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

Denis Gwatkin named as one of CAMRA's top cider campaigners

Above: Denis Gwatkin

CAMRA announces top cider and perry campaigners 

To celebrate the 25th year of the ongoing campaign to promote real cider and perry, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has announced its top cider and perry campaigners. The top campaigners have earned their spots for their tireless work to promote the joys of traditionally produced real cider and perry.

Andrea Briers, Chair of CAMRA’s Cider and Perry Committee - and now officially one of its top campaigners - had this to say, “I’m extremely happy to have been voted one of CAMRA’s top cider and perry campaigners and earn my place alongside others in this list who have worked extremely hard to promote these once little-known drinks. Traditionally produced cider was difficult to find and perry was on the brink of disappearing altogether from many parts of the country when CAMRA began its support, and it is amazing to see how far we have come – due in no small part to the work done by the people named in this list.”

The top campaigners were voted for by CAMRA members and include volunteers, directors and even cider producers, including: Dave Matthew of Seidr Dai, Denis Gwatkin of Gwatkin Cider, Ivor and Susie Dunkerton of Dunkerton’s Cider, Ray Blockley of Torkard, , and Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider. For more information on CAMRA’s support of real cider and perry click here. 

Denis has been making cider and perry in Abbeydore, Herefordshire for 21 years now

 The early days, from a 1992 BBC programme 'Down to Earth' 

 Gwatkin Cider stalls can be seen throughout the country nowadays at food and farming shows

Best pub in South Wales is the Red Cow!

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, have judged the Red Cow, Llwydcoed to be the best pub in South Wales after the winners from local branches were judged against each other.
The award-winning brewpub, home to the Grey Trees Brewery, has been transformed by landlord Ray Davies into a real ale Mecca and features beers from across Britain, as well as his own brews. Have previously written about the pub here.
The Red Cow also features Gwynt Y Ddraig cider and craft keg beers from Thornbridge as well.

The West Wales winner was The Talbot, Tregaron and the North Wales and overall Welsh winner was the Bridge End, Ruabon, which won UK Pub of the Year earlier this year.

North Wales pub in final of competition

 A pub run by a North Wales micro-brewery is in the running for the UK national Pub of the Year, competition. The Bridge End Inn in Ruabon, Wrexham, run by McGivern Ales, is one of four finalist selected by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale in their annual competition.

Bridge End Inn, 5 Bridge Street, Ruabon, Wrexham, LL14 6DA
Tel. 01978 810881, www.mcgivernales.co.uk
'This former coaching inn close to the station has been completely revitalised since it was taken over by the McGivern family in 2009. It has proved so popular with locals and real ale aficionados from further afield that it was voted CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year in 2010.'
Peter McGivern, Bridge End Inn licensee, said: ‘We are genuinely chuffed to be in the final, being a small family business having only taken over the pub two and a half years ago. Our bar staff here are dedicated to knowing about their beer, and how to look after it, and we have an ever changing range, with over 100 different microbrewers on show on our pumps each year.’

Other contenders for Pub of the Year are:

Engineers Arms, 68 High Street, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AA
Tel. 01462 812284,
'This lively two-bar pub in the centre of the village is a must for real ale fans, with 10 handpumps featuring a wide range and style of beers. There are also five ciders and a perry on offer, typically from Westons. The bar room walls are covered in pictures dedicated to local history, sports stars and brewery memorabilia.'
Kevin Machin, Engineers Arms licensee, said: ‘We are elated to have reached the final four, and it’s a great honour. Everyone’s so excited around here that we’ve reached this stage of the competition. We were delighted just to have won the title of best pub in East Anglia.’

Front, Custom House Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3JT
Tel. 01326 212168
'Tucked away in a corner of the picturesque Custom House Quay, this small cellar-style pub with low-vaulted ceiling lies below Trago Mills store. A popular student haunt, a whole range of live entertainment is on offer during the evenings- folk, shanty singers, open mike and more. Guest beers constantly vary to provide a year-round beer festival. There's no food, but you may bring your own from various nearby outlets.'
Matt Reay, Front general manager, said: ‘It’s a quite unbelievable achievement for us bearing in mind we are only a little bar on the waterfront. We put so much work into serving our beer in tip top condition, and we are dedicated to giving good service to our customers, and providing a great atmosphere.’
 
Swan with Two Necks, Main Street, Pendleton, Lancashire, BB7 1PT
Tel. 01200 423112,
'A true local in every sense, with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and traditional, home-cooked food with ingredients from local suppliers. The licensees are both CAMRA members and are celebrating their 25th anniversary running the pub. Four handpumps regularly feature beers from George Wright and Phoenix, and sometimes also from one of the local micro-breweries. Westons cider is a standard here. Rosie the cat is a local legend, as is the vast collection of teapots.'
Christine Dilworth, Swan with Two Necks proprietor, said: ‘We have never been recognised like this before, so to reach these final stages is fantastic. We are a village establishment, and there is a real buzz around the community, with new people from across Britain coming to visit the pub in light of our success. Being the national winner would cap a great 25 years running the pub!’
Julian Hough, CAMRA Pubs Director, said:
‘It’s great to see four finalists which haven’t featured at this stage of the competition over the last decade, as this shows just how many exemplary community pubs remain across Britain.’
The winner of CAMRA's National Pub of the Year 2011 is to be officially announced mid-February 2012.

Welsh Breweries win awards at National Winter Ales Festival

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Information on the CAMRA Website

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