World Beer Review: Wales

[Iz Man]

The British Ilses throughout are known for a long history of brewing fine ales, and Wales is a fine example.

Brains IPA
Origin: South Wales
Style: India Pale Ale
Alcohol: 4.5% ABV

Brains principle beers are known for their maltiness, but its IPA has a hoppy fragrance. It has a lightly malty background flavor, with lots of hops in the finish.


Crown Buckley Brown Ale
Origin: South Wales
Style: Brown Ale
Alcohol: 3.4% ABV

The Crown Brewery of Pontyclun, South Wales, merged in 1989 with Buckley's, near the town of Llanelli.
This brown ale is of the traditional sweetish, low alcohol style rather than the paler, stronger, drier type found in the northeast of England. It is nutty and toasty, with a balancing hop dryness.......I couldn't find a pic of this one so I figured this one would work

[unriggable]

This is as much a world beer review as the world series are in baseball

[Iz Man]

This is as much a world beer review as the world series are in baseball

[2dimes]

He doesn't realise it's a series of threads one section at a time.

[2dimes]

I worded that poorly, meant one country at a time.

[Iz Man]

I worded that poorly, meant one country at a time.

Ah, well I guess that makes sense of his statement.
I thought originally of perhaps keeping this one thread and just changing the title; but I figured it would be better this way.

By the way, any Welshmen out there that could contribute? I'd love to hear from them.

[2dimes]

Bump

[AlgyTaylor]

Brains' make a wide range of very, very nice beers.

- Brains Smooth
- Brains Bitter
- Brains Dark
- Brains SA
- SA Gold
- Rev James

Don't have time to go through all of them right now - I will try if nobody else does. Rev James is the stuff of legend, though ... it's only about 4.5%, but I challenge anyone to drink 4 pints of it and not be completely and utterly monged.

Six Bells Brewery (Bishop's Castle)
- Big Nev's ... proper real ale, about 3.8%. Pale, slightly hop-y. As far as I know it's only sold locally, which is a great shame because it's lovely.

[Iz Man]

Brains' make a wide range of very, very nice beers.

- Brains Smooth
- Brains Bitter
- Brains Dark
- Brains SA
- SA Gold
- Rev James

Don't have time to go through all of them right now - I will try if nobody else does. Rev James is the stuff of legend, though ... it's only about 4.5%, but I challenge anyone to drink 4 pints of it and not be completely and utterly monged.

Six Bells Brewery (Bishop's Castle)
- Big Nev's ... proper real ale, about 3.8%. Pale, slightly hop-y. As far as I know it's only sold locally, which is a great shame because it's lovely.

I checked out their website. The "Brew 101" and "Old Recumbent" look to be quite tasty. Ever tried them?

[gethine]

The Crown Brewery of Pontyclun, South Wales, merged in 1989 with Buckley's, near the town of Llanelli.

There is now no brewery in pontyclun - it was demolished and turned into a housing estate.
I'm Welsh but drink German and Belgian lagers mostly, so i am completely unable to add anything to this thread!

[Iz Man]

I just acquired the ingredients to brew my next batch:
A Welsh ale (recipe circa late 1700's). A semi-strong Old Ale coming in at ~7% ABV.
In this one I'll be adding some Black Treacle.

Also, shameless excuse to bump....

[jonesthecurl]

South Wales also has the Felinfoel Brewery - I'm not sure where it is exactly but the pubs seem to be condentrated in the Area between Swansea and Caermarthen.

A tasty beer which I've not sampled for about three years. They claim to export to the US, but I've never seen any here.
It's a proper hand-drawn beer, or at least there's a draft (as opposed to keg) version.