Another successful beer Festival

The Great British Cheese Festival at Cardiff Castle was a huge success this year with thousands attending to sample the cheeses and of course the real ales and ciders available at the Cardiff Arms bar, run by CAMRA. Emergency beer supplies were brought in by Rhymney, Vale of Glamorgan and Otley Breweries. Cider supplies were stocked up with reorders from Denis Gwatkin and Gwynt y Ddraig. A pleasant sunday night was enjoyed by the staff, relaxing outside the beer tent until a late hour. The surroundings of the castle are one of the best places to enjoy a beer or cider. Today the Brew Wales editor is having a quite half or two whilst waiting for the drays to come and collect their empties. Vale of Glamorgan brewery Summer Daze is the beer of choice - a golden hoppy ale at 4.2% ABV - my favourite style of beer as readers of this blog may have guessed. Otley brewery have just been to collect their empties and have tipped Brew Wales off about a forthcoming beer at their Oct-O-ber Fest in late October - a 14 month old porter. Mmm think Treforest may be due a visit then.

Health and safety notice - please do not touch the cow

A brilliant sunday morning at Cardiff Castle and the beer tent at the Cardiff Arms is in full swing. The 'elf and safety nazis have been out and have decided to rope off the plastic cow. Obviously a danger to everyone, Brew Wales salutes those brave officers of Cardiff council who took this bold move to protect the public. Well done!

Live from the Cardiff Arms

The Great British Cheese Festival is in full flow in the fantastic surroundings of Cardiff Castle. Cheese, real ale and cider, what more could anyone want? Okay we have a hog roast and other locally reared meats available along with alpacca socks made at a vineyard in Monmouthshire. Something for everyone at this Festival. Open tomorrow as well so pop along for a cider and cheese talk with Brew Wales, tickets still available.

Cider and Cheese tasting at the Great British Cheese Festival

Local cidermaker Stewart Lucas did a talk on cider and cheese at the Great British Cheese Festival today. A packed tent, named the "Dragon's Den" saw Stewart give a talk on the ins and outs of cidermaking and the tasting of the final product. One of the highpoints was popping the corks of the bottles of Troggi Perry. Roll on Sunday when Brew Wales gets to do the lecture.

Beers for cheese

Beer list for the Cardiff Arms beer tent at the Great British Cheese Festival:
Breconshire Cribyn 4.5%
Breconshire Rescue Brew 4.4%
St Austell Tribute
Hobsons Best
Caledonian Dechars IPA 3.8%
Butcombe Bitter
Woodforde Wherry 3.8%
Morrisey Fox blonde 4.2%
Dark Star Hophead 3.8%
Rhymney Dark 4%
Purple Moose Snowdonia 3.6% Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 5.9%
Brycelin Buddy Marvelous 4
Otley Amarillo
Rhymney Hobby Horse 3.8
Bryncelin Holly Hop 3.9
Vale of Glamorgan Wheat's Occuring 5%
Vale of Glamorgan Grog Y Vog 4.3% There are a couple more beers arriving tomorrow but that's an excellent list to go well with the cheeses.
Almost forgot the Brains beers - Merlins Oak, Dark and SA Gold

Great British Cheese Festival - setup

The beer has arrived, well some of it, in the magnificent surroundings of Cardiff Castle. The beer tent is up and soon the stillage will be built, all ready for when the Great British Cheese Festival opens to the public on Saturday. The Festival was a roaring success last year and the crew of the Cardiff Arms are hoping for another great Festival this year. Oh and there is some cheese here as well!