CAMRA Cider and Perry of the Year

CAMRA names the UK’s best Ciders and Perries

Cider
GOLD (joint) – White Jersey, Orgasmic Cider Company
GOLD (joint) – Janet’s Jungle Juice, West Croft
BRONZE – Medium, Three Cats

Perry
GOLD – Two Trees Perry, Gwynt y Ddraig
SILVER – Snowy Owl, Raglan Cider Mill
BRONZE – Perry, Snails Bank

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced the winners of its National Cider and Perry Championships.

The joint winners of the Cider Gold medal are White Jersey by Orgasmic and Janet’s Jungle Juice by West Croft. White Jersey was described by judges as being ‘fruity’ and ‘easy drinking’, with ‘a slight sweetness balanced by an excellent tang’, and having ‘balance without too much acidity’. Janet’s Jungle Juice was described as having a ‘mature and woody aroma’ with ‘an initial sweetness and a smooth finish’, and a ‘full mouthfeel with a resinous aroma’.

The winner of the Perry Gold medal is Two Trees Perry by Gwynt y Ddraig (meaning ‘dragon’s breath’ in Welsh) which the judges described as being ‘initially sweet with a refreshing, dry aftertaste’, ‘complex yet well balanced with a poached pear flavour and aroma’ with a ‘slowly developing finish’.

The final round of judging for CAMRA’s National Cider and Perry Championships 2015 took place at the popular Reading Beer and Cider festival today. The competition featured ciders and perries from across the UK, with each cider and perry judged on its individual taste, aroma, flavour, after-taste and overall appeal. The top awards were selected by a specially chosen panel of experienced judges, drinks writers and CAMRA members.

Steve Layton of Orgasmic Cider Company, had this to say on hearing his cider had taken the top spot,

“We’re very proud of this single blend [variety] cider - we grow the apples, we produce the cider, we do everything - so to me this is a great achievement, as it lets me know our cider is enjoyable to drink by everybody on this top judging panel. We're very proud to win and this is a massive achievement.

Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and Perry Committee Chairman, had this to say on the quality and diversity of entries:

“The quality and variety of real cider and perry is increasing year-on-year, making our job as judges increasingly difficult. With a set of truly excellent drinks available this year at the festival, and a competition which was very tight right until the final judging we are confident these ciders and perries can truly be known as the best in Britain.”

Reading CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival serves over 550 beers available, plus 150 ciders and perries (from over 100 producers), plus a selection of foreign beers, English wines and mead.

Over the four days festival around 13,000 attendees will drink over 35,000 pints of beer and 11,000 pints of cider.

Welsh Perry and Cider Society Cancel Festival

The Welsh Perry and Cider Society has cancelled its proposed festival over the June Banck Holiday Jubilee weekend due to an objection by Caerphilly Council. Oh well them, no Cider Festival at Unisthee Rugby Club then.

No worries as the Clytha Arms, the Home of Welsh Cider, are holding their own festival that weekend with ciders and perries from Monmouthshire and beyond. The People's Front of Judea in the Welsh Perry & Society decided to break away from the traditional venue of the Clytha Arms and run their own festival, now that has had to be cancelled, where better to enjoy good cider and perry than in the Monmouthshire countryside?

Well there is somewhere as good as the Clytha, the rescheduled Gwynt Y Ddraig open weekend is on the Saturday & Sunday as well, 2nd & 3rd of June.

Christmas Beers

A quick round-up of a few Christmas beers from breweries in South Wales.

First up is FirKing Good from Brains, brewed with Aromatic Malt and containing spicy hop flavours, this is a deep amber-coloured ale with a warming finish.

Next to Jay at Neath Ales with his Winter Star - a chestnut coloured ale which goes down easy and puts a festive smile on faces. 4.6% very low bittering hops but loads of spicy/earthy late hop flavour from buckets full of traditional hop varieties.

Vale of Glamorgan Brewery have brewed a couple of Christmas specials this year, the first one being Sleigh Belle. a tawny best bitter with pleasant bitterness and gentle hoppiness from cascade whole hops.




Their second seasonal brew is Holly Daze 5.4% ABV and is described by the brewery as 'Our Christmas brew, watch don't get in too much of a daze drinking this smooth, full bodied ale that has a hint of chocolate undertone'.

Celt Experience/Newmans Brewery also have a couple of beers out this Christmas:

Winter Hog Ale 4.6% 

Winter Hog is strong winters ale with a powerful bitterness that explodes into a delicious mixture of fruit flavours and aromas. Amber brown in colour this premium ale is complemented by a good sweet bitterness and a blend of aroma hops lending to its grapefruit and slightly citrus flavour.

Hoppy Gristmas 5.0%

A strong winter speciality ale, Hoppy Gristmas is a deep ruby beer with a delicate fruity aroma and a good hop presence. The lovely taste is distinguished by the sutbly sharp and full bodied flavour.

Best name for any Welsh Christmas Beer has to be from Purple Moose Brewery with X-Moose!

Meanwhile Gwynt Y Ddraig Cider have launched their seasonal cider, Sleigh Ride

Welsh Cider Open Weekend

 

Wales' largest cidermaker, Gwynt Y Ddraig will be holding their second open weekend of the year this Saturday and Sunday, 6th & 7th August. A weekend of music, cider, perry and roast hog beckons for all.

Saturday 6th 11:00am ’til 9.00pm

Sunday 7th 11:00am ’til 7:30pm

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.

Please note that camping is available for Saturday night only and all tents will have to be erected in our designated camping area, Camper vans and caravans are by prior arrangement only.

Sleeping in cars and vans is strictly prohibited and the night security will be monitoring the car park and camping area through the night, anyone found to be using their cars or vans to sleep in will be escorted off the farm.

Please do not bring onto the farm alcohol in any form, this is a strict condition of entry.

Google Map:

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The farm is easily reached by public transport from either Pontypridd or Talbot Green, alight at the stop between the Crown and Bush public houses.

Gwynt Y Ddraig Cider, Llest Farm, Pontypridd, RCT, CF38 2PW 

Traveline Information:

Gwynt launches new ciders

 Above: Gwynt Y Ddraig Directors Bill George and Andrew Gronnow with their new ciders

Award-winning Welsh Cidermaker Gwynt Y Ddraig has launched two new bottled ciders; Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy and Farmhouse Cloudy Scrumpy.
NB Tasting notes below are my own.

Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy 500ml bottle/ 5.3% ABV 

Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy is a slightly sparkling golden-coloured cider with an aroma of fresh-cut grass, oak and rich fruit flavours. Made from a blend of cider apples, including Dabinnette, that were pressed in the Autumn of 2009, this medium cider has been maturing at the farm since then.

An initial sweet taste is quickly followed by a rich fruity smoothness with some tannins coming through and a pleasant estery mouthfeel. The finish is again smooth but with a distinctive apple flavour which lingers in the throat and provides the rich aftertaste. An easy-drinking cider with a not-too strong alcohol content.

Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmhouse Cloudy Scrumpy, 500ml bottle/ 5.3% ABV 

Farmhouse Cloudy Scrumpy is light orange-yellow in colour and as the name suggests is cloudy; this cider has not been filtered to remove the sediment that naturally occurs when cider is made. A complex aroma of oak, tannins and fresh-baked bread leads to a dry, rich flavour with a sharp appley finish. This dry cider is the perfect accompaniment to strong cheddar. 


Both ciders are available online from the Gwynt Cider Shop. 

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

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:

Gwynt Cider Open Days 2011

 

The International Cider Makers of the Year 2010/11, Gwynt Y Ddraig have announced the dates for their open days this year, with good food, music and, of course their award-winning ciders and perries to wash down, these popular weekends are set to return on:

April 23rd/24th (Sat 1001-2100 & Sun 1100-1930)

& 

August 6th/7th 2011 (Sat 1100-2100 & Sun 1100-1930)

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 we are going to take a step back in time and show you how we used to press the apples by winding up our 19th Century double screw press – pictured below (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.

A selection of live music will be played over the weekend, Ross Kirk has been confirmed for the two weekends but a full line up of Artists will follow. 

Gwynt Y Draig Cider

Llest Farm

Pontypridd

RCT

CF38 2PW 

Google Map:

View Larger Map 

Welsh Cider Open Weekend

Gwynt Y Ddraig, the Welsh Cider & Perry Company will be opening the doors of their farm to the public again this weekend, although this time the weekend will feature live music and as such there will be a small charge of £5 per person per day, although this does include a pint or bottle of cider.
 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.

Earlier this year, Gwynt won the International Cidermaker of the Year Award, so expect some excellent ciders and perries at the event this weekend.

According to Gwynt Cider, Visitors are welcome to camp over on the Saturday night but please note that the only facilities available are the portable toilets. 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.

For those of you who attended the April open day you’ll remember that it was a tad busy so if you are planning to come we’d advise you to arive earlier rather than later, as if the numbers get too many we’ll have to stop letting people in as numbers are restricted… just to warn you, but hopefully it won’t come to that.

Please note that entry to anyone under the age of 18 is free but only with an accompanying adult and under 18s will therefore will 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.

This summers’ open days will once again cover our usual theme but due to an overhaul of our cider press, unfortunately it’s unlikely that we will be able to provide you with a demonstration of apple milling and pressing with our modern belt press over the weekend. This work is essential for us to ensure we have a trouble free 2010 Autumn, as we will be processing over 400 tonnes of cider apples and pears. Instead, however, we are going to take a step back in time and show you how we used to do it by winding up our 19th Century double screw press – pictured below (we will be using a modern mill).

Freshly prepared food will be available throughout the weekend from Cegin Crincae, Thomas Baguettes, La Creperie de Sophie, pasties and pastries from in a pickle.

A selection of music will be played over the weekend with Saturday revealing a number of local bands (including Plod, 3d Binge and Tetris Prime), then on the Sunday we present The Mangled Wurzels along with Ross Kirk. It’s going to be a great weekend!

Opening hours:
11-2100 on the Saturday 7th, 12-1900 on Sunday 8th August 2010

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

View Larger Map

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 and adjacent to an old chapel.

From Brew Wales

Gwynt Cider Launches Cider in a Box

Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmhouse Scrumpy, 5.3% ABV, £5.98/3 litre box in Tesco.

Gwynt Y Ddraig, the Welsh cider and perry company, have won many awards including best cider at the International Cider Competition in Hereford earlier this year. There bottles are already available in Tesco and now their draught cider is also available. There will also be an open weekend at the farm in Llantwit Fardre over 7^th and 8^th August.

Farmhouse Scrumpy is deep golden yellow in colour with a rich aroma of apples and a smooth puckering flavour that mellows to a sweet aftertaste that lingers around the mouth for some time. Made from a blend of apples including Browns, Breakwell Seedling and Dabinett, this is an easy drinking cider and at 5.3% ABV not too strong, this Scrumpy will be no doubt be flying off the shelves this summer as it is the perfect accompaniment to all barbecues.

Gwynt cider celebrates with triple success

Above Bill George (left) and Andrew Gronow (right) receive their award from CAMRA's Rhys Jones (centre) at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival last month.

A Welsh cider producer is celebrating a series of wins for its Black Dragon cider at Wales, UK, and international level.
Pontypridd-based Gwynt Y Ddraig has picked up a number of trophies in recent weeks, including top honours at the International Cider Competition held at Hereford Museum where their Black Dragon draught cider was judged Champion Cider of the competition – the ultimate award for cider producers.
This followed a silver medal for Black Dragon at the CAMRA UK Competition the previous week and earlier this month Black Dragon won Cider of the Festival at the Welsh Beer & Cider Festival held in Cardiff, beating ciders from across the UK.
Understandably excited by their wins cider makers Andy Gronow and Bill George said: “The award of Champion Cider at Hereford is equivalent to winning the World Cup and so we feel this really puts Welsh cider on the map showing we can produce cider that is equal to any produced in the UK. 
“Our Silver Medal from CAMRA demonstrates that our cider continues to appeal to the ‘real cider’ market and this is confirmed by our win at the Welsh Beer & Cider Festival.”  
The True Taste Award-winning company launched Black Dragon three years ago and it has proved to be their most popular draught cider.

It is an oak conditioned, medium dry cider with an alcohol content of 7.2% abv.  It is a special reserve cider that has been hand crafted exclusively from cider apples grown by traditional methods in ageing orchards in Wales and Somerset. 
The juice pressed from these apples is fermented and then matured in oak to produce a cider rich in colour, body and flavour with a fresh fruity aroma.
These latest awards will be added to an already bulging trophy cabinet at Gwynt y Ddraig which since beginning life on a farm in Llantwit Fardre in 2001 has won dozens of awards, including three UK Great Taste Gold Star Awards during 2009 and 2008 for their bottles of Vintage ’06, Yarlington Mill and Orchard Gold ciders. 
They produce a wide selection of draught and bottled ciders and perries, which are proving popular not only in Wales but across the UK. 
Their cider press was purchased with the help of a Welsh Assembly Government Processing and Marketing Grant and assistance was also given with the corporate design and literature.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones congratulated the company, saying:
“I am pleased to hear of Gwynt Y Ddraig’s achievements. In recognition of the growth in the sector over the last few years, this year’s True Taste Awards have introduced a category for beer and cider for the first time and it is good to hear that Welsh cider is becoming increasingly popular on the UK stage.”
The full range of Gwynt y Ddraig cider and perry including Black Dragon (10L and 20L) can be purchased direct from the farm or on line at www.gwyntcider.com

Gwynt Cider
Llest Farm
Llantwit Fardre
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF38 2PW
www.gwyntcider.com

Tasting notes. Black Dragon Bottled Cider:

Black Dragon is a light golden-coloured cider with a complex aroma of freshly mown grass, ginger and also some oak and spirit, which the cider picked up from being fermented in old wooden whiskey barrels. This cider is made from a careful blend of cider apples such as Brown snout, Norman and Jersey sourced from traditional orchards in Monmouthshire and Somerset. The taste is of an intense, rich almost syrupy apple flavour which envelopes the mouth, followed by a dry aftertaste with some whiskey flavours lingering on the tongue. A well-balanced medium-dry cider packed with plenty of taste and flavour.  Black Dragon excellent match for strong cheese.

Welsh cidermaker welcomes budget

WELSH CIDERMAKER WELCOMES BUDGET

Gwynt Y Ddraig, the award-winning Welsh cidermaker have today welcomed George Osborne's first budget which does not set out to penalise cidermakers as the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer chose to do.

According to Bill George, Operations Director of Gwynt Y Ddraig, “In these difficult times it was a relief to hear that the proposed 10% tax on our products will not go ahead and we also welcome the freeze on cider duty announced in the budget today. This is a good budget for us and the rest of the cidermaking fraternity throughout the country. We can now look forward to growing our business and even taking on more staff, something which the 10% cidertax would have prevented us from doing. It is good to finally have a Government that supports our traditional rural industries and not penalises them for their successes”.

Gwynt Y Ddraig Facts:

• Gwynt Y Ddraig was founded in 2001 by local farmer Bill George and his nephew Andrew Gronow
• 450 tons of fruit were pressed last year
• Black Dragon Cider was judged 'Best International Cider' in 2010
• Orchard Gold Cider was commended in the True Taste Drink (Alcoholic) awards 2007/8
• Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmhouse Sweet was judged “Best Sweet Cider” at the Bath Cider Festival 2008
• Gwynt Y Ddraig Perry was voted Champion Perry of Wales at the Welsh Cider Festival 2008
• Gwynt Y Ddraig have previously won Champion Cider and Perry of Britain, as judged by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

Further Information:

Bill George, Operations Director, 0779 106 6240

or

Andy Gronow, Production Director, 0779 106 6257

Llest Farm, Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd, RCT, CF38 2PW

www.gwyntcider.com

Welsh cider video

Good piece here about Welsh Cider from Cardiff uni journalism student Briohny Williams, who I met the other whilst up the Gwynt Y Ddraig farm.



Glad to see my the shot of my hand pouring a pint made the final cut!
Full article can be read on her blog here.

Welsh Cider in Wetherspoons

From Brew Wales

Wetherspoons pubs across South Wales will be serving draught Welsh Cider and Perry this weekend thanks to Gwynt Y Ddraig who will be supplying their award-winning products to their pubs.

Above: Gwynt Cider Operations Director Bill George supplying the cider at a previous Wetherspoons Festival

The following ciders and perries have been supplied to JD Wetherspoons, not all may be available in every pub.
Draught cider and perry:
Happy Daze, 4.5 % ABV Medium. A new cider in our range, fruity, apply aroma, well balanced finish. A light and very easy to drink medium cider
Haymaker 6.5 % ABV Medium. A fruity medium cider bursting with the flavour of apples. A true Farmhouse Cider with a smooth finish.
Farmhouse Sweet 5.5 % ABV, Sweet. Easy drinking cider, very smooth as the acidity is mellowed by the sweet taste.
Farmhouse Scrumpy 5.5 % ABV, Medium. Refreshing medium cider. Smooth and well balanced flavour.
Fiery Fox 6.5% ABV, Medium. Golden medium cider with a refreshing apple aroma. Smooth balanced flavour that has a fresh, crisp sharpness.
Dog Dancer 6.5% ABV, Medium Dry. Produced from bittersweet cider apples blended with a true sharp cider apple, it is a light straw coloured cider with a medium dry, smooth, crisp, slightly sharp characteristic.
Old Timer 7.0% ABV, Medium golden cider reminiscent of harvests in days gone by.
Barnstormer 6.5% ABV, Dry. A true traditional farmhouse dry cider. A firm favourite with dry cider fans
Black Dragon, 7.0% ABV, Medium Dry. Matured in oak barrels to produce a cider rich in colour, body and flavour with a fresh fruity aroma.

From Brew Wales

Brown Snout, 6% ABV, Medium. Single varietal true bitter sweet apple harvested late in November. It has become a popular apple to grow in modern day bush orchards
Two Trees Perry 4.5% ABV, Medium. A pale, fruity perry with an aroma of fruit and a hint of honey on the palate.
Pyder, 6.0% ABV, (Apple and Pear).Medium. An out of the ordinary blend of apple and pear juice fermented and matured in wood.

If you cannot get to a Welsh Wetherspoons then Gwynt Y Ddraig will be running a cider bar at the North Somerset Agricultural Show on Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd May.

Gwynt Open weekend - update

From Brew Wales Further to my earlier post on the open day - it looks like it will be a hot and sunny weekend perfect for cider drinking - there will be live music at the farm starting at 1330 on the Saturday: Andrew 'Tetris Prime' Lewis,  The Garth Moutain Boys,  Amy and Pete,  Miss Maudes Folly   3d Binge  Sunday we're going to be rocking out with Cider fest stall warts Plod Rock and theguythatgetsthegirl. If you cannot make this weekend up at the farm then make sure you make the open day in August as the Manglewurzels will be playing on the weekend of the 7th & 8th August.  And don't forget their Facebook site to keep up to date with their news.

Gwynt Cider Open Weekend

It's that time of the year again when the boys at Gwynt Y Ddriag Cider open the doors again for their first open weekend of the year.Loads of parking at the farm or the farm is a short walk up the hill from the bus stop with Numbers 100 and 400 (Talbot Green-Pontypridd) stopping nearby. A perfect place to try some of their award-winning ciders and perries and see how the cider is still made in a traditional manner. Last year the ITV Wales programme Fishlock's Wales covered the cidermaking process and here are some photos of the day.

From Brew Wales

Gwynt Y Ddraig Cider Ltd
Llest Farm, Llantwit Fardre
Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF38 2PW

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Journey planner:

From Brew Wales

Welsh Cider open days

From Brew Wales

Gwynt Y Ddraig, the Welsh Cider and Perry Company will again be holding two open days this year.

First weekend is 24th & 25th April

Second weekend is 7th & 8th August

More details on their Facebook page here

For those of you who cannot wait, Gwynt ciders will be at the really Welsh Food Festival in Cardiff next week. Friday 26th - Sunday 28th February at the former Virgin Megastore in the Capitol Shopping Centre, Cardiff

First cider of the year

A visit to Llantrisant today was a bit dissapointing as most of the pubs were shut, however the Crown in nearby Llantwit Fardre was open so a pint of Otley was imbibed there. Behind the Crown is the Gwynt Y Ddraig cider farm so it would have been rude not to have gone and see Bill, Drew, Glyn et al. Naturely a pint of cider was offered to me, the first of the year. The Black Dragon cider is as excellent as ever, loaded with tannins it was a bit of a shock to the system at first but turned out an enjoyable drink in the end. Second cider was the lucious Haymaker, sweet and golden as poured straight from the tank. From the farm I can still see snow on the mountains to the north. Cider is not usually thought of as a winter drink but Welsh craft cider should be!

Goodnight Beer Festival!

A new year and a new venue for a beer festival. Nosda, Welsh for goodnight, hence the headline, will be hosting its first ever beer festival on Saturday 30th January when Tafarn @ NosDa hosts its first ever Beer Festival!

Situated on the West bank of the Taff, across from the Millenium Stadium, Tafarn @ NosDa is slowly establishing itself to be one of the better bars of Cardiff with ciders from Gwynt and beers from Artisan already available.

The festival on Saturday 30th January will feature live entertainment from 6pm, and beers and ciders from:

• Artisan Brewing Co. has created a range of distinctive, unique and downright bizarre beers all naturally brewed. Sourcing only the finest speciality ingredients from near and afar, Artisan Beers are wholesome and natural, with no filtration, pumps or pasteurisation. You won’t find Artisan beers on the shelves in a supermarket as they’re produced small and kept local.
• Gwynt y Ddraig, the award-winning Welsh Cider & Perry Company made their first few hundred gallons of cider on the home farm in Llantwit Fardre in the autumn of 2001. Since then they have increased production every year and broadened their selection of draught and oak matured bottled ciders.
• Untapped Brewery, run by two old friends, have started off with 2 beers - Sundown and Eclipse. But they’ve already got plans and recipes to make more fantastic beers as time and funds allow.
• Otley Brewery originated back in 2005. As a micro-brewery, Otley Brewery is dedicated to the craft of producing Welsh ale with a difference. They believe in using the highest quality ingredients with every effort made to source produce from the local area, including fresh Breconshire water and the finest malts and hops available.

NosDa

53 - 59 Despenser Street,
Riverside,
Cardiff,
Wales,
CF11 6AG
tel: +44 (0) 2920 37 88 66

Welsh Cider in London!

From Brew Wales

For those of you not at Cowbridge or in the Otley pubs this weekend:

Gwynt Y ddraig, the Welsh Cider and Perry Company will this weekend be at the Southbank Centre in London as part of the Cheeses and Wine Fair.

The festival takes place in the Southbank Centre Square, situated outside the Royal Festival Hall. The Southbank Centre consists of the world-class Royal Festival Hall, The Hayward, Queen Elizabeth Hall (containing the Purcell Room), and the Saison Poetry Library. Situated on the south bank of the River Thames next to the popular London Eye, Southbank Centre is at the heart of an arts quarter stretching from the Royal National Theatre and National Film Theatre to Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe.

Opening Tmes
Friday 23 Oct 2009, 10:00am - Sunday 25 Oct 2009, 18:00pm
Nearest Tube is Waterloo


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