547: Gower - Gower Power

The brewery: “The idea of starting a microbrewery had been discussed many times. We were already running two busy pubs in the Gower, so forming a microbrewery was the natural next step.The company was formed in September 2011. We acquired a 5 barrel brew plant in October and renovated our building. Walls, floor, ceiling... the lot. The brew plant was installed in November, with haste to try and hit our goal of brewing on the 11th of the 11th of the 11th!  We managed it. Our 1st brew (Brew1)  was completed at around 4pm on 11/11/11. Not a date we'll forget in a hurry.“

The beer: “Gower Power, like all of our ales, is brewed with traditional floor malted barley and packed full of a choice quality hops, to give a powerful Welsh example of a true British classic – Indian Pale Ale. At 5.5% abv you will certainly feel 'The Power'! Gower Power has a huge following, and we think that's it's fans are right to be so passionate about this beer. It's a cracker.

Packed a punch this one - a tad on the fruity side for me but by now we were well into our ‘research’ and it went down very well. 5.5% A.B.V. July 2018.

546: Gower - Gower Gold

The brewery: “The idea of starting a microbrewery had been discussed many times. We were already running two busy pubs in the Gower, so forming a microbrewery was the natural next step.The company was formed in September 2011. We acquired a 5 barrel brew plant in October and renovated our building. Walls, floor, ceiling... the lot. The brew plant was installed in November, with haste to try and hit our goal of brewing on the 11th of the 11th of the 11th!  We managed it. Our 1st brew (Brew1)  was completed at around 4pm on 11/11/11. Not a date we'll forget in a hurry.“

The beer: “Gower Gold is a thirst quenching golden ale. It has refreshing citrus flavours and the lovely aroma of the cascade hops. Brewed since December 2011, this beer has become an all round firm favourite. Gower Gold clocks in at 4.5% abv and is available all year round…….Gower Gold is perfect on any occasion, but we think it's extra special with Fish or a Curry..

Perfect for a warm summer’s night on a campsite which was where it was drank, in the company of friends. 4.5% A.B.V. July 2018.

545: Tomos Watkins - Cwrw Braf

The brewery: “Tomos Watkin first operated from a small brewery in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire and later opened a larger brewery in Swansea.  Tomos Watkin now brew a wide selection of beverages from their brewery in the Swansea Enterprise Park.  They have two distribution centres based in Fforestfach Industrial Estate, Swansea and Van Road, Caerphilly.”

The beer: “"koo-roo-bràrve"Cwrw Braf is a clean-drinking, amber-coloured ale with a light bitterness and gentle hop aroma.A session bitter yet, with all the flavours and quality you would expect from a Tomos Watkin premium ale.”

We were delighted to finally get to meet up with fellow caravanner Paul during our stay at the lovely Llwynifan Farm Caravan park near Llanelli. Paul arrived on site with an esky full of Welsh ales, none of which I’d had before. This was the first and overall my favourite. A good no nonsense bitter, I would have happily drunk this all night if there wasn’t so much other ‘research’ material to get through. 4.2% A.B.V. July 2018

544: Wychwood - Ripsaw

The brewery: “..tucked away behind the main street of the market town of Witney, in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Witney is historically famous for it’s three b’s; it’s bread, it’s blankets and it’s beer. Brewing has taken place in Witney for centuries.”

The beer: “Rich red beer using rye malt. The spicy hop aroma from Cascade and Topaz hops entice you in, while the distinctive caramelised flavours from the rye malt enhance the beer. “

Not on the Wychwood website so presumably a special  - probably for Aldi as that’s where I bought it. Not sure about the maple syrup twist but it was very refreshing for a red ale. 4.2% A.B.V. June 2018

543: Elgoods – Warrior

The Brewery: “The North Brink Brewery was built in 1795 and the brewhouse is a classic English Ale brewery and Elgood’s proudly carry on the brewing of their own beers for local and wider distribution across the UK. The process is carried out using equipment dating from 1910 to the present day, as a program of refurbishment of the brewery has been sympathetically carried out over the last few years.”

The Beer: “Warrior is a truly traditional style English Bitter Ale…..A blend of finest Pale Ale, Amber and Crystal malt is used for the fruity malty flavour and generous portions of English Hop varieties (Challenger, Goldings and Fuggles) give a well developed hop character.

Full bodied but without tasting ‘syrupy’ this deserves to be sipped rather than sloshed back to make the most of the flavour. I liked it. 5.5% A.B.V. June 2018

542: Hattie Brown’s – Kirrin Island

The Brewery: “Home of the most marvellous beers from the first brewery located in Swanage, Dorset in over 100 years.”

Hattie had nothing to say about this beer – on the website anyway, but this was much more to my taste than the Moonlite – darker and more of a traditional bitter. 4.5% A.B.V. June 2018.

541: Hattie Brown’s – Moonlite

The Brewery: “Home of the most marvellous beers from the first brewery located in Swanage, Dorset in over 100 years.”

The Beer: “The marvellous Moonlite….shining brightly throughout the night…”

Hattie is clearly a woman of few words it seems. Anyway, another ale from Dorset thanks to friends Sam & Andy. A very pale ale, quite hoppy that didn’t really hit the spot for me. Quite refreshing though if served colder I would think. 4.0% A.B.V. June 2018