Now and Then, former White Horse Inn, Abergavenny

The old Rhymney Brewery pub, the White Horse Inn, 14 Frogmore Street, Abergavenny, dated back to at least 1787 and was demolished in 1965. Rhymney Brewery had owned the pub from 1914. The name is still remembered in the alleyway that still runs off Frogmore Street alongside the present day buildings.

Gwatkin Cider wins Bronze Award in National Competition

Captain Gwatkin's Famous Old Rum Cask Cider today won the Bronze Award in the UK National Champion Cider of Britain Competition, run by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The annual award, held at Reading Beer & Cider Festival, features ciders and perries from across Britain which are judged in blind tastings to find the winner.
This Herefordshire Cider, made by Denis Gwatkin at his family farm in Abbeydore, is matured in Jamaican Rum Barrels and is only available o draught at the farm and a few select outlets as only a limited amount is made every year due to the difficulty in sourcing good quality rum barrels.

The other winners were:
Cider

GOLD  – Countryman, Medium (Devon)

SILVER – Salt Hill, Autumn Gold (Berkshire)

BRONZE – Gwatkin’s, Captain Gwatkin’s Rum Cask (Herefordshire)

Perry

GOLD – Nempnett, Piglet’s Perry (Somerset)

SILVER - Waulkmill, Mooseheid Perry (Dumfrieshire)

BRONZE – Hartland, Perry (Gloucestershire)

So who was Captain Gwatkin then?

Captain Gwatkin, who in 1722 challenged the 'pyrates' who attacked his ship, the Amy, as it sailed from Carolina to England. He and his crew killed about 30 pirates and forced the pirate sloop ashore, then attempted prevent the pirates from attacking other ships by sailing to land to burn the sloop. Unfortunately, a shot from the shore killed him. His rather pragmatic crew decided it would be sensible to carry on sailing to England rather than pursue the pirates further! (Information in several newspapers from 1722, including the London-based Post Boy)

Gwatkin Cider
Moorhampton Park Farm
Abbeydore
Herefordshire
HR2 0AL

Now and Then, Farmer's Arms, Abergavenny

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, The Farmers Arms, 34  Lion Street, on the corner with Market Street, Abergavenny. The oldest part of the pub is the smaller, left-hand side building which dates back to 1865 at least. Was owned by the Charles Edwards Brewery of Llanfoist until their takeover by Rhymney Brewery and the above photo was taken when the pub was owned by Whitbread. In 1996 the pub changed it's name to the Market Tarfarn. The cattle market once stood opposite the pub.

Now and Then, former Prince of Wales Inn, Merthyr Tydfil

The old Rhymney pub, the Prince of Wales Inn, Nantygwenith Street, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil has been demolished along with the rest of the street. The Cyfarthfa Brewery once stood to the rear of the pub. More photos of the street here

Now and Then, former Clarence Hotel, Maesteg

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Clarence Hotel, Commercial Street, has been demolished together with the surrounding buildings and Clarence Court flats now stands in their places

Now and Then, Goytre Arms, Penperlleni

The old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Goytre Arms, Star Road/School Lane/Usk Road, Penperlleni is still open as a pub today and is owned by Ei Group, formerly known as Enterprise Inns

Now and Then, former Bridgend Hotel, Tonypandy

The old Rhymney Brewery pub, The Bridgend Hotel, Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, has been demolished with a bus stop and the war memorial on the site today. Note the unusual logo 'Brewers Own Stands Alone' on the wall of the pub

Now and Then, former Thistle Hotel, Tonypandy

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Thistle Hotel, Llwynpia Road, Tonypandy has been demolished to make way for a car park

Now and Then, Ffaldcaiach Inn, Trelewis

The Ffaldcaiach Inn, High Street, Trelewis, Mid Glamorgan is still trading as a pub

Now and Then, former Railway Bar, Treherbert

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Railway Bar Inn, Station Street, Treherbert has now been demolished

Now and Then, The Crown, Nant-y-bwch

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, The Crown, Merthyr Road, Nant-y-bwch, Tredegar. Not sure if this pub is still open as there's no mention of it on Google and the last Streetview picture is 2009 when it appears punch Taverns were selling the pub?

Now and Then, former Prince Llewellyn Inn, Sirhowy, Tredegar

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Prince Llewellyn Inn, St Luke's Road, Sirhowy, Tredegar has been converted into three terraced houses

Now & Then, former North Western Hotel, Tredegar

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the North Western Hotel, Church Street, Tredegar was demolished in the 1970s and a scrapyard appears to be on the site now.

Now and then, former Greyhound Inn, Tredegar

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Greyhound Inn, Tredegar was situated just off The Circle on the corner of Lower Coronation Street and Iron Street.

Now and Then, former Globe Inn, Tredegar

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Globe Inn, stood on the corner of Church Street and Stockton Way. Demolished for road improvements. Another photo of the pub here and also a lot of information about old Tredegar pubs.

Now and Then, former Britannia, Tredegar

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Britannia, Market Street, Tredegar, now converted to residential and known as 'Hen Tafern' or 'Old Tavern'

Now and Then, former Clarence Inn, Rhymney

The former old Rhymney Brewery, the Clarence Inn, Clarence Row, Rhymney, has been demolished for housing

Now and Then, former Three Horse Shoes pub, Maesteg

The former old Rhymney Brewery pub, the Three Horse Shoes, Bethania Street, Maesteg has been demolished for road widening

Now and Then, former New Hearts of Oak Hotel, Nantyffyllon, Maesteg

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the New Hearts of Oak Hotel, Nantyffyllon, Maesteg. The front of the hotel was on the now demolished section of Coegnant Road, the rear of the hotel originally overlooked a railway line where the main road, Heol Tywith now runs. The name of the pub is still remembered as the bus stop to the right of the Streetview image is known as 'Hearts of Oak'.

Now and then, former New Inn, Llanfoist

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the New Inn, The Cutting, Llanfoist, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Llanfoist was had a number of pubs, the New Inn, the Waterloo (situated by the railway line a few hundred yards away from the New Inn, the Llanfoist Inn (now the Spice Lounge Indian restaurant) and the Bridge Inn which is still open as a pub. The village was also home to Charles Edwards Brewery that was situated near the church on the junction of Merthyr Road and Lanellen Road. The brewery was taken over by Rhymney Brewery and houses are on the site today.

Now and Then, former Wheatsheaf Inn, Merthyr Tydfil

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Wheatsheaf Inn, stood on the corner of Glebeland Street and Wheatsheaf Lane. Demolished to build the 1970s monstrosity below which backs onto the bus station

Now and Then, former New Inn, Fleur-de-lis, Blackwood

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the New Inn, Victoria Road, Fleur-de-lis, Blackwood is now a private residence known as New Inn Cottage

Now and Then, former Somerset Arms, Aberkenfig

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Somerset Arms, Dunraven Street, Aberkenfig

Now and then, former Six Bells, Evanstown, Gilfach Goch

 The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Six Bells Hotel, Maesteg Row, Evanstown, Gilfach Goch has been demolished but, unusually for this street the lower walls have been left standing.

Now and then, former Cwmffrwdoer, Pontnewynydd

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Cwffrwdoer, Chapel Road, Cwmffrwdoer, Pontnewynydd is now a private house

Now and Then, former Albion Hotel, Cilfynydd

The ex-Rhymney Brewery pub, the Albion Hotel, Cilfynydd Road, Cilfynydd, Mid-Glamorgan, has been demolished and Albion Flats are now there.

Newport MP celebrates Bud Light

From my understanding the "beer" factory just outside of Newport at Magor is now producing the delightful Bud Light, something that not even Simon Martin has attempted to wash his car with, yet.
Local MP and holder of all the dirt on disgraced former cabinet minister Ron 'Badger' Davies, Jessica Morden MP for Newport East and the Dodgy Parts of South Monmouthshire recently co-hosted an event in Parliament foe AB InBev who also make Becks, Stella, Boddingtons and Corona at their Magor factory, all with water from the Severn Tunnel (Remember to flush the toilet on train journeys through the tunnel, those beers need all the flavour they can get).
Anyway on the recent beer duty debate debate it appears that AB InBev managed to persuade the MP for Newport West to ask the following question:
I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way again; he is very generous. On responsible drinking, another change has been the move to lower alcohol beer. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that beer with an alcoholic strength of less than 3.5% is subject to 66% more duty than very high-strength cider at 7.5%? Does he agree that we could do more to incentivise the consumption of beers under 3.5%?
Hansard
A pity the rather gormless Member of Parliament chooses to support multi-nationals producing poor quality beer rather than her local brewery, Castles Brewery, still the GMB union, who represent the workers in the Magor factory continue to pump donations into her, no doubt  to ask questions on behalf of AB Inbev. 

Reminds me of the old song:

The Man That Waters the Workers' Beer

The Man That Waters the Workers' Beer is from the pen of "Paddy Ryan" (Dr. R. E. W. Fisher) written in 1938 when he was a medical student. He recorded the song a year later, with The International, as the first releast of the nascent Topic Records.

I am the man, the very fat man      That waters the workers' beer      I am the man, the very fat man      That waters the workers' beer      And what do I care if it makes them ill      If it makes them terribly queer      I've a car, a yacht, and an aeroplane,      And I waters the workers' beer. Now when I waters the workers' beer I puts in strychnine Some methylated spirits And a can of kerosene Ah, but such a brew so terribly strong It would make them terribly queer So I reaches my hand for the watering-can And I waters the workers' beer: Now a drop of good beer is good for a man When he's tired, thirsty and hot And I sometimes have a drop myself From a very special pot For a strong and healthy working class Is the thing that I most fear So I reaches my hand for the watering-can And I waters the workers' beer: Now ladies fair, beyond compare Be you maiden or wife Spare a thought for such a man Who leads such a lonely life For the water rates are frightfully high, And the meths is terribly dear And there ain't the profit there used to be In watering the workers' beer:

Now and the, former Patriot Inn, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Patriot Inn stood on High Street, Dowlais, the junction with Market Street can be seen in the right of the photo.

Now and Then, former Mount Pleasant Inn, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil

The ex-Rhymney Brewery pub, the Mount Pleasant Inn, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, stood on the corner of Union Street and George Street. Today George Street has vanished and Union Street is Lower Union Street and truncated to the right of the images.

Beer Revolution in Hay has moved!

A couple of years ago the Brew Wales editor visited Beer Revolution in Hay-on-Wye, an adventurous bottle shop located in the historic old stables of Hay-on-Wye Castle.

 The old premises of Beer Revolution

The new premises of Beer Revolution, 7 Market Street

The first major difference is not having to duck when walking through the front door of the new place! Whereas the Castle Stables was a dark and rather cramped premises the new Beer revolution, converted from a former shop is light and airy with plenty of seating and an outside area at the rear of the premises. 

There is also a bar serving six draught beers, good to see Beavertown, Moor and Hillside Breweries represented. Freshly ground coffees are also available with plans to do food in the next few weeks.

The large fridges with beers from the local Lucky 7 Beer Co, Hay-on-Wye's own brewery, along with beers from Tiny Rebel Brewery, Dugges, Wiper and True, Crafty Devil and Siren to name just a few.

All the beers and ciders are available to take out or drink in

 A welcome edition to the pub scene in Hay-on-Wye

Beer Revolution

7 Market Street

Hay on Wye

HR3 5AF

Whilst in Hay, we heard that the lease of Kilverts has been taken over by Brecon Brewing.

Now and then, former Dowlais Inn, Merthyr Tydfil

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Dowlais Inn, High Street/corner of Lower Union Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil. Now demolished along with the surrounding streets.

Now and then, former Whitbread Carmarthen Depot

The former Whitbread Carmarthen Depot, Alltycnap Road, Johnston which was in use from 1974 until 1983 and replaced an earlier depot at No 7 The Quay that was used from 1955 until 1974.