Rhymney Brews the Best Beer in Wales

Rhymney Brews the Best

A brewery from Merthyr Tydfil has today completed a clean sweep of awards at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival. Rhymney Brewery, based in Dowlais, walked off with both the Silver and Gold Medals in the Champion Beer of Wales competition, organised by the South Wales branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The Festival plays hosts to the competition every year and it is open to all 40 or so breweries in Wales, who between them brew over 350 different beers each year. The beers are tasted by CAMRA members throughout the year before an independent panel of beer experts sample the finalists on site at the Festival.

Rhymney Brewery was founded by father and son team Steve and Marc Evans in 2005 and have previously won Champion beer of Wales with their Dark.

According to Festival Organiser James “Arfur” Daley, “Congratulations to Rhymney Brewery on their success in the Champion Beer of Wales competition. Well done to Steve and his family for winning both awards, Rhymney Dark is a fantastic beer and it is so good to see an old brewery name resurrected and now being served from beer engines in pubs across the South Wales valleys.

Champion Beers of Wales 2011

Gold: Rhymney Dark

Silver: Rhymney Export

Bronze: Otley O8

Tasting Notes for Rhymney Dark, 4%

 

Rhymney Dark, is, as its name suggests, is a dark coloured beer with a deep reddish hue and pours with a beige head. A complex aroma of sweet and roast malts and blackberries leads to a bittersweet chocolate flavour and a slightly astringent finish with some vanilla overtones. A good mild beer, not too strong and easy to drink.

The Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival is open until 2300hrs on Friday and 1100-2300hrs on Saturday 18^th June.

Festival Facts:

• Over 6000 thirsty drinkers are expected at the 3 day event.
  

• 24,000 pints of real ale, cider and perry will be consumed during the Great Welsh.
  
• Over 10 pints a minute will be served during the festival.
  
• Almost 4500 pints of cider and perry will be available.
  
• Over 270 different real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers will be available at the Great Welsh.
  
• 1000 pints of German beer will be specially imported for the Great Welsh.
  
• Over 130 CAMRA members will be volunteering to work at the Festival.
  
• The bar is over 70 metres long! Making it the longest bar in Wales.
  
• The Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival 2009 is the 11th annual Festival, the 4th at the CIA, the previous 7 having been held at Cardiff City Hall.
  
• Pub games, stalls and food will be available at the Festival

Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (formerly Cardiff International Arena), Mary Ann Street, Cardiff CF10 2EQ

Open: Thursday 16^th June, Friday 17^th & Saturday 18^th June 11-11 all days

Entrance £6 (£5 for Under 26s and CAMRA members), includes souvenir glass and festival programme.

For more information: www.gwbcf.org.uk

Steve Evans, Rhymney Brewery, 01685 722253

www.rhymneybreweryltd.com

Festival Organiser:

Arfur Daley 0794 185 9902 info@gwbcf.org.uk