SPRING/SUMMER 2015
FREE
Cwrw Ceredigion
NEWSLETTER OF BAE CEREDIGION CAMRA
We’re back!
Welcome to the second edition of the newsletter
produced by the Bae Ceredigion branch of the Campaign
for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Our first issue was well received by real ale fans and
publicans, and we got praise from CAMRA headquarters
for it, too. We’re delighted that local landlords have
supported us by taking an advert in this issue. Without
advertising income we couldn’t publish Cwrw Ceredigion,
so many thanks to them. Please read the adverts and
visit one (or more!) of these great pubs.
Nationally, CAMRA has a record number of members,
some of whom attended a recent regional conference in
Newport where progress on the organisation’s four key
campaigns was reviewed:
1. Stop tax killing beer and pubs. After massive
CAMRA lobbying, reductions in beer duty were
secured in the Budget in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
2. Secure an effective government support
package for pubs. CAMRA lobbying has secured
reform to the business practices of the big
pub companies and a fair deal for licensees.
However, planning loopholes remain and the
Assets of Community Value system, which allows
communities in England to protect their local,
has not been adopted by the Welsh Government.
3. Encourage people to try a greater range of
beers and ciders. CAMRA is championing beer
styles such as mild and stout, and promoting real
cider and perry.
4. Encourage more people to visit pubs. CAMRA’s
free pub guide www.whatpub.com gives details
of every pub in the country.
If you are not a CAMRA member, we hope Cwrw
Ceredigion encourages you to join – find out how
overleaf.
If you are, why not come to our branch AGM on 6th June
at The Druid, Goginan? You’re welcome to contribute
as much or as little as you wish to branch business, and
meetings are also a great chance to socialise and enjoy a
beer in a local pub.
Our next issue will be out in the autumn but keep up with
news from the local real ale scene via our Facebook and
Twitter accounts (search for Bae Ceredigion CAMRA).
Iechyd da!
Mary Galliers, Editor
O.N. Am nad oes llawer o le gennym, cyhoeddiad cyfrwng
Saesneg fydd hwn, ond mae croeso i chi gyfathrebu gyda
ni yn y Gymraeg.
Good times for cider
With the apple blossom on the trees and the new
season’s produce just coming on stream, what better
time could there be to enjoy a glass of flavoursome real
cider or perry?
Cider is also always on sale in the Ship and Castle (Gwynt
y Ddraig), Yr Hen Orsaf (a changing range) and the
Glengower Hotel (Gwynt y Ddraig) in Aberystwyth and in
the Sea Horse Inn (Westons) in New Quay.
Just like good beer, good cider is undergoing a revival,
too. Here in Wales there are around 50 cider and perry
producers and more pubs are stocking the real stuff.
Further afield, the Welsh Perry and Cider Festival runs
from 22 to 25 May at Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire.
This event is a great showcase for the breadth, diversity
and quality of Welsh cider and perry.
In Ceredigion, Y Talbot in Tregaron offers a regularly
changing range of cider from Welsh producer Gwynt y
Ddraig, and often a perry, too. In recognition of the pub’s
efforts to promote real cider, Y Talbot has been named
Bae Ceredigion CAMRA’s Cider Pub of the Year 2015.
Talbot is our pub of
the year 2015
Wherever you enjoy a glass of refreshing real cider or
perry, remember that, unlike the industrial imitations,
real cider and perry grows on trees!
Five pubs were assessed by local CAMRA judges
before Y Talbot in Tregaron was declared as Bae
Ceredigion CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2015.
The quality of the beer and real cider is the most
important factor in judging for a CAMRA award. Y
Talbot always offers a beer from Cardigan-based
Mantle Brewery along with two other real ales,
often from Welsh breweries, and three real ciders.
Chairman of Bae Ceredigion CAMRA Rhys Jones
said, “Y Talbot is a worthy winner. It offers a warm
welcome and an excellent pint.”
Recently renovated, Y Talbot scored highly in the
“atmosphere” category thanks to its cosy lounge
bar, beamed ceilings and open fires. Judges also
noted the service and welcome - many staff are
local and speak Welsh, as do many of the regulars.
Nationally, CAMRA promotes the pub as the hub of
the community and the noticeboard at Y Talbot is
always packed with local news.
“Y Talbot was up against some stiff competition,”
added Rhys. “We are fortunate to have so many
good pubs in this area.”
The runners-up were the Glengower Hotel,
Aberystwyth; the Ship and Castle, Aberystwyth; the
Victoria, Borth; and the White Lion, Talybont.
I love my local
Bae Ceredigion CAMRA member, Llinos Griffith from
Machynlleth, tells us why she loves the White Horse,
her local pub in Machynlleth.
Brewery’s Glaslyn is often on and there’s a real cider
or perry in summer when Machynlleth is popular with
visitors. Dave is a keen real ale fan himself and he
consults the regulars about which beers to order. He
likes to get different types of beer – a porter or a mild, for
example – and the walls are decorated with pump clips
of beers that have been on the bar.
Where’s your favourite place in the pub to enjoy a
drink?
I love sitting in the lounge bar where there’s a real fire.
In the summer, we enjoy sitting out in the sunny beer
garden.
Does the pub serve food?
Yes, they are well-known for their Sunday lunches - it’s
best to book as they are so popular.
Does the pub hold any regular events or activities?
What’s the pub’s history?
The present building is only a hundred years old as it
was rebuilt after a fire in the early 1900s.There are some
photos of the former building hanging in the bar.
Tell us about the landlord
Dave Philpott has run the White Horse for nearly 30
years. He is a chef and used to work for a local hotel
before he decided he’d rather be running his own pub.
What real ales and ciders have been on the bar
recently?
There are always two real ales on offer. Purple Moose
They do like to throw a party for the Eurovision Song
Contest. Dave and his team dress up – one year he was
a very convincing Engelbert Humperdinck! We watch the
contest on the TV and Dave does food on the theme of
the host country.
What are the regulars like?
Well, it’s very busy with farmers over the weekend and
you hear a lot of Welsh - with a bit of colourful AngloSaxon thrown in! There is always a local character or two
in there but visitors are made very welcome, too.
Tipple tattle
The Ship and Castle, Aberystwyth is well-known for
miles around as a flagship for good beer. Pictured below
is landlord Ian Blair (right) with Bae Ceredigion CAMRA
Chairman Rhys Jones at the presentation of a special
certificate to mark the pub’s ten consecutive entries in
CAMRA’s national Good Beer Guide.
Sum up in one sentence why our readers should visit
your local.
The White Horse is a pub with a friendly atmosphere, a
cosy fire and great beer.
Love ale? Join CAMRA! Cader Ales goes from
CAMRA is an independent voluntary consumer
strength to strength
organisation whose main aims are promoting real ale, real
cider and the traditional British pub. Most of its activities
from running beer festivals to producing newsletters are
undertaken by members on a voluntary basis.
Cardigan-based Mantle Brewery has launched a new
beer. Infused with British and East European hops,
DIS-MANTLE is a deep amber 5.8% ABV ale. It is available
in bottles and in the occasional cask.
Membership benefits include a
monthly newspaper, quarterly
magazine, free or discounted entry
to beer festivals, money-off deals in
pubs and much more.
Join online at www.camra.org.uk
(or scan the QR code), telephone 01727 867201 or pick
up a CAMRA leaflet in a local pub.
About Cwrw Ceredigion
Cwrw Ceredigion is produced by the Bae Ceredigion
branch of CAMRA. Our aim is to promote the best places
to drink real ale and cider locally and the growing number
of breweries and cider makers in West Wales.
We try to ensure that information is correct when we go
to press. If we get something wrong, let us know and we’ll
print a correction. Please note that opinions expressed
in Cwrw Ceredigion are not necessarily those of CAMRA
either locally or nationally.
We rely on income from advertising to fund production
costs. Advertising space is limited and is sold on a first
come, first served basis. We can design your advert,
free of charge, or you may supply your own artwork. To
reserve a space in the next issue, contact Liz Cookson on
[email protected]
Contact us
Website: www.baeceredigion.camra.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CeredigionCamra
Twitter: @CeredigionCAMRA
Email: [email protected]
© Bae Ceredigion CAMRA
If you feel you have been treated unfairly in a local pub, contact your local
trading standards department via www.tradingstandardswales.org.uk.
Cader Ales Brewery has operated in Dolgellau with
commercial size equipment for 18 months. Five cask
ales are brewed on a regular basis by Stephen and Jane
Warner (pictured above) with Cader Gold and Red Bandit
proving particularly popular.
Several pubs in the Bae Ceredigion area serve the
brewery’s beer including the White Lion, Machynlleth,
the Black Lion, Talybont and, in Aberystwyth, the
Glengower Hotel and the Ship and Castle. It is also sold
further afield via distributors and is available in bottles,
which are suitable for vegetarians.
“We are mindful of the need to produce beers that
will appeal to a variety of tastes as well as to the local
market,” said Stephen. “We undertake a number of trial
brews and our most recent production, Mawddach Pale,
was brewed with New World hops and Kaffir lime leaves.”
Future plans include renovating the Unicorn in Dolgellau
and reopening it as a brewery tap with an onsite mini
micro-brewery.
“The excellent support we have received locally and our
success at getting new beers into the market have both
had a positive effect on the business’s development,”
added Stephen. “We listened to local drinkers and
visitors to our area before developing our beers and we
are still listening - feedback is always welcome.”
Please pass me onto a fellow real
ale fan or leave me where you
found me for others to read
Penlon Cottage’s new brewhouse, a former milking
parlour on a farm near New Quay, is now producing the
brewery’s range of 10 bottle-conditioned beers. New
owners, John and Lisa Howarth, have plans for a cask beer
and a small brewery shop. Bae Ceredigion members will
be visiting the brewery on 13 June, together with several
local pubs. This will be our second brewery visit this
year as we enjoyed a tour of Waen Brewery in Llanidloes
in February.
A few snippets of news about the local real ale scene:
• The Rhos yr Hafod, Cross Inn is under new
ownership but remains popular with local real
ale fans. Two ales are on offer, one from Evan
Evans and a regularly changing guest.
• Felinfoel pub the Royal Oak, Aberaeron recently
reopened with new tenants.
• Varsity, Aberystwyth has been renovated and
reverted to its original name, the White Horse.
Three real ales are on offer.
• The Glengower Hotel, Aberystwyth is holding a
beer festival from 22 to 25 May with at least 16
real ales and some Welsh ciders.
• Aberaeron Yacht Club is holding their third beer
festival on 8 August
• Lampeter Food Festival takes place in the
university grounds on 25 July. Several West
Wales breweries and cider makers are due to
attend.
Printed by Sprint at Cambrian Printers
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Customer Name
Alice Thompson
Project Title
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