Sunday 31 March 2013

Baa! Brains brew Lamb-ic Ale

We've had horse in burgers so what will be the next culinary inspiration?
Press release from Brains below:

Brains’ craft brewery team has taken an interesting angle to their latest cask beer. Taking inspiration from the traditional lambic style of beer from Belgium, Lamb-ic has an added unique Welsh twist with the addition of finest Welsh lamb to the brew.

Brewed with malted barley, un-malted wheat and a blend of Fuggles and Golding hops, the beer has been matured for up to 12 months in open barrels with chops of finest lamb from the Welsh hills of Ceredigion. Open barrel fermenting allows Lamb-ic to be naturally fermented with wild yeasts that give lambic styles of beer their unique taste. A naturally cloudy, orange beer, Lamb-ic (5.3%) has a sour lemon juice beginning which blends into a deep richness from the lamb. Each pint will be served with mint sprinkles on top which adds fresh and herby notes to the pint.

The Brains craft brewery team were inspired by a trip to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver where they tried a hickory-smoked bacon porter. An increasingly popular type of beer in the US, the team set to it to brew their unique Welsh version.

Lamb-ic is the latest experimental brew from Brains’ 15 barrel brewery and follows a American White IPA, a Bavarian-style Weiss beer, a Czech style pilsner, and a coconut porter.

The beer will be available in 30 Brains pubs from Friday 5th April. For a full list of stockists visit www.brainscraftbrewery.com/find-our-beer

Friday 29 March 2013

Easter Beer Festivals in South Wales

Just a quick roundup of what's occuring this weekend

First up is the Coach in Bridgend with their third annual beerex. Beers available:

Tiny Rebel Brewing Co 'Coach Cwtch'' & 'Hadouken'
Wye Valley 'Dorothy Goodbody's
Springtime Ale'
Cerddin Brewery 'Solar'
Skinners 'Hunny Bunny'
Great Yorkshire Brewery
'Golden'
Milk Street 'March Madness'
Williams Bros 'Roisin' 'Seven
Giraffes'
Arbor Ales 'Brown Beer Dammit'
& 'Neomexicanus'
Arbor/Bristol Beer Factory
'English IPA'
Saltaire 'Elderflower'
Coach House 'Rabbit Punch' &
'Gingernut'
Black Hole 'Milky Way'  'Super
Nova'
East London Brewing
'Nightwatchman'
Traditional Scottish Ales 'Ben
Nevis'
Otley 'O7 Weissen

Next to Cardiff where Fire Island are holding a beer and meat weekend

Beer list:
Beat Box - Tiny Rebel
Cwtch - Tiny Rebel
Jamboree - East London
Brewing Comp.
Pale Ale- East London Brewing
Comp
Illusion - Moor
Revival - Moor
Directionless - Red Willow
Wreckless - Red Willow
Beat Red - Revolutions
EP Session Pale - Revolutions
Guest keg this week is
Brooklyn Lager!

Also heard a rumour that the White Cross, Groeswen, Caerphilly is holding a beer festival this weekend but there is nothing on their website to say so
http://www.thewhitecrossinn.co.uk/

Sunday 24 March 2013

One of my nearby pubs

I'm fortunate in having a few pubs close to where I live, unfortunately most are pretty shit, the Man of Gwent in Newport being no execption. This visit is only my second in two years, which beats my usual record of once every 4 years.
Popped in on a Sunday afternoon to find the place packed and feral kids running wild throughout the pub. Only one beer on, an average pint of Wells Bombardier at £2.85/pint and, according to the staff a 50 minute wait for food. The pub is a former Courage/pubco that went bust pub, now operated by Flaming Grill Pub Co. The one redeeming feature of the place is free WiFi via The Cloud.
Apparently, the pub held a beer festival last year but it was not very successful as they failed to tell anyone about it! Hint for Flaming Grill Pub Co there are 2 beer-guzzling hacks who live 10 minutes walk away from the pub and would be happy to support your beer festival if we knew about it! It was not even mentioned in the email newsletter sent out by the pub!
Rant over!

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Swansea Beer Festival Beer List

What? Already time for another Swansea Bay Beer & Cider Festival? But it's not Summer yet!

Well the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea will be closed for a refurbishment this Summer so the second-biggest CAMRA beer festival in Wales will be held in April this year on the 4th, 5th and 6th April (Thurs-Sat), with over 100 real ales, ciders and perries.
Open 1700-2300 Thursday 4th
12-2300 Friday 5th & Saturday 6th
Admission £5 (£3 CAMRA members) includes glass and programme. Over 18s only due to venue restrictions.
Bands:

Cakehole Presley - Thursday 4th April 9pm
Afternoon in Paris - Friday 5th April 6pm
LAF - Friday 5th April 9pm
Nomads Duo - Saturday 6th April 4pm
Burghers - Saturday 6th April 7pm.

Provisional Beer List & Tasting Notes. NB may be subject to change!
ART BREW, North Chideock, Dorset, England. (artbrew.co.uk)

Spanked Monkey 6.4% SB

A proper I.P.A., so stuffed with hops it will make your tongue tingle. This

spanked version has root ginger and chilli added to the cask


BLACK JACK, Manchester, England.

Double Bluff 4.8% B

Started last year, Black Jack ales are brewed by Rob Hamilton, of ex Marble

fame. Double Bluff is an amber ale with full aroma and bitter notes.

New Deck 4.2% G

Traditional golden bitter, hopped largely with Goldings



BRAINS, Cardiff, Wales. (sabrain.com)

Barry Island IPA 6.0% SB

Brains Craft Brewery: an American style IPA brewed using three types of US hops

Dark 3.5% M

Treacle-coloured, brewed with Chocolate malt; hints of liquorice and ground coffee.

Milk Wood 4.3% B

The unique character of rye crystal and malted oats brings russet red colouring and smooth toffee, poetically balanced by a crisp bitterness from Goldings hops.

Reverend James 4.5% B

Full-bodied and warming. Rich spicy aromatic palate with a deeply satisfying finish.

SA Gold 4.3% G

Full-flavoured hoppy golden ale with complex refreshing citrus aromas and flavours.



BRASS CASTLE, Pocklington, East Yorkshire, England. (brasscastlebrewery.co.uk/)

Bad Kitty 5.5% PS

A chewy chocolate vanilla dream of a porter.



BRECON BREWING, Brecon, Powys, Wales. (breconbrewing.com)

Genesis 2:ii Imperious Beacons 7.5% PS

The Imperial Welsh Stout – velvety smooth, deep black and with hints of smoky

coffee, toffee and luscious Black Forrest gateaux.

Three Beacons 3.0% B

Pale golden APA remarkably full flavoured and extensively hopped a beer that truly defies its strength.



BRISTOL BEER FACTORY, Bristol, England. (bristolbeerfactory.co.uk/)

Acer 3.8% G

A low alcohol beer with a huge hop kick to it (Soracchi Ace); ripe tangerines,

resinous hops and a blast of citrus play around on a solid bready malt backbone.

Southville Hop 6.5% SB

American inspired IPA, heavily hopped. Big sweet malt backbone, followed by a

wash of tropical fruits; long, moreish resinous bitter finish. SIBA 2011 reg’l winner

BRYN CEYLN, Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, Wales.

Oh Boy 4.5% B

An enticing golden colour with a taste full of hops and fruit. Winning Best

Bitter at the 2012 Great Welsh.

Sleeping Giant 4.3% B

A light amber beer, with a smooth bitter taste and floral spicy hop aroma.


BULLMASTIFF, Cardiff, Wales.

Son of a Bitch 6.0% SB

Amber-coloured, rich and warming. A complex blend of malt, hops and fruit

with good bitterness and lasting finish.



BUTCOMBE, Bristol, England. (butcombe.com)

Blonde 4.4% G

A refreshing golden bitter brimming with citrus hops and fruit



CELT EXPERIENCE, Caerphilly, Wales. (theceltexperience.co.uk)

Cat Scratched Celt 4.9% S

Modern, citrus and angry tropical notes. Enjoy a Shanghai experience!

Silures 4.6% B

Powerful and deep bodied pale-amber ale with fruit aromas. A balance of flavour

malts and Pacific and Alantic hops result in a massive beer with bitterness, sweet

vanilla maltiness and a blend of citrus passion fruit and mango on the finish.



CERDDIN, Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. (cerddinbrewery.co.uk)

Cwrw Tri 4.5% M

A dark, easy drinking ale, somewhere in between bitter and mild. Mainly coffee

and chocolate with liquorice on the front, with a dark and malty finish.

WPA 4.0% B

A 19th century Welsh Pale Ale recipe, brewed to re-hydrate the heavy industrial

workers. Uses traditional ingredients to deliver a fruity finish with lots of hops.

COTSWOLD SPRING, Chipping Sodbury, Glos., England. (springbrewery.co.uk)

Ambler 3.8% B

Agreeably smooth session beer with a lovely long palate. A good malty start is complemented with a well rounded hoppy finish.

OSM (Old Sodbury Mild) 3.9% M

Complex 7 grain mild. Initially dry with a bitter sweetness. Chocolatey notes and

a long finish. SIBA Supreme National Champion 2011 and Mild winner 2012.

Stunner 4.0% G

A straw coloured ale with mouth-filling malt complemented by a lovely tropical

fruitiness on the nose and palate, and a long refreshing finish



CROUCH VALE, Chelmsford, Essex, England. (crouchvale.co.uk)

Brewers Gold 4.0% G

A pale, refreshing and hoppy beer with gorgeous aromas of tropical fruits



DARK STAR, Partridge Green, Sussex, England. (darkstarbrewing.co.uk)

American Pale 4.7% G

Maris Otter malt complements the crisp taste and full aroma of the hops.

Hophead 3.8% G

Pale golden ale, strong floral aroma and elderflower notes

EVAN EVANS, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (evanevansbrewery.com)

Archers Old Glory 4.5% B

Fruity hop aroma, mouth-filling dark amber bitter with a spicy full fruit

bitterness. A classic premium ale for the winter international rugby season

W H Buckley Wrecker 4.4% B

An exciting beer brewed with light malt. Amber in colour, light and fruity,

with a dry, clean bitter finish



EVERARDS, Narborough, Leicestershire, England. (everards.co.uk)

Tiger 4.2% B

Chestnut brown in colour; spicy hop aromas with toffee undertones.



FULLERS, Chiswick, London, England. (fullers.co.uk)

ESB 5.5% SB

A liquid legend – winner of three CAMRA Beer of the Year awards, among

numerous other gold medals.



GOWER, Oldwalls, Gower, Swansea, Wales. (gowerbrewery.com)

Gower Gold 4.5% G

Thirst quenching golden ale, refreshing citrus flavours and the lovely aroma

of Cascade hops.

Lighthouse 4.5% S

A light thirst quenching continental style lager packed with flavour.

Gower Power 5.5% SB

Brewed with traditional floor malted barley and packed full of choice quality hops

to give a powerful Welsh example of a true British classic – Indian Pale Ale.

Gower Rumour 5.0% SB

Brewed with traditional floor malted barley and packed full of choice quality hops

to give a powerful Welsh example of a true British classic – Indian Pale Ale.



GREEN JACK, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. (green-jack.com)

Baltic Trader 10.5% PS

An Extra Strong Export Stout. Smooth, rich and fruity with roasted coffee &

vanilla flavours.



GREY TREES, Red Cow Pub, Aberdare, Wales. (www.theredcowpub.com)

Diggers Gold 4.0% G

A golden, hoppy ale, brewed with American Citra Cascade and further dry hopped

for a full aroma. Brewed at the Mid and South Wales pub of the year 2012

JPR Pale Ale 4.6% B

A crisp golden ale with a lovely aromatic flavour.



HARVEYS, Lewes, East Sussex, England. (harveys.org.uk)

Sussex Best Bitter 4.0% B

A superbly balanced session bitter with a prominent hop character.



HARVIESTOUN, Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. (harviestoun.com)

Schiehallion 4.8% G

A true pilsner-style beer; dry, crisp, refreshing and flavoursome.



HEART OF WALES, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales. (neuaddarmshotel.co.uk)

High as a Kite 10.5% BW

When Bass (or Coors) stopped making their No1 Barley Wine, Heart of Wales had

a go. This potent brew was Supreme Champion Beer at the Great Welsh in 2012.


Welsh Black 4.4% PS

A fine, complex, particularly smooth stout, full of flavour with notes of liquorice.

Winning Stout and No 2 beer overall after High as a Kite at the Great Welsh 2012.



HOGS BACK, Tongham, Surrey, England. (hogsback.co.uk)

T.E.A. Traditional English Ale 4.2% B

A deep golden colour, TEA is refreshing, hoppy and well balanced.



KELHAM ISLAND, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. (kelhambrewery.co.uk )

Pale Rider 5.2% G

Well balanced strong and fruity ale flavoured with North American Hops.



KITE, Gorslas, Carmarthenshire, Wales. (thekitebrewery.com)

CPA (Carmarthenshire Pale Ale) 4.1% G

A blonde ale with fruit and sweet malt, followed by a refreshing dry finish.

Kite are currently relocating to Llantrisant.

Cwrw Gorslas 4.0% B

An accomplished balance of spicy resinous hop aroma. The bitterness remains

into the finish with dry fruit notes. Champion beer Carmarthen festival 2011.



MIGHTY OAK, Malden, Essex, England. (mightyoakbrewery.co.uk)

Oscar Wilde 3.7% M

A wonderfully mellow, moreish dark mild. Champion beer of Britain 2011



MONTY’S, Montgomery, Powys, Wales. (montysbrewery.co.uk)

Midnight Stout 4.0% P/S

Dark creamy stout, full of dark fruit and roasted malt flavours. Silver winning

stout at the 2012 Great Welsh.



MOORHOUSE’S, Burnley, Lancashire, England. (moorhouses.co.uk)

Blonde Witch 4.5% G

Moorehouse’s first ever “blonde” ale. This beer is as light as you get with a

lager colour (minus the bubbles).

Pendle Witches Brew 5.1% SB

Full-flavoured with a crisp sweet fruity aftertaste and soft citrus nose.



NEATH, Baglan, Neath-Port Talbot, Wales. (neathales.co.uk)

Dewi Saint 4.8% B

A very pale ale brewed with a single variety cluster hop. Fruity and easy

drinking with “enough hops to make it interesting”.

Firebrick 4.2% B

An Amber Best Bitter. Crystal malt soon gives way to classic British hop

flavour and bitterness.

Hophazard 6.8% SB

An amber ale, brewed with an outrageous amount of hops.



NETHERGATE, Clare , Suffolk, England. (nethergate.co.uk)

Umbel Magna 5.0% P/S

Coriander added to Old Growler wort to give a spicy, deep ruby porter


OAKHAM, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. (oakhamales.com)

Attila 7.5% BW

Fruit and elderflower aroma, with citrus and berry taste leading to a

bitter fruity finish.



Bishops Farewell 4.6% B

A strong premium beer of structured quality, dominated by elaborate fruity

hop notes, with a grainy background and dry finish.



OAKLEAF, Gosport, Hampshire, England. (oakleafbrewing.co.uk)

I Can’t Believe it’s not Bitter 4.9% S

Clean and crisp with a fruity aftertaste, a lager with a citrus finish that lingers on.



OTLEY, Pontypridd, Wales. (otleybrewing.co.uk)

O4 Columb-O 4.0% G

Pale golden ale with high bitterness and aromas of green grass and herbs. Runner

up to Croes-O in the Golden Ale category at the Great Welsh 2012.

O5 Gold 5.0% G

Light bodied golden ale using Lager malt and lightly hopped with Amarillo and

Pioneer

O-Garden 4.8% S

A clear wheat beer spiced with roasted orange peels, coriander and cloves. Good

hop aromas with a subtle bitterness. Runner up Specialty Beer Great Welsh 2012.

Oxymoron 4.2% S

Black IPA style bitter. Rich, dark chocolate flavours and a lasting bitter aftertaste



PIXIE SPRING, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. (pixiespring.com)

Deliverance APA 4.5% B

Pale/Straw Coloured American Pale Ale. hops, hops and even more hops, a taste

of Hillbillies and Blue grass to make you squeal like a pig!

Kraken’s Revenge 6.0% PS

An Imperial Russian Stout infused with Demerrera sugar and Kraken Premium

Rum, promised to deliver a strong and unforgettably quaffable taste temptation.

Not for the faint hearted!

PURPLE MOOSE, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales. (purplemoose.co.uk)

Dark Side Of The Moose 4.6% B

A delicious dark ale with a deep malt flavour from roasted barley and a fruity

bitterness from Bramling Cross hops. SIBA Wales & West 2013 Gold: Old Ales

Ysgawen 4.0% S

A refreshing pale ale brewed using Casade hops with the added indulgence of

elderflower. SIBA Wales & West Silver overall 2012, Gold: Specialty 2012/13

QUERCUS DEVON ALES, Kingsbridge, Devon, England. (quercusdevonales.com)

Shingle Bay 4.2% G

Light, easy drinking, fruity citrus aroma & flavour giving a subtle, crisp refreshing

bite. Smooth taste, crisp revitalising finish. CAMRA Devon best beer 2012


RCH, West Hewish, Somerset, England. (rchbrewery.com)

East Street Cream 5.0% SB

Enigmatic full bodied beer with malty hoppy fruit bitter with a sweet taste, all

vying for dominance in this complex well crafted premium chestnut coloured ale.

Old Slug 4.5% PS

A traditional near-black porter, full-bodied with tastes of chocolate, coffee,

blackcurrants & black cherry.

Pitchfork 4.3% G

A golden bitter with floral citric hop aroma. It has a hoppy predominate taste

which is slightly sweet and fruity and leaves you wanting more.

RED WILLOW, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. (redwillowbrewery.com)

Headless 3.9% B

Refreshingly floral Pale Ale with a restrained orange-led bitterness and a light,

straw-hued colour.
Wreckless 4.8% B

Pale Ale loaded with Citra and Amarillo hops providing massive amounts of

tropical fruit with a clean finish.



RHYMNEY, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. (rhymneybreweryltd.com)

Dark 4.0% M

Champion Beer of Wales 2011, hopped like a true stout, although actually a mild

Export 5.0% SB

A heady flavour from a combination of carefully hand mixed malts, provides

an ale of exceptional character. Full bodied yet rounded, eminently quaffable.



SADLERS, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England. (sadlersales.co.uk)

Hop Bomb 5.0% SB

A powerful India Pale Ale, brewed with American Amarillo and Citra Hops. A

balanced malt sweetness supports the epic hop aroma and flavour explosion.



SALTAIRE, Shipley, Yorkshire, England. (saltairebrewery.co.uk)

Blackberry Cascade 4.8% S

American style pale ale with the floral aromas and strong bitterness of Cascade

and Centennial hops, infused with a hint of blackberries

Elderflower Blonde 4.0% S

A refreshing blonde ale delicately infused with the flavour of elderflower.

Raspberry Blonde 4.0% S

Refreshingly blonde ale delicately infused with raspberry flavours.



SARAH HUGHES, Dudley, West Midlands, England. (sarahhughesbrewery.co.uk)

Dark Ruby Mild 6.0% M

Clear fruitiness in the aroma, followed by sweet maltiness and slightly bitter finish.

SIX BELLS, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, England. (sixbellsbrewery.co.uk)

Cloud Nine 4.2% G

Robust, well hopped beer, having citrus notes throughout its aroma, flavour and

dry lingering finish.


ST AUSTELL, St Austell, Cornwall, England. (staustellbrewery.co.uk)

Proper Job 3.7% G

A powerfully hopped golden bitter that explodes with citrus grapefruit flavours



SURREY HILLS, Dorking, Surrey, England. (www.surreyhills.co.uk)

Shere Drop 4.2% B

Pale with subtle hint of grapefruit & lemon in aroma. Wonderful hop bitterness is complemented by a balanced malt flavour. Long finish, which is moderately dry.


SWANSEA, Bishopston, Swansea, Wales. (swanseabrewing.co.uk)

Bishopswood Bitter 4.3% B

A delicate aroma, balanced taste, with bitterness growing in the finish.

Deep Slade Dark 4.0% B

Dark bitter, with a roasted barley flavour.

Original Wood 5.2% SB

Full-bodied, with complex flavours with and a firm bitter ending.

Three Cliffs Gold 4.7% G

Golden beer, with a hoppy, fruity taste and quenching bitterness.

TATTON, Knutsford, Cheshire, England. (tattonbrewery.co.uk)

Blonde 4.0% G

A blonde beer with a hoppy fruity taste and a fine fruity aroma.

Gold 4.8% G

A full-tasting, satisfying deep golden ale.

White Queen 4.2% S

A Belgian white, naturally cloudy Wheat beer, spiced with coriander, Curacao

orange peel, and cardamom - reputed to have aphrodisiac properties.



THORNBRIDGE, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. (thornbridgebrewery.co.uk)

Jaipur IPA 5.9% SB

A citrus dominated IPA, immediate impression is soft & smooth yet builds to a

crescendo of massive hoppiness accentuated by honey. An enduring, bitter finish.

TIMOTHY TAYLOR, Keighly, West Yorkshire, England. (timothytaylor.co.uk)

Landlord 4.3% B

A Classic Strong Pale Ale with a complex and hoppy aroma, Landlord has

won more awards nationally than any other beer.

TINY REBEL, Newport, Gwent, Wales. (tinyrebel.co.uk)

Cwtch 4.6% B

Hop from the US go into this red ale, refreshing zesty, citrus taste and

a light summer aroma.

Dirty Stop Out 5.0% P/S

9 malts go into this complex stout. Dark, with hints of smokiness & perfume aromas.

Urban IPA 5.5% G

A golden-brown IPA packed with hops from Germany, US and Slovenia



TOMOS WATKIN, Llansamlet, Swansea, Wales. (tomoswatkin.com)

Blodwen 4.5% B

Light crisp refreshing ale with a fruit aroma and easy on the palette.


Cwrw Haf 4.2% G

A blend of golding, fuggle and cascade hops. Refreshing zesty, citrus taste and

a light summer aroma.

OSB (Old Style Bitter) 4.5% B

Deep amber, full-bodied with good bitterness and a clean, lasting finish.



VIOLET COTTAGE, Gwaelod Inn, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff, Wales (www.gwaelodinn.co.uk)

Cardiff Pride 4.5% B

Brewed at Cardiff’s Pub of the Year this mid-brown ale has medium bitterness

and body with a bitter finish.



WAEN BREWERY, Caersws, Newtown, Wales. (thewaenbrewery.co.uk)

Blackberry Stout 3.8% PS

Full flavoured stout, distinctive bitter hop at back of the palette and fruity lift in the finish

First of the Summer Waen 3.9% B

Floral and malty dark gold ale


WYE VALLEY, Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England. (wyevalleybrewery.co.uk)

Butty Bach 4.5% G

A burnished gold premium ale. Full bodied, smooth and satisfying.

Dorothy Goodbody’s Golden Ale 4.2% G

A crisp and zesty beer, brewed with Maris Otter pale malt, with the succulent

aroma of the two finest English hop varieties, Goldings and Fuggles.

HPA 4.0% B

HPA is a truly delightful pale ale. It's smooth on the palate, and boasts a citrus

hop aroma leading to a balanced bitter finish.

Friday 8 March 2013

Best pub in Newport for sale



The Pen & Wig in Newport is for sale with Sidney Phillips for £397,500 freehold. Not sure if that includes the website written in Comic Sans or not. Current leaseholder Richard Jackson has had enough of the trade and the high business rates charged by the council for a thriving business in what is the ghost town of Newport and owner Billy wants to spend his retirement in Spain, not dealing with his pubs. Over the past 2 years Richard has built the Pen & Wig up to be the premier pub in Newport with a fine range of real ales and ciders, and, of course being a great local outlet for Tiny Rebel Brewery amongst others. Also Richard has cleaned up the pub a lot, banning dozens of people for their behaviour or just being chavs, giving more profit to Tim Martin and Chaverspoons in whose pubs these people now reside.
The building needs some work on it, probably about £40k to bring it up to standard so the £397k price is over-optimistic to say the least. Still at least it has a few things going for it - a large car park at the rear, upstairs bar and City Centre location. Just wait and see if anyone is willing to invest in City Centre Newport as neither shops (Marks & Spencer have left the City Centre) or the Council want to invest.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Old advertising sign

Sign in the Heath pub, Cardiff. This sign seems to have done the rounds of Brains pubs before settling down in here. It used to hang in the Duke of Wellington in the Hayes but before that it was in the notorious Custom House which used to be owned by the Burnham Brewery as a photo taken during WWII shows.


Dating it, well its probably later than 1892 but before 1901
The companies mentioned on it are:
Salt & Co, Buton-upon-Trent
Founded 1774, taken over by Bass in 1927 and brewing ceased. Became a public company on 1892.

Georges & Co
Founded c1730, acquired by Courage 1930. Became a registered company in 1888.
Davis, Strangman & Co Limited of Waterford
Founded 1792, closed 1948. Registered 1888.

Elliotts Aerated Water of Brighton
1871-1901

I think the sign has been altered in recent years and the name of the original brewery has been removed? The one at the top with the crown trade mark, oh well a lot more research required to identify the original brewery!

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Fox and Hounds, Llanharry

Fox & Hounds, Llanharan Road, Llanharry, CF72 9LL

Open all day

The Fox & Hounds is situated on the northern outskirts of Llanharry village, set back from the main road, with an useful bus stop outside for the Bridgend-Talbot Green service. Alternatively there are car parks to the front and sides of the pub.
Above: the pub in the 1960s when it was owned by Rhymney Brewery, note the Ely Brewery logo in the window, Ely was taken over by Rhymney in 1959

The pub was formerly owned by the Ely Brewery of Cardiff, then Rhymney and Whitbread Breweries before Enterprise Inns took it over. It was sold at auction in 2011 and it is now a free house. There has been a building on this site for many centuries as a couple of the doorways are likely to date from Tudor times. An even older drinking connection was found near to the pub in the 1920s - a beaker from a burial dating to around 4000 years ago. The pub has been added to and extended over the years so much that only traces of the original building are discernible in the pub we see today. The building is built out of the local iron-rich limestone that has an unusual pinkish-red tinge. The village was once home to one of the few iron-ore mines in Wales.

The entrance is via a central porch which immediately leads to the stone-flagged bar area and light oak bar counter. To the left of the bar is the restaurant area which features an etched glass partition with foxes and hounds on the glass panels. This leads through to the beer garden with swings and benches.

To the right of the bar is the oldest part of the building with a large fireplace with a wood burning stove in it. To the right of the fireplace, one of the old doorways can be seen with its curved top beam and old hinges on the door. Leather sofas and low tables make this a comfortable part of the pub to relax in.

The bar features four gleaming brass handpumps which feature an ever-changing range of real ales from breweries such as Otley, Dark Star, and Wye Valley. Otley Brewery of Pontypridd is the most regular brewery featured on the bar with O3, O-Rosie, Croeso and O4 all featuring on the pumps soon. There is also an extensive wine list and a good range of whiskies, including Penderyn.

Food is served all day, apart from Sunday when its served 12-4 and for which booking is advisable. The Fox & Hounds features an extensive menu with home-made pies and locally-sourced ingredients are used wherever possible. Chalkboard menus in the dining area show what daily specials are available.

The pub holds a quiz night every other Sunday.

Google Map:

View Larger Map

Monday 4 March 2013

Brains Craft Brewery Weiss Weiss Berry

Brains Craft Brewery, Weiss Weiss Berry 4.9% ABV, £1.79/330ml bottle


Not seen this beer on draught anywhere but the Discount Supermarket on Whitchurch Road in Cardiff had some bottles on sale so stocked up on my last visit. This beer is the second, weaker version of Weiss Weiss Baby infused with a blend of summer berries.

Cloudy straw in colour with a rich, foamy head. Wheatbeer characteristics such as cloves and banana are present in the aroma. The wheatbeer flavours carry on throughout the taste and the finish is of cloves and fruit. Quite a sweet beer, not to my own personal taste as I prefer hoppy beers but this is an interesting addition to the Craft Beer range.

Brewed with Weissbeer yeast, malted wheat and Hallertau Hops.

I wonder if the brewing team were 'under pressure' to come up with this name?

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