Welsh cidermaker wins again

Gwynt y Ddraig, the Welsh Cider and Perry Company have today won two silver medals in the CAMRA National Cider Competition held at Reading Beer Festival. Black Dragon Cider and Two Trees Perry both won silver awards in their respective categories.
The full list of winners are:
Cider -
GOLD- Virtual Orchard, Hard Core (of
Wolverton, Buckinghamshire)
SILVER- Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon
(of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
BRONZE- Hartland, Sweet (of Tirley,
Gloucestershire)
Perry -
GOLD- Rathays, Painted Lady (of
Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
SILVER- Gwynt y Ddraig, Two Trees
(of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
JOINT BRONZE- Ralph ’s, Old Badland
(New Radnor, Powys) and Oliver’s,
Medium (of Ocle Pychard,
Herefordshire)
Press release from CAMRA:

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale,
has today announced the overall
winners of the National Cider and
Perry Championships 2011. The
competition is held annually at the
Reading Beer and Cider Festival,
Reading, Berkshire.
The winner of the Cider Gold Medal is
Virtual Orchards, Hard Core, which
the judges described as 'a bold,
flavoursome cider, eminently
drinkable, with a balanced, dryish finish.’
The winner of the Perry Gold Medal is
Rathays, Painted Lady which the
judges noted as ‘a sweet, pleasant
and refreshing perry, with a good
astringency and light fruitiness on
the aftertaste. ’
CAMRA's National Cider and Perry
Championship finals for 2011 in
Reading featured 24 ciders and 24
perries, from different regions of the
UK, and assessed on factors such as
aroma, flavour, finish, and overall
balance by a judging panel
consisting of publicans, drinks
writers and CAMRA members.
Laurence Conisbee, producer of
Virtual Orchard cider, was taken
aback on hearing news of winning
the national title. He said:
‘I’ve been aspiring to win this
accolade for a few years now, and it’s
absolutely amazing to achieve this.
I ’m gobsmacked! My champion cider
is the result of a 2009 harvest, which
is when I re-started cider making
after first getting involved in
production 15 years ago. This is a
pleasing return to cider making !’
the results of the Perry competition,
Jenny Blackmore, of Rathays, said:
‘We are absolutely thrilled and
delighted and it’s so nice to know
people are drinking and enjoying
what we produce. ’
Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider
and Perry Committee chair, praised
the variety of this year ’s entrants.
She said:
‘One of the things that struck me was
the range of tastes and the strong
attention to detail in the choice of
apples. The competition this year
was very tight and of a very high
standard, and we are seeing an
increased range of flavours, better
blending, and all round choice on
show each year. ’

Beer Festivals in South Wales this weekend

Another busy week for beer lovers in South Wales:
Friday sees the Artisan Brewery of Pontcanna have one of their popular 'Bar Open' days.

Other festivals are being held at:

Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd, CF37 4DA

Red Cow, Llwydcoed, Aberdare, CF44 0YE

Brynffynon Hotel, Llanwonno, CF37 3PH

Capel, Gilfach Fargoed, CF81 8LW

Birchgrove, Cardiff, CF14 4AE

Rose & Crown, Nottage

Hen & Chickens, Flannel Street,
Abergavenny. Real Ale, Cider &
Sausage Festival. (Apr 29-May 2)
Featuring the following ales & ciders:
BEERS: Skinners - Betty Stoggs; Fullers
- London Pride; Ilkley - Ilkley Black;
Brains - Royal Celebration Ale;
Batemans - Willys Crown Jewels;
Hydes - Jekylls Gold; Camerons -
White Rabbit; Wadworths - St George
and the Dragon. CIDERS: Moles - Black
Rat; Westons - 1st Quality; Westons -
Traditional Scrumpy; Westons - Old
Rosie.

The Greenhouse, Llantarnam,
Cwmbran, NP44 3BP (Apr 28 - May 2)


Cefn Mabley Arms, Michaelstone-y-
Fedw CF3 9SX (Apr 29-May 1)

Golden Lion, The Square, Magor
NP26 3HY (Apr 29 - May 2)

Chepstow pub celebrates the Royal Wedding

The Gwent CAMRA Town Pub of the Year, the Coach & Horses in Chepstow has decided to celebrate the Royal Wedding in an unique manner today. I think they will be a bit busy today!

Capel beer festival this weekend

The historic Capel in Gilfach Fargoed will be holding their annual beer festival this weekend, Friday 29th-2nd May 2011. It's a big 10 year anniversary for this award-winning pub.

Beer list:
Wye Valley (Hereford)         May Queen         3.5%       Dark full bodied mild ale
Golden Valley (Hereford)      Hay Bluff            3.7%       Pale session bitter
Breconshire                        Brecon Co          3.7%       Trad' South Eastern bitter , pale amber
Slaters   (Staffs)                 Monkey Magic     3.8%      Mild
Burton Bridge (on Trent)      Golden Delicious  3.8%      Dry Bitter Finish, Pale straw colour 
Brewsters  (Linc's)              Ruby Cubed        4.0%      Rich red ale with roast & crystal malts(Brewed for CAMRA's 40th)
Elland (West York's)           Best Bitter          4.0%      Dry & aromatic bitter with ottermalt, strong aroma bitter finish
Cottage (Somerset)            Celebration          4.0%      Traditional, hoppy blonde
Nethergate(Suffolk)             Azzalord              4.1%     No tasting notes available at time of printing                      
Howard Town (Derby')         Hope                    4.1%     No tasting notes available at time of printing
Burton Bridge                     Bridge Bitter         4.2%     Dry hoppy aroma with fruity backround
Battledown (Cheltenham)     Natural selection   4.2%    A full bodied rich amber ale
Slaters                              Royal Wedding      4.2%    No tasting notes available at time of printing
Breconshire                       Golden valley         4.2%    A deep, golden coloured ale, brewed with Progress hops.
Burton Bridge                     By George            4.3%    Pale ale, strong hoppy aroma,dry bitter finish with challenger hops
White Horse (Oxford)          Epona                   4.3%    Fresh ,clean palate ,malty biscuit flavour lasting hoppy after taste
Skinners                            Katie loves Willy     4.3%   Copper session ale with Cornish roasted malt
White horse                       Wayland smithy      4.4%   Red ale, balanced with buckets of aromatic hops,
Wickwar  (Glous')               IKB                        4.5%   Strong multi-malt flavours, rich fruit flavours of cherry and plum
Titanic (Stoke)          Chocolate & Vanilla Stout  4.5%
                                                     Roast barley & maris otter pale malt, northdown hops ,chocolate & Madagascar vanilla.
Golden Valley                   Brewers choice         4.5%   Full flavoured ale
Golden Valley                   Snooty Fox               4.6%   Full bodied ruby red
Golden valley                    Kenyons Original Stout 4.7%  Oatmeal stout
Vale of Glam'                   Love is in the Heir      4.8%    No tasting notes available at time of printing
Cottage                            Vantage                    4.9%    Deep golden with cascade hops
Monty's                Mischief                    5.0%    Strong smooth golden bitter , hint of sweetness
Crouch Vale                     Amarillo                     5.0%   Superb premium golden ale, wonderful aroma lasting spicy flavour.
Battledown                4 Kings                      7.2%   Strong Ale, real block-buster of a beer, Hugely complex taste and lots of it.   


Ciders & Perries      
Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer (med) 6.5%, Black Dragon(med/dry) 7.2%,
                             Pyder 6% (med).
Westons             Old Rosie (dry cloudy) 7.3%
Blaengawney    National Treasure (sweet) 5%, Heartbreaker(dry)7.2%

The Capel is easily reached by public transport with a bus stop outside and the train station of Gilfach Fargoed is behind the pub on the Rhymney Valley line.

Capel Hotel, Park Place, Gilfach Fargoed, CF81 8LW
Google Map:

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Traveline Cymru:

Brains Milkwood

Finally get around to trying this Brains seasonal beer in a pub rather than in the depths of their Victorian Brewery with the head brewer. This version of Milkwood differs from recipes in previous years as the ingredients are rye and naked golden oats this year, producing an unusual brown ale with a very nutty flavour. An inticing aroma of caramel and vanilla leads to a smooth, rather sweet ale. The crystal rye comes through in the aftertaste, leaving a bitter-sweet flavour. Quite a complex and unusual beer for Brains to produce, hats off to Bill Dobson and his team for producing this beer.
Milkwood was tried in my local Brains pub, the Hanbury in Caerleon

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

Bar Open - by Royal Appointment?

Looking for another beer event this Friday? Well the Artisan Brewery of Pontcanna will be holding one of their successful and highly popular open days on Friday 29th April 1200-2130hrs.

Beers on will be:
HELLES LAGER 5.4%ABV
ALTbeer 5%ABV
CHOCOLATE WHEAT 5.0%ABV


At the last festival attended by me there a few weeks ago I just stayed on the delicious Chocolate Wheat - it was so nice I did not get around to trying their other beers.


HOT BBQ FOOD (with veg options) available

Entry is free, children and dogs welcome (must be supervised).

Beyond this special Friday event - 'BAR OPEN' will occur first Saturday each month throughout the summer, with the next one on  Saturday May 7th. 


Further Information:
Facebook page
Artisan Brewery,  
183a Kings Rd, Cardiff, CF119DF
Google Map:

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Stella tries to appeal to new customers

Over recent weeks, adverts for Stella Cidre have been appearing on billboards throughout the country. Although not too sure how many new converts this strategically placed advert will have in Newport, overlooking a mosque. Though it also faces 'Gilligans Island', famous for playing host to the Special Brew and Sherry Brigade who spend their days on the traffic island drinking their lives away.
So who is this cider aimed at? - Muslims or tramps? Well it fits nicely in with the image of Stella lager being called 'Wife Beater'. Another marketing success from A-B Inbev.

Free Pint, even for republicans

To celebrate the Royal Wedding, Wales' biggest real ale brewers, SA Brain, are offering customers a pint of their Royal Celebration Ale to down whilst visiting their pubs.
Vouchers can be downloaded from the Brains Offers site and a list of participating pubs together with terms and conditions are available here.
Wonder how many Republicans will go for the free pint, go on Mr Raybould, you know you want one!

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

Festivals in South Wales this Easter weekend

Just thought I'd do a round up of what's happening beerex wise in South Wales this weekend. Have been putting a few things on the blog this week but a few more have come to light, unfortunately the venues are a short on information so what's here is what has been sent to me.

Thursday 21st April
Greenfly, Caerfilthy continuing throughout the weekend

Friday 22nd April
Bell Inn, Glangrwyney continuing throughout the weekend

Cross Inn, Llanblethian continuing throughout the weekend

Coach, Bridgend continuing throughout the weekend

Village Hotel, Coryton (Victory Bar) In celebration of the double bank holiday weekend the Victory Bar invites people to join them to taste, buy and enjoy a range of British beers. Continues 22nd April - 02 May 2011.


Saturday 23rd April
Gwynt Y Ddraig Open Day and on the Sunday as well. One venue that should not run out of cider this weekend unless the Brew Wales editor turns up feeling thirsty.

White Cross Inn at Groeswen, Caerphilly CF15 7UT

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:

Caerphilly gets a beer festival

The historic town of Caerfilthy will be getting a beer, cider and music festival this weekend as the ugliest building in the unitary authority, the Greenfly, is transformed into a 4 day beer festival with a free bus laid on from Cardiff and Caerphilly.

No beer range yet but they have been sourced from Tomos Watkin, Otley and Wye Valley Breweries together with cider from Gwynt Y Ddraig.

The Greenfly is in the former Bedwas Working Mens' Club; a classic example of 1960s architecture, more usually seen in former Soviet Bloc countries but shines as a stunning example of what can be achieved if you have no sense and design and access to concrete. The water-stained multi-coloured concrete rendering on the building contrasts with the green metal facings on upper parts, luckily a handily-placed satellite dish distracts from the ugliness  of this building. Hopefully the beer will be better than the venue.

Greenfly
Newport Rd,
Caerphilly,
Mid Glamorgan
CF83 8BJ

Google Map:

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Plenty of car parking there and there is a bus stop nearby, the X50 Newport-Caerphilly-Bargoed stops nearby.
 Journey Planner:

Merthyr Pub Transformed

The award-winning Rhymney Brewery have completed their transformation of their brewery tap, the Winchester, into the pub in the above photo. Etched glass windows, a fireplace, a mosiac floor on the entrance etc have all gone into what looks like a stunning pub.
This is what looked like before:

Not yet visited the new pub yet but looking forward to it.
Have previously written about the pub here. and below is what I wrote about the proposed refurbishment:

The Castle Street pub is situated between the Castle Hotel and the 1930s former Water Board Offices (Social Services now) and was converted to the Rhymney Brewery's first pub and Brewery Tap back in 2006, the premises before then had been a commercial unit, even used as a tanning saloon. Originally on this site, there stood a pub called the Beehive which dated from the 1840s but this was demolished when the next door Castle Hotel was built in 1967.

The planned refurbishment for the Winchester will see a Welsh slate roof installed, replacing the 1970s flat roof and the frontage will be opened out and improved with large etched glass windows allowing natural light to illuminate the interior of the pub. A Victorian style door will be installed to the side of the etched windows and the entrance floor will be tiled with a 'Rhymney Brewery' mosiac.

The pub sign will be hand-painted and a Rhymney Hobby Horse sign will be embedded into the outside wall. A chimney stack will also be built on the side to enable a real fire to be put into the pub! Smokers will be catered for with a smoking solution to the rear of the building.

The Winchester was a breath of fresh air when it opened in Merthyr, the first pub in a generation to regularly have a dark mild on cask in the town – the former Champion Beer of Wales, Rhymney Dark as well. Having been impressed with the Winchester since it first opened and seen the plans for this refurbishment, well hardly a refurbishment, more of a de-refubishment and recreation of a Victorian beerhouse.

Winchester, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8BG
Open 12-12 Monday- Saturday, 12-10.30 Sunday
Google Map:

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Bridgend Beerex at the Coach

Yet another local beer festival this weekend, this time in sunny Bridgend where the former Coach and Horses pub has been given a makeover by its new owners and renamed the Coach. Bridgend has been crying out for a decent pub for years and I have heard good things about this pub recently.

The inaugural Coach real ale festival will take place over the Easter weekend - from Good Friday to Easter Monday.
Beer list, subject to availabilty etc:

CONFIRMED BEER LIST:
#1 MOTLEY BREW (7.5% abv) Otley Brewing Co.
#2 HOT CHOCOLATE (3.9% abv) Wychwood Brewery.
#3 RAMBLERS RUIN (5% abv) Breconshire Brewery.
#4 EASTER ALE (3.9% abv) Purple Moose Brewery.
#5 FUNKY MONKEY (4% abv) Milk Street Brewery.
#6 EASTER ALE (4.2% abv) Evan Evans Brewery.
#7 MAD GOOSE (4.2% abv) Purity Brewing Co.
#8 GOLDEN HARE (4.4% abv) Bath Ales.
#9 O-GARDEN (4.8% abv) Otley Brewing Co.
#10 ESPRESSO STOUT (4.2% abv) Dark Star Brewing Co.

A selection of ciders from GWYNT-Y-DDRAIG WELSH CIDER

BBQ and food will be available at selected time, along with live entertainment in the evenings.

£2.90 a pint - or you can buy a £25 voucher for 10.

More information on their Facebook event page
The Coach
37 Cowbridge Road
Bridgend
CF31 3DH
Google Map:

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Traveline Cymru info: