White Hart Beer Festival

The White Hart, Machen, Caerphilly Borough, will be holding their annual beer festival this weekend. 20 real ales and cider. Now, you may wonder what this all has to do with with the photo of the liner the Empress of France above, well the ship was scrapped in Newport by Cashmore's in 1960 and the fixtures and fittings were auctioned off and used to decorate the pub. So the White Hart is in the possibily unique situation of being an art-deco pub with features from the 1920s that were only put in in the 1960s.
The pub is also home to Carter's Brewery and the landlord Alan Carter will be brewing a beer or 2 for the festival.
Thur 6th-Sat 8th Nov 08
White Hart
Machen
CF83 8QQ


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Bus stops on the main road - Newport- Caerphilly service 50

Smashing Time at a Swansea Brewery!

The VW that caused the accident, after being moved inside the brewery compound.

A kindly soul emailed Brew Wales these photos which give an insight into the business ethics of not only the public relations industry but also a member of a well-known Welsh brewing dynasty.
What happened on the day the new brewery in Llansamlet, Swansea, was opened by Rhodri Morgan could be construed as being amusing if something not quite legal occurred.
Things started to go down hill when the boss of the brewery started to heckle the Welsh Assembly Economic Development Manager during his speech to open the plant – the invited guests were cringing in their seats as the Managing Director raged into the funding policy of the Welsh Assembly. Now the brewery MD was reading from a pre-prepared crib sheet, supplied by his Public Relations firm, Ron Lewis Associates. By this stage, even the local TV stations had given up filming as none of this would be fit to broadcast. Well done Ron, your perfect PR opportunity ended up on the cutting room floor! Fair play to Rhodri – he gave the MD a good argument back.
Having allegedly imbibed of a few samples of wine and beer at the opening – Ron Lewis then attempted to drive his black Volkswagen 2-door back to Carmarthenshire but got all of a few yards from the brewery before crashing into another car - a mauve-coloured Lexus. The driver of the other car was luckily uninjured but seeing the “tired and emotional” Mr Lewis, the other driver went off to call the police.
Now here is where the story gets interesting. The black VW was pushed back into the brewery and the gates of the brewery were locked. Ron Lewis was bundled into another car along with the MD of the brewery and driven away from the scene before the local rozzers could turn up to breath test him. Now that would have made the TV news – a brewery opening and a shareholder (5,250 ordinary shares were held by Ron) crashing his car after allegedly over-imbibing in the lavish hospitality of the liquid type freely available at breweries.

The above photo shows the damaged Lexus and the tyre marks at the scene of the accident.

Damage to the Lexus after being hit by the VW

The brewery concerned went into liquidation in May 2002 owing £641,355 to the Government (IR & HMRC) as well as smaller amounts to 140 other creditors. Estimated total debts were over £2,300,000
The brewery currently flourishes under different ownership.
The Managing Director of the brewing company at the time of the opening and who is mentioned in the article above bears no connection to the website below:
www.simonbuckley.co.uk
Ron Lewis is currently running the public relations for the police in the form of the ITV Wales show “Crimestoppers”. So far no cold-case crimes have been broadcast covering anyone fleeing the scene of an accident or allegedly perverting the course of justice and there's little doubt if the “Swansea Smash” will be covered. So just enjoy the photos and fell free to use them for any purpose.

Otley Oct-O-Bar Fest

The Otley Arms in Trefforest will be holding their annual beer festival this week. The Oct-O-Bar Fest, now in it's 3rd year, will feature the current Champion Beer of Wales, Otley O8, alongside other 5 Otley beers as well as 24 real ales from other breweries including Breconshire, Isle of Purbeck, Teignworthy, Skinners, Keltek, RCH, Cotleigh and others.
Cider, perry and pyder will also be available, no doubt from the local cider maker Gwynt y Ddraig.

Entertainment throughout
Thursday (acoustic night):
Mea
Ceri Collins
Jam with RoBina
Britt Roberts

Friday Night:
Tattsyrup

Saturday evening:
Beer themed quiz
Isca Morrismen

Sunday night:
The Otley's Not Got Talent!

For more information check out the Facebook site
Otley Arms
Forest Road
Trefforest
Pontypridd
CF37 1SY

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The pub is close to Trefforest railway station and there is a bus stop outside the pub (Pontypridd-Talbot Green service)
Otley-Oct-O-Bar Fest Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th October 2008.

Cowbridge Food & Drink Festival

Smaller than Abergavenny Food Festival which can get too crowded at times, the historic town of Cowbridge is home to a very good food & drink festival this weekend. The full range of exhibitors can be found here but here are a few of Brew Wales' favourites:

Gwynt-Y-Ddraig Cider Ltd
Warcop Ales
Rhymney Brewery
Penderyn Welsh Whisky
Handmade Scotch Eggs Co - try the chilli and dark chocolate Scotch egg - absolutely stunning!
Celtic Spirit Company Ltd
Gwatkin Cider
Welsh Brew Tea
Penlon Cottage Brewery
The Garlic Farm

Admission is only £2.50 for the day and it's a great day out.
Whilst in Cowbridge why not check out the historic pubs as well?
The Duke of Wellington will be hosting a cider and perry festival in the rear hall. This historic pub features a well dating from Roman times in what is now the lounge. The pub was named in honour of the Duke after he stayed here on his way to visit the mother of General Picton who died at Waterloo.

The Vale of Glamorgan, once the brewery tap for the brewery of the same name, now offers a beer festival the same time as the Food & Drink Festival.

More information
Cowbridge Food & Drink Festival
If you enjoy the pubs of the Vale of Glamorgan then there is a leaflet avaialable as a pdf here

Prime Minister Asked to Act on Short Beer Measures

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, visited our teetotal , allegedly homosexual, bible-bashing hypocrite, one-eyed incompetent Prime Minister the other day to hand in a petition calling for an end to short beer measures. Naturally Cyclops could not drag himself from the clutches of Baron Sleaze of Hartlepool and Foy, to actually accept the petition in person so I doubt if we will see a good outcome for this.


CAMRA has today (16th October) visited 10 Downing Street to hand in a 23,361 name petition calling for an end to short beer measures in pubs and other licensed premises. CAMRA launched the full pint petition last year in response to research showing that:

- One in four pints are short measure by over 5%

- Short beer measures cost consumers a staggering £481 million a year

- 81% of all adults support new legislation to ensure pub goers are served a full pint every time

During the 1997 General Election the current Government promised that if elected they would “guarantee drinkers a full pint” and that under Labour, drinkers would get what they pay for. Eleven years on pub goers are waiting for this promise to be fulfilled, during which time consumers have been short changed to the tune of over £5 billion.

Speaking at the Downing Street petition handover, Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive said:
“We urge the Prime Minister to take notice of the 23,361 people who have signed this petition calling for an end to short beer measures. It is unlawful for consumers to be short measured when buying petrol and it should be unlawful for consumers to be short measured when buying a pint of beer. The Prime Minister has a responsibility to stick to his party’s promise that under Labour, drinkers will get what they pay for.”

“The Government takes over 80 pence in tax for every pint sold in a pub. It is about time that instead of simply taking money from the pockets of the pub-going public the Government gives something back by ensuring that consumers are served with a full pint and not 90% or 95% of a pint.”
During the last 18 months petition signatures were collected at CAMRA beer festivals and through an online campaign site.

For further information-

CAMRA Press Office: 01727 798443
Mike Benner - CAMRA Chief Executive: 01727 798441 or 07971 591224
Jonathan Mail - CAMRA Head of Policy and Public Affairs: 01727 798448 or 07720 724733
Iain Loe - CAMRA Research & Information Manager: 01727 798449 or 07801 706607

Drinks watchdog "bonkers"

The Portman Group, who are funded by multi-national alcoholic drink producers and make up the industry guidlines for alcoholic drink sales, have finally gone bonkers with their attack on a beer named after a Viking King. Rather than go after a multi-national who funds them and makes a lager commonly known as "wife beater", the Portman Group have decided to attack an award-winning beer called Skull Splitter made by the Orkney brewery as the name "implied violence". I'm pretty sure that when some chav goes into the supermarket for his daily 10 cans of super strength lager at 20p a can or whatever the chain is flogging it out at this week, their choice of drink is going to depend on whether or not the beer is named after a Viking. Skull Splitter has be brewed for at least 17 years, as Brew Wales can remember buying bottles of it from the Beer Shop in Pitfield Street in London when he lived there. It was a fantastic beer then and has gone on to win many CAMRA awards since.
Where will this end? Brains SA is commonly known as "Skull Attack", so that obviously implies violence. Gwynt Y Ddraig cider produce a cider called "Barnstormer" which may well encourage pilots to engage in low-level flying!
Bent Bike Cider, made in Monmouthshire, well with a name like that it could be construed as encouraging people to ride bikes after drinking their cider.
And as for Toloja Cider with their Drunk Dewi - obviously encouraging Dragons who may be underage to drink.


Luckily in the midst of this rubbish being churned out by the Portman Group, Alistair Carmichael, the MP for Orkney and Shetland, has tabled a Commons motion calling for a complaint against Orkney Brewery's 8.5 per cent ABV Skull Splitter ale to be rejected.

EDM 2199
SKULL SPLITTER ALE
08.10.2008
Carmichael, Alistair

That this House notes with amazement that the Portman Group is considering a complaint against the name of the Orkney Brewery's Skull Splitter beer, a complaint that claims that the name could imply violence and that its Viking branded bottles have an aggressive theme; recognises that the name would be inappropriate if it were applied to a low price high alcohol content drink aimed at young drinkers; considers that Skull Splitter is not such a drink, but is instead a high quality premium beer, not sold in supermarkets, a past Champion Winter Ale of Britain, which is targeted at and bought by discerning drinkers who appreciate its quality and who drink it responsibly; further recognises the beer is named after Thorfinn Hausakluif, the seventh Viking Earl of Orkney nicknamed skull splitter; believes that the name is an entirely appropriate name for a beer brewed in Orkney with its strong Viking heritage; further believes that to lose the use of the name would be a serious setback to the brewery, undoing years of good work building a market share for Skull Splitter among connoisseurs of good beer; and calls on the Portman Group to reject the complaint.

So well done then to Alistair Carmichael MP for supporting his local brewery and telling the Portman Group to finally get some common sense.

Cidermaking in Monmouthshire

It's apple-picking time again so the entire staff of Llanblethian Orchards - well okay Alex, his flatmate John and myself 'cos I knew where the orchard was - all headed off to the wilds of Monmouthshire on sunday for some scrumping.


Alex shows us above how to get the apples from the tree - a process known as "Panking".
And of course a suitable tribute must be paid to the goddess of the orcahrd, using cider made from from the harvest last year.

This is to ensure a good crop for next year.

Thanks to Ben Jones from the Kings Arms in Abergavenny for letting us use his orchard for the second year running.

Beer cheaper than water!

Nigel Evans MP for Ribble Valley and Vice-chair of the Parliamentary Beer Group, has tabled an early day motion slamming supermarkets for selling beer cheaper than water.

EDM 2159
PRICE OF BEER IN SUPERMARKETS

That this House notes with concern that Asda supermarkets are selling Skol lager at a price of £0.90 pence for 4x440ml cans which is the equivalent of 5.11 pence per 100ml; further notes that Asda supermarkets are selling Evian still water at 5.55 pence per 100ml; is appalled that any supermarket is selling beer cheaper than water; questions whether this is an example of loss leading sales; encourages all supermarkets to cease this practice immediately; recognises the negative effect that this has on the brewing and pub industries, with 36 pub closures a week; and calls on the Government to look at the pricing policy of beers in supermarkets as opposed to public houses.

According to Nigel Evans MP, "These are lunatic prices and are creating a high street booze war. If not checked, the problem will escalate and everybody will loose. Binge drinkers will fall ill, the NHS will see a rise in alcohol related cases and the pubs and brewing industries will be crippled. We need to act now before the situation gets any worse.I will also be writing to the Secretary of State for Health to make sure that he is aware of the situation.”

37 MPs have signed this motion so far by Friday 10th October check if your MP has signed the EDM here - if you want to help save local pubs then please write to your local MP asking them to sign EDM 2159
The address for MPs is
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

Brew Wales spotted beer from a local brewery available at a discounted price in Tesco earlier this year. A quick call to the brewery established that the beer was being sold by this major supermarket chain at a loss, ie, they were charging less than the purchase price for it. What seems to be happening is that major supermarkets are selling alcohol at a loss just to get customers in through the door. Bad news for pubs who are charged extortionate prices for their beers by pub companies. No wonder we have 36 pub closures a week!
Just spotted the latest ludicrous price for lager - Tescos doing 18 bottles of lager for £5! Down from £14.99.
Anyway I'm off to the pub to celebrate my birthday!

New Labour - Destroying our pub heritage - crosspost from the Lone voice

From Brew Wales

Liked this so much that crossposted it from Fido the Dog at the Lone Voice


New Labour - Destroying our pub heritage.


First up we have this http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/80878


Where the Morning Advertiser a pub trade magazine says that the number of pubs is in decline, due to taxes, paperwork and duties from the government.


They had this to say on the poor situation facing the nations publicans:
“The pub market embodies everything you could hope a successful business to be — it is competitive, innovative and delivers a great experience to British public in pubs up and down the country,” said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish. “But its very future is now being threatened.

“What we have now is a perfect storm. On one side the industry is being hit by the credit crunch, just as everyone else is. There is little we can expect or do in this area. But on the other side it is being hit by the culmination of 11 years of unwanted and unwarranted attention from its own Government.

“Our figures provide the clearest evidence yet that the market is being restrained by a sea of red tape, whilst being hit with alcohol duty rises and pestered by unnecessary Government interference.

“Pubs are part of our way of life; a uniquely British institution. They make a hugely positive social and economic contribution to the nation. More needs to be done to remove the barriers on growth imposed on the sector by Whitehall. Our industry is willing but not able to grow.

“It’s time the Government sits up and listens to licensees. If adopted, our Pub Manifesto proposals would create an environment where pub and bar entrepreneurs can really prosper.”

I would also add that I have seen a lot of the pointless expenses at first hand, here in my home city we have some bizarre rules with regards glasses.

During the day one can stop off and have a drink in a proper glass, however come the evening and certain pubs at the top end of the city near the train station switch to polycarb glasses. Unless you choose wine or spirits as your tipple of choice in which case you still get a tradition glass to drink from, also should you like to drink from the bottle as many do then you still can.


Now note here that it is the pint glass that is seen as the danger, the weapon to be used by the so called "feral youth" and yet we are allowed such dangerous weapons during the day? How strange, a knee jerk reaction to binge drinking rather than promote responsible drinking the majority are punished for the actions of the few.


But you can not take the bottle outside of one of these polycarb pubs if you fancy a quick intake of lung cancer. Some places stop customers taking out even the polycarb glasses whilst others seem to have no idea if that is okay or not.

A quick pop to another pub finds that customers inside can still drink from a proper glass like a grown up, but you need a polycarb if going outside.


After all rules are rules, 'elf n safety Gov...

Walk a bit further outside this polycarb pc zone of hell and normality resumes. A pub a few hundred yards further away had customers outside smoking and holding the evil glass glasses.

Now all these polycarb and normal glasses have to be paid for and its another expense on the retailers, costs then passed onto the drinker.

Still that's what happens when the socialist brothers and sisters get involved...

Aside from the tax and state fuckwittery that under Labour that has buried pub owners/managers with a mountain of paperwork and reduced profits, there is another cost and one that is started very slowly to be noticed - the cost to our culture.



Pubs used to be the heart of a town, city or village yet look around our towns today. More and more of them are closing down and where pubs are opening we are seeing ever more of them as part of corporate chains.


Every JD Wetherspoon is almost the same, minor differences but you could transport one from London and one from Aberdeen and the customers would hardly notice the difference.


If the small pub owner is not support, given some form of help then we will have a desert on the high street filled only with corporate chains and nite-clubs selling major brand name drinks only & designed to part the chav from his fortnightly benefits as fast as possible.


Now nite-clubs have a place - hell sounds like a good spot - but for social interaction other than a fight or random sexual encounter they fail.


The pub is a meeting place, a place of social events a bond to the local community and for all their talk of communities Labour fail to see the pub in any other aspect than that of "cash cow".


Each time a "local" closes the nation is that bit poorer as a result, the Communities minister Sadiq Khan talks of "Ensuring social cohesion" but talk is cheap and action costs money. I am actually amazed when one considers the money they make through the assorted taxes that Labour have not worked this out yet, after all its only been eleven years in power.


We have heard much of the "binge drinking culture" and in part there has always been an aspect of that to our culture, yet previous generations survived the odd binge weekend(or longer) and learned their drinking habits down local boozers.


Much the same can be said of social interaction, young people learn from their peers and get to meet new people outside of their small social circle of people their own age.


There loss will make the perceived problem of binge drinkers a lot worse as the youth will have no pub to go to at the age of 18(or a bit younger in many cases) and learn from their peers. The supermarkets and corner shops will sell booze with little care as to the results and the costs to society as a whole will be huge.


Add to that the loss of meeting places, many a back room is opened for clubs and suchlike, darts teams, snooker teams, chess clubs, even the old chaps playing domino's in the corner find they have no place to go.


Oh and just look at the money raised through raffles, pub quizes and such like for charities/local causes. Another thing that vanishes with the pub.


I would also add that I picked up my knowledge of darts, snooker, even chess and domino's down at the local with folk I would most likely have never met or spoken to in any other place.


Last point is that of real ales, largers, porters, ciders etc which this nation produces in large amounts, the less pubs we have the more difficult it gets for the smaller brands to edge their way in and we all lose out as a result.


Labour will leave this land a much much socially poorer nation than they found it, if all we have are the uber-chains we will have lost the clubs, skills and traditions passed down through generations.

ITV Wales Food Show

New series of the ITV Wales Food Show will be showing on sundays. Join Hywel James as he samples the best of Welsh food and drink as well as visiting the Great British Beer Festival in Earl's Court earlier this year.

From Brew Wales

Great British Cheese Festival

Britains biggest cheese festival will be moving to Cardiff Castle and CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale will be supplying the real ales, ciders and perries to wash down the best of British cheeses.
Great British Cheese Festival
Saturday 27th September 1000-1800 • Sunday 28th September 1000-1630
Cardiff Castle

Good Beer Guide Launched

The best 4,500 pubs according to the Campaign for Real Ale

-1227 new pub entries and 73 new breweries listed in the Guide
-CAMRA finds 668 breweries in the UK!
-CAMRA today announce the 16 Regional Pub of the Year Winners
-CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today launched the 36th edition of its annual Good Beer Guide which features the best 4,500 real ale pubs in Britain according to CAMRA membership.

Despite many pubs struggling in today's current economic climate and research showing that 57 pubs permanently close every month across Britain, this year's Good Beer Guide highlights that the UK real ale pub scene is thriving.

The Guide features both urban and rural pubs, giving details of food, pub history, architecture, transport links, beer gardens, accommodation, disabled access and facilities for families.

Pubs are surveyed by local CAMRA members and scored on a variety of aspects that make a great pub. These include customer service, the clientele mix (i.e the pub appeals to 18 and 80 year olds), value for money, décor and of course the quality of the real ale. CAMRA members therefore guarantee to supply the reader with the most up to date publication to help locate the best pint of real ale.

To view the full list of new pubs and new breweries please visit www.camra.org.uk/gbgmedia. Please note this area of the site will only be live until Friday 12th September 2008.

Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz said: “CAMRA's Good Beer Guide is Britain's original number-one, independent guide to good beer and pubs. It is great to see that there are now more than 660 real ale breweries in Britain brewing over 2,500 different varieties of real ale and so many wonderful pubs to drink them in.

Mr Protz continued, “The CAMRA members work tirelessly to survey the pubs each year to make sure the reader gets the most updated guide to the best pubs in Britain. I would personally like to thank them for all of their hard work and support.”

In this year's feature section, the book addresses current affairs such as the boom in craft brewing, landmark pubs, and the attempts by the brewing industry to combat global warming. Press releases on these subjects can be viewed at www.camra.org.uk/gbgmedia.


REGIONAL PUB OF THE YEAR 2008 WINNERS:

To celebrate the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2009, CAMRA has announced the 16 CAMRA Regional Pubs of the Year winners. These are the pubs that have been hailed as the very best real ale pubs in the country.

The National Pub of the Year winner will be judged from final 16 Regional Pubs of the Year and announced in February 2009.

Regional Winners:

Central Southern -
Royal Oak Inn, Newbury Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8DF

East Anglia -
Chequers, 71 Main Road, Little Gransden, Cambridgeshire, SG19 3DW

East Midlands -
Arkwright Arms, Chesterfield Road, Sutton Cum Duckmanton, Derbyshire, S44 5JG

Greater London -
Trafalgar, 23 High Path, Greater London, SW19 2JY

Greater Manchester -
Crown, 154 Heaton Lane, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK4 1AR

Kent -
Butcher's Arms, 29A Herne Street, Herne, Kent, CT6 7HL

Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales -
Blue Bell, Rhosemor Road, Halkyn, North-East Wales, CH8 8DL

North East -
King's Arms, Beach Street, Deptford, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 6BU

Scotland & Northern Ireland -
Marine Hotel, 9-10 Shorehead, Stonehaven, Grampian, AB39 2JY

South & Mid Wales -
Tafarn John y Gwas, Drefach-Felindre, West Wales, SA44 5XG

South West -
Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon, EX17 5AL

Surrey & Sussex -
Royal Oak, Friday Street, Rusper West Sussex, RH12 4QA

Wessex -
Red Lion Inn, Kilmington, Wiltshire, BA12 6RP

West Midlands -
Beacon Hotel, 129 Bilston Street, Sedgley, West Midlands, DY3 1JE

West Pennines -
Manor Arms, Princes Street, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA20 6HQ

Yorkshire -
Kelham Island Tavern, 62 Russell Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire, S3 8RW


‘Good Beer Guide' Goes Technical - CAMRA Launches New Sat-Nav and SMS Services

There is now simply no excuse not to find the best real-ale pubs in the UK, as CAMRA will coincide the launch of the ‘Good Beer Guide' publication with new satellite navigation and text message services for mobile phones. The new Sat-Nav POI file will allow users of ‘Tom-Tom' hardware to see the locations of all the 4,500-plus pubs listed in the Guide throughout the UK. Meanwhile, the text message service, compatible with most mobile phones with Internet access, will allow the user to seek out the listed pubs simply by inputting a postcode or place name.

Speaking with regards to the launch of this service, ‘Good Beer Guide' author Roger Protz said: ‘The best-selling pub guide in the UK has now become the most readily accessible with these excellent technological innovations. These services are so simple to use, and really increase the visibility of the publication.'

For further information on both services, visit the CAMRA website at www.camra.org.uk/gbg

Notes to Editors:

The Good Beer Guide 2009 is sponsored by Cask Marque - a non profit making organisation set up to champion quality of cask ale within the industry. www.cask-marque.co.uk

CAMRA now has more than 93,000 members

The Good Beer Guide is available priced £14.99 directly from CAMRA (£12.99 for CAMRA members) or at all good book shops. Further discounts also available through the online CAMRA shop - www.camra.org.uk/shop.

For more information contact:

Jon Howard, CAMRA Press Officer
Tel: 01727 798443 / 07939 425471, email: jon.howard@camra.org.uk

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale
230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW

Carmarthen Beer Festival

The beer and cider list for Carmarthen Beer Festival, St Peters Civic Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen, SA31 1PG. The venue is situated in the centre of Carmarthen, a short walk uphill from the train station.
40 Real Ales, Country Wines, Cider + Perry. Thursday preview evening with limited selection of ales + no live music, optional fancy dress night.
Music: Fri Backtrax; Sat Somethin' Else.

Open: Thu 25th September 5pm-11pm; Fri 26th/Sat 27th 12noon-11pm. £4 entry fee (fee includes commemorative glass + prog). CAMRA membs free. Basic food available or bring your own. Beer Tokens on sale within.

Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf 4.2%ABV
Tomos Watkin Cwrw Braf 3.7%ABV
Tomos Watkin OSB 4.5%ABV
Evan Evans 1767 4.7%ABV
Evan Evans Warrior 4.4%ABV
Wychwood Big Bertha 4.0%ABV

Felinfoel Stout 4.1%ABV
Bryncelyn Oh Boy 4.5%ABV
Bryncelyn Buddy Marvellous 4.0%ABV
Swansea Original Wood 5.4%ABV
Swansea Deep Slade Dark 4.0%ABV
Rhymney Hobby Horse 3.8%ABV
Brecon Cribyn 4.5%ABV
Brecon Naked Beacon 4.8%ABV
Brecon Golden Valley 4.2%ABV
Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch 6.0%ABV
Cairngorm Sheepshaggers Ale 4.5%ABV
Outlaw Wild Mule 4.0%ABV
Black Mountain Black 5 4.1%ABV
Jacobi Light Ale 3.8%ABV
Ffos y Ffin Towy Ale 5.0%ABV
Atlas Nimbus 5.0%ABV
Elgoods Black Dog 3.6%ABV
Purple Moose Cwrw Eryri 3.6%ABV
Otley O2 4.2%ABV
Wye Valley Butty Bach 4.2%ABV
Malvern Hills Swedish Nightingale 4.0%ABV
Spinning Dog Hereford Old Bull 3.9%ABV
Orkney Dark Island 4.6%ABV
Castle Rock Elsie Moe 4.7%ABV
Moorehouse Pride of Pendle 4.1%ABV
Fullers London Pride 4.1%ABV
Triple fff Altons Pride 3.8%ABV
Skinners Betty Stogs Ale 4.0%ABV
Wickwar Station Porter 6.1%ABV

Cider
Westons Old Rosie 7.3%ABV
GWR 1st Quailty 5.0%ABV
Gwynt Y Ddraig Farmhouse 5.5%ABV
Haymaker 6.5%ABV
Firey Fox 6.5%ABV
Barnstormer 6.5%ABV
Perry
Gwynt Y Ddraig
Pyder 6.5%ABV
Two Trees 6.5%ABV

A selection of wines will also be available.

Welsh Cider Wins in Great Taste Awards

Gwynt Y Ddraig, the Welsh Cider and Perry Company, have another award to add to their collection. Their Single Variety Yarlington Mill Cider walked off with 2 stars at the Great Taste Awards. This golden-coloured, medium-dry cider is rich in tannins with a pleasant mature aroma and is available at Tescos, Fillco (Vale of Glamorgan) and Harry Tuffin (Powys). Members of the Gwent Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale sampled the Yarlington Mill earlier this year at the Tredegar House Folk Festival and it will be available on the CAMRA bar at the Abergavenny Food Festival in September.


More information
Gwynt Y Ddraig
Guild of Fine Food

Abergavenny Food Festival - Beer & Cider List

The provisional Beer list for the CAMRA bar at the Abergavenny Beer Festival is as follows:
BRECONSHIRE BREWERY (BRECON)
County (ABV 3.7%) A pale amber beer, well hopped, best described as a traditional south-eastern bitter. Three hops provide a refreshing more-ish beer, with a distinct hoppy bitterness.
Golden Valley (ABV 4.2%) A deep, golden coloured beer using only UK grown malt and hops with a gentle but pervasive bitterness, making it a very drinkable and thirst quenching beer.
Ramblers Ruin (ABV 5%) Dark amber, malty and well hopped with a beautifully balanced aftertaste; a traditional Old Ale. Crystal and Black Malt create the malt/biscuit undertones; bitterness and aroma are provided by Goldings and First Gold amongst others.

CWMBRAN BREWERY (UPPER CWMBRAN)
Blackcurrant Stout (ABV 4%) Rich dark stout with a hint of blackberry
Pink Panther (ABV 4.8%) Aromatic refreshing bitter with soft raspberry and hop notes.

CELT EXPERIENCE (CAERPHILLY)
Bronze (ABV 4.5%)An organic ale with a rich bronze colour and a full bodied character. A delicate sweetness develops into a long hop finish through the traditional blend of hops.
Golden (ABV 4.2%) A golden organic ale, with a rich full-bodied texture accompanied by a unique blend of traditional and fruity hops, with a taste of citrus fruits and a slightly spicy aroma.

KINGSTONE BREWERY (TINTERN)
Three Castles (ABV 3.8%) An excellent quenching bitter named after the Three Castles Walk of north Monmouthshire.
Kinson’s Gold (ABV4%) Aptly named ale, very drinkable and bursting with a hoppy fruity flavour.
Classic (ABV 4.5%) A tasty finely crafted best bitter with a good mouth feel.

OTLEY BREWING CO LTD (CILFYNYDD)
O1 (ABV 4%) A pale golden beer with a hoppy aroma that has quickly established an excellent reputation. Champion Beer Britain, Golden Ale Category 2008
O-Garden (ABV 4.8%) A tongue in cheek take on a wheat beer, flavoured with roast orange peel, coriander and cloves. Champion Beer of Britain, Speciality Category 2008
OBB (ABV 4.5%) Tawny red coloured ale. A gentle blend of pale, wheat and crystal malts bittered with Centennial and Mount Hood hops

RHYMNEY BREWERY (DOWLAIS)
Dark (ABV 4%) Delicious full flavoured mild ale developing a good following in the region. Champion Beer of Wales 2007/8. Champion Beer of Britain, Bronze award-winner, Mild Category 2008
Bitter (ABV 4.5%) Brewed using the best quality barley and hops to give a slightly fruity taste Full bodied and well balanced,
Bevans Bitter (ABV4.2%) A complex beer using 4 types of Warminster malt with the bitterness of Target hops and the slightly citrus Northdown variety, to give a bold, refreshing bitter .

SPINNING DOG BREWERY (HEREFORD)
Hereford Organic Bitter (ABV 3.7%) Pale flavoursome, totally organic brew, using German Spalt hops to give a dry smooth aftertaste.
Celtic Gold (ABV 4.5%) Golden yellow beer with a biscuit malt, slightly sweet, tangy orangy flavour followed by a dry aftertaste.
Mutts Nuts (ABV 5%) A dark strong ale named in honour of the brewer’s sadly deceased dog,, full bodied with a hint of chocolate aftertaste.

TUDOR BREWERY (ABERGAVENNY)
Blorenge (ABV 3.8%) Refreshing golden summer ale with slight citrus notes from Fuggles hops
Skirrid (ABV 4.2%) Hoppy darkish ale using Goldings hops to give delicate hoppy aftertaste

WYE VALLEY BREWERY (STOKE LACY)
Dorothy Goodbody’s Golden Ale (ABV4.2%) A light gold coloured ale with good hop character throughout.
HPA (ABV4%) Pale, hoppy, malty brew with a hint of sweetness before a dry finish.
Prince’s Pride (ABV4.0%) Brewed with a combination of cara and pale malts and hopped with Fuggles. A golden ale with a hint of toffee and a late hop finish

All our real ales have been sourced from within a 30 mile radius of Abergavenny.

What is CAMRA LocAle?

CAMRA LocAle is a new initiative that promotes pubs stocking locally brewed real ale. The scheme builds on a growing consumer demand for quality local produce and an increased awareness of 'green' issues.
Everyone benefits from local pubs stocking locally-brewed real ale…

-Public houses as stocking local real ales can increase pub visits
-Consumers who enjoy greater beer choice and diversity
-Local brewers who gain from increased sales
-The local economy because more money is spent and retained locally
-The environment due to fewer ‘beer miles' resulting in less road congestion and pollution
-Tourism due to an increased sense of local identity and pride - let's celebrate what makes our locality different
If the Campaign for Real Ale can source 24 real ales from within 30 miles of Abergavenny then let's see what the pubs can do.
For more information on Locale visit the CAMRA website

Souvenir festival glass available
Open Saturday and Sunday 20th & 21st September 1000-1700hrs
Admission (to the whole festival) Adult Sat £5.50
Sun £4.50
Weekend £9.00
More information on the Abergavenny Food Festival website
or from the Gwent CAMRA Facebook site
The Gwent CAMRA bar will be in the rear market car park, the former site of Faceys brewery.


The ciders and perries on the CAMRA bar will be supplied by award-winning local producer Gwynt Y Ddraig