Beer Festival in Vale of Glamorgan pub this weekend

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The Carne Arms in Llysworney, near Cowbridge will be holding their 7th annual beer & cider festival this weekend with 16 different beers and 10 different ciders as well as a range of music to suit all tastes.


BBQ food throughout the Weekend.
The weekend main line up for the Carne Arms Music Beer & Cider Festival:

FRIDAY EVENING
Times:- 19:00 - 24:00
Bands:- Dansette, Tequila Dealer, "Special Guests" TBC

SATURDAY
Open for the Lions Tour 10am
Band Times:- 13:00 - 24:00
Bands:- Monday Swing Quintet, ORCA, Brian & Brian, Claire M, Sophie & Ollie, Zephyr Reign, The Side Effects.

SUNDAY
Times:- 13:00 - 20:00
Bands:- Peel Your Own Spuds, "Special Guest" TBC

Also on Saturday there is Dandy Doodles Face Painting for the Kids (and adults!)

Carne Arms
Llysworney
Cowbridge
CF71 7NQ
Facebook Page here

Milford Haven Beer Festival

For those of you wanting something to do this weekend, the first Haven Beer Festival is on at Cedar Court, Milford Haven, this weekend as part of the wider celebrations for Pembrokeshire Fish Week.

The venue for this Festival, appears to house the library as well but is only a few minutes walk away from the train station

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Traveline Cymru appear to have got rid of their useful embed feature so if you want to go to Milford Haven this weekend you have to visit their site here.


Beer list (subject to availability etc)
Brains SA Gold 4.3 Cardiff South Glamorgan

Brains Touch Pause Engage 4.0 Cardiff South
Brecon Orange Beacons 4.3 Brecon Powys
Brecon Twighlight Beacons 4.0 Brecon Powys
Caffle Caffle Bitter 4.5 Llanwhaden Pembrokeshire
Caffle Pale Ale 5.2 Llanwhaden Pembrokeshire
Caffle Summer Ale 4.3 Llanwhaden Pembrokeshire
Cerddin Cascade 4.8 Maesteg Mid Glamorgan
Conwy Honey Fayre / Crww Mel 4.5 Conwy
Cych Valley Festival Ale 4.4 Abercych
Cych Valley Pembrokeshire Pale 4.2 Abercych
Gower Gower Power 5.5 Llanrhidian
Gwaun Valley Pembrokeshire Best 4.5 Pontfaen
Heart of Wales Noble Eden 4.6 Llanwrtyd Wells
Kite Thunderbird 4.5 Pontyclun Rhondda Cynon Taff
Montys Mischief 5.0 Montgomery Powys
Neath Firebrick 4.2 Neath West Glamorgan
Otley O6 Porter 6.6 Pontypridd Mid Glamorgan
Preseli Baggywrinkle 4.5 Tenby Pembrokeshire
Preseil Powder Monkey 4.2 Tenby Pembrokeshire
Purple Moose Snowdonia 3.6 Porthmadog Gwynedd
Seren Bluestone IPA 4.2 Rosebush Pembrokeshire
Seren Summer Wheat 5.2 Rosebush Pembrokeshire
Swansea Bishops Wood 4.5 Bishopston Swansea
Tiny Rebel Urban IPA 5.5 Newport Gwent
Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf 4.5 Swansea
Waen First of Summer Waen 3.9 Penstrowed Powys

Plus 3 More TBC

Traditional Ciders
Gwynt-y-Ddraig Black Dragon 7.2 Llantwit Fardre
Gwynt-y-Ddraig Two Trees Perry 4.5 Llantwit Fardre
Gwynt-y-Ddraig Welsh Warior 6.5 Llantwit Fardre
Gethins Hapus / Medium 6.5 Haverfordwest
Gethins Melys / Sweet 6.0 Haverfordwest
Gethins Sych / Dry 7.0 Haverfordwest
Pontmeddyg Doctors Orders / Dry 6.3 Dinas Cross
Pontmeddyg Shipmans Revenge / Medium 6.3
Dinas Cross Pembrokeshire

Country Wines:
Celtic Country Apple & Elderflower 12.0 Llandysul
Celtic Country Blackberry 12.0 Llandysul Ceredigion
Celtic Country Elderberry 12.0 Llandysul Ceredigion
Celtic Country Ginger 12.0 Llandysul Ceredigion
Celtic Country Gooseberry 12.0 Llandysul
Celtic Country Raspberry 12.0 Llandysul Ceredigion

Traders Tavern, Cardiff

Traders Tavern, 6-8 David Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EH

Open all day from 0930

The Traders Tavern stands on the ground floor of one side of an office block built around 1971 and was originally named the Panarama, although the view of the pub today is somewhat obscured by the building of the new Admiral headquarters opposite. Before the pub was built, David Street consisted of nineteenth-century terraced houses until they were demolished in the 1960s. The current building is also under threat of redevelopment so the future of the Traders Tavern is uncertain. The name of the pub is a reminder that not too long ago there was a open-air market nearby.

The outside of the Traders Tavern features the squirrel logo of the former Birmingham-based brewery Ansells who used to run the pub, before they sold off their pubs to pub companies. The red and gold sign on the outside contrasts with the green window frames.

The entrance is centrally-place but set-back from the pavement, a semi-circular window features doors either side of it with both doors leading into the single-roomed pub. Once on the inside of the pub the stained-glass windows become apparent where the word Traders is spelt out in red lettering with green glass borders.

The bar is situated on the left-hand side of the pub and is made out of dark wood with gleaming chrome handpumps and fonts mounted on it. Two real ales are served, Brains Bitter and Rhymney Bitter, although these may change for other Rhymney, Brains or even Tomos Watkin beers.

The interior of the Traders Tavern is somewhat dated, although some might revel in the nostalgia of old posters of bands such as Duran Duran and Erasure who played at the nearby Cardiff International Arena, now the Motorpoint Arena. Elsewhere in the pub there are a few small alcoves for discreet conversations, otherwise the pub is open-plan. Unusually the pub ceiling features circular features in it and the name of the pub is spelt in large letters, useful in case customers forget where they are. There are flat-screen televisions around the pub. The Traders Tavern may be small but it's a popular City-Centre pub with a dedicated regular clientèle.

Food is served all day from a traditional pub menu with breakfast served from 0930. There are also chalkboards offering specials such as maple marinated pork steaks, with a special 2 for £9.99 offer.

Now and Then - Windsor Arms, Butetown, Rhymney

The top photograph was taken before 1960 according to the description on it and the bottom photo was taken only a couple of weeks ago - the rendering has been removed to reveal the stonework and there have been alterations to the windows and chimneys.
Butetown in Rhymney is a remarkable model village, built in the 1830's, although the first mention of the Windsor Arms was not until 1841 according to this website.

Simon's 1000th beer review!

Simon Martin and myself review his colaboration brew with SA Brain to celebrate his 1000th You Tube beer review!

Brains Coopers Reserve 10%

In this video, myself, Adrian Tierney-Jones, Brains Head Brewer Bill Dobson and Simon Martin review the limited edition beer Cooper's Reserve, a 10% Penderyn cask-aged beer.

"It's a Pils!"

Another beer review with Simon Martin and myself:

The Brains Craft Brewery Story

Found this video on You Tube this morning:


Yes that is me a suit in the Goat Major pub, seem to remember the afternoon involved pies and some beer afterwards!

Champion Beer of Wales 2013

1. Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out
   
2. Tiny Rebel Fubar
   
3. Tiny Rebel Urban IPA

Category Winners

Mild

Rhymney Dark

Bitter

Purple Moose Madog's Ale

Best Bitter

Brain's Rev James

Strong Bitter

Tiny Rebel Urban IPA

Golden Ale

Tiny Rebel Fubar

Speciality

Bullmastiff Welsh Black

Porter

Facers North Star Porter

Stouts

Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out

Barley Wine

Tiny Rebel Hadouken

Old Ales/Strong Milds

Breconshire Ramblers Ruin

Beer review - Tiny Rebel NP10

Simon Martin, myself and Gareth from Tiny Rebel got together yesterday to review Tiny Rebel NP10 at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival

Arfur's Pie at the Goat

Some beer bloggers do brews at breweries, me I get to invent my own pie!
Yes Arfur's Pie has finally made it on the menu at the Goat Major pub in Cardiff and today I had the chance to try it in the pub. After months of research, the Breakfast Pie has made an appearance! Breakfast Pie you may ask, what's that? Well it's farmhouse sausages, black pudding and bacon all cooked in a rich tomato sauce. The first attempt with the traditional pie crust did not work so we added a twist - an omelette on the top. All washed down with a bottle of Weiss Weiss Baby from the Brain's Craft Brewery. A new twist on the pie with a new craft beer to wash it down!

Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival - cider list

Wales' biggest pub opens its doors tomorrow and the cider and perry list is now available!
More details on the festival website but doors open at 11am on Thursday


Blackmore Vale Medium Dry Cider 5.5 Devon
Blaengawney Farm Heartbreaker Cider 7.0 Blaenau Gwent
Blaengawney Farm Blindfold Cider 6.0 Blaenau Gwent
Blaengawney Farm National Treasure Cider 5.0 Blaenau Gwent
Blaengawney Farm Blaengawney Perry Perry 6.0 Blaenau Gwent
Border Orchards Medium Cider 7.0 Herefordshire
Border Orchards Medium Dry Cider 7.0 Herefordshire
Bollhayes Medium Cider 7.0 Devon
Bristol Cider Works Very Dry Cider 6.0
Bristol Butford Perry Perry 5.0 Herefordshire
Ciderfect Hadnock Cider 7.0 Gloucestershire
Ciderniks Kingston Black Cider 6.5 Berkshire
CJ's Dry Cider 5.5 Monmouthsire
CJ's Surprise Cider 5.0 Monmouthsire
CJ's Medium Dry Cider 5.5 Monmouthsire
CJ's Medium Cider 5.5 Monmouthsire
Cotswold No Brainer Cider 6.5 Oxfordshire
Cotswold Yellow Hammer Cider 6.5 Oxfordshire
Crossman Sweet Cider 6.0 Somerset
Double Vision Medium Cider 7.4 Somerset
Double Vision Perry Perry 7.4 Somerset
Gethins Hapus Cider 6.0 Pembrokeshire
 Gethins Sych Cider 6.5 Pembrokeshire
Gethins Melys Cider 5.5 Pembrokeshire
Gwatkin Yarlington Mill Cider 7.0 Herefordshire
Gwatkin Stoke Red Cider 7.0 Herefordshire
Gwatkin Perry Perry 6.0 Herefordshire
Gwynt Y Ddraig Two Trees Perry 4.5 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Black Dragon Cider 7.2 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Firey Fox Cider 6.5 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Scrumpy Cider 5.3 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmers Pride Cider 5.3 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Dog Dancer Cider 6.5 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Haymaker Cider 6.5 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Happy Daze Cider 4.5 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Pyder Cider 6.0 Mid Glamorgan
Gwynt Y Ddraig Ancient Warrior Cider 6.5 Mid Glamorgan
Hecks Perry Perry 6.0
Somerset Hecks Port Wine of Glastonbury Cider 6.0
Somerset King Brain Sweet Cider 6.0 Somerset
Llanblethian Orchards Kingston / Stoke Blend Cider 7.0 Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian Orchards Sider O Powys Cider 6.5 Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian Orchards Monmouth Green Mix Cider 7.0 Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian Orchards Dry Cider 6.2 Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian Orchards Dyffryn Cider 6.2 Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian Orchards Mystery Mix Cider 6.4 Vale of Glamorgan
Newton Court Winnal's Longdon Perry 5.3 Herefordshire
Newton Court Yarlington Mill Cider 6.4 Herefordshire
Old Monty Traditional Medium Cider 6.7 Powys
Olivers Dry Cider Cider 6.3 Herefordshire
Olivers Perry Perry 6.0 Herefordshire
Palmers Cheeky Jackdaw Cider 6.5 Gwent
Palmers Rubber Chicken Cider 6.5 Gwent
Palmers Chub Fuddler Cider 6.5 Gwent
Palmers Farmhouse Perry Perry 6.0 Gwent
Palmers Felin Fach Cider 6.5 Gwent
Penallt Dry Cider Cider 5.8 Monmouthshire
Penallt Wendy's Green Cider 6.0 Monmouthshire
Pontymeddyg Doctors' Orders Cider 6.3 Pembrokeshire
Pontymeddyg Shipman's Revenge Cider 6.3 Pembrokeshire
Raglan Cider Mill Boris' Brainbender Cider 5.5 Monmouthshire
Raglan Cider Mill Tiddly Um Tum Cider 6.7 Monmouthshire
Raglan Cider Mill Hanky Panky Cider 6.5 Monmouthshire
Raglan Cider Mill Medium Cider 5.5 Monmouthshire
Raglan Cider Mill Snowy Owl Perry 4.8 Monmouthshire
Raglan Cider Mill Barn Owl Perry 5.0 Monmouthshire
Rosies Triple D Medium Dry Cider 7.2 Wrexham
Rosies Triple D Black Bart Cider 7.2 Wrexham
Ross on Wye Medium Cider Cider 6.5 Herefordshire
Ross on Wye Medium Perry Perry 6.0 Herefordshire
Sarah's Sweet Cider Cider 6.5 Herefordshire
Seidr O Sir Meas Edwy Dry Cider 6.8 Powys
Seidr O Sir Medium Dry Cider 6.8 Powys
Seidr O Sir Betws Medium Cider 6.8 Powys
Springfield Red Dragon Cider 7.6 Monmouthshire
Three Saints St Crispins Twin Cider 5.5 Monmouthshire
Three Saints Scrumpthos Cider 6.2 Monmouthshire
Three Saints Nice Boys Perry 4.5 Monmouthshire
Three Saints Divine Perry 5.0 Monmouthshire
Three Saints Blush Perry 4.0 Monmouthshire
Troggi Dry Cider 7.9 Monmouthshire
Troggi Perry Perry 6.4 Monmouthshire
Westcroft Janets Jungle Juice Cider 6.5 Somerset
WM Watkins Oak Cider Cider 6.5 Monmouthshire
WM Watkins Blakeney Red Perry 6.3 Monmouthshire

Pubs join forces with CAMRA Beer Festival to form the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival Fringe!

Pubs join forces with CAMRA Beer Festival to form the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival Fringe! Wales' largest pub, the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival is joining forces with pubs in the City Centre of Cardiff to bring the Festival Fringe to the City. The three-day event at the Motorpoint Arena now extends to favourite Cardiff watering holes such as the Goat Major and the City Arms as extra events are happening in these pubs and others in and around the City Centre. According to Arfur Daley, Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival Organiser, “It makes sense for the pubs to join us in this celebration of beer and cider, we have 6000 thirsty customers coming to the City for our event so why not celebrate some of our great City-Centre pubs as well at the same time? We may be Wales' biggest pub but we are only here for three days and Cardiff has some cracking pubs the rest of the year as well”. A number of City-Centre Brains pubs will be launching the Limited Editions Range from Brains Craft Brewery. All of the beers launched by the pubs will be available at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival but remember they are limited editions so may sell out early at the festival and the pubs! Goat Major – today launches Arfur's Pie, a recipe created by the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival Organiser James 'Arfur' Daley. For inspiration Arfur decided on a breakfast pie – farmhouse sausage, bacon and black pudding, all in a rich tomato sauce and topped off with an omelette as, well, the traditional pastry top did not seem to match. The Goat Major will also be launching a limited edition Brains beer called Low-Hanging Fruit on Saturday. This beer is matured with cherries and slow-fermented for 6 weeks. City Arms - A former Cardiff CAMRA Pub of the Year, the City Arms will be hosting an IPA Festival during the week of the beer festival with a range of hoppy, strong India Pale Ales to suit everyone. On Sunday this pub will be launching Grande Tripel IPA – an 8% beer brewed with yeast from a Trappist Monastery. This beer has been created by Barry-based Simon Martin as his 1000th beer review on You Tube. The Cottage – On Friday this pub will be launching Brain's Coopers Reserve, a 10% oak-aged beer that was matured in Penderyn Whisky barrels. Fire Island – One of Cardiff's newest pubs, based in the former Glamorgan Councils Staff Club on the corner of Westgate Street and Womanby Street, this pub will be hosting a Tiny Rebel Brewery takeover on Saturday night with a full range of their usual beers plus some of their specials.

Brains launches six new beers at Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival

This year Brains will take six brand new beers to the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival.

 Along with four well-loved beers SA Gold, The Rev. James, Dark and Barry Island IPA, Brains will have six new beers on the bar including a beer celebrating this summer’s rugby in Australia and an exclusive limited edition range.

 Touch.Paws.Engage, a 4% golden ale celebrating the summer’s rugby Down Under.Brewed with Australian hops Galaxy, Ella and Summer, this golden coloured ale has aromas of fruit and tropical citrus flavours that make this the perfect light summer ale.

 Terry’s, a chocolate and orange porter brewed with Premium, Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malts. The addition of cacao nibs in the boil gives a luxurious and intense chocolate flavour with a bittersweet finish and zesty aroma from sweet orange peel and organic orange zest.

 Stars and Stripes, a 5% naturally hazy golden coloured ale brewed with wheat malt and Californian Ale Yeast. An all-American hop line-up of Chinook, Centennial, Citra and Amarillo gives aromas of grapefruit and tropical fruit on the nose, citrus flavours and a crisp bitterness making Stars and Stripes a deliciously drinkable and refreshing beer.

In addition to these, the Brains bar will have recent favourites from the Craft Brewery – Farmer Walloon and Bragging Rights.

 There will also be a limited edition range of three exclusive beers that the Brains brewers have been working on for the past few months.

 Only one barrel of each will be tapped on each day of the three-day festival, followed by a second barrel launched in a Brains pub.

 Cooper’s Reserve, a 10% Penderyn whisky-aged beer launched on Thursday at the festival then in the Cardiff Cottage.

 Low-Hanging Fruit, a 4.8% sour cherry dark launched on Friday at the festival then in the Goat Major.

 Grande Tripel IPA, a 8% Tripel IPA launched on Saturday at the festival then in the City Arms on Sunday.Grande Tripel IPA was brewed with Simon Martin, aka Mr Real Ale Guide on You Tube, and will be reviewed as his 1000th beer on his channel.

 Ian Beattie, Brand Manager says “The Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival is a great festival for us to introduce new beers especially as it’s on the Brewery’s doorstep. The Brains Craft Brewery has allowed us to trial a variety of different beers and with such a variety of styles there’ll be a beer for everybody on our bar at the GWBCF.”

 The GWBCF runs from Thursday 6th - Saturday 8th of June in the Motopoint arena, from 11am to 11pm.

 Visit the GWBCF website for more information and to buy tickets for the festival -  You can also find them Facebook (Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival) and Twitter @GWBCF  

Clytha Arms Cider Festival this weekend!

One of my favourite pubs, the Clytha Arms in Monmouthshire will be holding their annual cider festival at the pub this weekend. So if you are looking for the best cider and perry in Wales and the borders then head to Monmouthshire and the Clytha Arms!

Cider list, subject to availablity etc:

CJs Cider,
Usk, Monmouthshire
Wench 

Gwatkins Cider
Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
Yarlington Mill
Foxwhelp  
Stoke Red  
Farmhouse Perry

Llanblethian Orchards
Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan
Dyffryn
Orchard Blend
Yarlington Mill
Wild Orchard

Orchards Cider
Yewgreen farm
Brockweir Chepstow
Medium Cider
Blakeney Red

Out of the Orchard
The Orchard Centre Hartpury, Glos
Medium Cider
Medium Perry

Raglan Cider Mill
Raglan
Monmouthshire
Boris’ Brainbender
Rum  Tiddly Um Tum
Hanky Panky 
RCM Medium 
Tawny owl 
Snowy owl

Rosie’s Triple D
Llandegla, Wrexham
Triple D
Wicked Wasp
Black Bart

Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry
Peterstow, Hereford
Ross-on-Wye
Medium Blakeney
Blend

Springfield
Llangovan, Monmouthshire
Red Dragon
Sledgehammer
Bludgeon
Old Barn

Three Saints
Usk, Monmouthshire
Bit of Rough
Scrumpthos
CrispinsBlush
Divine
Laughing Juice

Tre-rhew Cider
Great Tre-rhew farm
Llanvetherine, Abergavenny
Snout Like it
Snout Like it again

Ty Bryn
Grosmont, Monmouthshire
Vintage Oak
Sunset
Blakeney Red
Lazy Days

Ty Gwyn
Newcastle, Monmouthshire
Naughty Horsey
Very Naughty Horsey

Williams Bros
62 Garden St
Llanbradach, Caerphilly
Biffyn
Flanker