. The bar itself is a reminder of the 1970s as it features a tiled roof on it, a throwback to the late 1960s/1970s pub refurbishments of which very few survive in any amount.

The permanent real ale on the bar is Bevan's Bitter from the Rhymney Brewery at Dowlais, a 4.2% mid-brown malty bitter and guest ales from as far away as Hydes in Manchester or Batemans Lincolnshire regularly feature on the bar as well. Real ales from the Tudor Brewery in Abergavenny have also been seen on the handpumps recently. The wooden bar itself features intricately carved heads and looks a bit too well-designed for a pub bar, it turns out that it was made from wooden panelling salvaged from a country house in Gloucestershire, certainly a bit of a surprise to find in a Welsh pub.

Food is served from a comprehensive menu between 12-2 and 6-9.

More on the history of Quakers Yard at Welsh Icons here

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Journey Planner

Back the Pub - Early Day Motion

From Brew Wales

A quick look at the Early Day Motions (EDMs) tabled by our Westminster politicians comes up with this one from the Chair of the Parliamentary Beer Group John Grogan MP and signed by Nigel Evans MP the Vice-Chair of the Group so it has cross-party support. To date 21 MPs have signed the motion so have a read of the motion and then please consider writing to your MP, asking them to sign this EDM and support the campaign to Back the Pub.

EDM 687

I'M BACKING THE PUB CAMPAIGN

21.01.2010

Grogan, John

That this House welcomes the I'm Backing the Pub campaign by the British Beer and Pub Association, Society of Independent Brewers and supported by the Campaign for Real Ale, the Confederation of British Industry, Visit Britain, British Hospitality Association, Local Government Association, Central Council of Physical Recreation and UK Music to promote British pubs and British beer; believes that pubs lie at the social heart of communities across the country, employ more than half a million people across the UK, and provide an important contribution to national income; recognises the social benefits of the responsible enjoyment of lower-strength drinks like beer; and notes that with more than 50 pubs closing every week it is vital that the Government, industry, local authorities and others work together to support a quintessentially British institution and Britain's national drink as part of efforts to enhance community life and promote economic recovery.

A good one to get your local MP to sign up for so please write to your local MP asking them to sign EDM 687 and support the British Pub.

Your MP

House of Commons 

London

SW1A 0AA 

Unfortunately my MP, being a PPS refuses to sign EDMs, however she will still b receiving a letter off me!

There is also a Back the Pub video

Cottaging in the Ernest Willows

For those of you who like the beers from Cottage Brewery in Somerset, the Ernest Willows in Cardiff is holding a "Meet the Brewer" night on Friday 29th January from 1900 hrs onwards. A range of beers from Cottage Brewery will be also be available throughout the week.
Seems there is an adventerous manager in this Wetherspoons pub on City Road. Good luck to him and the brewery, this Meet the Brewer night is becoming a regular monthly fixture at this pub, next month Wickwar Brewery are being featured.

Dick Emery in 1970s Newport Pub

Spent part of the weekend digitising some old family photos and this one came to light, taken in the 1970s it shows comedian Dick Emery washing up glasses behind the bar of the Six Bells in Newport, much to the amusement of landlord Eric Read. It turns out that Dick was doing a show near Usk and had popped into the Six Bells on Stow Hill for a lunchtime drink and started joking with the regulars, at which the landlord suggested he might as well work behind the bar, so Dick started to serve customers and even helped clear up when the pub shut in the afternoon.

Also if you look at the photo, you can see how much pubs have changed since the 1970s; the cigarettes openly on sale behind the bar, the three Martini Bottles on optics,not sure if there are even three varities of Martini available today?

For younger readers, Dick Emery was the comedian of 1970s television and its also a good excuse to embed a couple of clips found on You Tube:

Wheatsheaf Beer Festival - first for Llantrisant!

The historic town of Llantrisant in Mid-Glamorgan will be playing host to a beer festival this weekend and also the first commercial brewery in the town for nearly a century.

The Wheatsheaf Hotel, owned by Celt Experience Brewery is their brewery tap and this first beer festival of the year will hopefully lead to others in the future.

DATES : 29th - 31st January 2010

FRIDAY : Meet the Brewer - Tasting - Live Music

 SATURDAY : Live Music

SUNDAY : Games etc ... including 'Sheep Racing' ??????

The beer list, subject to change, availabilty etc:

Roosters     Wild Mule    3.9    

White Horse    Village Idiot    4.1    

Highwood    Harvest Bitter    4.3    

Rudgate    Well Blathered    5.0    

Vale        Black Beauty Porter    4.3    

South Hams    Eddystone    4.8    

Black Country Ales    English Winter    5.5    

Summerskills    Guzzale    4.6    

Wolf    Coyote    4.3    57.63

Palmers    Dorset Gold    4.5    

Jarrow    Red Ellen    4.4  

PLUS :

approx. 5 more Welsh breweries to be featured ! 

Newmans Red Castle Cream
Newmans Red Stag
Newmans Last Lion of Britain
Celt Bleddyn 1075
Celt Golden
 

Also Available
Celt Golden, Celt Bronze and Celt Bleddyn 1075 in 500ml Bottle. 

Presentation Packs Also on Sale:
4 bottle pack £10,
3 bottle pack £7.50,
2 bottles and branded glass £5.

Wheatsheaf Facebook Group
Wheatsheaf Inn
High Street
Llantrisant
Pontyclun
Mid Glamorgan
CF72 8BQ
Tel: 01443 226481

Journey Planner Llantrisant is easily reached by bus from Cardiff and Pontypridd:
Bus Stop outside the pub!


Map:

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Cask Theft - readers vote

There is a problem with cask theft in Wales. Last year beer casks from Bullmastiff Brewery went missing from the pubs they were delivered to. Imagine the surprise when these casks later turned up at the pub in Penarth which is the brewery tap. Okay its a Wethersoons but does stock a couple of Bullmastiff beers. Anyway that is beside the point. What is important is that these missing casks were full of beer from another Welsh brewery. Yes, another brewery had taken these casks and had used them. There is a word for that, it is called theft. It was not just casks from Bullmastiff Brewery but from others such as Wye Valley and Spinning Dog breweries. Now the cask thief was a member of SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers but no longer appears on their website. Looks like SIBA have decided to clean up their organisation a bit and get rid of any dodgy members. Good on them. Now the vote - on the column on the right there is a chance to have your vote to say if cask thieves should be boycotted or not. Have your say and I will act on the result. News reaches the editor that a certain cask thief is up before the Welsh Assembly Beer Group at the end of the month. Would recommend that the tables and chairs are bolted down when he makes his exit, it should stop the thief from walking off with any more souvenirs!

Over 20,00 innocent people stopped by Gwent Police in one month

Only in the UK: today Gwent Constabulary have announced that they stopped 20,578 drivers in the Gwent Police Force area between December 1st and January 1st. 
Only 80 returned a positive breath test or refused/ failed to provide a breath test.
Now I'm not agreeing with drink driving here but to have over 20,000 innocent people stopped by the police is surly a waste of manpower and resources? With a 0.4% success rate surley there are better things for the Police to be doing with their time than harrassing the innocent.
Of course the Police, who today act no better than uniformed tax collectors hail this as "encouraging". Just what is encouraging about this - the fact that the vast majority of people stopped were innocent?

Still at least when Gwent Police are stopping innocent drivers they are not bothering to halt photographers under the so-called anti-terrorism laws - the Section 44 legislation. If anyone is in London on Saturday then can I suggest this little show to them. Old Holborn is meeting in the Chandos from 11.00 am. Looks like fun.

Welsh Breweries win awards at National Winter Ales Festival

Congratulations go to both Otley and Breconshire Breweries have have won awrds at the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester this week.

Breconshire Brewery won Gold in the Old Ale and Strong Mild Category with their Ramblers Ruin and also won the Silver medal in the overall compettion. Ramblers Ruin is described as a dark amber, malty and well hopped ale with a beautifully balanced aftertaste; a champion Old Ale. High percentages of Crystal and Black Malt create the malt/biscuit undertones; bitterness and aroma are provided by Goldings and First Gold amongst others.
 Previously Ramblers Ruin has won:
Gold Medal Winner,International Beer Challenge 2009
CAMRA's Champion Old Ale of Wales 2008

Otley Brewery won a Bronze Medal in the Barley Wine Category for their O8 beer, a former Champion Beer of Wales winner in 2008 and the 8% session beer * is described as pale golden strong ale. Deceptively smooth and drinker friendly, in moderation! Hoppy aromas and good bitterness with Willamette hops dominating.

The full list of winners is available here:
Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2010 - Winners List:

Old Ales and Strong Milds category
Gold- Breconshire, Ramblers Ruin (Brecon, Powys)
Silver- Leeds, Midnight Bell (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Bronze- Beartown, Black Bear (Congleton, Cheshire)

Porters category
Gold- Elland, 1872 Porter (Elland, West Yorkshire)
Silver- Sulwath, Black Galloway (Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway)
Bronze- RCH, Old Slug Porter (Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset)

Stouts category
Gold- Acorn, Gorlovka Imperial Stout (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)
Silver- Beowulf, Dragon Smoke Stout (Brownhills, Staffordshire)
Bronze- Wapping, Stout (Liverpool, Merseyside)

Barley Wines 
Gold- Robinsons, Old Tom (Stockport, Cheshire) 
Silver- Kinver, Over the Edge (Kinver, Staffordshire) 
Bronze- Otley, O8 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan)

OVERALL result 
Gold- Elland, 1872 Porter (Elland, West Yorkshire) 
Silver- Breconshire, Ramblers Ruin (Brecon, Powys) 
Bronze- Acorn, Gorlovka Imperial Stout (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)

The National Winter Ales Festival is in a new location this year:

"The Venue", Sheridan Suite, Oldham Road, Manchester, M40 8EA and is open until Saturday 23rd January.

More Information on the CAMRA Website

*NB O8 can be described as a session beer, just a very messy session!