The Black Cock Inn on Caerphilly Mountain are holding their annual beer festival this weekend. More details here.
30 real ales and 6 ciders will be available over the weekend.
Live music to accompany your pints and last year had an Irish Jig Band plus a Hog Roast on the Saturday and a BBQ on the Sunday.
The £12 admission to the Real Ale and Cider Festival will include a commemorative glass and tokens for 4 pints/ 8 Half pints.
Things are looking up in the food & drink sector and in Neath, what with the award-winning brewery Neath Ale, mmm Green Bullet, going from strength to strength and a food & drink festival in the town as well.
Wales’ number one brewing and hospitality business S.A Brain and Co Ltd, have announced the purchase of Coffee#1 Limited for an undisclosed consideration. Coffee#1 currently comprises 15 high street coffee stores spread throughout South Wales and the South West.
Brains’ Chief Executive Scott Waddington commented ‘we are delighted to have completed the purchase of Coffee#1. We are selling an increased volume of coffee through our pub estate and believe we are well placed to continue the fantastic success of Coffee#1 with our complementary hospitality skills to a well-established, highly-regarded and award-winning retail operation. We have been very impressed with the excellent standards of product quality and service and were attracted to the significant development potential for Coffee#1 going forward.
‘The coffee market has continued to grow strongly despite the recent difficult economic conditions. We believe that with the continuing changes in consumer eating and drinking habits, this acquisition presents an obvious opportunity for our business in the future and is complimentary to the continued development of our pub business.’
James Shapland, Managing Director of Coffee#1, added ‘we are delighted that Coffee#1 has become part of the Brains family and are confident that under their control the business will go from strength to strength. I would like to thank all our staff for their hard work and help in growing Coffee#1 into the well-loved and highly successful business it is today, and wish them every success in the future’.
The shareholders of Coffee#1 were advised by PwC. Gary Partridge from PwC’s Deal Team commented ‘This deal demonstrates that the local M&A market is open for entrepreneurial-backed businesses such as Coffee#1’. Coffee#1 is a strong brand and leading regional coffee chain, and PwC is delighted to have advised James and the shareholders on this transaction’.
The pay-for-entry book the Good Pub Guide 2012 has been launched today, not a book I buy every year, in fact I tend to purchase it from charity shops when a few years out of date. Still it's another book about pubs, although one that is an advertorial rather than a quality-based publication.
They have their awards though and their Best Pub in Wales is the Olde Bulls Head, Beaumaris, Anglesey, its also in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Here is the description from the GPG website: Interesting historic pub with brasserie food, accommodation and wines The various areas at this relaxed inn cover quite a range of styles – there’s a simple but cosy bar, a popular brasserie and a smart upstairs restaurant. It was built in 1472 and well known visitors have included Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens, both of whom would find much of it familiar today. The low-beamed bar is nicely rambling, with plenty of interesting reminders of the town's past: a rare 17th-c brass water clock, a bloodthirsty crew of cutlasses and even an oak ducking stool tucked among the snug alcoves. There are lots of copper and china jugs, comfortable low-seated settles, leather-cushioned window seats, and a good log fire. Kindly staff serve Bass, Hancocks and a guest such as Conwy Welsh Pride on handpump. Quite a contrast, the busy brasserie behind is lively and stylishly modern, with a wine list that includes around 20 by the glass; the exceptionally good restaurant list runs to 120 bottles. The entrance to the pretty courtyard is closed a huge simple-hinged door that’s and astonishing 11 feet wide and 13 feet high. Named after characters in Dickens's novels, the bedrooms are very well equipped; some are traditional, and others more contemporary in style, and there are also bedrooms in the Townhouse, an adjacent property with disabled access.
Wales Dining Pub of the Year went to the Felin Fach Griffin, just outside of Brecon.
Books on cidermaking are comparatively rare when you look at the number of titles available on home brewing or home winemaking, so it's good to see a publication such as this come out. The 1999 Real Cidermaking on a Small Scale by Pooley & Lomax (see below) has been on the shelves of many a craft cidermaker for years but there has been a bit of a gap in the market for anything with more detail in without being too academic. Luckily Simon McKie takes writing about cidermaking that one step further without overcomplicating the process involved.
Each chapter is lavishly illustrated with colour photographs as well as technical information such asa specific gravity/alcohol table which is something I find very useful as am always wondering how strong a cider will be after we've just spent all day juicing the apples. Although the results given in the table in this book do differ from those given inReal Cidermaking on a Small Scale by Pooley & Lomax!
The book begins with a brief history of cidermaking and the chapters lead through into apple selection, pressing, measurement, fermentation, tasting and even a piece about cider brandy. The section featuring the hydropress was an innovation to me as I had never come across one before reading this book. The trusty Fruit Shark mill has a photo as well, I can recommend these little Czech-built electric scratters as have been using one at Llanblethian Orchards for years. There is also a relatively easy-to-follow couple of paragraphs on the technique known as keeving which I have seen pages of in some publications.
At the back are a useful, easy-to-find series of appendices with a glossary of cidermaking terms, a troubleshooting guide and a tasting methodology.
All in all, a good little book for the cider enthusiast and the small-scale producer.
The Birchgrove is a large and imposing pub, built in 1926 and designed by Sir Percy Thomas, who also designed Swansea Guildhall. This present structure replaced an older building which supposedly dated back to the 1700s. This new building was built in the roadhouse style and the tall brick chimneys, dormer windows and sloping roof lines are typical of this style of pub. The pub was gutted by a major fire in 1968 but was rebuilt by owners Brains.
Above: The Birchgrove after the 1968 fire
Today the famous Red Dragon of Wales' largest real ale brewery, SA Brain is prominent on the sides of the pub, contrasting nicely with the painted gable sides. The front of the pub features a covered smoking area and, as with buildings of this age there are a choice of rooms with the small but cosy bar on the left and the larger dining area/lounge to the right.
The large lounge still features a Brains AI blue diamond leaded glass window which has miraculously escaped the fire and the refurbishments the Birchgrove has had over the years. The walls still feature some wood panelling, although the newer parts have not the same dark colour as the older parts. A brick-built fireplace is a major feature in this room and is another original part of the building that survives to this day. The lounge has a raised seating/dining area towards the rear and is decorated throughout with old photographs of Cardiff and brewing memorabilia from Brains.
The bar back, although not original has some intricate carving on it. The wooden bar counter features beers from SA Brain such as Bitter, Dark, SA, Rev James their excellent current seasonal beer Legends as well as guests from other breweries such as as Keltec and St Austell breweries of Cornwall. A guest cider is also served with Old Rosie from Weston's in Much Marcle being the current featured cider. The quality of the beers is recognised by both CAMRA who have put in the Birchgrove in the Good Beer Guide and by Cask Marque who have given their award for quality real ale. The Birchgrove even has a beer festival every year. Monday and Tuesday nights the prices of the cask beers are reduced to £1.99/pint.
The bar is a smaller room but again features wood panelling and an original fireplace that plays host to the pub's collection of sporting awards won over the years. At the rear, there is a sheltered beer garden with an all-weather plasma screen. The Birchgrove also has a skittle alley and offers free WiFi.
Food is served all day from a traditional pub menu with daily specials on a chalkboard in the lounge. Wednesdays are curry nights.
After a successful award-winning year so far, the growing Otley brewing Company has launched its popular pale ale, Kowhai, to kick off the Autumn.
Between the colours of light copper and yellow gold, Kowhai is quaffable, 4.9% ABV ale with a delicious aroma of berry fruits and vanilla and an initial kick of bitterness.
Kowhai is brewed with Pacific Gem and Hallertauer hops, both from New Zealand. The origin of this ale is also reflected in its name, a Maori translation of ‘yellow tree’.
Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, said: “Kowhai was first introduced last year and was a big success with many customers complementing the unusual, strong flavours. It’s the perfect combination of zesty summer fruits with the added mellow flavours of vanilla. The berry consistency provides an initial bitter punch that is perfectly matched to the start of Autumn.”
Kowhai is available in cask to UK trade customers throughout October and will also be available in pubs across London, south Wales and the South West.
The Duke of Wellington pub in Cowbridge has reopened after a programme of major refurbishment.
Built in the 15th century, the Duke is one of the oldest buildings in Cowbridge and the pub’s original features, including exposed brickwork and feature open fires, have been retained in the refurbishment. The result is a quality pub with a traditional feel, yet with some contemporary design touches.
The pub’s manager, Jon Marshall said: “I think the refurbishment has really made the most of the great building and fantastic location. It’s a complete transformation and I’m delighted with the result.”
The pub will open daily at 9am for coffee and cake, with food service hours starting at 11.30am. A new daily changing menu, featuring ingredients sourced from quality British producers, will feature dishes such as a charcuterie sharing board, steak and sea salt burger with smoked Llangloffan cheese, and whole sea bass.
The Duke has also extended its offer on the bar, which, as Jon Marshall explains, is key: "We are still very much a pub. We’ve got five cask ales on the bar, alongside premium lagers and a great range of quality wines and spirits. We’re a place you can come to for everything from a morning coffee, to a pint with friends, to a meal with the family. The refurbishment has created a relaxed, comfortable space that I’m confident new and returning customers will enjoy."
Artisan Brewing Co. in conjunction with the Printhaus are pleased to announce the second microBEER Festival for 2011.
Saturday the 8th of October = microBEER Fest #2,
Be our guests as we unleash a plethora of live music in celebration of errh, well October, and of course beer - brewed 'Bare Naked'. -------------------------------------
Live music from 1pm: THE LINE-UP: (thus far)
DJ Grooveslave
Handsonic The Brwmys The Suace General Jumbo Bomb Alaska Triamethyst Robbie Price
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This will be our final music event of the year so come along and bring a mate or two.
Show your support and get in early! Beers will flow from 12noon (Beer alternatives will be available from the bar).
Big Scott will be sweating it out over the grill. The sun will shine..?
The multi-award-winning alehouse Fagins' in Taffs Well will be holding a beer festival this weekend:
Beers available, subject to availability etc:
BRANSCOMBE SUMMA THAT – 5%
BLACK DOG SCHOONER – 4.2%
EXE VALLEY AUTUMN GLORY – 4.5%
HUNTERS BUTCHERS BEST – 4%
HOGGLEYS IPA – 5%
ILKLEY BLACK SUMMIT – 5%
KELHAM ISLAND PALE RIDER – 5.2%
LYMESTONE LYMESTONE COWBOY – 4.2%
MOUNT MURRAY BUSHY’S SILVERD ALE – 4%
MOOR BEER REVIVAL – 3.8%
MOOR BEER SUMMERLAND GOLD – 5%
MOOR BEER SOUTHERN STAR – 4.1%
MOOR BEER ILLUSION – 4.5%
NORTH YORKS FLYING HERBERT – 4.7%
PEERLESS STORR LAGER – 4.8%
REBELLION MUTINY – 4.5%
1684 TRIPLE CHAMPION – 4%
THORNBRIDGE SEAFORTH – 5.9%
TYRST RAJ IPA – 5.5%
WELSH BEERS
BRECON BEACON – 4.5%
BRAGDY’R NANT MWNCI NEL – 5.5%
CERDDIN CWRW TRI – 4.5%
CERDDIN CASCADE – 4.8%
NEATH FIREBRICK – 4.2%
ON HAND PULL
BATHAMS BEST BITTER – 4%
DARK STAR AMERICAN PALE ALE – 4.7
Easily reached by bus from either Cardiff or Pontypridd, Fagins has had a deserved reputation for good food and real ale for many years. This roadside terraced inn offers a traditional pub environment with wooden beams on the ceiling and barrels as tables as well as a separate restaurant to the rear. The wooden beams feature bilingual graffiti which add to the convivial atmosphere of having a pint of real ale in this pub.
The beer range is the best for miles with real ales from across the UK regularly available alongside more local brews from award-winning breweries such as Otley and Vale of Glamorgan. Beers are either served via the traditional beer engine on the bar or straight from the barrel in the temperature-controlled stillage behind the bar. Fagins is one of the few pubs in South Wales to use this gravity-method of dispensing real ale. The constantly changing beer range is one of the reasons this pub is very popular and the beer list is updated to the pub website on a weekly basis. Recent guest beers have included Sarah Hughes dark Ruby Mild and Hobsons Town Crier, both unusual beers to find here in South Wales away from their West Midlands and Shropshire homelands.
Two beer festivals are also held every year
Fagins also hosts live music every Thursday and occasional Fridays and Saturdays – the pub website gives full details of the bands booked to appear.
Both bar meals and restaurant meals are available, check out the chalkboard in the pub for what the daily specials are. Wherever possible the food is locally sourced Welsh produce and can include home-made Steak & Kidney Pie with handmade chips or home-cooked ham or locally-made sausages. Food is served 12-2 and 6-9 every day apart from Mondays and Sunday nights and the pub does not smell of fish as a certain Cardiff pub on Cathedral Road does.
Local cider is also available from Gwynt Y Ddraig, an award-winning cidermaker based just a few miles away in Llantwit Fardre. At the moment two ciders are available on draught from Gwynt, their Farmhouse Scrumpy and Hazy Daze.
Fagins Ale & Chop House has won awards over the years; the most recent was the Mid-Glamorgan Branch of CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008. The motto of Fagins is “Real Ale, Real Food, Real Fire, Real People” and who can argue with that for a great pub. This pub is well worth stopping in, either for a quick pint or two or for a meal.
Award-winning Cardiff publican Chris Rowlands of the Goat Major is growing a beard for charity and will be dying it blonde in March as he dresses as a Viking for a month. All for a Motor Neurone disease charity and to support the beard liberation front, sponsorship forms will be available behind the bar from next week during the week-long beer festival run by the pub.The beard has been growing since July so we all look forward to a long and happy growth for Chris!
According to Chris, "What started as a drunken lark has now resulted in a long term project that I'm committed to, who knows I may dye it grey for Christmas!"
If enough money is raised next year, the beard may come off, though Keith Flett of the Beard Liberation Front may have something to say about that idea!
Was playing with the headline "No Goatee for Chris" but thought it would be too obscure for my readership!
Cardiff's best ale & pie house, the Goat Major will be holding a week long beer festival from the first of October. All the beers will be served via handpump from the cellar, with the exception of Brains SA which is served from temperature-controlled gravity stillage.
Beer list, all subject to availability etc:
Bramley Bitter
Splendid Tackle
White Boar
Highgate IPA
Humdinger
Lone Wolf
Betty Stoggs
Doom Bar
Naylor's Autumn
Pirate's Gold
Bountiful
Old Hooky
Smiler
Stout Mary
& Black Rat Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig Orchard gold is available in bottles.
Have previously covered the award-winning Goat Major here, a pub that does great food without any pretensions and does not smell of fish as certain Cathedral Road 'Gastro' pubs do.
Artisan Brewery of Cardiff will be holding one of their regular beer festivals this weekend, more details from Simon below: Hot food. Cold Pints of BARE NAKED BEER. Smoking BBQ. And a brand new brewery backdrop (hopefully up and running!). Bring your mates down to our brewery quarter. Doors Open 12 till 9.
Beer styles on the day:
Octoberfest 5.3%
Bavarian Wheat 5.3%
Chocolate Wheat 5%
We'll have some tasty organic cider, fine wine and a range of soft drinks for those non-beer drinking folk.
The sun is forecast to shine 23 degrees, so grab a perch in our courtyard and camp-down for an afternoon.
Good to see the City arms in Cardiff getting into the Octoberfest season and doing some German beers. Unlike the world's most overated beer festival in Hitler's favourite city, the Cardiff-based City Arms has beers from over 20 different German breweries on draught and in bottle. Blondes, Kölsh, Weisses, Bocks and even a wheat doppelbock at 8.2% are on, with German music, though no Kraftwerk. Barmaids in durdls as well.
The fantastic surroundings of Cardiff Castle will be playing host to the Great British Cheese Festival this weekend and the Campaign for Real Ale will once again be running the Cardiff Arms Bar, situated in the shadow of the Norman Keep.
This will be the fourth year the festival has been held in Cardiff and once again more beer and cider has been ordered than before to slake the thirsts of those attending.
Beer List:
(All subject to availability etc)
Brains Dark
Brains SA
Brains SA Gold
Box Steam Funnel Blower
Butcombe Bitter
Fullers Chiswick
Holdens XB
Oakham Bishops Farewell
Oakham Citra
Otley O1
Otley Oxymoron
RCH Steam Harvest
Rhymney Dark
Rhymney Export
Rudgate Ruby Mild
St Austell Tribute
Saltaire Blackberry Cascade
Sambrooks Pale
Sambrooks Wandle
Skinners Ginger Tosser
Thornbridge Sequoia
Timothy Taylors Landlord
Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf
Tring Brookmans
Vale of Glamorgan Cwrw Dewi
Vale of Glamorgan Grog y Vog
Vale of Glamorgan Light Headed
Vale of Glamorgan Rourke's Draught
Zero Degrees Mango
Zero Degrees Pilsner
Cider & Perry List:
Blaengawney Blindfold
Blaengawney National Treasure
Border Orchard
Crossman Sweet 6%
Gillow Kingstone Black
Gwatkin Norman 7.5%
Gwatkin Perry 6.0%
Gwatkin Foxwhelp 7.5%
Gwatkin Squeal Pig 4.5%
Gwatkin Silly Ewe 4.5%
Gwatkin No Bull 4.5%
Gwynt Y Ddraig Golden Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig Black Dragon
Gwynt Y Ddraig Fiery Fox
Gwynt Y Ddraig Two Trees Perry
Gwynt Y Ddraig Malvern Hills Perry
Heck's Medium 6%
Orchard's Medium 6.6%
Orchard's Perry
Palmer's Bingo Bongo 6.5%
Palmer's St Celia 6.0%
Rich's Legbender 6%
Rosie's Triple D Wasp 7.2%
Rosie's Triple D Ram 7.2%
Ross-on-Wye Perry 6%
Ross-on-Wye Cider 6.5%
Seidr O Sir Maer Edwy 6.8%
Severnside Perry
Severnside Dry Cider
Swallowfield Redstreak Cider 5.6%
Swallowfield Turner's Perry 5.5%
Troggi Perry
