Golden Beers to feature at the Bunch

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

Otley pubs feature in top restaurant guide

South Wales pubs make Good Food Guide 2013

Two pubs in south Wales, both run by Nick Otley(above) from the Otley Brewing Company, have been listed in the UK’s best-selling restaurant guide.
The Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd and the King’s Arms in Pentyrch have both been selected for the Which? Good Food Guide 2013, an annual report of the best places to eat in the UK.

All listings are based on feedback from diners alongside anonymous annual inspections to ensure that every entry is up to date. The Good Food Guide has been reviewing the UK’s best restaurants, pubs and cafes since 1951.
The Bunch of Grapes has featured in the guide for the past four years running and the King’s Arms entry is the first since the management of the pub was taken over from Brain’s earlier this year.

Nick Otley said: “Both pubs aim to make the most of quality Welsh produce including Breconshire Beef, Welsh lamb, locally made fine cheeses, as well as fruit and vegetables we grow on site.

“Through our menus we aim to push the boundaries by incorporating innovative dishes throughout the seasons such as sausage desserts and beer ice-cream.

“We’re over the moon to have made the Good Food Guide and be among the best places to eat in the UK.”



Neither of the pubs smell of fish.

London-brewed beers to feature at the Bunch

Photo Courtesy of Dave RATS

The award-winning Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will this weekend be featuring a number of rare London brews at their 'London Beer Weekend'.

This weekend our pumps will feature a selection from three London Microbreweries (available from Friday 11am):
•The highly revered Kernel Brewery – massively hoppy beers with massive depths of flavour, you’re unlikely to find these on tap anywhere else in Wales - Pale ale, India Pale Ale and Porter.

•Sambrook’s Brewery – brewing in Battersea since 2008, playing a big part in bringing Brewing back into the centre of London - Wandle Ale (3.8%) named after the Thames tributary, a golden ale with a clean fresh sweetness and delicate lingering bitterness. Also their“1st anniversary” ale, Junction (4.5%), a traditional full bodied traditional English bitter brewed for anyone who thinks “theres too much flowery aroma in beer these days!”. Lastly, their Pale Ale (4.2%), with a light, dry and zesty taste and a citrus aroma.

•The Tap East Pub and Brewery – Looks like Cardiff missed a trick when building St. David’s 2 – situated in the middle of the Westfield Stratford shopping mall in East London, this pub and microbrewery surely offers the ultimate respite from shopping - Coffee in the Morning (5.7%), brewed with freshly ground coffee beans this is a full flavoured beer not necessarily intended for breakfast – bitter, roasted coffee bean flavours dominate. Also Poplar Pale Ale (4.1%), an American Pale Ale with a light golden colour, aroma of biscuity malts and classic citrus, grassy finish.

On top of this, one or two Otley beers may try and elbow their way in to the mix depending on how sales go, look out for O3 Boss and O-Garden making a sneak appearance.
The Bunch now offers custom made Beer Flights, where you can try Five different beers at a time in 1/3 pint glasses.

Bunch of Grapes
Ynysyngharad Road
Pontypridd

CF37 4DA

Going O out for Otley at the Bunch

Award-winning Otley Brewery are featuring a weekend of their beers at their pub, the Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd.

Above: Nick Otley at a previous Otley Festival in the Bunch

A showcase of the award winning Otley Brewing Company with a wide selection of Beers, all on handpull

What’s On -
Friday 29th June
Night: Live New Orleans style music from ‘The Occasional Brass Ensemble’

Saturday 30th June
Day: BBQ
Night: Rock and Blues Guitar Duo ‘Rustie Nutz’

Sunday 1st July
Soak up the rest of the beers with our epic Sunday Lunch

ON THE MAIN BAR
O1 – 4.0%
Our Flagship Golden Ale

CroesO 4.2%
Light, hoppy and delicate with big aromas. This is the Bunch’s house Ale and is hugely drinkable, as our regulars will attest to!

Thai-bO – 4.6%
Infused with lemongrass, lime leaf galangal and lime zest.  Fabulous with food, equally refreshing on its own!

O4 Columbo – 4.0%
In your face hop refreshment. Gold Medal in the Golden Ale category at the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival 2011

O-Garden – 4.7%
Clear wheat beer flavoured with roasted Orange peel, coriander and cloves

Oxymoron – 5.5%
Our Black IPA, brewed to look dark and taste light. Dry hopped with five different varieties – the result is both complex and satisfying.

O7 Weissen – 5.0%
Usually found in the Bunch in kegged form, for this weekend we have it Cask Conditioned. A lighter wheat beer with banana aromas and lemony aftertaste.

O3 Boss – 4.4%
A traditional, chestnut red coloured bitter with American hops for flavour and aroma

O5 Gold – 5.0%
American hops and lager malt. Quaffable refreshment.

Stonegate – 4.0%

O6 Porter – 6.6%
An old style porter with a deep and full flavour.  Truly satisfying with smooth mouth feel

ON THE FESTIVAL BAR
Not So – 5.5%
A modern take on the ‘Old Ale’ style. U.S., New Zealand and British hops unite!

O–Roger – 5.4%
A classic Burton Ale brewed with Roger Protz in the summer of 2011, with a slightly higher level of hops! Will you ever see this Beer again?

Saison Obscura – 5.5%
A continental dark Saison.  Flavoured with Grains of Paradise, Curacoa and orange peel.

O-Ho-Ho [vintage cask] – 5.0%
Our Christmas ale, blueberry infused.  Bitter with a delicate rose hue.

O-Mai – 4.3%
Our seasonal beer for May, pale and summery with fresh raspberries added late to the brew

O-Rosie 4.3%
Single hopped and infused with rosemary

Grape vs Grain at the Bunch of Grapes

GRAPE VS GRAIN: The two greats go head to head at an award-winning Welsh pub


Tuesday, June 19 at 7pm at the Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd
Flagship pub of the Otley Brewing Company, the Bunch of Grapes, in Pontypridd, is inviting people from across south Wales to an evening of fine dining with a twist. This evening will allow diners to judge which tipple tastes best with fine food- real ale or wine.

Diners will be served both ale and wine alongside each of the five courses and will be asked to judge which compliments each dish best. This evening has not been designed for real ale or wine experts but is an evening for everyone to learn more about the wonderful worlds of finely brewed ale and quality wine.

Each course will be carefully prepared by critically acclaimed head chef of the Bunch of Grapes, Sebastien Vanoni where he will use locally sourced produce to produce some of the Bunch of Grapes’ most memorable, signature dishes. MD of the pub and of the Otley Brewing Company, Nick Otley, will head up the real ale team with bar manager Gareth Hutt and they will go head to head with wine connoisseur Max Lloyd of Bibendum Wines and Manager of the Bunch of Grapes, Nina Richards.
With over 27 million* Britons being classed as wine drinkers compared with only 7.8 million** real ale drinkers, the Otley Brewing Company is campaigning to change this by highlighting the diversity of real ale and how it is just as satisfying as a cold glass of high quality white wine.
Nick Otley, said: “It’s a known fact that a good wine can make a great dish taste even better but we want to get people thinking about the wonders of real ale too and how its flavours can really enhance certain dishes.
“We’ve used the ale we brew in meals at the Bunch for quite some time now and our customers can’t get enough of our Otley beer ice cream, O6 porter reduction and Oxymoron jus. If they enjoy the ale so much in their meals then we can guarantee that they will enjoy them as accompaniments too.
“It’s also great having Max on board, he’s so passionate about quality wine which means he’s a great match for Gareth and I when we take centre stage in convincing diners which drink works best with each course. We’re sure that the evening will be a memorable one and I’m sure that both teams will work as hard as possible to ensure their tipple reigns supreme.”
The ultimate battle between ale and wine will begin at 7pm on Tuesday, June 19 at the Bunch of Grapes. The evening costs just £40 per head (or £140 for four) which includes the five course meal, ales and wines. Places are limited so it is advised that those wanting to attend book their places as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please book your place by contacting the Bunch of Grapes on 01443 402934.
Five course meal to include:

On arrival
Live Colchester oyster

1st course
Nightingale bush nettle soup
Peppered crème fraiche
Sourdough bread

2nd course
Seared Carpaccio of welsh beef fillet,
Pickled girolle mushroom, watercress
3rd course
Filo papillotte of Anglesey farmed seabass, ginger, chilli and coriander
Wild and red Camargue rice

4th course
Confit leg of free-range Wye valley chicken
Pea, broad beans and Swiss chard
Mustard jus

5th course
British Raspberry crème brûlée
Lavender shortbread

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Bunch

One of Wales' best pubs, the Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd, will be celebrating the New Year with their annual New Year's Eve Beer Festival tomorrow (Sat).

 Photo courtesy of Dave RATS

No beer list (yet!) but the beers featured will be the favourites of the landlord from throughout the year so expect some great beers from breweries across the UK as well as a few specials from the Otley Brewery lads.
Last year the festival featured beers from Thornbridge, Brewdog and Saltaire breweries to name just a few and the only downside was having to leave at 7pm to catch the train home! Its New Year's Eve so the trains will be stopping early.
Google Map:

View Larger Map

Journey Planner:

Bunch of Grapes celebrates Thanksgiving

 Photo Courtesy of Dave RATS

The multi-award winning pub, the Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd, will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, starting on Thursday 24th and continuing until Sunday 27th November.
As well as American specials on the menu such as Clam Chowder and Southern fried chicken thighs with sweet potato steak fries and coleslaw, there is also an extensive American Beer List.

Draught on the Festival bar:

Sierra Nevada

Torpedo Extra IPA
Celebration Ale
Porter
Kolsch

 

Big Foot IPA 
Barley Wine
Pilsner
 

Flying Dog

Snake Dog IPA
Doggie Style

Odell
Cut Throat Porter
5 Barrel Pale
IPA

Victory
Prima Pils

Bottles 34 various beers on the MAIN BAR:

Sierra Nevada
Odell
Goose Island
Brooklyn
Anchor
Flying Dog
Victory
Maui
Coronado
Indigo Imp

 

Cask Ales on the MAIN BAR

Otley Brewing Company -
U.S.O American Pale Ale
Utobeer American Red
Oxymoron American Black
O3 Boss dry hopped with cascade and Chinook American Red style
Trio dry hopped with Centennial
Tri-O dry hopped with Nugget

Bunch of Grapes
Ynysangharad Road
Pontypridd
CF37 4DA

Google Map:

View Larger Map

 

Bunch of Bottles in Pontypridd

A THIRST FOR WALES: BUNCH OF GRAPES BOTTLED BEER FESTIVAL

Wales’ first ever bottled beer festival will be held at the Bunch of Grapes gastro pub in Pontypridd on October 14 to 16.

The Otley Brewing Company will welcome over 150 of the World’s best bottled beers to its flagship pub for Wales’ first ever bottled beer extravaganza. The three day event will hold host to beers which have never been served in Wales before and bottled Russian Stouts, German Hefeweizen and American Pale Ales will take over the predominantly cask ale pub.

As this is a first event of its kind in Wales, it is expected to draw in customers from across south Wales and beer writers and enthusiasts from across the UK. The Otleys will also welcome author of ‘Good Bottled Beer Guide’, Jeff Evans, to the pub to talk about the best bottled beers available from around the globe.

Jeff Evans is well known in the UK and USA for his knowledge of quality beer and has hosted beer talks and tasting sessions at public events such as at the Great British Beer Festival and has also shared his expertise on BBC’s Good Food show. Jeff has been writing about beer professionally since the 1980’s.

Nick Otley, managing director of the Bunch of Grapes and Otley Brewing Company said: “We are already known for our Otley bottled beer range, but it is also important that we introduce different flavours and styles to our customers too. It was essential that we could pull together the biggest selection of quality bottled beers from all over the world to the Bunch, to really get our customers excited and to bring them something new.

“We have recently been certified as the official Welsh arm of the Beer Academy and so educating our customers about great beers is an even bigger part of what we believe in now. We’ve hand-picked an amazing selection of beers for the festival and can assure that we will not only bring Wales’ first bottled beer festival to Pontypridd but we will also have the best beer selection on offer too. Quality hops and unusual flavours are really important to us and we can assure that any beers we introduce during this festival will tick those boxes.”

Entry to the Bottled Beer Festival is free and will start from 11am and finish at 11pm daily.

Some of the beers coming on:
American

Anchor Brewing - San Fransisco
Steam Beer – 4.8%
Liberty Ale – 5.9%
Porter – 5.6%

Brooklyn Brewery - NYC
Brown Ale – 5.6%
Black Chocolate Stout – 10.0%
East India Pale Ale – 6.8%

Flying Dog Brewery- Maryland
Doggie Style – 5.5%
Road Dog Porter – 6.0%
Raging Bitch – 8.3%
Tire Bite – 5.1%

Goose Island - Chicago
312 Urban Wheat – 4.4% (as served in the White House!)
Honkers Ale – 4.3%
India Pale Ale – 5.9%

Sierra Nevada
Pale Ale – 5.6%

Belgian

De Koninck – 5.0%
Duvel – 8.5%
Kwak – 8.4%
La Chouffe – 8.0%
Mc Chouffe – 8.0%
Houblon Chouffe - 9.0%
Vedett Blonde – 5.0%
Vedett White - 4.7%
Belgoo Magus – 6.6%
Van Honsebrouke Brigand – 9.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Blonde 7 – 7.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Brune 11 – 11.0%
Cantillion Geuze – 5.0%
Cantillon Kriek – 5.0%
Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus – 5.0%
Cuvee Des Trolls – 7.0%
Delirium Tremens – 8.5%
Duchesse de Bourgogne – 6.2%
Mongozo Coconut – 4.5%
Rochefort 8 - 9.2%
Rochefort 10 - 11.3%
Saison Silly – 5.0%
Brasserie Dubuisson Scaldis Ambre – 12.0%
Urthel Hop It – 9.5%

Abbey & Trappist

monastic or monastic-style beer

Chimay Red Cap – 7.0%
Chimay White Cap – 8.0%
Chimay Blue Cap – 9.0%
Karmeliet Tripel – 8.4%
La Trappe Blonde – 6.5%
La Trappe Tripel – 8.0%
Maredsous Blonde – 6.0%
Maredsous Brune – 8.0%
Maredsous Triple - 10.0%
Orval – 6.2%
Westmalle Dubbel – 7.0%
Westmalle Tripel – 9.5%

German

Erdinger
Hefe Weiss – 5.3%
Urweisse – 5.2%
Hefe Dunkel – 5.6%
Pikantus – 7.3%

Flensburger
Pils – 4.8%

Fruh
Kolsch – 4.8%

Kuppers
Kolsch – 4.8%

Schlenkerla
Rauchbier Marzen – 5.1%
Rauchbier Weizen – 5.2%

Schneider
Aventinus – 8.2%
Original – 5.4%
Grunes – 6.2%

Jever
Pils – 4.9%

Maisels
Weiss – 5.4%

Schlosser
Alt – 4.8%

St. Georgenbrau
Kellerbier 4.9%

Veltins – 4.8%

Fruit Beers



Bacchus
Framboise – 5.0%
Kriek – 5.8%

Liefmans
Cuvee Brut (Kriek) – 6.0%
Fruitesse – 4.2%

Timmermans
Framboise – 4.0%
Kriek – 4.0%

Czech

Bohemia Regent Dark Lager – 4.4%
Bohemia Regent President 6.0%

Eggenberger
Hopfenkonig (Hop King) – 5.1%

Dutch

Budels
Organic Lager – 5.0%

Italian

Menabrea 4.8%

For more information please visit the Bunch of Grapes website or follow the pub on Twitter @BunchGrapesCF37. 

Bunch of Grapes, Ynysangharad Road, Pontypridd, R.C.T., CF37 4DA

Beer Academy in Wales

SOUTH WALES PUB NAMED OFFICIAL WELSH ARM OF UK BEER ACADEMY

Pontypridd pub, The Bunch of Grapes has been officially named as the first official outlet for The Beer Academy in Wales. 

Founded in 2003, The Beer Academy is an international body that helps people understand, appreciate and enjoy beer sensibly. The Academy is supported by brewers, beer retailers, trade associations and consumer groups and delivers training courses as well as talks, tastings and workshops.

The Bunch of Grapes Beer Academy has already attracted 165 members who have enjoyed exclusive events including tutored tastings and beer and food matching event with world-renowned beer writers including Melissa Cole and Roger Protz.

Nick Otley (pictured outside the Bunch), managing director of The Bunch of Grapes and the Otley Brewing Company, said: “To be declared the first official Welsh arm of the Beer Academy is a real badge of honour for us. It will help us on our way to establishing the pub as a centre of excellence for real ale and will boost our efforts to encourage more people to share our passion for beer.

“The Beer Academy at the Bunch of Grapes is a meeting point for people to get together and learn about, experience, taste and enjoy beer in all its wonderful varieties. We’re really keen for more people to join the Beer Academy at the Bunch and learn about what makes real ale so special. It’s fast-becoming a drink of choice for a younger, more discerning drinker and this is reflected in our member base which is made up of a large proportion of under 35s.”

The next event at the Bunch of Grapes is a three day festival from 14 October which will bring 150 bottled beers from all over the world to Wales, many for the first time.

Beer Academy director, Simon Jackson, said: “Beer is not only the world’s most popular alcoholic drink, it is also the most diverse.  The Beer Academy’s ambition is to open people’s eyes to the dazzling varieties of different beers that they can enjoy and how to present them in perfect condition.  We are delighted that the Bunch has come on board to spread our message in Wales.”

The Beer Academy at the Bunch is free to join and is open to anyone who is keen to develop their interest in real ale. Sign up to receive the latest news and information about what’s going on in the world of beer and forthcoming events. 

Register by emailing info@bunchofgrapes.org.uk

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

Bunch O' Stouts and Porters at the Grapes

The multi award-winning Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will be holding one of their regular beer festivals this weekend, starting today (Friday).
On the Main Bar: Note, now 9
handpumps.
Otley – O1 4%
Otley – O6 Porter 6.6%
Otley – Dark Saison (NEW) 5.5% brewed by Adrian Tierney-Jones
Otley – O5 5.0%
RCH – Hewish IPA 3.6%
Lancaster – Black
Castle Rock – Screech Owl

On the festival bar:
Saltaire – Hazelnut Coffee Porter
Hop Back – Entire Stout
Green Jack – Lurcher Stout
Burton Bridge – Porter
Bristol Beer Factory – Milk Stout
Brewdog – Paradox Smokehead
Waen – Blackberry Stout
Dark Star – Espresso Stout
O Hanlons – Port Porter
RCH – Old Slug Porter
Wye Valley – Dorothy Goodbody
Wholesome Stout
Titanic – Black Ice

Continental on tap:
Erdinger - Weissen
D.A.B
Lindeboom
Brooklyn – Brooklyn Lager

Protz Performs at the Bunch

Photo courtesy of Dave RATS

Roger Protz to host tutored tasting session at Bunch of Grapes

 The Bunch of Grapes pub in Pontypridd in hosting an evening tasting event with world renowned beer expert, Roger Protz, on Saturday 29 January.

Roger Protz is one of the world’s top beer writers and tasters and has written 20 books including the World Guide to Beer, The Ale Trail and best-seller 300 Beers To Try Before You Die. He was presented with the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Guild of Beer Writers in 2003.

Roger broadcasts and gives many tutored beer tasting sessions across the world. He contributes to beer and pub trade magazines as well as the Guardian and The Independent.

At the Bunch of Grapes, Roger will pick his top five award-winning Welsh beers and match them with a selection of dishes.

The event starts at 5pm and costs £10 per person. Places are limited so advance booking is essential.

Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, said: “We’re very excited about hosting Roger Protz at the Bunch of Grapes for the first time next Saturday.

“The night promises to be insightful and fun and will be suitable to anyone who enjoys beer or fancies giving it a try for the first time. They’ll be something for everyone – especially for those who are fans of seeing how food and drink is successfully matched.

“We’re aiming to establish the Bunch of Grapes as a centre of excellence for real ale by hosting events with experts such as Roger Protz. We have many more events lined up for the rest of the year so if you’re interested in finding out more then sign up to the Bunch of Grapes Beer Academy and you’ll receive our free newsletter.”

Beers available this weekend, subject to availabilty 

On the Main Bar: Note, now 9 handpumps:
Otley – O1 4%
Otley – O3 Boss 4.4%
Otley – O4 Colombo 4%
Bass -4.4%
Great Orme - Celtica 4.5%
Saltaire – Triple chocoholic 4.8%
Country Life – Country Bumpkin 6.0%
Ceidr Dai – Broom apple Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig – Two Trees Perry
On Next:
Otley – O-Rosie 4.3%
Otley O-Garden 4.8%
Courage – Directors 4.8%
Salopian – Treasure Trove 4.0%
Salopian – Art Deco 4.2%
RCH – Steam Sale 4.5%
Brentwood – Resolution IPA 5.5%
Continental on tap:
Erdinger - Weissen
D.A.B
Lindeboom
Brooklyn – Brooklyn Lager
 

Bunch of Grapes 

Ynysangharad Road, 

Pontypridd, 

CF37 4DA  

Tel. 01443 402934 

Thanksgiving at the Bunch

The multi-award-winning Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will be going American between the 25th – 27th November with their American Thanksgiving Beer & Food Festival

Beers available:
Brooklyn Lager
Anchor liberty
Anchor Steam
Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere
Great Divide Titan
Great Divide Hercules
Flying Dog Tire Bitter
Flying Dog Raging Bitch
Left Hand Black Jack Porter
No Bud though, not even for Cooking Lager

Thanksgiving Menu Available in the Bar & Restaurant

Starters:

Gingered butternut squash soup with spicy pecan cream £4.50

New England clam chowder £5.00

Maryland crab cake £5.50

Waldorf salad with rye bread £5.00

Main Course:

New Orleans smoked sausage and brown shrimp jambalaya with brown rice, grilled prawns and chillies £13.00

Colorado pork Chile Verde with tortilla chips £13.00

Southern fried chicken thighs with sweet potato steak fries and coleslaw £12.00

Kansas City barbecue sauce beef spare ribs with fries and green salad £14.00

Desserts:

“Connecticut’s best” apple pie £4.70

New York supreme cheesecake with blueberry coulis £4.70

Michigan frosted pumpkin doughnut with cream cheese ice cream £4.70

Looks good and of course if you don't fancy the American beers there are always the fantastic Otley Brewery beers to wash down the food with.

Google Map:

View Larger Map

Bunch of Grapes
Ynysangharad Road
Pontypridd
CF37 4DA

Golden Ales at the Bunch

The Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will this weekend be holding a golden ales festival, starting on Friday and finishing on Sunday (or earlier if the beer runs out sooner).

Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, said, “This is the first time we’ve hosted a Golden Ales Festival and we’re looking forward to offering such a top selection of quality ales.

“Golden ales are a fairly new style of lighter beer and they tend to be very hoppy and are particularly good for summer drinking as they go with barbeque food very well.  This style of beer is a great introduction to real ale, particularly for lager drinkers who enjoy something light. 

“The fact that golden ales are growing in popularity demonstrates how the brewing industry is catering for changing tastes.  We stock a golden ales crate through our Real Beer Box website which has been a popular choice so far this summer.”

Live entertainment Friday night with Côr Meibion Pontypridd, and Saturday night sees the return of The BlackHawk Big Band.

Bar meals available all day every day, BBQ Saturday, and traditional Lunch on Sunday

Beers on, subject to availability:

Otley O1 

Otley Colombo

Otley O5 

Otley Thai Bo

Otley O-GardenBrecon - Cribyn

Crouch Vale – Brewers Gold

Dark Star - Hophead

Dark Star APA

Exmoor - Gold

Hop Back - Summer Lightning
Kelham - Pale Rider
Milk St - Beer
Oakham - JHB

Bishop's Farewell

O'Hanlons - Yellow Hammer

Otter - Bright
RCH - Pitchfork
Salopian - Hop Twister

Saltaire - Summer Ale
Skinners - Cornish Knocker

St Peters - Golden Ale
Thornbridge - Kipling
Titanic - Iceberg

Titanic - Inferno
Wye Valley - HPA

Brew Dog Trashy Blonde 

Bunch of Grapes Facebook site here

Bunch of Grapes
Ynysangharad Road

Pontypridd
CF37 4DA 

Google Map:

View Larger Map

Journey Planner:

Bunch of Otleys at the Grapes!

This weekend the Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will be featuring an all-Otley brewery beer festival with 18 Otley beers on at the same time. This looks set to be a real hop-fest of an occaision so if you like your bland tasteless ales then stay in Chaverspoons drinking the cheap stuff.

Live music on Friday night with the Black Hawk Big Band and Acoustic Artist BenSem on Saturday night.

BBQ Saturday from 12pm-6pm

Sunday Lunch 12pm - 330pm

On the Main Bar
Otley - O1
Otley – O8
Otley – O6 Porter
Otley – O-Garden
Otley – Motley Brew
Otley – Dark 8

On the Festival Bar
Otley – O2
Otley - O4 Colombo
Otley - O3 Boss
Otley - O5 Gold
Otley – Dark O
Otley – 11038
Otley – Americano
Otley – Shado
Otley - O Ho Ho
Otley - O Mai
Otley – Croeso
Otley – OG

Ciders Available:
Cider Dai
Blaengawney Farm
Raglan Cider Mill
Gwynt Y Ddraig
Gwynt Y Ddraig – Happy Daze Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig – Black Dragon

Continental on Tap:
Erdinger - Weissen
Dortmunder Action Bier - Orginal
Lindeboom - Pilsner

Now I would have supplied some tasting notes for the festival, unfortunately Rachelle at the brewery has refused to send me any!

Bunch of Grapes
Ynysangharad Road.
Pontypridd

CF37 4DA
Facebook site
 Google Map:

View Larger Map

Journey Planner:

Otley Oct-O-Ber Festival 2009

The annual Otley Oct-O-Ber Fest kicks off tomorrow and the festival is going to be bigger than before with all 3 Otley pubs being involved and over 50 real ales (10 from Otley brewery), ciders and perries over the 4 day event.

Otley Arms, Trefforest
Thursday 22nd - Tatt-Syrup
Friday 23rd - Nation Stack, Navigators
Saturday 24th - Isca Moris Men
Sunday 25th - Drink the bar dry & Sunday Lunch

Rickards Arms
Thursday 22nd - Poets, Spoken word & Comedy cabaret.
Friday 23rd - Welsh Male Voice Choir
Saturday 24th - Acoustic acts, Britt Roberts, Guy that gets the girl and NothingNew.
Sunday 25th - Sunday lunch and Poker Tournement.

Bunch Of Grapes
Thursday 22nd -Cor Meibion
Friday 23rd - A470's big Jazz Band
Saturday 24th - Afternoon cheese festival / Kitty Corsets Burlesque in the evening
Sunday 25th - Sunday Lunch and Festive Games
Follow the Bunch on Twitter!

On at the 'Bunch of Grapes' ON HAND PUMP		% ABV
OTLEY	COLOMBO	4.0
	O1	4.0
	AMARILLO	4.3
	O5 SHADO	4.3
	O-GARDEN	4.8
	CALIFORNIA GOLD	5.0
	OG	5.4
	O8	8.0
FESTIVAL BAR
DARK STAR	HOPHEAD	3.8
	OKTOBERFEST	5.2
	PORTER	5.5
THORNBRIDGE	JAIPUR	5.9
	KIPLING	5.2
	RAKAU	5.0
	HALCYON	7.7
CROUCH VALE	BREWERS GOLD	4.0
	AMARILLO	5.0
	WILD HOP	4.2
OAKHAM	JHB	3.8
	ATILLA	7.5
	BISHOPS FAREWELL	4.6
	INFERNO	4.0
COPPER DRAGON	1816	4.1
	GOLDEN PIPPIN	3.9
BREWDOG	PUNK IPA	6.0
	TRASHY BLONDE	4.1
MILK ST	FUNKY MONKEY	4.0
	BEER	5.0
RCH	SLUG PORTER	4.5
	PG STEAM	3.9
BRECON	GOLDEN VALLET DRY HOPPED	4.2
	CRIBYN DRY HOPPED	4.5
CELT	GOLDEN	4.0
EVANS EVANS	WARRIOR	4.4
BRYNCELYN	HOLLY HOP	3.9
SWANSEA	DEEP SLADE DARK	4.0
TRING	SIDE POCKET FOR A TOAD	3.6
	PHANTOM MONK	4.0
PURPLE MOOSE	GLASLYN	4.2
CONTINENTAL DRAUGHT
LINDEBOOM		5.0
ERDINGER WEISS		5.3
D.A.B.		5.0
PAULANER		5.0
CIDERS & PERRY FROM THE FOLLOWING PRODUCERS
GWYNT Y DDRAIG	THREE SAINTS
BERRIEW	BROADOAK
CIDER DAI

Other Stuff:
T-shirts, Glasses and merch, GTFM coverage, over 30 real ale and ciders, Meal Deals at all 3 pubs, The otley Rider bus pass which lets you get on the minibus traveling around the 3 pubs over the couse of the festival, poets, comedians, shenanigans, competiitions, burlesque, bands, artsits, BBQ's, free film screenings (see inside pubs for details), dancers and much much more!