WALES ALES
No St David’s Day celebration is complete without a Welsh beer to toast the nation’s patron saint, so here’s how to quench your thirst on March 1st. Reviews of Welsh brews courtesy of Neil at Wales Ales.
ARCADIAN – BARA BRITH 4.3% abv
Out of the capital comes this fine brown ale from new girls on the block Arcadian. Bara Brith is a malt-forward brown ale at a very sessionable 4.3%. An uncommon style which seems to have gone out of favour but is having a bit of a resurgence, this is a well-balanced and complex beer, dark brown and lightly hopped with a nice malt profile. There’s dark malt and raisin on the nose with a rich breaded taste, reminiscent of a classic bara brith.
GLAMORGAN – WELSH CAKE STOUT 4.8%
Glamorgan has obtained a fine reputation on the back of some stunning lighter beers like the award-winning Jemima’s Pitchfork. However, for Glamorgan to produce a stout is quite a departure. Inspired by one of their favourite treats, they decided to experiment by adding a mix of oats and raisins to a brew. The result is a rich, dark, and easy-drinking stout: think of this as a lighter Guinness, but with a Welsh twist.
BANG-ON – DAI (330ml) 5.5% abv
Officially released for St David’s Day, this lightly carbonated pale ale is packed to the brim with quality ingredients. A concoction of fruity flavours, you’ll pick up tastes of pineapple, orange and lemon, but also a ginger and cinnamon spiciness on the aftertaste. So, whether you are a David, Dave, Dafydd, Dewi or Dai, then this is the beer for you!
For more info: www.walesales.com
