It’s been a while since it was used as a tram shed and is now up for sale – but it would make a brilliant permanent location for art (or maybe a craft brewery!)

It’s open as part of the City Wide Cardiff International Festival of Photography aka Diffusion (1-31 May 2013)

But I went for the photos! - Especially the retrospective  of Welsh Valleys photos from the likes of David Hurn

Opening The Rhondda Fair, 1975 © David Hurn

and Philip Jones Griffiths

Boy Destroying Piano, 1961 © Philip Jones Griffiths

But to be honest I loved the tram shed (no not because it’s a shed)  the best – as a lot of the original signs and fitting where still there when the exhibition is over at the end of the month – they should do a exhibition of the tram shed!

Tramshed

Clare Road (entrance on Pendyris Street)
Grangetown
Cardiff
CF11 6QP

Starter: The Streets of Mumbai
Aloo Tikki – potato cake served on a bed of spiced chickpeas | Bombay Chat – pop-in-the mouth semolina pastry snack filled with yoghurt and homemade chutney, topped with gram flour vermicelli | Tangy puffed rice salad with tamarind chutney

everyone I have spoken to said that the Bombay Chat is amazing – it was very good – but alas I made the mistake of taking a bite and not eating it whole – so had a beard covered in yogurt (not for the first time;)) – personally I thought the Tangy puffed rice – was the best of the three – just a great texture.

Main: Nawabi Chicken
A dish from the Moghul emperors, chicken supreme marinated with creamy cheese, a touch of cardamom and mace finished in the tandoor. Accompanied by a boneless bhuna chicken thigh served with makhani sauce and mint sorbet

Iam a big fan of curry but thought I would go for something less sloppy – I love cardamom and the chicken had a delicate flavour of it but not overpowering – the bhuna chicken thigh was very good as well – sometimes you forget that the lesser cuts sometimes can be best – the thing that surprised me was the salad (yes I eat a salad) – it just worked so well with the other flavours and the texture helped with the softness of the chicken – then that was followed hit of something hot in the mint sorbet was a great end to the main.

Desserts: Deux Crème Brûlée
Side-by-side presentation of green tea and a rose petal Crème Brûlée

Friends who have been visited have told me I need to go for the Chocomosa Anand – but I have a quest to try every interpretation of Crème Brûlée on the planet and I was not disappointed – the rose petal one was the best I have tasted in a long long time – unfortunately it overwhelmed the green tea one – next time I may try that one first.

Anyway for anyone in Cardiff who has not visit the Purple Poppadom (there can’t be many people now) then I would go now – I will be going again very soon.

The full menu is here

‘Thinking Drinkers’ Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham are the first winners of Brains ‘Ultimate Collaboration Beer Challenge’, after a judging panel deemed Boilermaker – a Welsh whisky infused beer – to be the best of seven IPAs.

Earlier in the year the Welsh brewer invited beer writers and bloggers to collaborate with them to develop and brew their ultimate IPA in Brains’ craft brewery. Alongside Ben and Tom, guest brewers were Simon Martin, Martyn Cornell, Tim Hampson, Melissa Cole and Marverine Cole.

While Brains handed guest brewers an IPA brief, they were free to come up with their own interpretation, and beers ranged from traditional, to American-style, to tropical.

Seven beers, including one from Brains’ head brewer, were independently blind judged at an event last week. Boilermaker, a 6.5% ABV IPA, came top with the judges, who identified a balanced but complex beer with an appetising bitter finish.

Ben and Tom said: “We wanted to brew something that reflected the Welsh surroundings of our brew, so we decided to create a whisky IPA. This saw us combine the Brains brewing expertise with whisky barrels selected from the Penderyn Whisky Distillery.

“Blending beer with spirits also doubled up as a reflection of the Thinking Drinkers expertise in beer, cocktail and spirits. Indeed the name comes from the serve of whisky with your ale. Judges loved the balance so if you’re not sure about whisky in your beer, rest assured it has a very delicate influence.”

Bill Dobson, Head Brewer at Brains, said: “The craft brewery has given us the opportunity to bring in guest brewers – which we have never before been able to do. It’s great to be able to draw on their knowledge and creativity to come up with a one-off beer.

“The collaboration beer challenge has been such a success that we’ll be making it an annual event. Next up, the ‘Ultimate Continental Beer Challenge’”.

My favourite Cardiff Pub The City Arms is also having a Stout and Porter Festival this week – some good beers on the list but of course Bullmastiff Welsh Black is the winner with me

I have only been to the park twice – and only once saw a massive fight – so hopefully the pub has mellowed over the years and the beer drinkers of Barry will appreciate quality Ale.

So good luck to Chris and the team there – but we hope to see him back at the City Arms very soon.

My mate Wakey was on the ground on opening night which looked busy and said there was a good atmosphere and great to see some proper ale at his local for a change.

A touch of the City Arms comes to the Park in Basra. Big thumbs up from me. Best of luck to Chris the landlord twitter.com/aaah_wakey/sta…

— Paul Wakefield (@aaah_wakey) November 4, 2012

will any of the City Arms regulars be making the trip down?

The ones Iam going to chase

LIBERATION ROUGE 4.5% ABV
MORDUE LUBELSKI 4.5% ABV
BATH HEFEWEIZEN HARE 4.7% ABV
TITANIC GOLDEN PORTER 4.7% AB
WADWORTH BLUNDERBUSS 5.0% ABV
FERAL AUSTRALIAN IPA 5.5% AB
STEENBRUGGE BLOND 6.0% ABV
JW LEES MOONRAKER 6.5% ABV

Visit their for more info – but here is the beer list

1. AVERY 3 POINT 5 SESSION ALE 3.5% ABV
Avery Brewery, Colorado, USA. Est. 1993
Adam Avery and Steve Breezley have travelled to Adnams Brewery, in Suffolk, which is hosting an international
brewer for us for the first time, to collaborate in brewing this beer specially for this Wetherspoon real-ale
festival. Although brewed at a session-beer strength, this beer is hopped like a true IPA, including dry-hopping
in the cask, creating a pine-like and citrus aroma and a full-on hop character throughout the flavour and finish.
Hops used: Amarillo, Centennial, Simcoe
Beer style: bitter

2. BANKS’S HOWLING WOLF 3.8% ABV
Banks’s Brewery, West Midlands. Est. 1890
This deliciously dark mild is brewed with a blend of pale, crystal and black malts and roasted barley,
resulting in rich smoky aromas and complex malt flavours, balanced with a pleasing citrus bite
in the finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Northdown, Progress
Beer style: mild

3. COACH HOUSE GUNPOWDER MILD 3.8% ABV
Coach House Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1991
This very dark beer, the winner of an impressive number of awards, has a full, rich flavour,
with plenty of dark malt character and a pleasing, slightly bitter finish.
Hops used: Pilgrim
Beer style: mild

4. SHEPHERD NEAME RED SAILS 3.9% ABV
Shepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698
This new beer, brewed especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, is named after the sailing
barges which were used in the Swale, Medway and Thames estuaries. It is a full-bodied, fruity ale with a
moderate bitterness, hopped at three stages of its brewing process to deliver a thirst-quenching flavour
and a stunning aroma and palate.
Hops used: Cascade, Styrian G 3 oldings, Tettnang
Beer style: bitter

5. CAMBRIDGE BREWING HEATHER ALE 4.0% ABV
Cambridge Brewery, Massachusetts, USA. Est. 1989
Will Meyers has travelled to Wadworth Brewery, in Wiltshire, to collaborate in brewing this unusual beer specially for
this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. This deep-golden-coloured ale, inspired by the ancient gruit beers of the British Isles
and northern Europe, contains Scottish heather fl owers and other traditional brewing herbs, offering subtle notes of
fruity spiciness and wildfl ower honey, complemented by the interplay of the hops and the toasty-sweet British malt.
Hops used: Fuggles
Beer style: speciality

6. HARVIESTOUN WILD HOP GOLD 4.0% ABV
Harviestoun Brewery, Clackmannanshire. Est. 1985
This wildly aromatic and refreshing golden ale has citrus and spicy aromas from the Citra and Simcoe
hops, perfectly balancing the underlying background of earthy English hop flavours.
Hops used: Challenger, Citra, Simcoe
Beer style: golden ale

7. HOOK NORTON COTSWOLD LION 4.0% ABV
Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1850
This mid-coloured beer is brewed with a blend of four malt and four hop varieties,
resulting in a wonderful aroma of dark fruit and a perfectly balanced, fresh and fruity flavour.
Hops used: Bramling Cross, Cascade, Fuggles, Goldings
Beer style: best bitter

8. TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH ALES SILVER MIST 4.0% ABV
Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirlingshire. Est. 2005
This light and smooth ale has an enticing golden appearance and creamy head, with a rich, fruity aroma,
resulting in a well-rounded finish and refreshing full hop aftertaste.
Hops used: Centennial, Nugget, Pilgrim, Willamette
Beer style: best bitter

9. TRING SQUADRON SCRAMBLE 4.0% ABV
Tring Brewery, Hertfordshire. Est. 1992
Brewed to commemorate the Battle of Britain, this ale is characterised by a debonair
medium-light colour and daredevil maltiness, complementing a courageous hop aroma
imparted by the Mount Hood hops.
Hops used: Mount Hood, Progress
Beer style: best bitter

10. BIRRA DEL BORGO TUTTO FA BRODO 4.2% ABV
Birra del Borgo Brewery, Italy. Est. 2005
Leonardo de Vincenzo brewed at Everards Brewery, in Leicestershire. This pale ale is brewed with
bergamot peel, orange peel, dried pineapple, dried rose and dried raisin. The fruity character and
balance of spice, hops and bitterness give an intense and rich flavour.
Hops used: Cascade, Simcoe
Beer style: speciality

11. BUTCOMBE RARE BREED 4.2% ABV
Butcombe Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1978
This beer is pale amber in colour and brewed with the fi nest West Country ingredients,
creating a refreshing and clean-tasting ale, packed full of delicious hoppy and citrus characteristics.
Hops used: Challenger, Chinook, First Gold
Beer style: best bitter

12. CALEDONIAN DEVIL’S ADVOCATE 4.2% ABV
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869
This deep, dark cask lager has a soft, elegant hop aroma, with subtle fruit in the initial flavour, leading
to clean, bittersweet notes of dark malt, chocolate, coffee and vanilla, along with a pleasing, dry finish.
Hops used: Hallertau Hersbrücker, Tettnang
Beer style: speciality

13. EXMOOR FOX 4.2% ABV
Exmoor Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1980
This cunningly crafted beer contains a slight, initial maltiness, followed by a burst of hops,
leading to a lingering bittersweet finish.
Hops used: Goldings, Progress
Beer style: best bitter

14. THEAKSTON DOUBLE CROSS IPA 4.2% ABV
Theakston Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1827
This full-bodied, satisfying golden pale beer is brewed in the style of the original export ale,
using English hops married to traditional malts, giving a clean and fresh-tasting flavour.
Hops used: Goldings
Beer style: golden ale

15. EVAN EVANS FULL CRY 4.3% ABV
Evan Evans Brewery, Carmarthenshire. Est. 2004
This rich amber-coloured seasonal brew has a distinctive full-bodied and rich flavour,
with both malt and fruit emerging on the palate, complemented by a spicy hop aroma.
Hops used: Progress, Styrian Goldings
Beer style: best bitter

16. ISHII BREWING MINAGOF PALE ALE 4.3% ABV
Ishii Brewery, Guam. Est. 2010
Toshi Ishii is probably our most popular visiting international brewer, originally from Japan and now based
in Guam. This is his fourth visit to brew for us since 2008, this time returning to Marston’s Brewery, in
Staffordshire, to collaborate on a version of his fl agship ale. This beer is copper in colour, with a moderate
maltiness and residual sweetness, counterbalanced by the citrus and floral character of the hops.
Hops used: Ahtanum, Warrior
Beer style: best bitter

17. ROOSTER’S FRANKLIN 4.3% ABV
Rooster’s Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1993
This beer, specially brewed for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, is a celebration of the modernstyle
pale ale, pioneered by Rooster’s founding brewer, Sean Franklin, with aromas of citrus fruits and
grapefruit giving way to a quaffable level of bitterness.
Hops used: Cascade, Chinook
Beer style: golden ale

18. THWAITES CRAFTY DEVIL 4.3% ABV
Thwaites Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1807
This seasonal ale has a reddish hue in its colour and aromas of spice, coffee and malt,
leading to a delicious, rich malty flavour, balanced by the devilish late-hop character.
Hops used: Bramling Cross, 4 Challenger, Goldings
Beer style: best bitter

19. VALE HOPOCALYPSE VALE 4.3% ABV
Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1996
This is an epic ale, brewed by those who love the smell of the mash in the morning! It is a goldencoloured
best bitter, with a crisp citrus and grapefruit aroma, leading to a full-bodied bitterness and
clean, crisp finish.
Hops used: Chinook, Northdown
Beer style: best bitter

20. WOODFORDE’S NORFOLK HAWKER 4.3% ABV
Woodforde’s Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1980
This new copper-coloured beer has been brewed especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival
and is a well-balanced bitter, with an inviting aroma of tropical fruit and a complex palate of rich fruit,
malt and spice.
Hops used: Goldings, Kohatu, Savinjski Goldings
Beer style: best bitter

21. BATEMANS COMBINED HARVEST 4.4% ABV
Batemans Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1874
This beer contains a unique, multigrain blend of malted barley, oats, wheat and rye,
creating a light-coloured, refreshing beer with a dry-sweet character, plus hints of citrus.
Hops used: Challenger
Beer style: best bitter

22. COTLEIGH KOOKABURRA 4.4% ABV
Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1979
For this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, this is a special brew of this occasional seasonal beer.
It is an amber-coloured bitter with a characteristic bitterness from the Australian hops used,
imparting a delicate, lemony aroma and a full flavour, with hints of spice.
Hops used: Pride of Ringwood
Beer style: best bitter

23. WELTONS AUTUMN SHADES 4.4% ABV
Weltons Brewery, West Sussex. Est. 1995
This distinctive seasonal beer is a beautiful burnished gold colour, with an impressive, full aroma,
followed by a flavour dominated by a citrus hop character and a peppery background.
Hops used: Magnum, Zeus
Beer style: best bitter

24. ADNAMS FISHERMAN 4.5% ABV
Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1872
This beer has been brewed again, after a few years’ break, especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale
festival. It is a deep coppery red colour, with a flavour which, although clean and refreshing, conjures up
roasted nuts and dark chocolate, with a lingering taste of liquorice and dark fruits.
Hops used: Boadicea
Beer style: best bitter

25. EVERARDS TERRA FIRMA 4.5% ABV
Everards Brewery, Leicestershire. Est. 1849
This occasionally brewed beer has been brought back especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival
and is dark amber in colour, with ruby tones, a subtle, roasted character and distinctive toffee notes,
balanced by a fresh, floral bitterness.
Hops used: Tettnang
Beer style: best bitter

26. LIBERATION ROUGE 4.5% ABV
Liberation Brewery, Channel Islands. Est. 1871
This refreshing autumn ale is a deep ruby colour with a slightly citric aroma, leading to a nutty,
bitter flavour and resulting in a unique, robust and well-balanced beer.
Hops used: Nelson Sauvin, Summit
Beer style: best bitter

27. MORDUE LUBELSKI 4.5% ABV
Mordue Brewery, Tyne and Wear. Est. 1995
This blond ale has been brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival and showcases
perfectly the characteristics of the Lubelski hops used, giving a floral aroma and a spicy, peppery flavour,
leading to a long, dry finish.
Hops used: Hersbrücker, Lubelski, Marynka
Beer style: best bitter

28. RHYMNEY IRON BREW 4.5% ABV
Rhymney Brewery, Merthyr Tydfi l. Est. 2004
This full-bodied, premium bitter is a deep brown colour, with its pleasing, fruity aroma and rich,
malty flavour excellently balanced by a smooth citrus character in the finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Goldings
Beer style: best bitter

29. MOORHOUSE’S RUBY WITCH 4.6% ABV
Moorhouse’s Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1865
This dark ruby-coloured beer has an inviting hop aroma which leads to a full-bodied flavour,
with subtle roast notes and hints of spice and tangerine.
Hops used: Cascade
Beer style: strong ale

30. B & T SHEFFORD ARAGON 4.7% ABV
B & T Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1981
This distinctive, golden-coloured seasonal brew has a strong, floral hop aroma and a well-balanced
flavour, imparting a delightful fruitiness on the tongue and leading to a long, lingering, bittersweet finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
Beer style: strong ale

31. BATH HEFEWEIZEN HARE 4.7% ABV
Bath Ales, Bristol. Est. 1995
This beer was first brewed exclusively for the autumn 2009 Wetherspoon real-ale festival.
Through customers’ feedback, it makes its return in the more authentic, naturally hazy form.
Brewed with an imported yeast strain, this is a citrusy beer, with malted wheat flavours
and hints of banana and spice.
Hops used: Saaz
Beer style: speciality

32. MAXIM DOUBLE MAXIM 4.7% ABV
Maxim Brewery, County Durham. Est. 2007
This beer was first brewed in 1901 and is the oldest-surviving example of a traditional northeastern
brown ale. The full, welcoming aroma leads to a good balance of ripe grain and spicy hops in the flavour,
resulting in a long, bittersweet finish.
Hops used: Goldings
Beer style: strong ale

33. ST PETER’S FRUIT BEER 4.7% ABV
St Peter’s Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1996
This golden-coloured wheat beer is brewed using zesty-pithy grapefruit which works
in perfect harmony with the hops and malt used, resulting in a floral nose, refreshing flavour
and a fruity character emerging in the finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings
Beer style: speciality

34. TITANIC GOLDEN PORTER 4.7% ABV
Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985
This special brew, for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, is something a little different: a beer using
the ingredients designed to create the characteristics of a traditional porter, yet light in colour.
The result is a golden beer, with a robust sweetness balanced by swathes of American hops,
giving a smooth and powerful flavour, with a crisp finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Northdown, Yakima Galena
Beer style: strong ale

35. BOX STEAM GHOST TRAIN 4.8% ABV
Box Steam Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 2004
This full-bodied premium bitter is deep brown in colour, with an inviting fruity aroma
and plenty of malt characteristics in the flavour, fi nely balanced by a smooth citrus finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Goldings
Beer style: strong ale

36. BREWSTER’S ANDROMEDA 4.8% ABV
Brewster’s Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1998
This beer, golden in colour, has been brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival.
It has tropical fruit floral aromas, leading to a light malt flavour, with balancing hop notes and a rich,
zesty finish.
Hops used: Galaxy, Stellar
Beer style: strong ale

37. MANSFIELD OLD BAILY 4.8% ABV
Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834
This beer’s production ceased in April 2000, but was brought back especially for our autumn real-ale festival in 2008,
at which it enjoyed great success, so we thought it about time that it was brewed for us again. Re-created to the original
recipe, at Marston’s Brewery, exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, this rich brown beer has a robust,
yet highly drinkable, character with a gentle bitterness which interweaves with a biscuity malt flavour and fruit notes.
Hops used: Admiral, Challenger, Fuggles
Beer style: strong ale

38. WHITE HORSE WAR HORSE 4.9% ABV
White Horse Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 2004
This special brew of this beer, for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, commemorates these noble
animals. It is a strong, robust, dark beer, with full, malty, caramel flavours and a toffee aftertaste,
giving a sweet finish on the palate.
Hops used: Jade, Pacific
Beer style: strong bitter

39. OAKLEAF LIBERTY BOAT 5.0% ABV
Oakleaf Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 2000
This smooth, golden-coloured ale, brewed especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival,
has hints of berry on the nose, leading to a spicy berry flavour which culminates in a lingering bitterness.
Hops used: Marynka, Pilgrim
Beer style: strong bitter

40. OKELLS STEAM BEER 5.0% ABV
Okells Brewery, Isle of Man. Est. 1850
This deep golden beer has an aroma with hints of citrus, herbs and resin, leading to an initial taste of
spice, sherbet and lemon and resulting in a full-bodied flavour, with an initial sweetness and a spicy,
bitter finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Northern Brewer
Beer style: strong bitter

41. TREE BREWING THIRSTY BEAVER 5.0% ABV
Tree Brewery, British Columbia, Canada. Est. 1996
Dave Goekiert has travelled to Caledonian Brewery, in Edinburgh, to collaborate in re-creating this beer especially
for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. We consider this very apt, as beavers have recently been reintroduced
to Scotland. This amber-coloured beer has a slightly sweet malt aroma, leading to a distinct malt character,
with caramel and nut undertones in the flavour, resulting in a beer with a clean finish and bursting with flavour.
Hops used: Cascade, Palisade, Perle
Beer style: strong bitter

42. WADWORTH BLUNDERBUSS 5.0% ABV
Wadworth Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 1885
This rich, ruby autumn ale is bursting with red berries and spices from the rye crystal and elderberries
used, resulting in a full body which rolls gently to a crisp, decisive finish from the late addition of
Cascade hops.
Hops used: Bramling Cross, Cascade, Fuggles
Beer style: strong bitter

43. GREENE KING IPA RESERVE 5.4% ABV
Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799
This warming, full-bodied ale has a reassuringly rich appearance, with grapefruit and citrus notes
combining with the floral and herbal hop characteristics to deliver a dry, bitter finish.
Hops used: Styrian Goldings
Beer style: strong bitter

44. FERAL AUSTRALIAN IPA 5.5% ABV
Feral Brewery, Perth, Australia. Est. 2002
After his impressive début at our 2011 spring real-ale festival, Brendan Varis, from Feral (Australia’s reigning
champion brewery), has returned to brew another beer for us, this time collaborating with Banks’s Brewery,
in the West Midlands. This impressive IPA is brimming with recently released Australian-grown-and-bred hop
varieties, providing an intense tropical fruit aroma and flavours of pineapple, mango and passion fruit.
Hops used: Galaxy, Stella, Topaz
Beer style: strong bitter

45. ŠVYTURYS BALTIJOS RED ALE 5.5% ABV
Švyturys Brewery, Lithuania. Est. 1784
Dzuljeta Armoniene has travelled to Shepherd Neame Brewery, in Kent, to collaborate in re-creating
this beer especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. This red-coloured beer has an aroma which
strikes a good balance of caramel, malt and hops, while the flavour is full bodied, with notes of toast,
malt and sweetness, balanced by a subtle, low-hop bitterness.
Hops used: Magnum
Beer style: porter

46. BROUWERIJ’T IJ IJBOK 6.0% ABV
Brouwerij’t IJ, Holland. Est. 1985
Patrick Hendrikse and Bart Obertop have travelled to Batemans Brewery, in Lincolnshire, to
collaborate in brewing this beer especially for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. This ruby-coloured
‘bock bier’ contains highlights of maltiness and a touch of roast in the flavour, while the German hops
combine to provide a smooth bitterness.
Hops used: Hallertauer Tradition, 4 Northern Brewer
Beer style: bock

47. STEENBRUGGE BLOND 6.0% ABV
Brouwerij Palm, Belgium. Est. 1747
This is an imported, lower-strength, cask version of the authentic Belgian abbey ale, brewed on behalf
of St Peter’s Abbey, in memory of its founder St Arnold, the patron saint of brewers. The beer’s full
and slightly smoky yeast aroma leads to a highly distinctive, spicy flavour, created by the use of ‘gruut’
– a mixture of spices typical of the nearby city of Bruges.
Hops used: Magnum
Beer style: speciality

48. STEENBRUGGE DUBBEL BRUIN 6.0% ABV
Brouwerij Palm, Belgium. Est. 1747
This beer, the second from this brewery to feature in this Wetherspoon real-ale festival,
is also a cask version of an authentic Belgian abbey ale. Also brewed using ‘gruut’, providing
the subtle, spicy accent, this beer has a fruity, yeasty aroma and a pronounced, malty flavour,
with hints of cinnamon.
Hops used: Goldings, Target
Beer style: speciality

49. FREEMINER DEEP SHAFT 6.2% ABV
Freeminer Brewery, Gloucestershire. Est. 1992
Owing to rave reviews, after being featured in the spring 2011 Wetherspoon real-ale festival, we have
commissioned another special brew of this classic stout. This is as big as a stout can be, brewed with
more black malt than is sensible and huge amounts of hops, resulting in a dry, roast malt flavour and
full-on oats, finishing with burnt toast and floral hop notes.
Hops used: Fuggles
Beer style: stout

50. JW LEES MOONRAKER 6.5% ABV
JW Lees Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1828
This classic, strong bitter was first brewed in 1950 and has recently had its strength decreased
to a more drinkable, yet still potent, level. This is a reddish-dark-brown beer with a strong,
fruity aroma and powerful, rich, sweet flavour.
Hops used: Goldings, Styrian
Beer style: strong bitter

Ciders:

51. SANDFORD ORCHARDS STRAWBERRY LANE 4.0% ABV
Ripe red strawberries are juiced and blended with aged cask cider and a healthy squeeze of fresh lime.
Delicate, sweet and naturally pink in colour, this cider is blessed with all of the charms of summer
and a pleasing citrus kick.

52. WESTONS TWIST MULLED CIDER 4.0% ABV
A festive, spicy blend of full-bodied Herefordshire cider, matured in oak vats and blended
with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and citrus.

53. WESTONS TWIST RASPBERRY 4.0% ABV
A delicious fusion of refreshing cider, with a twist of raspberry juice.
This light, fresh and fruity sensation will delight the taste buds and quench the thirst.

54. WESTONS COUNTRY PERRY 4.5% ABV
This Herefordshire perry is fermented and matured in oak vats to develop an exquisite,
delicate, light and fruity character. It’s softly floral, with a clear, natural pale straw colour.

55. MR WHITEHEAD’S FESTIVAL SPECIAL PERRY 6.0% ABV
This natural perry ‘pear cider’ is made with a blend of dessert and perry pears. It has a pleasant fruity
aroma, a subtle, but full-bodied, medium taste, a good strength and a light straw colour.

56. THATCHERS TRADITIONAL 6.0% ABV
This is a mellow, naturally hazy, smooth, refreshing, well-balanced medium cider,
produced from a blend of English bittersweet apples.

57. WESTONS TRADITIONAL SCRUMPY 6.0% ABV
A hearty and wholesome cloudy still cider, this is matured in old oak vats. Satisfyingly robust,
with a hint of sweetness, it enjoys the mature flavour of traditional bittersweet apples.

58. GWYNT Y DDRAIG DOG DANCER 6.5% ABV
Produced from bittersweet cider apples, blended with a true sharp cider apple, this is a light straw
colour, with medium, dry, smooth, crisp and slightly sharp characteristics.

59. GWYNT Y DDRAIG BLACK DRAGON 7.2% ABV
This award-winning Welsh medium-dry cider, from Glamorgan, is matured in oak barrels
to produce a rich colour, body and flavour – with a fresh, fruity aroma.

60. WESTONS OLD ROSIE 7.3% ABV
This still cider is allowed to settle out naturally, after fermentation, resulting in a truly old-fashioned,
full-flavoured, cloudy scrumpy cider, with a well-balanced, medium-dry character and hints of citrus
and spicy cloves.

But Otley brewery have brought their milkshake to the yard as Kelis once said no not about milk stout – their silly Odessa – which has waited in quiet in the  Penderyn Whisky casks for the last 18months has stormed the Great Welsh beer and cider festival- Iam not saving it could be Welsh beer of the year but it could be Welsh beer of the year!

Otley Odessa

It;s his fault - Nick Otley

This year I hoped it was not just about strengh as there are so many new pretenders to the flavour throne – Tiny rebal, Pixie Spring and even Welsh beer stalwarts Brains with their craft beer collection.

But again the ponty brewery has shaken things up with their 9.7 ale which is full of flavour the chocolate and ginger afertaste brings you out of the alcoholic stupor,  but has the Welsh brewery gone into the level of overly strong beers to prove a point, maybe? but it does taste so good

My brewery of the festival is Tiny Rebal

They stood out not just because the take the brew dog approach to their adertising but can actually deliver on every beer even though they are from Newport! - they were pride of place at the entrance to the GWBCF – where as in the past it was the likes of Otley, Brains with the marketing money clout .

But Tiny rebel have definitely delivered – even if they use a gadget like their hop rocket that looks like it was build in their shed (ok that has not changed my view) but it did add something to their Fubar

Tiny rebel Hop rocket

Their other ales went down a storm with the chaps I was with – and I personally liked the Dirty Stop Out.

of course this is all ho ha – the main reason for my day in the CIA as it was (the Motor pint arena) – was to make up the numbers in the cider judging- you know it’s serious when beer writers writer and Cider convert Peter Brown is on the other team.

Cider

But I could lie to say the cider was up to their with the quality of the ale – but alas the batch we had to judge only had one stand out cider (and as of time of writing I no idea what it was) – maybe it’s an issue getting ale fans to judge the mighty apple.

the thing that made me smile was the gang from the Goat Major pub on their staff day trip – I left them just as they were getting on the strong beers – so Cardiff look out.

Goat major gang

so if you are going to the largest pub in Wales over the next 2 days – you will have a great time.

As tomorrow is the start to one of the highlights on the Welsh brewing and drinking calender Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival- I thought I would look at the ales that always seem to end my afternoon on the Friday at the festival – the ones over 6% ABV – but after my recent trip to Bruges I think I could handle a few of these earlier (ok maybe in thirds)

Some really strong ales this year , with Otley Brewing shouting the loudest with a shed storming Odessa 9.7 with Heart of Wales High as a Kite 9.5 coming in close – it’s left to two other Otley Beers to follow, the now classic Otley O8 8 and Otley Motley Brew 7.5

The new boys on the block from Newport Tiny Rebel have a very respectablel Hadouken IPA 7.4 then the Ponty boys are back in the race with their lovely Porter - Otley O6 Porter 6.6   but the dark horses are back again, with Cardiff brewery Brains showing off their Strong Ale 6.5 after a great entry last year.

So if you are going for the the strong ales – remember to take your time – and don’t get over excited like me – it’s all about pacing yourself

Here is the full list as nicked from http://www.gwbcf.org.uk/content/festival/beers but in ABV order

a great atmosphere and when you enter you think just a small bar – but it goes on behind lavs – as well.

another great tourist bar is 2Be Bar – you go for the Wall of Beer – but stay for the cool atmosphere and great beer on tap.

if you are ever in Bruges then the de halve maan brewery is worth a trip – it’s cheap and you get a free (non filtered) beer at the end – the guide was very knowledgeable and the views from the roof looking over the city are great (on a clear day)

of course it was all not beer..

They also had the festival “basilica of the holy blood” which was a procession through the town for hours – including at least 8 Jesus, donkeys, camels, lots of sheep a great bell organ and lots of kids with odd tanned faces.

We also visited the Commonwealth War Graves at Tyne Cot – which made me feel numb – looking at the endless graves from the first war – we just don’t realise what they went through.

My grandfather was a lorry driver during the 2nd world war in this area of Belgium but he was one of the lucky ones to return – but so many did not

Bruges is well worth a trip – if you like beer and chocolate then you are onto a winner

Hope to see you there – I will be the bloke with the I love sheds tshirt on – I have a few so not wearing the same one each day

anyway here is Provisional List of Breweries and beers

I was looking forward to my first pint of Bullmastiff Welsh Black since last year – but it’s not on but the Brains Strong Ale was nice last time and Saltire Triple Chocoholic is a festival fav, and great to see a full range of newport’s Tiny Rebel beers – as only tried two so far.

Abbeydale Absolution 5.3
Abbeydale Moonshine 4.3
Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8
Acorn Gorlovka Imperial Stout 6.0
Acorn IPA 5.0
Big Bog
Brains All at Sea 5.2
Brains British Summer 4.1
Brains Dark 3.5
Brains SA 4.2
Brains SA Gold 4.7
Brains Strong Ale 6.5
Brains Barry Island IPA 6.0
Brains Jack Black 4.3
Brains Organ Morgan 4.0
Brecon Beacons to the sea 4.1
Brecon Bright Beacons 4.5
Brecon Bronze Beacons 3.9
Brecon Diamond Beacons 4.3
Brecon Genesis 1.ii The Prophet’s Porter 5.6
Brecon Gold Beacons 4.2
Brecon Twilight Brecon 4.0
Brecon Wandering Beacons 5.0
Breconshire Ramblers Ruin 5.0
Bryncelyn Buddy Marvellous 4.0
Bryncelyn Holly Hop
Bryncelyn Oh Boy 4.5
Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch
Bullmastiff Welsh Red
Celt Experience Bleddyn 5.6
Celt Experience Bronze
Celt Experience Golden 4.2
Celt Experience Native Storm 4.4
Celt Experience Silures 4.6
Cerddin Cascade 4.8
Conwy Beechcomber Blonde 4.2
Conwy Cwrw Mel 4.5
Copper Dragon Black Gold 3.7
Copper Dragon Challenger 4.0
Copper Dragon Golden Pippin 3.9
Elland 1872 Porter 6.5
Elland Bargee 3.8
Elland Nettlethrasher 4.4
Facer’s Clwyd Gold
Facer’s Dave’s Hoppy Beer 4.3
Facer’s Landslide 4.9
Felinfoel Double Dragon 4.2
Gloucester Dockside Dark 5.2
Gloucester Gloucester Gold 3.9
Gloucester Mariner 4.2
Gower Gold 4.5
Great Orme Celtica 4.5
Great Orme Welsh Black 4.0
Grey Trees Rechabites Bitter 4.0
Heart of Wales Aur Cymru
Heart of Wales High as a Kite
Heart of Wales Irfon Valley 3.6
Heart of Wales Welsh Black 4.4
Ilkley Best 4.0
Ilkley Black 3.7
Ilkley Mary Jane 3.5
Jacobi Light Ale 3.8
Jacobi Red Squirrel 4.0
Kelham Island Kelham Best 3.8
Kelham Island Pale Rider 5.2
Kelham Island Riders on the Storm 4.5
Kingstone 1503 4.8
Kingstone Stout 4.4
Kite Cwrw Haf 4.1
Kite Gold Wing 4.2
Kite Thunderbird 4.5
Kite
Kite
Leeds Leeds Best 4.3
Leeds Midnight Bell 4.8
Leeds Yorkshire Gold 4.2
Llangollen Grange No1 3.2
Monty’s Midnight Stout 4.0
Monty’s Mischief 5.0
Monty’s Sunshine 4.2
Nant Mwnci Nell 5.5
Neath Black 5.5
Neath Gold 5.0
Ossett Silver King 4.3
Ossett Yorkshire Blond 3.9
Otley Croeso 4.2
Otley Motley Brew 7.5
Otley O Garden 4.8
Otley O1 4.0
Otley O3 Boss 4.4
Otley O4 Columbo 4.1
Otley O5 Gold 5.0
Otley O6 Porter 6.6
Otley O7 Weissen 5.0
Otley O8 8.0
Otley Oxymoron Black IPA 5.5
Otley Thai Bo 4.6
Pixie Spring
Plassey Mild 4.2
Preseli Baggywrinkle 4.5
Purple Moose Dark Side of the Moose 4.6
Purple Moose Glaslyn 4.2
Purple Moose Snowdonia 3.6
RCH East St Cream 5.0
RCH PG Steam 3.9
RCH Pitchfork 4.2
Rhymney Export 5.0
Rhymney Gold
Rhymney Hobby Horse 3.8
Rudgate Battleaxe 4.2
Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4
Rudgate Viking 3.8
Saltire Raspberry Blond 4.0
Saltire Triple Chocoholic 4.8
Sandstone Edge
Snowdonia
Swansea Deep Slade Dark 4.0
Timothy Taylor Dark Mild 3.5
Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3
Tiny Rebel Cwtch 4.6
Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out 5.0
Tiny Rebel Doc Brown 3.8
Tiny Rebel Fubar 4.4
Tiny Rebel Full Nelson 4.8
Tiny Rebel Hadouken IPA 7.4
Tiny Rebel Urban IPA 5.5
Tomos Watkin Brewery Bitter 4.0
Tomos Watkin Chwarae Teg 4.1
Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf 4.2
Tomos Watkin OSB 4.5
Tomos Watkin
VoG Cwrw Dewi
VoG Wheats Occurrin 5.0
Waen Blackberry Stout 3.8
Waen Chilli Plum Porter 6.1
Waen First of the Summer Waen 3.9
Wentworth Bumble Beer 4.3
Wentworth Oatmeal Stout 4.8
Wentworth Rampant Gryphon 6.2
Wye Valley DG Lager
Wye Valley DG Stout 4.2
Wye Valley HPA 4.0
York Centurion’s Ghost 5.4
York Guzzler 3.6
York Yorkshire Terrier 4.2
Zero Degrees Mango 4.5
Zero Degrees Pilsner 4.8