– Welsh Week / Tuesday 17th January until Sunday 22nd January 2012
As you know we scour the UK looking for the best breweries but we feel as if we maybe haven’t paid enough attention to our Welsh brethren, our current stock of Gwynt Y Ddraig cider proves a popular choice, so maybe it’s time for more Welsh beer? In the past we have only had the pleasure of a short visit on our cask lines from South Wales brewery Otley. So we thought it was about time we introduced to you some of the best breweries our sister land has to offer. With a selection of well respected Welsh breweries we host a week of beer with traditional methods, valued ingredients and with a brewing history dated back to 700Bc we’re sure these are going to be spot on!
The Celt Experience
From Caerphilly, a brewery based on organic and traditional celtic brewing morals, combining old with new methods to create the most flavoursome and holistic beers. ‘A Unique Celtic Branding coupled with an exceptional quality liquid’, winners of Best Packaging at Cardiff Design Festival Awards 2009 and consistent winners of SIBA Wales and West. Naming their ales such as Bronze Ale and Golden Ale after Celtic historical periods, these are going to be winners!
Bragdy Conwy – Conwy Brewery
Established in 2003, Conwy brewery is a well-recognised brewery in the North of Wales. Situated just outside of Conwy castle walls, it is here where the name and iconic logo sprouted from, this is a brewery situated in one of the most beautiful and historic locations in Wales. With quality as a key factor, it pays off with many years experience of great produce. With an all year rounder and best-seller ‘Welsh Pride’ this brewery holds a strong Welsh identity close to their hearts.
Bragdy’r Gogarth – Great Orme Brewery
The Great Orme Brewery was established in November 2005 and is situated on a hillside in the Conwy Valley between Llandudno and Betws-y-Coed, with commanding views of the Conwy Estuary and the Great Orme, from which the brewery takes its name. With their beer adopting permanent homes in some of the finest bars and restaurants across Wales it is no secret that this brewery values quality in their beer. The company go by these three principles; to use natural ingredients and traditional brewing methods, to brew beers that locals are proud of and visitors will come back for and to be an honest and pleasant company to work with.
Bragdy Piws Miws – Purple Moose Brewery
Conceived in 1995, with a name derived from no other reason than a love for the colour purple and a furry moose, the brewery name had been thought up during a weekend carrying out voluntary work on the Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales. The company is based in the historic harbour town of Porthmadog, North Wales, close to the mountains of Snowdonia. Producing a selection of four different beers consistently all year round, as well as seasonal brews to celebrate Welsh history. We will be sampling their latest Cwrw Santes Dwynwen/ Saint Dwynwen’s Ale 4.1% a beer which has been conjured up ready for the 25th January to celebrate the Welsh Saint of love ‘Dydd Santes Dwynwen’/’Day of Saint Dwynwen’.
Iechyd Da!
Words by Alex Humphreys
– Meet The Brewer with Marble Brewery / Monday 23 January
£8 advance (tickets available from the bar or call 0161 237 9949)
Doors 5.30pm / Event runs 6.15pm – 8pm
Our first event of 2012 will see us welcome one of favourite local breweries, Marble. We will be joined by head brewer, James Campbell – sampling five of their best, along side some tasty local snacks.
Marble shouldn’t need much of an introduction around these parts, but for those unaware: “Marble Beers Ltd started brewing in 1997 in the rear of the Victorian Grade 2 listed Marble Arch pub in Manchester. The brewery produces a number of award winning regular beers and one off specials. In recent years Marbles beers have gained growing support from beer lovers nationwide who actively seek out their contemporary style, full flavoured beers.”
– New Years Eve at Port Street Beer House
Sick of fighting to get a table on New Years Eve? Always stuck for an idea how to spend ‘the most anticipated night of the year’? We may have the answer!
The upstairs saloon of Port Street Beer House will be available for table reservations on NYE. Tables will be booked out for a minimum of 4 people and bookings will be reserved with a £10 deposit per person. This deposit will be returned to you on the night in the form of a bar tab. For example, if you book a table for 4 people, you’ll need to leave £40 deposit but on the night you’ll have a £40 bar tab set up waiting for you.
We have a limited number of tables so put in a booking request and providing we can accommodate your group we’ll be in touch to arrange the deposit.
In addition to the table booking you can also pre book a special bottle or two for your group or a cheese board which will be brought to you at your table.
The downstairs bar at Port Street will be open as usual all night so you can choose whether to mingle around or hang out with your group upstairs. Service will be until 1am (ish).
NYE at PSBH / 4pm until 1am (ish)
– Table reservation / £10 per person (redeemable bar tab)
– Duvel magnum, large bottles and cheese boards for table reservations £TBC
Please email dunk@aplacecalledcommon.co.uk with your name, contact number and how many people you would like to book for.
We will get back to ASAP with a booking form.
PS. We won’t be having fireworks – sorry!
– Photos / Meet The Brewer with Magic Rock
Here are some photos from out last Meet The Brewer of 2011 – many thanks to all at Magic Rock, we had a wonderful evening of fine ales and pork pies.
We will return in February 2012 with more Meet The Brewer events – cheers to everyone who has made it down this year!
