Author: wilco

Categories
Beer

Good news for craft beer fans in Cardiff – Brains to open new craft brewery

Hopefully they will open it up to beer drinkers community to help choose or even brew new beer – Iam thinking hoppy beers to give certain scottish beers or Amercian beers a run for their money.

St Davids Day - SA brains Cardiff Brewery Tour

From SA Brain

Welsh brewer SA Brain and Co Ltd today announced that it is to extend production facilities at the Cardiff Brewery by installing a new craft brewery.

The brewery will complement Brains’ existing plant and enable them to brew a diverse range of craft cask, keg and bottled beers.

St Davids Day - SA brains Cardiff Brewery Tour

Bill Dobson, Head Brewer at Brains, explains: “The beer market is always changing and there is a growing interest in more diverse beers and different beer styles. We have seen this through the growing popularity of our seasonal ales and a demand for a wider choice on the bar, especially from the younger drinker.”

“This new brewery means we will be able to meet these growing needs by brewing on a much smaller scale, at the same time developing our capability to innovate new products and to experiment with limited editions and one-offs.”

St Davids Day - SA brains Cardiff Brewery Tour

David Bonney, Commercial Director at Brains, added: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to the development of our cask and keg beers – a key element of our growth strategy – enabling us to remain at the forefront of new product development.”

Brains hopes to have the new plant up and running by the end of March 2012. The company will continue to brew its range permanent and seasonal beers – which includes the renowned SA, the award winning SA Gold and the legendary Dark – at the Cardiff brewery.

St Davids Day - SA brains Cardiff Brewery Tour

Categories
Beer

Cardiff Brew wins World’s Best Dark Mild Ale

My local brewery and my go to pint (2nd beer I ever drank 20 years ago, 1st was Buckley SBB) and I still have a pint of at least once a week.

Brains Dark, has been named the ‘World’s Best Dark Mild Ale’ and ‘Europe’s Best Dark Mild Ale’ at the World Beer Awards 2011.

Well done to all at S A Brain – it’s in some great company some of the other beers in the groups are brilliant – Rodenbach Grand Cru 6% & Thornbridge Bracia 9% to name just two.

The award means that it now ranks as one of the world’s 50 best beers.

An international panel of judges described the beer as having a “fresh tobacco nose with liquorice and burnt fruit. Toasty, not too sweet. Nice and dry. Light hops. Coffee, chocolate, bitter hops and roasted grain. Dry Finish.”

Richard Davies, sales and marketing director at Brains said: “We’re thrilled that Dark has won such a high profile award against the best international competition. It proves that regional family brewers can compete with the biggest and best in the world.”

Dark was the heart of Brains for most of its history. It dominated production at the Old Brewery and up until the 1980’s was Brains’ best-selling ale. Today the beer is sold in pubs and supermarkets throughout the UK.

For more information

Categories
Food

Wally’s Kaffeehaus at Wally’s Delicatessen, Cardiff

Mrsuw treated me to lunch today at the newly opened Wally’s Kaffeehaus upstairs in the famous Wallys Delicatessen in Royal Arcade in Cardiff.

I was expecting wooden cladding and  grandeur with chandeliers as it’ was touted as a Viennese Coffee House.

But it was modern and light which was a bit disappointing as the mrs had talked about coffee houses in Austria (as her mother is Austrian) and I was expecting the works with Kaffee und Kuchen.

But never-mind what it looks like.. it was lunch we went for and the open sandwiches were very impressive – I thought a bit pricey.

Wally's Kaffeehaus

but when it arrived they were massive & they were very filling and I left stuffed but happy.

I went for the Tyrol (the sandwichs are named after Austrian Towns/Areas) As the family who own Wally’s – came to the UK from Austria just before the Second World War.

– Roast Chicken Breast and Chorizo with Shaved Manchego Cheese and peppers – it was served on sourdough bread and with a brilliant potato salad with crushed pistachios which added so much .

Wally's Kaffeehaus

to be honest it tasted fantastic – with black olives and rocket with a garlic mayonaaise – highly recommended and a filling lunch.

MrsUW had the Baden – which had pears and German dark smoked ham on seeded bread – she did not share, but said it tasted very good.

Wally's Kaffeehaus

I was expecting more cakes (which we did not partake)but they are open for breakfast, so if you are in arcades pay it a visit.

Wally's Kaffeehaus

Categories
Beer

Wetherspoon Real Ale & Cider Festival October 5 – 23 October Beer List

There is talk of American craft ale in the spoons upcoming Autumn fesitval. Here is the full list

 

1
BRAINS DARK 3.5% ABV
Brains Brewery, Cardiff. Est. 1882
2
HARVIESTOUN NUMBER OF THE BEAST 3.6% ABV
Harviestoun Brewery, Clackmannanshire. Est. 1985
3
BATEMANS XB 3.7% ABV
Batemans Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1874
4
EVERARDS WHAKATU 3.7% ABV
Everards Brewery, Leicestershire. Est. 1849
5
JW LEES THE GOVERNOR 3.8% ABV
JW Lees Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1828
6
BANKS & TAYLOR’S ALBION ALE 4.0% ABV
B & T Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1981
7
KALAMAZOO BLACK SILK 4.0% ABV
Bell’s Brewery, Michigan, USA. Est. 1985
8
SALOPIAN VAPOUR TRAIL 4.0% ABV
Salopian Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1995
9
THORNBRIDGE BROTHER RABBIT 4.0% ABV
Thornbridge Brewery, Derbyshire. Est. 2005
10 WADWORTH OCTOBERZEST 4.0% ABV
Wadworth Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 1885
11
COACH HOUSE WHIPLASH 4.1% ABV
Coach House Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1991
12
SHEPHERD NEAME WHITSTABLE BAY 4.1% ABV
hepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698
13 WELLS NAKED GOLD 4.1% ABV
Wells & Young’s Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 2006
14
BUTCOMBE RARE BREED 4.2% ABV
Butcombe Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1978
15
COTLEIGH COMMANDO HOOFING IPA 4.2% ABV
Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1979
16
DOUBLE MAXIM ANDERSONS BEST SCOTCH 4.2% ABV
Double Maxim Brewery, County Durham. Est. 2007
17
TRING PUDDING PORTER 4.2% ABV
Tring Brewery, Hertfordshire. Est. 1992
18
ROOSTER’S LAST STAND 4.3% ABV
Rooster’s Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1993
19
VALE LONG DARK NIGHTS 4.3% ABV
Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1995
20 WOODFORDE’S KETT’S REBELLION 4.3% ABV
Woodforde’s Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1980
21
OAKLEAF 10 LITTLE ACORNS 4.4% ABV
Oakleaf Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 2000
22 WHARFEBANK TREACLE TOFFEE STOUT 4.4% ABV
WharfeBank Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2010
23
BOX STEAM PISTON BROKE 4.5% ABV
Box Steam Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 2004
24
MORDUE RED RYE RIWAKA 4.5% ABV
Mordue Brewery, Tyne and Wear. Est. 1995
25
OKELLS SAISON 4.5% ABV
Okells Brewery, Isle of Man. Est. 1850
26
STONE SAN DIEGO SESSION IPA 4.5% ABV
Stone Brewery, California, USA. Est. 1996
27
TITANIC FIT-OUT 4.5% ABV
Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985
28 WYCHWOOD GINGER BEARD 4.5% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
29
EVAN EVANS 1767 4.6% ABV
Evan Evans Brewery, Carmarthenshire. Est. 2004
30
HEREFORD WYVERN WARRIOR 4.6% ABV
Hereford Brewery, Hereford. Est. 2000
31
HILDEN TWISTED HOP 4.7% ABV
Hilden Brewery, County Antrim. Est. 1982
32
ST PETER’S GOLDEN ALE 4.7% ABV
St Peter’s Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1996
33
ADNAMS AMERICAN STYLE IPA 4.8% ABV
Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1872
34
BEND ECLIPSE CASCADIAN DARK ALE 4.8% ABV
Bend Brewery, Oregon, USA. Est. 1995
35
BREWSTER’S AMERICAN CHOPPER 4.8% ABV
Brewster’s Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1998
36
EXMOOR HART 4.8% ABV
Exmoor Ales, Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Est. 1980
37
BELHAVEN ST ANDREWS ALE 4.9% ABV
Belhaven Brewery, East Lothian. Est. 1719
38
FAT HEAD’S YAKIMA SUN 5.0% ABV
Fat Head’s Brewery, Ohio, USA. Est. 2007
39
MOORHOUSE’S PENDLE PORTER 5.0% ABV
Moorhouse’s Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1865
40
RCH FIREY LIZ 5.0% ABV
RCH Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1982
41
ST AUSTELL PROPER BLACK 5.0% ABV
St Austell Brewery, Cornwall. Est. 1851
42
THWAITES DANIEL’S HAMMER 5.0% ABV
Thwaites Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1807
43
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH ALES TAKING THE PITH 5.0% ABV
Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirlingshire. Est. 2005
44
HOOK NORTON FLAGSHIP ALE 5.3% ABV
Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1850
45
ODELL 90 SHILLING 5.3% ABV
Odell Brewery, Colorado, USA. Est. 1989
46 WHITE HORSE HORSE RUSTLER 5.4% ABV
White Horse Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 2004
47
BRAKSPEAR TRIPLE 5.7% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
48
BEARTOWN WOJTEK 5.8% ABV
Beartown Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1994
49
CALEDONIAN COSSACK IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT 6.0% ABV
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869
50
MORLAND OLD CRAFTY HEN 6.5% ABV
Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 179
Categories
Beer

Bunch of Grapes Bottled Beer Festival (October 14th – 16th)

Some interesting Belguim beers but nothing untested in the past at the Otley brewing flagship pub when they have a Bottle Beer Festival – no prices mind.

The current count is eighty-eight bottles! Due to be topped up with a few more of our favourites as we get closer to the festival.

American

Anchor Brewing – San Fransisco
Steam Beer – 4.8%
Liberty Ale – 5.9%
Porter – 5.6%

Brooklyn Brewery – NYC
Brown Ale – 5.6%
Black Chocolate Stout – 10.0%
East India Pale Ale – 6.8%

Flying Dog Brewery- Maryland
Doggie Style – 5.5%
Road Dog Porter – 6.0%
Raging Bitch – 8.3%
Tire Bite – 5.1%

Goose Island – Chicago
312 Urban Wheat – 4.4% (as served in the White House!)
Honkers Ale – 4.3%
India Pale Ale – 5.9%

Sierra Nevada
Pale Ale – 5.6%

Belgian

De Koninck – 5.0%
Duvel – 8.5%
Kwak – 8.4%
La Chouffe – 8.0%
Mc Chouffe – 8.0%
Houblon Chouffe – 9.0%
Vedett Blonde – 5.0%
Vedett White – 4.7%
Belgoo Magus – 6.6%
Van Honsebrouke Brigand – 9.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Blonde 7 – 7.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Brune 11 – 11.0%
Cantillion Geuze – 5.0%
Cantillon Kriek – 5.0%
Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus – 5.0%
Cuvee Des Trolls – 7.0%
Delirium Tremens – 8.5%
Duchesse de Bourgogne – 6.2%
Mongozo Coconut – 4.5%
Rochefort 8 – 9.2%
Rochefort 10 – 11.3%
Saison Silly – 5.0%
Brasserie Dubuisson Scaldis Ambre – 12.0%
Urthel Hop It – 9.5%

Abbey & Trappist

Chimay Red Cap – 7.0%
Chimay White Cap – 8.0%
Chimay Blue Cap – 9.0%
Karmeliet Tripel – 8.4%
La Trappe Blonde – 6.5%
La Trappe Tripel – 8.0%
Maredsous Blonde – 6.0%
Maredsous Brune – 8.0%
Maredsous Triple – 10.0%
Orval – 6.2%
Westmalle Dubbel – 7.0%
Westmalle Tripel – 9.5%

For the Full list go here.

Categories
Beer

British brewing in good health? 5,500 beers now in regular production

According to a press release from Camra.

Almost 100 new breweries have opened across the UK in the past year, with a “staggering” 5,500 beers now in regular production, a new report showed today.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said there were now 840 breweries following a surge in beer production.

Roger Protz, editor of Camra’s Good Beer Guide, said: “The choice and diversity of beer in Britain is staggering and, in reality, if one hardy soul was to attempt the challenge of sampling every beer produced in Britain, including seasonal offerings, you’re going to be looking at an estimated 25-year stretch.

“Such a range is exactly what discerning beer drinkers expect in the current climate, and in spite of economic difficulties and pub closures, Britain’s pioneering brewers are more than rising to the challenge.

“Never will anyone alive today have seen 5,500 regular beers produced on these shores at any one time.”

He added: “Areas such as Yorkshire are recording startling brewery growth, with over six times more brewers in the region than when the first Good Beer Guide was compiled in the 1970s. Not only are there an exploding number of breweries operating in Britain, but also the quality of real ale has never been better.

“Speciality brewers are using the finest raw materials – malt and hops -to make their ales. Britain is a great place to be drinking good beer.”

The Good Beer Guide included a league table of the most prolific brewing counties, topped by Yorkshire, with more than 600 regular beers brewed.

The top 10 is listed as:

County Number of beers in regular production Number of breweries
1.West Yorkshire 276 43
2.Derbyshire 248 33
3.Cumbria 220 29
4.Norfolk 217 29
5.North Yorkshire 216 33
6.Gtr Manchester 210 25
7.Staffordshire 182 19
8.Cheshire 170 26
9.Suffolk 168 21
10.Nottinghamshire 166 22
Categories
Blog

How about Iron Man Arc Reactor Tshirt or Love Two Hearts Dr Who Tshirts – I would buy a Moon Tshirt

Some great Tshirts from ThinkGeek that someone who is reaching his forty’s would love for a special day.

This may look like a standard t-shirt, but it’s actually the Iron Man Mark IX suit. This latest version is much lighter than all previous versions, featuring a flexible interior with knitted cotton exterior. Unlike the Extremis version, the movement with your body does not require you to inject carbon nanotubes into your brain. The chest-mounted uni-beam is powered by photons, which it collects and then disperses when the wearer enters a dark area. For all body parts covered by the Mark IX’s new form factor, the suit provides protection from adverse weather conditions, UV rays, and temperature extremes. It is designed for up to two days of use inside Earth’s atmosphere, although after the first 12 hours of use its effectiveness is reduced. After 24 hours, it begins to act as a repulsor.

They are also doing “I HEART HEART Dr. Who” Tshirts.

But more importantly my mate unklerupert who runs the manmademovies.co.uk blog is asking people if they would want merchandise from the great Moon film – Of course we would! – vote and as the Director Duncan Jones says

There’s a CHANCE we may finally get to sell Moon posters & Collectors toys.

Basically we need to show there are at least 500 fans out there who would buy a Gerty desktop toy or a collectors Sam piece.

So go and vote and comment and you could win a MOON promo T-Shirt.

Categories
Beer

Oktoberfest – City Arms – Cardiff – Friday 23rd September to Sunday 9th October 2011

OK they are not German but that's the spirit - photo from www.travelswithbeer.com
OK they are not German but that's the spirit photo from www.travelswithbeer.com

I love this time of the year (no not because it’s my birthday soon) it’s Oktoberfest and if you can’t make it over to Munich then lots of UK locals should be doing something.

One of my locals the City Arms in Cardiff is having one – and if it’s anything like their American festival will be great –  Iam looking forward to it.

OK they are not German but that's the spirit : photo from rob www.travelswithbeer.com

Summer turning into Autumn means only one thing at the City Arms….it’s nearly time for Oktoberfest!!

OKTOBERFEST AT THE CITY ARMS – Friday 23rd September to Sunday 9th October

Come and join us for an authentic Oktoberfest experience, we’ll have six German beers on draught and eighteen German bottled beers including four specially brewed Bavarian Oktoberfest beers.

There’ll be live music on the 23rd and 24th (that’s the first Friday and Saturday nights) and in case you miss that we’ll have the Bavarian bierkeller tunes blasting out across the two weeks.

Find out more on their Website

photo from Rob over at Travelswithbeer.

Categories
Beer

Chester just gets better & better when it comes to Beer : Kash Chester

I recently went to Chester again – for a Wedding – I was lucky that I had the day to myself on the Bank holiday Monday – so I decided to go to a few pubs.

The first one was after a recommendation from Ben from @pimpmydibber it was called Kash and it was brilliant.

Ben met up with me for a quick half I had not seen him for about 8/9years since he left Cardiff – so it was nice to catch up and talk beer and of course sheds.

It’s the brewery tap of Runcorn based Craft Brewery Blueball Brewery – I was chatting to the brewer Alex for a good hour and he loves his craft beer after spending many years in the USA.

Kash Chester - Blueball Brewery

They do a wide range of beers mostly served from Keg and the designs of the Clips are retro USA featuring starlets – they are a bit risque – but the beer is top class

The Spank was one of the best IPA I have had in while

Kash Chester Blueball Brewery SPank

slowly followed by their Blonde Bombshell

Kash Chester Blueball Brewery Blonde Bombshell

I also liked their sour Komrades Kolsch – but they are all a bit strong for session beers.

Kash Chester

I tried their smoked beer but it was too much – I think Rob would like it mind

Kash Chester Blueball Brewery The Smoker

The first recorded evidence of Beer was written by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia in 4000 BC. They called it “Kash”. We thought it fitting to name our Bar after this ancient word.

Our primary focus is Beer. We have a very personal and passionate interest in Beer and run our very own Mircrobrewery in Cheshire, Blueball Brewery

I did venture to a few other pubs that day – including the Spitting Feature Brewery Tap but I ended back at the Kash after I got lost after an afternoon of ale- higly recommened to any craft beer fan.

Other beers of the day

Titanic Plum Porter

Chester Beer - Titanic PLum Porter

Peerless IPA

Chester Beer - Peerless

Categories
Beer

Brewdog – Ghost Deer 28% blonde ale – I assume it’s a beer but too much taxidermy for my liking

via brewdog.com

Ghost Deer is a 28% fermented beer, the strongest ever fermented beer which is only ever served from a single handcrafted and authentic deer’s head

read more at their blog