Chinese Take-away for Swansea Brewery!

Swansea-based Tomos Watkin Brewery - are shipping their bottles to China and their beers will soon be available in Shanghai.

It’s another first for the Swansea based Hurns Brewing Company which now exports its award winning range of beers, lager and cider to Australia, USA, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

This latest deal was clinched after exhibiting on the Welsh Government stand at the Food and Hotel China 2012 trade show in Shanghai last November when the Tomos Watkin range went down a treat.

CEO Connie Parry said:"There was a huge amount of interest at the event and I am confident this is the start of a great relationship with our importers in China and the first of many orders. We are also following up leads from other interested parties we met out there. China was one of our target markets and has great potential so we are delighted to have secured our first order so soon after the trade mission. The exhibitions are proving to be invaluable for us and have literally opened doors to enable us to trade with countries from around the world. Without that support we simply would not have won this business".

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said, "The Welsh Government is supporting an extensive programme of trade missions and exhibitions worldwide to help and support businesses in Wales access new markets. I am delighted to hear of businesses like the Hurns Brewing Company benefiting from these events and winning orders and exporting to new countries. A consignment of Llanllyr SOURCE, a premium quality bottled water that comes from sources beneath certified organic fields near Lampeter, is also en route to Shanghai following a recommendation from Connie. Our new trading partners asked me to recommend a high quality supplier and as I have been on trade missions with Llanllyr Water I know the integrity of their products and had no hesitation in recommending them".

Tomos Watkin launch new beer

The award-winning Tomos Watkin Brewery of Swansea have launched a new beer, Blodwyn, named after the cockle-picking sister of the company's founder, Idris. Brewed with pale malt and Styrian Goldings hops this thirst quenching ale is already proving popular in their usual outlets. A bottled version will be appearing soon.
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Multi-tasking by Tomos Watkin

Brewery videos are few and far between but this little viral advert gave me a chuckle:


MULTI TASKING BY TOMOS WATKIN by sharkyb

About time I annoyed the feminazis again!

Hurns to sponsor Ponty RFC

Award-winning Swansea Brewery Tomos Watkin. part of the Hurns Group, will become a major sponsor of Pontypridd RFC for the 2010-11 season.
Gareth Howells, Sponsorship & Marketing manager for Pontypridd RFC said, "Braf –o!" to Tomos Watkin on joining our black and white family. We welcome Connie Parry and the Hurns group on board for what will be an exciting season of rugby with a club that has one of the best rugby brand names in Wales and the world.
We hope that we can help put Tomos Watkin on the map, especially as we contest the British and Irish Cup cross border competition, and that in partnership we can both enjoy mutual levels of success."
Established over 100 years ago, by 2002 Hurns had grown into one of the largest independent producers and distributors of beer in South Wales.

Since then its Tomos Watkin Ales have won awards and accolades throughout the country whilst its CEO Connie Parry has recently been named ‘Welsh Businesswoman of the Year’.

Connie Parry said, "I am delighted that our Award Winning Welsh Brewery will be associated with such a popular and successful club as Pontypridd . We look forward to a long and successful partnership with the supporters, players and club and wish you every success for the new season."

With a core of six distinctive ales such as Cwrw Haf, Cwrw Braf, OSB and Dark Mild the company also brings out a number of new beers each year to celebrate special occasions or events.

This vibrant, forward-thinking company now owns a number of pubs, employs more than 100 people, sells its ‘Great Ales of Wales’ across the globe, is a significant investor in South Wales and continues to go from strength to strength.

Chinese Television interviews Welsh Brewery Boss!

Found this whilst browsing the internet, Tomos Watkin Brewery CEO, Connie Parry is interviewed by New Tang Dynasty Television to celebrate winning Welsh Woman of the Year Award.



                新唐人電視台 http://www.ntdtv.com

Crofty Inn, Crofty, Gower

Above: The view from Crofty across salt marshes of the Lougher Estuary

Set amidst the salt marshes of the Lougher Estuary, the hamlet of Crofty is easily reached from the A484 or the Gower bus route from Swansea. The Crofty Inn is set back from the coast on a minor road but with plenty of car parking space available at the Inn, both at the front and at the rear of the building. This two-story whitewashed Victorian building first became a pub in 1858 and a list of the previous landlords is displayed on one of the walls in the bar.

This warn and friendly multi-roomed pub features a bar on the left hand side as you walk in and a lounge/dinning room to the right. The bar has a small 'cwtch' area with serving hatch as you walk in, leading to a larger back room and attractive, well-lit conservatory towards the rear. The bar area features both a pool table and darts board, but the place is big enough not to allow them to interfere with the important concern of getting to the modern, well lit bar. The bar top is impressive in itself, being made out of dark igneous rock, the cold stone surface a  complements the excellent cellar-temperature beer served here. At the rear of the building is a separate, wooden-built roofed smoking shelter which is heated on colder days and nights. A good idea by the considerate brewery which has proved popular with customers who smoke. There are also picnic tables outside for those who wish to enjoy the sun in this fantastic pub on the Gower Peninsular.

 The Crofty Inn is owned by Swansea-based Tomos Watkin Brewery and their beers, lagers and cider are prominent on the bar, with Cwrw Braf and Dark Mild on draught along with 1879 Lager and Taffy Apples Cider together with bottles of Cwrw Gaeaf, Magic Lagyr and OSB in bottles. The beers are all served in branded Tomos Watkin glasses, a nice touch from one of Wales' largest breweries. 

A popular local pub, the Crofty Inn is home to two football teams, Penclawdd AFC and Crofty Wanderers as well as being in the local pool and darts league. Photographs of old regulars in the pub are on the walls together with caricatures of the local football team. This pub really is the heart of the community, after all there is hardly anywhere left where the neighbours can gather together and meet each any longer, the Crofty Inn is able to do bring communities together, whether to support their local teams or to watch International matches on the large plasma television screens in the bar. Sky Sports is also available in the bar for the bigger, more important games.

The separate lounge/dining area is situated to the right as you enter the building, features plenty of seating and is popular at lunchtime, especially on Sundays when booking is recommended. Food is served 12-2.30, 6.30-8.30 Monday-Saturday apart from Tuesday and the menu is extensive with fish, steak, Indian, vegetarian and options for children, as well as a separate snack menu. If you are more interested in the beer, the Crofty Inn is open 12-12 Monday-Saturday and 12-11.30 Sunday. 

Crofty Inn

71 Pencaerfenni Lane

Crofty, Gower, Swansea

SA4 3SW

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Tomos Watkin Brewery

For those fans of the panoramic shots, this is the working heart of the Tomos Watkin Brewery in Swansea. Opened in 2000 by Rhodri Morgan AM, the company went into receiveship in 2002 and was bought by the local family-owned drinks company Hurns. Since then it has gone from strength to strength with their "Great Ales of Wales". Live blogged from the brewery, will post more pictures when back on the pc!

In the bar

In a bar, but not drinking, this is the tap room of the Tomos Watkin Brewery in Swansea. They produce a range of beers and lagers in cask, keg and bottles which are exported throughout the world. Latest addition to the range is the 1879 lager, on keg but selling well in their pubs across Wales. It will also be in the Rake in Borough Market for their Welsh Beer Festival next week.

True Taste Award Winners stand out at Tesco

From Brew Wales

In order to help its customers locate quality Welsh produce, Tesco is launching new signage in 29 superstores and 15 Tesco Extra stores right across Wales. Six award-winning True Taste producers, a Welsh Assembly Government brand, have been selected to feature on the new signage in Tesco supermarkets which will feature on shelves up and down the country. They include two of Wales' best breweries, Brains and Tomos Watkin.
Other food producers include Edwards of Conwy, Cadog, First Milk and South Caernarfon Creameries.
The Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, says, “One of the priorities of the Welsh Assembly Government is to make it easier for consumers to buy food and drink produced in Wales, and this new signage will significantly help in achieving that goal.
“Local sourcing of food and drink is one of our priorities as set out in One Wales and the Local Sourcing Action Plan. The Plan aims to support local food and drink producers as well as assisting them in their efforts to access local markets. The Plan also aims to help Wales maintain high standards in food safety, develop local food cultures and reduce “food miles”.”
The signage, which is of post-card size, will include some background information and a photograph of each producer along with the True Taste logo.
Mark Grant, Tesco’s Senior Buying Manager for Wales, explains, “These producers are producing award winning products that carry the True Taste logo, which are recognised by consumers and the food and drink industry as a sign of excellence.
“Our customer research tells us that people are increasingly looking out for regional and local produce and we are delighted to be able to offer them a wide range of local Welsh products.”

Statistics show that people are far more interested in food production, provenance and buying British than ever before. Research shows that 84% of customers claim they would buy more locally sourced products if made available to them in supermarkets and that 32% of people view local food as a way to take positive steps for the environment. Tesco launched a local sourcing initiative in 2008 and has 450 regional products in its Welsh stores. 

The Wales the True Taste Awards were founded in 2002 and are managed by the Welsh Assembly Government.  The awards scheme recognises and rewards quality and excellence in Welsh food and drink.  Year-on-year the True Taste Awards grow in strength and popularity and are regarded as the 'Oscars' of the Welsh food industry.  For further information about the Wales the True Taste awards please visit: www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk / www.truetaste.tv

True taste Winners 2008

The True Taste Awards for 2008 have been announced.
The full brochure is available as a pdf here but here are the beery highlights:

Alcoholic Drinks Section

1^st Place went to Penny & Stefan Samociuk from Penlon Cottage Brewery in Ceredigion, with their Gimmers Mischief Premium Ale – Export.

2^nd Place went to Steve & Marc Evans at Rhymney Brewery (Dowlais) Ltd with Export.

With the first two winners it seems that only beers meant for drinking outside of Wales would win awards but

3^rd Place went to Otley Brewery with 01. A Highly Commended award also went to current Champion Beer of Wales, Otley 08. Well done to Nick, Charlie and Matt for brewing such excellent beers.
Other Highly Commended awards went to Breconshire Brewery with Red Dragon and Golden Valley, Hurns Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf , SA Brain with Reverend James and Purple Moose with Dark Side of the Moose.

Now I'm not a fan of non-alcoholic drinks but well done to Alan Wordsworth at Springfield Cider for winning a Highly Commended with his Llangovan pure welsh apple juice. I prefer my apple by-products fermented though.

Sifting through the food results, in the Baked & Confectionery – large producer section, Lewis' Pies in Swansea came joint first with their Steak & Ale Pie made with Tomos Watkin Cwrw Gaeaf, whilst Peter's of Bedwas came in second with their Steak and Brain SA pie.

Odd that none of our award-winning ciders or perries made it through to the final but if the judges prefer beer to cider then they will choose the beers!