Beer in Wales

The SA Brain Brewery in Cardiff: the largest brewery in Wales

Welsh beer is beer brewed in Wales.

History

At least as early as the 6th century, the Druidic legendary person Ceridwen is associated with cauldrons and intoxicating preparations of grain in herbs in many poems of Taliesin, particularly the Hanes Taliesin. This preparation, Gwîn a Bragawd, is said to have brought "science, inspiration and immortality".[1]

The Welsh Triads attribute the introduction of brewing grains barley and wheat to Coll, and name Llonion in Pembrokeshire as the source of the best barley, while Maes Gwenith in Gwent produces superior wheat and bees.[2]

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 852 records a distinction between "fine ale" and Welsh ale, also called bragawd.[3] Bragawd, also called braggot, is somewhat between mead and what we today think of as ale. Saxon-period Welsh ale was a heady, strong beverage, made with spices such as cinnamon, ginger and clove as well as herbs and honey. Bragawd was often prepared in monasteries, with Tintern Abbey and the Friary of Carmarthen producing the beverage until Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1536.[4]

In the Laws of Hywel Dda, meanwhile, a distinction is drawn between bragawd and cwrwf, with bragawd being worth twice as much. Bragawd in this context is a fermented drink based on cwrwf to which honey, sweet wort, and ginger have been added.

Welsh beer is noted as a distinct style as late as 1854, with a recipe made solely from pale malt and hops described in a recipe book of the time.[5]

Wales, along with the rest of Britain, came under the influence of the temperance movement, along with a burgeoning Welsh moral code based on presbyterian and other non-conformist beliefs in relation to alcohol. This rested against a background of places where there has historically been a lot of heavy industry such as coal mining in south Wales and the north east. This has given some people the impression that all Welsh beers have been very weak. However, as with beers all over Britain, alcohol percentages vary.

Wrexham was one of the first places in the UK to brew lager.[6] Homesick German immigrant brothers from Saxony started the process in 1882. Its demise came in 2000, when the site of Wrexham Lager was sold and subsequently demolished. Investment by the Welsh Development Agency has helped establish a large number of breweries in Wales in recent years.

In the 1930s, Felinfoel Brewery was the first brewery outside the US to sell beer in cans.[7]

Welsh local historian Deiniol ap Dafydd claims Arthur Guinness used a Welsh recipe from Llanfairfechan near Bangor for his stout[8]

In 2012 CAMRA correctly predicted that 'The number of microbreweries in Wales is set to carry on rising as the pub industry deals with continued closures'.[9]

Tiny Rebel Brewery won CAMRA's 2015 Supreme Champion Beer of Britain for its Cwtch Welsh Red Ale[10]

List of Welsh breweries

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Brewers in Wales
Brewery Town County Wikipedia Web page FB Since
Artisan Brewery [11] Cardiff South Glamorgan Artisan Artisan 2008
Axiom Brewing Company Wrexham Clwyd Axiom 2014
Big Bog Brewing Company Waunfawr Gwynedd Big Bog Big Bog 2011
Big Hand Brewing [12] Wrexham Clwyd Big Hand Big Hand 2013
Bluestone Brewing[13] [11] Newport Pembrokeshire Bluestone Bluestone 2013
Borough Brewery Neath West Glamorgan Borough Borough 2014
Boss Brewing Swansea West Glamorgan Boss Boss 2015
Bragdy Lleu Penygroes Gwynedd Bragdy Lleu Bragdy Lleu 2007
Bragdy Nant Brewery Llanrwst Clwyd Bragdy Nant Bragdy Nant Bragdy Nant 2007
Brain's [11] Cardiff South Glamorgan Brains Brewery Brain's Brain's 1882
Brecon Brewing Brecon Powys Brecon Brecon 2011
Breconshire Brewery Brecon Powys Breconshire Brewery Breconshire Breconshire 2002
Bryncelyn Brewery Ystalyfera West Glamorgan Bryncelyn Brewery Bryncelyn 1999
Bullmastiff Brewery Cardiff South Glamorgan Bullmastiff 1987
Buzzard Brewery Llandyrnog Clwyd Buzzard Buzzard 2012
Cader Ales
(Cwrw Cader) [14]		 Dolgellau Gwynedd Cader Cader 2013
Caffle Brewery Narberth Dyfed Caffle Caffle 2013
Castles Brewery Portskewett Gwent Castles Castles 2013
Celt Experience[15] Caerphilly Gwent Celt Celt 2007
Cerddin Brewery Maesteg Mid Glamorgan Cerddin Cerddin 2010
Coles Family Brewery Llanddarog Carmarthenshire Coles Family 1999
Conwy Brewery [11] Llysfaen Clwyd Conwy Conwy 2003
Crafty Devil [11] Cardiff South Glamorgan Crafty Devil Crafty 2014
Cwm Rhondda Ales Treorchy Mid Glamorgan Cwm Rhondda Cwm 2015
Cwrw Iâl Community Brewing Company [11] Eryrys Clwyd Cwrw Iâl Cwrw Iâl 2013
Cwrw Llŷn Pwllheli Gwynedd Cwrw Llŷn Cwrw Llŷn 2011
Cych Valley Ales Abercych Pembrokeshire Cych Valley 2012
Denbigh Brewery
(Bragdy Dinbych)		 Denbigh Clwyd Denbigh 2012
Erddig Brewery Wrexham Clwyd Erddig 2014
Evan Evans Brewery [11] Llandeilo Dyfed Evan Evans Evan 2004
Facer’s Flintshire Brewery Flint Mountain
(Mynydd y Fflint)		 Clwyd Facers 2006
Felinfoel Brewery Felinfoel Dyfed Felinfoel Felinfoel 1878
The Friends Arms Brewery[16] Johnstown, Carmarthenshire Dyfed Friends 2011
Geipel Brewing [11] Gellioedd Denbighshire Geipel Geipel 2013
Glamorgan Brewing [14] Llantrisant Mid Glamorgan Glamorgan Brewing Glamorgan 1994
Gwynant Brewery Aberystwyth Dyfed Gwynant 2004
Gower Brewery [12] [17] [11] Oldwalls Swansea Gower Gower 2011
Great Orme Brewery [11] Llandudno Clwyd Great Orme Great 2009
Grey Trees Brewery Aberaman Mid Glamorgan Grey Trees Gret 2011
Gwaun Valley Brewery Fishguard Dyfed Gwaun Valley Gwaun 2009
Hafod Brewing Company Mold Clwyd Hafod Hafod 2012
Handmade Beer Company [11] Capel Dewi Dyfed Handmade Handmade 2013
Heart of Wales Brewery Llanwrtyd Wells Powys Heart of Wales Heart 2007
Heavy Industry Brewing [12] Henllan Denbighshire Heavy Industry Heavy 2012
Hopcraft - Pixie Spring Brewing Pontyclun Mid Glamorgan Hopcraft Hopcraft 2013
Hurns Brewing Co. Swansea Glamorgan Hurns Brewing Company Hurns 2002
Jacobi Brewery of Caio Pumsaint Carmarthenshire Jacobi Jacobi 2007
Kingstone Brewery [11] Tintern Gwent Kingstone Kingstone 2006
Llangollen Brewery Llangollen Denbighshire Llangollen Llangollen 2010
McGivern Ales Ruabon Clwyd McGivern 2009
Monty’s Brewery [14] [11] Montgomery Powys Monty’s Monty's 2009
Mountain Hare Brewery [11] Pencoed Mid Glamorgan Mountain Hare Mountain 2013
Mumbles Brewery [11] Swansea Glamorgan Mumbles Mumbles 2013
Neath Ales [11] Neath West Glamorgan Neath Neath 2010
Otley Brewing Company [14] [11] Pontypridd Mid Glamorgan Otley Brewing Company Limited Otley Otley 2005
Pen-lon Cottage Brewery [11] New Quay Ceredigion Pen-lon Pen-lon 2004
Plassey Brewery Eyton Clwyd Plassey Plassey 1985
Preseli Brewery [18] Tenby Dyfed Preseli 2010
Purple Moose Brewery [14] [11] Porthmadog Gwynedd Purple Moose Purple 2005
Radnorshire Ales [11] New Radnor Powys Radnorshire Radnorshire 2012
Redstone Brewery [19] Llangors Powys Redstone 2013
Rotters Brewery [11] Talgarth Powys Rotters 2010
Rhymney Brewery [11] Blaenavon Gwent Rhymney Rhymney 2005
Sandstone Brewery Wrexham Clwyd Sandstone Sandstone 2009
Seren Brewing Rosebush Pembrokeshire Seren Seren 2013
Snowdonia Brewery
(Bragdy Eryri) [11]		 Waunfawr Gwynedd Snowdonia Snowdonia 2004
Surfing Monkey Brewery Cardiff South Glamorgan Surfing Monkey Surfing 2015
Swansea Brewery [11] Swansea Glamorganshire Swansea 1996
Tiny Rebel Brewery [10] [11] Newport Gwent Tiny Rebel Tiny 2012
Tomos & Lilford Brewery [11] Llantwit Major South Glamorgan Tomos & Lilford Tomos 2014
Tomos Watkin
(Trade name of Hurns Brewery)		 Swansea West Glamorgan Hurns Brewing Company Tomos Watkin Tomos 1996
Tudor Brewery [11] Llanhilleth Blaenau Gwent Tudor Tudor 2007
Untapped Brewing Company [12] [11] Raglan Monmouthshire Untapped Untapped 2009
Vale of Glamorgan Brewery [11] Barry South Glamorgan VOG VOG 2005
Violet Cottage Brewery [11] Cardiff South Glamorgan Violet Cottage 2012
Waen Brewery [12] [11] Llanidloes Powys Waen Waen 2009
Warcop Ales [11] Wentlooge Newport Warcop 1999
Wild Horse Brewing Llandudno Clwyd Wild Horse Wild 2015
Wrexham Lager Wrexham Clwyd Wrexham Lager Wrexham Lager Wrexham 2009
Zerodegrees Cardiff South Glamorgan Zerodegrees Zerodegrees 2008

See also

References

  1. ↑ Edward Davies (1809). The Mythology and Rites of the British Druids, Ascertained by National Documents. J. Booth. pp. 217–220.
  2. ↑ Red Book of Hergest 56, Peniarth MS 54 23
  3. ↑ "that Wulfred should give the land of Sleaford to Meohamsted, and should send each year into the monastery sixty loads of wood, twelve loads of coal, six loads of peat, two tuns full of fine ale, two neats' carcases, six hundred loaves, and ten kilderkins of Welsh ale; one horse also each year, and thirty shillings, and one night's entertainment."
  4. ↑ Brian Glover (2007). Brains: 125 Years. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-85983-606-4.
  5. ↑ Arnold James Cooley (1854). A Cyclopaedia of Six Thousand Practical Receipts, and Collateral Information. pp. 44–45.
  6. ↑ Brewers & Boozers Tour on Wrexham County Borough Council's website
  7. ↑ "Felinfoel Brewery beer can". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Cook, Jonathan (2000-03-12). "Wales claims Guinness as its invention". The Guardian (London).
  9. ↑ "Microbreweries 'the way forward' after 11 open in year". BBC.
  10. 1 2 "Champion Beer of Britain".
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "24 cracking Welsh breweries whose beer you should sample as soon as you can". Wales online. 11 September 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "SIBA Wales & West Region Beer Competition 2015".
  13. ↑ "Micro brewery wins business award". Pembrokeshire Herald. 16 June 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Do you know your real ale from your craft beer?". BBC. 28 Aug 2015.
  15. ↑ "The Welsh brewery selling 1m bottles of beer". Telegraph.
  16. ↑ "The Friends Arms".
  17. ↑ "20 new jobs as Gower Brewery gets bigger". southwales-eveningpost.
  18. ↑ "Tenby Ales".
  19. ↑ "redstonebrewery".

External links

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