Welsh cidermaker wins again

Gwynt y Ddraig, the Welsh Cider and Perry Company have today won two silver medals in the CAMRA National Cider Competition held at Reading Beer Festival. Black Dragon Cider and Two Trees Perry both won silver awards in their respective categories.
The full list of winners are:
Cider -
GOLD- Virtual Orchard, Hard Core (of
Wolverton, Buckinghamshire)
SILVER- Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon
(of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
BRONZE- Hartland, Sweet (of Tirley,
Gloucestershire)
Perry -
GOLD- Rathays, Painted Lady (of
Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
SILVER- Gwynt y Ddraig, Two Trees
(of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
JOINT BRONZE- Ralph ’s, Old Badland
(New Radnor, Powys) and Oliver’s,
Medium (of Ocle Pychard,
Herefordshire)
Press release from CAMRA:

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale,
has today announced the overall
winners of the National Cider and
Perry Championships 2011. The
competition is held annually at the
Reading Beer and Cider Festival,
Reading, Berkshire.
The winner of the Cider Gold Medal is
Virtual Orchards, Hard Core, which
the judges described as 'a bold,
flavoursome cider, eminently
drinkable, with a balanced, dryish finish.’
The winner of the Perry Gold Medal is
Rathays, Painted Lady which the
judges noted as ‘a sweet, pleasant
and refreshing perry, with a good
astringency and light fruitiness on
the aftertaste. ’
CAMRA's National Cider and Perry
Championship finals for 2011 in
Reading featured 24 ciders and 24
perries, from different regions of the
UK, and assessed on factors such as
aroma, flavour, finish, and overall
balance by a judging panel
consisting of publicans, drinks
writers and CAMRA members.
Laurence Conisbee, producer of
Virtual Orchard cider, was taken
aback on hearing news of winning
the national title. He said:
‘I’ve been aspiring to win this
accolade for a few years now, and it’s
absolutely amazing to achieve this.
I ’m gobsmacked! My champion cider
is the result of a 2009 harvest, which
is when I re-started cider making
after first getting involved in
production 15 years ago. This is a
pleasing return to cider making !’
the results of the Perry competition,
Jenny Blackmore, of Rathays, said:
‘We are absolutely thrilled and
delighted and it’s so nice to know
people are drinking and enjoying
what we produce. ’
Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider
and Perry Committee chair, praised
the variety of this year ’s entrants.
She said:
‘One of the things that struck me was
the range of tastes and the strong
attention to detail in the choice of
apples. The competition this year
was very tight and of a very high
standard, and we are seeing an
increased range of flavours, better
blending, and all round choice on
show each year. ’

Beer Festivals in South Wales this weekend

Another busy week for beer lovers in South Wales:
Friday sees the Artisan Brewery of Pontcanna have one of their popular 'Bar Open' days.

Other festivals are being held at:

Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd, CF37 4DA

Red Cow, Llwydcoed, Aberdare, CF44 0YE

Brynffynon Hotel, Llanwonno, CF37 3PH

Capel, Gilfach Fargoed, CF81 8LW

Birchgrove, Cardiff, CF14 4AE

Rose & Crown, Nottage

Hen & Chickens, Flannel Street,
Abergavenny. Real Ale, Cider &
Sausage Festival. (Apr 29-May 2)
Featuring the following ales & ciders:
BEERS: Skinners - Betty Stoggs; Fullers
- London Pride; Ilkley - Ilkley Black;
Brains - Royal Celebration Ale;
Batemans - Willys Crown Jewels;
Hydes - Jekylls Gold; Camerons -
White Rabbit; Wadworths - St George
and the Dragon. CIDERS: Moles - Black
Rat; Westons - 1st Quality; Westons -
Traditional Scrumpy; Westons - Old
Rosie.

The Greenhouse, Llantarnam,
Cwmbran, NP44 3BP (Apr 28 - May 2)


Cefn Mabley Arms, Michaelstone-y-
Fedw CF3 9SX (Apr 29-May 1)

Golden Lion, The Square, Magor
NP26 3HY (Apr 29 - May 2)

Chepstow pub celebrates the Royal Wedding

The Gwent CAMRA Town Pub of the Year, the Coach & Horses in Chepstow has decided to celebrate the Royal Wedding in an unique manner today. I think they will be a bit busy today!

Capel beer festival this weekend

The historic Capel in Gilfach Fargoed will be holding their annual beer festival this weekend, Friday 29th-2nd May 2011. It's a big 10 year anniversary for this award-winning pub.

Beer list:
Wye Valley (Hereford)         May Queen         3.5%       Dark full bodied mild ale
Golden Valley (Hereford)      Hay Bluff            3.7%       Pale session bitter
Breconshire                        Brecon Co          3.7%       Trad' South Eastern bitter , pale amber
Slaters   (Staffs)                 Monkey Magic     3.8%      Mild
Burton Bridge (on Trent)      Golden Delicious  3.8%      Dry Bitter Finish, Pale straw colour 
Brewsters  (Linc's)              Ruby Cubed        4.0%      Rich red ale with roast & crystal malts(Brewed for CAMRA's 40th)
Elland (West York's)           Best Bitter          4.0%      Dry & aromatic bitter with ottermalt, strong aroma bitter finish
Cottage (Somerset)            Celebration          4.0%      Traditional, hoppy blonde
Nethergate(Suffolk)             Azzalord              4.1%     No tasting notes available at time of printing                      
Howard Town (Derby')         Hope                    4.1%     No tasting notes available at time of printing
Burton Bridge                     Bridge Bitter         4.2%     Dry hoppy aroma with fruity backround
Battledown (Cheltenham)     Natural selection   4.2%    A full bodied rich amber ale
Slaters                              Royal Wedding      4.2%    No tasting notes available at time of printing
Breconshire                       Golden valley         4.2%    A deep, golden coloured ale, brewed with Progress hops.
Burton Bridge                     By George            4.3%    Pale ale, strong hoppy aroma,dry bitter finish with challenger hops
White Horse (Oxford)          Epona                   4.3%    Fresh ,clean palate ,malty biscuit flavour lasting hoppy after taste
Skinners                            Katie loves Willy     4.3%   Copper session ale with Cornish roasted malt
White horse                       Wayland smithy      4.4%   Red ale, balanced with buckets of aromatic hops,
Wickwar  (Glous')               IKB                        4.5%   Strong multi-malt flavours, rich fruit flavours of cherry and plum
Titanic (Stoke)          Chocolate & Vanilla Stout  4.5%
                                                     Roast barley & maris otter pale malt, northdown hops ,chocolate & Madagascar vanilla.
Golden Valley                   Brewers choice         4.5%   Full flavoured ale
Golden Valley                   Snooty Fox               4.6%   Full bodied ruby red
Golden valley                    Kenyons Original Stout 4.7%  Oatmeal stout
Vale of Glam'                   Love is in the Heir      4.8%    No tasting notes available at time of printing
Cottage                            Vantage                    4.9%    Deep golden with cascade hops
Monty's                Mischief                    5.0%    Strong smooth golden bitter , hint of sweetness
Crouch Vale                     Amarillo                     5.0%   Superb premium golden ale, wonderful aroma lasting spicy flavour.
Battledown                4 Kings                      7.2%   Strong Ale, real block-buster of a beer, Hugely complex taste and lots of it.   


Ciders & Perries      
Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer (med) 6.5%, Black Dragon(med/dry) 7.2%,
                             Pyder 6% (med).
Westons             Old Rosie (dry cloudy) 7.3%
Blaengawney    National Treasure (sweet) 5%, Heartbreaker(dry)7.2%

The Capel is easily reached by public transport with a bus stop outside and the train station of Gilfach Fargoed is behind the pub on the Rhymney Valley line.

Capel Hotel, Park Place, Gilfach Fargoed, CF81 8LW
Google Map:

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Traveline Cymru:

Brains Milkwood

Finally get around to trying this Brains seasonal beer in a pub rather than in the depths of their Victorian Brewery with the head brewer. This version of Milkwood differs from recipes in previous years as the ingredients are rye and naked golden oats this year, producing an unusual brown ale with a very nutty flavour. An inticing aroma of caramel and vanilla leads to a smooth, rather sweet ale. The crystal rye comes through in the aftertaste, leaving a bitter-sweet flavour. Quite a complex and unusual beer for Brains to produce, hats off to Bill Dobson and his team for producing this beer.
Milkwood was tried in my local Brains pub, the Hanbury in Caerleon

Golden Ales at the Grapes

One of Wales' best pubs, the award-winning Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will be holding one of their regular beer festivals from Friday April 29- Monday May 2nd, if the beer does run out sooner. This time the theme will be Golden Ales with a couple of rare appearances by beers from Camden and Redemption Breweries.

On the Festival Bar:
Bristol Beer Factory – Acer + Sunrise
Dark Star – American Pale Ale
Skinners – Heligan Honey
Brewsters – Decadence
Isle of Purbeck – Solar Power
Crouch Vale – Yakima Gold
Titanic – Nine Tenths Below + Iceberg
Waen – Tidy Pint
Thornbridge – Jaipur + Kipling
Salopian – Hop Twister + Lemon Dream
Redemption – Trinity (First time in Wales)
Camden Brewery – Pale Ale (First time in Wales)
Oakham - JHB
Other – TBC

On the Main Bar:
Otley – O1 4%
Otley – O4 Colombo 4%
Otley – Croeso 4.2%
Otley – O Garden 4.8%
Otley -- O5 Gold 5%
Otley – O8 8%
Otley Saison Obscura 5.5% + Motley Brew 7.5% (alternating)

Continental:
Lindeboom
Erdinger Weiss
DAB
Duvel*
Chimay*
Anchor Steam*
Timmermans Strawberry*

* These beers are on one at a time after the DAB has gone.

Ciders – Various from:
Blaengawney
Seidre dai
Gwynt Y Ddraig

There will be a BBQ on Saturday, special traditional old English menu with a twist,
live entertainment on Saturday night and traditional Sunday lunch.

Bunch of Grapes
Pontypridd

Bar Open - by Royal Appointment?

Looking for another beer event this Friday? Well the Artisan Brewery of Pontcanna will be holding one of their successful and highly popular open days on Friday 29th April 1200-2130hrs.

Beers on will be:
HELLES LAGER 5.4%ABV
ALTbeer 5%ABV
CHOCOLATE WHEAT 5.0%ABV


At the last festival attended by me there a few weeks ago I just stayed on the delicious Chocolate Wheat - it was so nice I did not get around to trying their other beers.


HOT BBQ FOOD (with veg options) available

Entry is free, children and dogs welcome (must be supervised).

Beyond this special Friday event - 'BAR OPEN' will occur first Saturday each month throughout the summer, with the next one on  Saturday May 7th. 


Further Information:
Facebook page
Artisan Brewery,  
183a Kings Rd, Cardiff, CF119DF
Google Map:

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Stella tries to appeal to new customers

Over recent weeks, adverts for Stella Cidre have been appearing on billboards throughout the country. Although not too sure how many new converts this strategically placed advert will have in Newport, overlooking a mosque. Though it also faces 'Gilligans Island', famous for playing host to the Special Brew and Sherry Brigade who spend their days on the traffic island drinking their lives away.
So who is this cider aimed at? - Muslims or tramps? Well it fits nicely in with the image of Stella lager being called 'Wife Beater'. Another marketing success from A-B Inbev.

Free Pint, even for republicans

To celebrate the Royal Wedding, Wales' biggest real ale brewers, SA Brain, are offering customers a pint of their Royal Celebration Ale to down whilst visiting their pubs.
Vouchers can be downloaded from the Brains Offers site and a list of participating pubs together with terms and conditions are available here.
Wonder how many Republicans will go for the free pint, go on Mr Raybould, you know you want one!

Cider in the Sun

There is surely nothing finer than a pint of cider in the hot Glamorgan sun.

A pint of Black Dragon cools us all down 

The first Gwynt Y Ddraig Open Weekend of the year

With sweet, dry,medium, cider, perry or pyder to choose from, the cider lover is spoilt for choice

Black Dragon is the officially best cider in the world 

Lovingly matured on this Glamorgan hillside

To be enjoyed by all who come

The best cider in the world, drunk in the the beauty of the Welsh countryside, what more do you want?

Open Sunday as well by the way

Festivals in South Wales this Easter weekend

Just thought I'd do a round up of what's happening beerex wise in South Wales this weekend. Have been putting a few things on the blog this week but a few more have come to light, unfortunately the venues are a short on information so what's here is what has been sent to me.

Thursday 21st April
Greenfly, Caerfilthy continuing throughout the weekend

Friday 22nd April
Bell Inn, Glangrwyney continuing throughout the weekend

Cross Inn, Llanblethian continuing throughout the weekend

Coach, Bridgend continuing throughout the weekend

Village Hotel, Coryton (Victory Bar) In celebration of the double bank holiday weekend the Victory Bar invites people to join them to taste, buy and enjoy a range of British beers. Continues 22nd April - 02 May 2011.


Saturday 23rd April
Gwynt Y Ddraig Open Day and on the Sunday as well. One venue that should not run out of cider this weekend unless the Brew Wales editor turns up feeling thirsty.

White Cross Inn at Groeswen, Caerphilly CF15 7UT

Welsh Cider this Easter?

Award-winning cidermaker Gwynt Y Ddraig will once again be opening their doors to the public this Saturday and Sunday, 23rd & 24th April 2010.

Opening hours are:
Saturday 23rd 1100hrs-2100 hrs
Sunday 24th 1100hrs-1930hrs


So why not pop along to Llest Farm near Pontypridd to try some of the world's best ciders (they won "International Cidermaker of the Year" last year)
The farm is easily reached by public transport from Pontypridd or Talbot Green. Alternatively catch the bus from outside the Otley Arms after alighting from the railway station. Llest Farm is signposted from the main road and parking is available at the farm. Llest Farm is situated a short distance uphill from the main road and is about halfway between the Crown and Bush pubs, the entrance road is signposted but if you are looking for the old chapel as the place to turn off, don't as it has been demolished!.On Sunday the farm can be reached by the number 400 bus service from Cardiff.

Entry to the farm open days will be £5.00 per day. On entry your hand will be stamped (different colour stamp for Saturday & Sunday) to indicate to bar staff and site security that you have entered the event via the main entrance. The cost of the ticket will include one free pint or bottle of cider or perry when presented at the bar.

Visitors are welcome to camp over on the Saturday night but please note that the only facilities available are the portable toilets. Please note that all vehicles and camping equipment are left at the owners risk. If you are camping and plan to stay for the Sunday then please make this known to the staff on the gate so you can purchase the appropriate tickets for both days. (This will be a Saturday ticket and a Sunday ticket.) Please note that all campers will be visited on the Sunday morning just to ensure that they have purchased their Sunday ticket.

Please note that entry to anyone under the age of 18 is free but only with an accompanying adult and under 18s will therefore not be supplied with an entry ticket or have the entry stamp applied to their hand. Anyone attempting to purchase an entry ticket but is lucky enough to appear to be under the age of 18 will be asked to produce photo ID.

Once again Gwynt Y Ddriag Cider will be taking a step back in time and show you how we used to press the apples by winding up our 19th Century double screw press (we will be using a modern mill).
Freshly prepared food will be available throughout the weekend from Cegin Crincae, La Creperie de Sophie and pasties and pastries from in a pickle as well as a hog roast.

Live music will also be available with Ross Kirk playing amongst others.

Gwynt y Ddraig Ciders LimitedLlest Farm
Llantwit Fardre
CF38 2PW
Tel: +44 (0)1443 209 852
Google Map:

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Traveline Cymru:

Caerphilly gets a beer festival

The historic town of Caerfilthy will be getting a beer, cider and music festival this weekend as the ugliest building in the unitary authority, the Greenfly, is transformed into a 4 day beer festival with a free bus laid on from Cardiff and Caerphilly.

No beer range yet but they have been sourced from Tomos Watkin, Otley and Wye Valley Breweries together with cider from Gwynt Y Ddraig.

The Greenfly is in the former Bedwas Working Mens' Club; a classic example of 1960s architecture, more usually seen in former Soviet Bloc countries but shines as a stunning example of what can be achieved if you have no sense and design and access to concrete. The water-stained multi-coloured concrete rendering on the building contrasts with the green metal facings on upper parts, luckily a handily-placed satellite dish distracts from the ugliness  of this building. Hopefully the beer will be better than the venue.

Greenfly
Newport Rd,
Caerphilly,
Mid Glamorgan
CF83 8BJ

Google Map:

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Plenty of car parking there and there is a bus stop nearby, the X50 Newport-Caerphilly-Bargoed stops nearby.
 Journey Planner:

Merthyr Pub Transformed

The award-winning Rhymney Brewery have completed their transformation of their brewery tap, the Winchester, into the pub in the above photo. Etched glass windows, a fireplace, a mosiac floor on the entrance etc have all gone into what looks like a stunning pub.
This is what looked like before:

Not yet visited the new pub yet but looking forward to it.
Have previously written about the pub here. and below is what I wrote about the proposed refurbishment:

The Castle Street pub is situated between the Castle Hotel and the 1930s former Water Board Offices (Social Services now) and was converted to the Rhymney Brewery's first pub and Brewery Tap back in 2006, the premises before then had been a commercial unit, even used as a tanning saloon. Originally on this site, there stood a pub called the Beehive which dated from the 1840s but this was demolished when the next door Castle Hotel was built in 1967.

The planned refurbishment for the Winchester will see a Welsh slate roof installed, replacing the 1970s flat roof and the frontage will be opened out and improved with large etched glass windows allowing natural light to illuminate the interior of the pub. A Victorian style door will be installed to the side of the etched windows and the entrance floor will be tiled with a 'Rhymney Brewery' mosiac.

The pub sign will be hand-painted and a Rhymney Hobby Horse sign will be embedded into the outside wall. A chimney stack will also be built on the side to enable a real fire to be put into the pub! Smokers will be catered for with a smoking solution to the rear of the building.

The Winchester was a breath of fresh air when it opened in Merthyr, the first pub in a generation to regularly have a dark mild on cask in the town – the former Champion Beer of Wales, Rhymney Dark as well. Having been impressed with the Winchester since it first opened and seen the plans for this refurbishment, well hardly a refurbishment, more of a de-refubishment and recreation of a Victorian beerhouse.

Winchester, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8BG
Open 12-12 Monday- Saturday, 12-10.30 Sunday
Google Map:

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Bridgend Beerex at the Coach

Yet another local beer festival this weekend, this time in sunny Bridgend where the former Coach and Horses pub has been given a makeover by its new owners and renamed the Coach. Bridgend has been crying out for a decent pub for years and I have heard good things about this pub recently.

The inaugural Coach real ale festival will take place over the Easter weekend - from Good Friday to Easter Monday.
Beer list, subject to availabilty etc:

CONFIRMED BEER LIST:
#1 MOTLEY BREW (7.5% abv) Otley Brewing Co.
#2 HOT CHOCOLATE (3.9% abv) Wychwood Brewery.
#3 RAMBLERS RUIN (5% abv) Breconshire Brewery.
#4 EASTER ALE (3.9% abv) Purple Moose Brewery.
#5 FUNKY MONKEY (4% abv) Milk Street Brewery.
#6 EASTER ALE (4.2% abv) Evan Evans Brewery.
#7 MAD GOOSE (4.2% abv) Purity Brewing Co.
#8 GOLDEN HARE (4.4% abv) Bath Ales.
#9 O-GARDEN (4.8% abv) Otley Brewing Co.
#10 ESPRESSO STOUT (4.2% abv) Dark Star Brewing Co.

A selection of ciders from GWYNT-Y-DDRAIG WELSH CIDER

BBQ and food will be available at selected time, along with live entertainment in the evenings.

£2.90 a pint - or you can buy a £25 voucher for 10.

More information on their Facebook event page
The Coach
37 Cowbridge Road
Bridgend
CF31 3DH
Google Map:

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Traveline Cymru info:

Cross Inn Beerex

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Yet another beer festival this weekend, the Cross Inn, Llanblethian, Near Cowbridge, will be featuring a range of beers on this weekend, starting on Friday 22nd April and finishing on the following Monday.
The pub is short walk outside of Cowbridge or alternatively there is a large car park at the pub.
Cross Inn, Church Rd
Llanblethian, Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7JF
Beer list, subject to availabilty etc:

Hancock's HB abv 3.6%

Thornbridge Jaipur abv 5.8%

Wye Valley Butty Bach abv 4.5%

Brecon Brewery Cribyn abv 4.5%

Springhead Charlie's Angel abv 4.5%

Hop Back Spring Zing abv 4.2%

Mordue Radgie Gadgie abv 4.8% 

Skinner's Betty Stogs abv 4.0%

Prince of Wales Royal Ale abv 4.4%

Brecon Brewery Ysbrid y Ddraig 6.5% (if casked in time)

Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse Scrumpy Cloudy Cider abv 5.5%

Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze Cider abv 4.5% 

Westons Stowford Press Cider abv 4.5%

Boozing Brothers have bash at the Bell

This weekend is promising to be a busy one locally with plenty of beer festivals to choose from around South Wales.

The Bell at Glangrwyney, near Crickhowell, NP8 1EH, will be holding their first ever beer festival this weekend. Situated just outside of Abergavenny this is sure to be a good event.
The pub was taken over last year by brothers Tony and Dave Griffiths. Tony had worked for years at the WDA and has been a familiar site promoting local food and drink from Wales, even occasionally judging at the CAMRA Champion Beer of Wales Competition so we expect his beers to be spot on!
Beer list, subject to availability etc:
Jennings Stickle Pike, 

Butcombe Bitter, 

Skinners Betty Stoggs, 

Beer Rocks Nailers Pinnacle, 

Bath Gem, 

Hop Back Crop Circle, 

Batemans Jewel in the Crown, 

Bombardier, 

Wadworth 6x , 

Adnams Broadside, 

Brains, IPA, dark, SA gold, bitter, 

Otley O2 and Motely Brew 

 Breconshire Golden Valley and Ramblers Ruin

Ciders are Black Rat, Old Rosie, Westons Traditional with bottles of Orchard Gold and hopefully some others from Gwynt y Ddraig

 Bell Inn, Glangrwyney, Crickhowell, NP8 1EH

Goole Map:

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The Bell is in on a bus route - the Abergavenny-Brecon-Cardiff X43 Beacons Bus run by Sixty Sixty Coaches runs past the pub and a timetable can be downloaded from here (pdf).

Journey Planner:

The Wheatsheaf, Llantrisant

Wheatsheaf, 28 High Street, Llantrisant, CF72 8BQ, 

Open Monday-Thursday 5-12, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12-12,

The Wheatsheaf Inn is situated on the steep and busy main road into the historic town of Llantrisant, with a conveniently sited bus stop outside the front door. The town once played host to 25 pubs, though today that number is down to 4. Although the pub appears to be two-story from the front, there are extensive cellars and a rear patio area, providing extra space in this roadside pub. The Wheatsheaf seems to have had its origins as a pub in the eighteenth century, though it is first mentioned in 1815.

The Wheatsheaf has recently undergone a sympathetic refurbishment by owners, Caerphilly-based brewery Celt Experience, who have installed a micro-brewery in the cellar of the pub. Previously the Wheatsheaf was owned by the Fernvale Brewery of the Rhondda, who bought the pub in 1925, Fernvale were taken over by Webbs of Aberbeeg in 1949 and in turn by Bass Charrington in 1967. The pub has, in the past, been the headquarters of Llantrisant Rugby Club and even had a rifle range in its cellars at one point.

On the exterior the Wheatsheaf features chalkboards advertising bands and food offers on, as well as a new pub sign and the name of the pub embossed across the upper floor.  Inside, an entrance hallway with a couple of old tinplate Bass adverts in it leads to the bar on the left and the lounge and restaurant area straight ahead. There is a serving hatch in the corridor by the lounge, this, together with the separate rooms is why the Wheatsheaf Inn appears in the CAMRA book, Real Heritage Pubs of Wales, as the relatively unspoilt interior is regarded as being of special historical interest.

The bar room is quite small, but intimate, with an attractively carved wooden bar featuring five gleaming brass handpumps serving a range of real ales from across Britain, though with an emphasis on beers from Cornwall as the landlord is from that county. The beer range will shortly be increased to seven handpumps for the summer. Regular beers are Felinfoel Double Dragon as well as one from the St Austell Brewery range, together with other guests from the Wooden Hand and Skinners breweries of Truro. There is an extensive collection of pumpclips on the wooden gantry behind the bar of previous ales served at this pub. For lager drinkers Krombacher Pils is served on draught and cider lovers have Taffy Apples to enjoy. The landlord is hoping to hold a Cornish Beer Festival in the next few weeks.

From the main bar area a small passageway by the side of the chimney stack with its real fire, leads to another room with low settles, tables and a flagstone floor. This leads out to the upper patio area which provides smokers with a sheltered place.

 Above: Landord Tom behind the bar

The pub is decorated throughout with local pictures and there are books on real ale and the history of the area for customers to read through whilst enjoying their beers. The pub is also home to Wales' smallest brewery, the Korev Brewery, with a capacity of just 20 gallons a brew. The beer is brewed using well water from the pub's own source.

Food is available in the form of bar meals or via the separate steakhouse restaurant, not Monday & Tuesday.

Google Map:

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Journey Planner:

Brains pubs to celebrate the Royal Wedding

 The pubs of award-winning brewer SA Brain will be celebrating the forthcoming Royal Wedding:

Aubrey Arms
Free glass of wine with your meal to toast the royal wedding 12pm - 5pm.
BaroccoCelebrate the royal wedding with champagne cocktails available all day. Resident DJ from 8pm onwards.
Black Lion, Llandaff
Watch all the proceedings of the Royal Wedding while enjoying fresh scones and tea.
Bowl Inn Buy a main meal between 12pm and 5pm and get a free 175ml glass of a selection of wines. Also get a free pint of Celebration Ale with your voucher from www.brainsoffers.com.
Cardiff Arts InstituteSpring Sessions - We have the scene's best DJs and producers on rotation along with some very special guests and a special U-stream set up so everyone in the world can see what they’re missing.
ChurchillsRoyal wedding day afternoon tea and watch the wedding on the big screen in the Llandaff suite.
CornwallCelebrate the royal wedding with guest ales and a fancy hats & waistcoat competition. There will also be karaoke night from 8pm and a meat raffle.
CrwysEaster Egg mountain raffle with proceeds going to charity.
Duke of Wellington (Cowbridge) Sweet 16 birthday disco party in the ballroom. Movies theme fancy dress. Try our William and Kate’s dessert (for two to share)!
Fox & Hounds (St Mellons)
To celebrate the royal wedding we will have a showing of the royal wedding in our conservatory where tea and fresh Victoria sponge will be available throughout the ceremony.
Fox & Hounds (Whitchurch)
Catch all the glamour of The Royal Wedding on one of our big screens. Then rock the night away to live music form Local heroes "The Fugitives.
Grape & OliveFree glass of wine with your meal to toast the royal wedding 12pm - 5pm.
GreenhouseBeer Festival Weekend. 11 different real ales as well as 3 very tasty ciders! Relax in our garden under the marquees, where the pub will be showing the royal wedding.
Hanbury
CAVA-CANAPES-CUPCAKES
Ladies come and watch the Wedding in peace! Posh Frocks and Bling! £5 admission. Private area-No men allowed!
HarbourShowing the royal wedding on televisions in the pub with a royal lunch available.
Hen & ChickensWatch the royal wedding happen on our wide screen TV. Friday is also part of our real ale, cider and sausage festival. 8 real ales and 4 ciders to try, not forgetting locally made sausages. Live music- Elvis Tribute from 9pm. Free Entry
Hollybush
Join us for our Royal Wedding Celebrations throughout the day and join us in the evening for our Royal Tie and Tiara party with Karaoke/Disco
Lamb & Flag10.30 - 11.30 Champagne Breakfast
Book your seats in the Sugar Loaf Suite to watch the Royal Wedding on the big screen
12.00 - 2.30 Bucks Fizz & Lunch
Finish off the day with a Royal Afternoon Tea
Lord BeechingsRoyal Wedding - Ties and Tiaras Party. Free buffet of vol-au-vents and other finger food and buck fizz. Fancy dress welcome!
Lord NelsonRoyal Wedding Cream Teas. Join us and watch Prince William and Catherine’s marriage live on our big screen whilst enjoying a traditional cream tea, homemade cheese scones with Reverend James chutney and fruit scones with jam and clotted cream for only £5.00 per person.
Maltsters (Whitchurch)
Royal wedding celebrations with special cask ale and BBQ in our courtyard beer garden.
Merrie HarrierKings & queens fancy dress ball, £1 entry and all monies goes to charity.
MonachtyRoyal wedding day specials.
Old InnJoin us for the royal wedding and get a free pint of "celebration ale" see www.brainsoffers.com for details. Receive a free meal if your name is William or Kate (proof will be required)
PenwigRoyal wedding breakfast with bucks fizz.
Piercefield Royal Wedding Brunch – Brunch with a glass of Bucks fizz.
Royal Wedding Most Original Hat - Most original hat wins a bottle of Bubbly. £1.00 entry fee, donated to PlayGroup
Predict the Dress – Correctly predict Kate’s dress & win a bottle of Bubbly. 1.00 entry fee, donated to PlayGroup
Paper Crowns for Kids - colour in crowns.
Strawberries & cream
The bar will be a wedding free zone
PumphouseJoin us for all the coverage of the wedding of the decade!
Witness history on our big plasma screens as Prince William marries Kate Middleton... or just come on down and celebrate another day off work with us!
Punch House Royal Wedding celebrations with a best of British specials board. Cava cocktails to celebrate the day in style and afternoon teas. Fancy dress hat party in the evening and a live singer from 9pm.
Rose Crown, Porthcawl
From 28th April to 1st May we'll be running our very first beer festival at the Rose & Crown!
Coinciding with the May Day Bank Holiday (which historically was beer festival period for the Rose) and the Royal Wedding join us for our Ale & Cider Festival!
The festival will serve from 12 midday to 10.30pm during the 4 day event.
To find out more call us on 01656 784850 or email roseandcrown@sabrain.com
Salt AberystwythCoffee and cake for £2.95 including hot cross buns and home-made Easter cakes.
Salt Fish Supper! Fresh fish dishes served on our specials menu.
Salt CardiffFull coverage of the wedding with a British specials menu available.
Afternoon cream teas – free pot of tea with every cream tea (sandwiches, mini cakes and scones)
Cocktail of the day – Kir Royale
Salt SwanseaWe will be running a street party theme with bunting, hats, fancy dress and it is also the Mumbles Musical Mile Festival that weekend too so we have live bands playing on the Saturday and Sunday nights!
Smoking DogFish Friday - A selection of different fish dishes available. Free glass of wine with your meal to toast the royal wedding 12pm - 5pm.
Three Arches
Wedding Zone in the function room, full coverage on our 60" screen with volume and a manned bar.
Want to get away from the wedding? Come downstairs into our Wedding free zone, where there will be no evidence of the event.
Thomas Arms The Royal Wedding Friday April 29th starts at 10.45am. Celebrate and watch this historic occasion on our big screen, why not dress up in a hat from your favourite charity shop, bring a receipt along to enter, prize for the best dressed. We also have 2 buffets available
Choice 1: £6.95, a selection of traditional party foods: mini sausages, party pasties, sausage rolls, mini eggs, sandwiches. Choice 2: £12.95 Champagne buffet: a glass of champagne to toast, peppercorn or Cajun chicken fillets, mini jacket potatoes and a selection of chefs salads.
Twelve KnightsCelebrate the event with a traditional afternoon tea here at The Twelve Knights Hotel. A selection of sandwiches, scones and cream, cream cakes, a selection of fine teas, a glass of bubbly to toast the happy couple. All this for only £4.99

TynantAll staff dressed in posh frocks and a bride and groom! Kid’s activity day to keep the kids occupied so mums can watch the wedding on TV.

Ty Risha Afternoon cream tea. Free cream scones with every cup of tea purchased. Royal wedding full coverage, free hats and flags for all. Guest Ale, specially made by SA Brain for Royal wedding on sale. Beer battered haddock, chips and peas for only £4.99. Come and celebrate the wedding of the decade with us.
Victoria ParkRoyal Wedding Hen & Stag Do on Friday 22^nd April, 7pm til close, disco and fancy dress. Prizes for the best hen and stag.
On Friday 29th April we'll be hosting a street party to celebrate the wedding of the year!
Vivian Arms
Come and enjoy the day with live coverage of the royal wedding special two course menu and plenty of champagne available.
Wellington Band with pizza and a pint for £5.99
Westgate
Royal Wedding Garden Party - we will be open from 10am so that you can watch the whole event in our garden on our outside screen - enjoy a royal breakfast for £3.95 and wash it down with our special "Celebration Ale" brewed in honour of the Royal Wedding.
White Horse (Coychurch) Royal Garden Party Day & Night! Strawberries and Cream and Pimms available all day ... Garden Party in the church grounds all afternoon (just opposite us, drop in for continuous refreshment!) and watch the events unfold all day with us and stay for our Hats and Frocks Party Night (Ladies can wear them too!) with party music and cocktails!! Pretend you were invited!!
White Lion Royal HotelRoyal Wedding B&B offer £99 two nights.
Yard All main courses £5, desserts £2 plus children eat for just £3. £3.50 on selected cocktails.
Earn double loyalty card points on all purchases all day!

Flintshire Real Ale Trail

 Well the weekend looks like its going to be good and for those readers in North Wales, the Flintshire Real Ale Trail will be running again this year.

The Real Ale Trail is a bus based beer festival running from Mold and up onto Halkyn Mountain with buses operating, 2 in each direction between 11am and 11pm.

Nine pubs are planned to be en-route providing a variety of real ales, other refreshments and entertainment. For £4 in advance or £5 on the day, a Real Ale Trail bus pass will allow you to use the special buses all day.

The following pubs are taking part in the festival:
...
o Gold Cape, Mold
o Antelope, Rhydymwyn
o The Oak, Hendre
o Pwll Gwyn, Afonwen
o Piccadilly, Caerwys
o Royal Oak, Caerwys
o Crown, Lixwm
o Black Lion, Babell
o Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn 

There is a Facebook Site for the event here

Best Beer writers freelance in the Welsh Valleys

Otley Brewery joins forces with World’s best beer writers

The award winning, family run Otley Brewing Company, has joined a growing “guest beer” trend by launching a series of collaborative beers with some of the World’s most well-respected beer writers as well as with Roger Protz.

The brewery has joined forces with Adrian Tierney Jones, Pete Brown, Melissa Cole and Roger Protz to jointly brew creative and unique style beers which are then sold as a limited edition special to Otley’s on-trade customers.

Otley have welcomed influential beer-writer Pete Brown to the brewery this week to try his hand at creating an Imperial Russian stout with ginger. Nick Otley and Pete will spend the day brewing before holding a beer and book matching event for the brewery’s Beer Academy members in the evening.

The brewery kicked off its collaborations with Adrian Tierney Jones in January, who opted for a dark saison, continental-style beer which Adrian and Nick Otley jointly named Saison Obscura. The beer was officially launched in March with a live and online pub crawl around top London pubs including The Rake, The White Horse, Cask Ale Pub and Kitchen and the Southampton Arms.

Otley has also joined forces with world-renowned beer writer, Roger Protz. Roger is well known for writing the World Guide to Beer, The Ale Trail and best-seller 300 Beers To Try Before You Die. Roger brewed a Burton Ale at the brewery in March and later in the evening gave a talk for the Beer Academy where he discussed the history of Burton Ales and how the ale has evolved since it was first brewed.

Melissa Cole will also be attending the Otley Brewery in May to create an elderflower IPA beer.

Nick Otley, Managing Director of Otley Brewing Company, said,  “Joining this growing trend of collaborative beers has given us the opportunity to really experiment with different flavours and styles of beers in partnership with some of the best beer experts in the world. We originally brewed with Melissa Cole last year to create Thai-Bo, an oriental inspired beer with galangal, lemongrass and lime leaf and it was such a success, we decided to expand on this and contact other beer writers who we thought would be interested in doing the same. Partnering up with industry experts gives us the platform to market a range of limited edition beers to our customers, something they will not have seen before. Not only do we get the opportunity to try something different but it also means those beers have a stamp of approval from industry experts who are as equally passionate about beer as we are".

Nick continued, “The evening tutored tasting sessions we run after brewing with each beer writer also allows us to give our customers the opportunity to meet them and to join in discussions about various ales. We want to position the Bunch of Grapes as a centre of excellence for real ale and the co-brewing and tasting sessions have definitely helped with this and have boosted our membership.”

Capel Beerex

Some advance notice of the forthcoming beerex at the Capel, Gilfach Fargoed, Mid-Glamorgan

The Cornwall, Grangetown

The Cornwall, 92 Cornwall Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, CF11 6SR

Situated on the junction of Cornwall Street and Hereford Street and just off Clare Road, this popular Grangetown local is a two-story brick-built pub, half-whitewashed and features a very large and imposing slate roof, the steep angle of which makes the Cornwall stand out from the surrounding buildings. The pub was opened in September 1894, although it was built the previous year but could not get a license to sell alcohol when first built. The expansion of Grangetown in the late nineteenth century created a demand for pubs and eventually it was granted a license. Originally the pub had four separate rooms as well as an off-sales area, the jug and bottle shop, but over the years these areas have been knocked through, although only partly in places with the remains of the original brick walls being able to be seen and today. The main, front bar has a lively but friendly atmosphere, with its dartboard and raised seating areas.

The corner doorway and porch leads into the main public bar, well-lit with large windows and decorated with wood panelling. To the left of the main bar a side passageway leads to the lounge/dining areas and a rear room which features a cast-iron fireplace with a decorative tilled surround and large, low backed settle-type seating set against the walls. The bar features a mahogany top and, more unusually a large brass plate underneath with a thick rope, that stretches the length and curves around the counter. The beer range is from Brains with Dark, Bitter, SA and their seasonal beer, currently Bread of Heaven, all served from the gleaming brass handpumps. On the Hereford Street side, in the single-story extension to the Victorian building is a doorway allowing access to a small outside seating area which provides the Cornwall with a smoking solution in this small, street-corner local.

The Cornwall is decorated throughout with photographs and drawings of HMS Cornwall; from the days of sail, through to the First World War Dreadnought and later ships to bare that name. The Cornwall is very much a community pub with quiz nights every Thursday night and a cupboard of silverware cups won by the various pub teams this pub plays host to. The pub is supposedly haunted by Will The Pig, the father of an old landlord who died in the lounge.

Food is served all day, with menus and separate chalkboards advertising the daily specials with special offers available Monday-Thursday and a curry & pint offer every Wednesday, as well as a loyalty card for those drinking the Brains cask ales.

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Beers at the Boars this weekend

From Brew Wales

The Boar's Head at Tyla Garw, Pontyclun will be holding a beer festival this weekend, April 15th-17th, with landlord Wayne celebrating 10 years at his award-winning pub as well as his 40th birthday! Double celebrations all round.
Beer list:
Subject to availabilty etc:
648 - Gold Angel ... Ruby Mild
ALLENDALE - Wagtail Best Bitter
ART BREW - Spanked Monkey ... I Beer
B&T - Mad Hatter
BLACK HOLE - Super Nova ... Milky Way
BLACKWATER - Impressionist ... Surrealist
BLINDMANS - Buff ... Buzz Light-year
BOX STEAM - Chuffin Ale ... Derailed
BRENTWOOD - Big Bunny ... Hot X Buns
BREWDOG - Alpha Dog (TBC)
BREWSTERS - (3 x Beers - TBC)
BUFFYS - Buffy's Bitter ... Mucky Duck
CONCRETE COW - Pale Ale
CROUCH VALE - Santiam ... Amarillo ... Brewer's Gold
DARK STAR - Golden Gate ... Partridge ... American Pale Ale ... HopHead ... Original
EMPIRE - Golden Warrior ... Ooh Matron
GREEN JACK - IPA ... Orange Wheat ... Excelsior ... Lurcher Stout
HOLDENS - April Showers ... Black Country Bitter
ILKLEY - Best Bitter ... Pale
LEEDS - Yorkshire Gold
MARSTON MOOR - Brewer's Droop
NAYLORS - Spring Ale
OAKHAM - Bishop's Farewell ... JHB ... White Dwarf
OLD BEAR - Black Maria
RCH - Pitchfork ... Old Slug Porter ... Steam Showers
SALOPIAN - Golden Thread ... Peccadilllo ... Shropshire Gold
SPRINGHEAD - Charlie's Angels ... Robin Hood ... Bees Knees ... Roaring Meg
THORNBRIDGE - Brother Rabbit ... Jaipur IPA ... Kipling
WESTERHAM - British Bulldog Best
WILLIAMS - Harvest Sun
YORK - Centurian's Ghost

Boar's Head, Tyla Garw, Pontyclun, CF72 9EZ, 01443 225400

A less than 10-minute walk westwards from Pontyclun railway station, brings you to the Boar's Head, unmistakable with it's old Fernvale Brewery sign outside, a former Welsh brewery that closed in 1970. The walk is a bit difficult as it involves crossing the Bailey Bridge, walking through an industrial estate and almost missing a hidden path with metal fencing around it. Clue – turn right at the stones and carry straight on past the new housing estate. The Boar's Head is on the left hand side, by the level crossing. There is a car park at the rear of the pub if you choose to drive here.

Entering the door of this pub, with its stained glass windows, you could be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed since the pub was built in 1875, however a few years ago, the Boar's underwent a sympathetic refurbishment with the bar now becoming the centre of the pub and the surrounding rooms were retained rather than knocked through into one. The pub was originally built by the Trecastle Estate for the nearby tinplate workers.

Six real ales are always available on the bar here, together with Budvar Dark Lager from the Czech Republic. The beer range varies but brewers such as Hydes of Manchester, Archers of Swindon and Mathews of Bath are often seen on handpumps alongside Fullers from London and Welsh breweries such as Heart of Wales from Powys. This is an unusual beer range for South Wales, made possible by the fact that the Boar's Head is a free house and not tied to any particular brewery. However the popularity of some of the brews with customers means that Mathews Brassknocker, a golden, hoppy ale of 3.8% ABV, has become an almost permanent feature on the bar.

The Boar's Head is panelled throughout in wood and gleaming copper pans hang over the bar. Another reminder of the old days of Welsh brewing is the old Ely Brewery poster in the bar.

There is a pleasant outside drinking area to the rear and a choice of rooms in the pub to eat or drink in. There is Welsh food on the menu in the form of Celtic Pride beef burgers and Welsh Black Beef Curry. Special offers run throughout the week on the menus with Tuesday being steak night and Wednesday curry night. Bookings are recommended for Sunday lunch. Food served Mon-Sat 12-2.30, 6-8.30

Every room in the Boar's has its own character, with long table and settles or more traditional dining tables in the restaurant section. Every room also has its own fireplace, ideal for those winter evenings.
Awards:
Mid Glamorgan CAMRA Branch 'Pub of the Year' - 2009
Mid Glamorgan CAMRA Branch 'Pub of the Year' - 2003
Mid & S. Wales CAMRA Branch 'Regional Pub of the Year' - 2003
Mid Glamorgan CAMRA Branch POTY 'Runner-Up' - 2002

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