Welsh breweries on the increase as the nation’s pubs continue to close
By: JimOldfield
September 27th, 2012
The Welsh thirst for cask ale brewing shows no sign of slaking as 11 new micro-breweries open in Wales in just one year.
There are now 52 micro-breweries in the country – a 27 per cent rise on last year.
However, recent figures show Welsh pubs are still among those closing at a rate of 12 per week across the UK – although six of the new Welsh brewhouses opened up in pubs.
A recent report highlighted that 375 Welsh pubs had closed between 2007-10.
CAMRA’s Director for Wales, Ian Saunders, said: “The interest in real ale is there and people are also very mindful of purchasing local products.”
He said that despite a decline in general alcohol sales, the percentage of real ale sold was increasing.
He attributed this partly to Welsh loyalty for buying local produce, adding that when he first moved to Wales, many people he know drank no real ale at all.
The 11 new breweries are:
Gower Brewery Co Ltd, the Greyhound Inn, Oldwalls
Grey Trees Brewery, Red Cow Inn, Llwydcoed
Violet Cottage Brewery, Gwaelod y Garth Inn, Gwaelod-y-Garth
Tiny Rebel Brewery, Newport
Tudor Brewery, Abergavenny
Llangorse Brewery, Red Lion, Llangorse
Denbigh Brewery, Hope & Anchor Inn, Denbigh
Hafod Brewing Co Ltd, Gwernaffield
Big Bog Brewing Co, Waunfawr
Cwrw Llyn, Nefyn
Friends Arms Brewery, Carmarthen
Hand-Pumped link:
Wales CAMRA
