Bryncelyn Brewery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bryncelyn Brewery
Bryncelyn
Bryncelyn Oh Boy pumpclip
Location Ystalyfera, Wales, UK
Owner(s) Will & Sandra Hopton
Year opened July 1999
Annual production Approximately 200 brewer's barrels per year at capacity
Active beers
Buddy Marvellous Mild ale
Oh Boy Best bitter
Holly Hop Golden ale
Seasonal beers
Peggy's Brew Golden ale
Buddy's Delight Bitter
Cwrw Celyn Stout
CHH Best bitter
Rave On Irish red ale
Buddy Confusing ESB
Feb 59 Bitter
May B Baby Mild ale
That'll Be The Sleigh Winter ale

Bryncelyn Brewery is a small brewery located in the Wern Fawr Inn, a pub located near Ystalyfera, West Glamorgan in Wales. Brewing was begun in July 1999, and the brewers are Will Hopton and Robert Scott.[1]

While Bryncelyn's overall production is quite small, producing only three quarters of a UK brewer's barrel of beer at a time, Bryncelyn's ales have been consistent and frequent winners of awards at beer festivals since the brewery's inception.

Contents

[edit] Beers

The first beer produced was Buddy's Delight; this was done in nine-gallon (one-firkin) batches. The brewery then expanded to 27-gallon batches and began producing five beers in 2000[2]; by 2002, this had further expanded to one barrel and as of 2006 twelve recipes are brewed, with brewing taking place up to four times a week.

Bryncelyn's three regular beers are Oh Boy, a bitter; Buddy Marvellous, a strong mild ale; and Holly Hop, a golden ale. A further nine beers are produced on an occasional or seasonal basis. The Good Beer Guide describes Oh Boy as:

An enticing hop and fruit aroma, a golden color and a taste full of hops and fruit. Good bitterness and underlying malt add to the flavor, with a long, hoppily-bitter finish.[3]

Bryncelyn's beers are usually available only at the Wern Fawr Inn, but can be purchased for take-away in polypins and frequently appear at beer festivals in Wales.[4]

[edit] Buddy Holly

The names of Bryncelyn's beers all feature the motif of references to the singer & guitarist Buddy Holly; the name "Bryncelyn" itself means "Holly Hill" in Welsh. Pump clips and associated artwork for the brewery also feature Holly's image or references Holly in some way:

Says brewer and publican Will Hopton about Holly, "He was such a talented fellow and he died at 22. He was such an influence on such a lot of different groups and individuals. Elvis was good performer but Buddy wrote most of his own music." Hopton sees the beer theme as a way of paying tribute to the performer.[5]

[edit] Awards

Bryncelyn's beers frequently place highly in blind tastings performed at festivals. Buddy Marvellous was awarded the Champion Beer of Wales title in 2002, and Oh Boy that title in 2003.[6]

1999

2001

2002

  • Carmarthen Beer Festival: Oh Boy, bronze medal
  • Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Buddy Marvellous, gold medal[7]

2003

  • Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Oh Boy, gold medal; Buddy Marvellous, bronze medal[8]

2004

  • Carmarthen Beer Festival: Oh Boy, silver medal
  • Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Buddy Marvellous, bronze medal[9]

2005

2006

  • Mumbles Beer Festival: Oh Boy, gold medal
  • Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Holly Hop, champion bitter.[13]

2007

  • Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Holly Hop, silver medal; Buddy Marvellous, bronze medal; Oh Boy, champion best bitter; Holly Hop, champion bitter; Buddy Marvellous, champion strong mild/old ale.[14]

The Wern Fawr Inn has itself been awarded the title of "Pub of the Year" in 2005 by the Neath and Port Talbot branch of CAMRA, as well as "Regional Pub of the Year" for South and Mid Wales by a ballot among all branches of CAMRA in the area.[15]

[edit] References


[edit] External links