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Welcome to Abercolwyn CAMRA |
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Python Terry Jones
samples a few real ales |
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Terry Jones of Monty Python fame returned to his home town
of Colwyn Bay . He was there to perform the official
re-opening of Theatr Colwyn and, as the patron for the
theatre, there to help raise funds for the restoration of
the theatre and also raise money for charity. As part of
the fund-raising the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail
was shown and afterwards Terry was interview by comedian
and TV star Phil Jupitus. But it wasn’t all work for Terry
and Phil, there was still time to visit some local
hostelries to sample a few real ales, one of Terry’s great
loves. First of all they took lunch at the Pen-y-Bryn in
Upper Colwyn Bay where Terry was able to sample some local
Welsh brews and he even managed to persuade Phil to try a
sample. Here they met local CAMRA chairman Ian Saunders
where the comedy duo help to promote CAMRA’s new best
selling book the Good Beer Guide 2012 which is now in the
shops. Pictured (left to right) are Pen-y-Bryn’s Andy
Coverley, Terry Jones with CAMRA’s AleDrinker magazine and
a pint of Purple Moose Snowdonia, CAMRA Chairman Ian
Saunders with a pint of Great Orme and Phil Jupitus with
the Good Beer Guide 2012 and a pint of Facer’s Dave’s
Hoppy Beer. Later on Terry was sighted sampling a few more
ales at the Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside. Phil had to work
that night as he was on stage at Venue Cymru! |
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The
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside
recently scooped up two more awards for the quality the
cider and perry sold there. It was recently voted by CAMRA
members as the best Cider & Perry pub in Wales and then
was declared a National finalist making it amongst the top
four cider pubs in the UK . This is the third time that
the Arms has made the finals and also the third time it’s
been the top Welsh pub. Landlord John Sumbland was on hand
to receive these two prestigious awards and was pleased to
once again be recognised. However, he is determined to go
one better next year and take the top prize. Presenting,
CAMRA
Regional Cider Co-ordinator Ian Saunders said that it was
a fantastic achievement, particularly as North Wales is
not in the heart of cider country: “John does a terrific
job to get the variety of ciders and perries that he does,
he likes to go for Welsh producers such as Rosies Triple
D, Gwynt-y-Draig and Seidr y Glyn but also has top
producers from England such as Bushels Kentish Cider and
Moore’s Perry” said Ian. At the presentation evening there
were no less than 8 ciders and 4 perries. For the record
they were:- Rosies Triple D Black Bart 6%, Perfect Pear
Perry 6.5%, Rosies Triple D Medium 7.2%, Rampant Ram 7.2%
Wicked Wasp 7.4%, Gwynt-y-Ddraig Two Trees Perry 4.5%,
Farm House Cider 6%, Black Dragon 7.2%, Bushels Kentish
Cider 6%, Westons Bounds Scumpy 4.8%, Country Perry 6%,
Moores Perry 6%. |
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Pictured (left to Right) are CAMRA Regional Cider
Co-ordinator Ian Saunders and Licensee John Sumberland
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Penrhynarms is
regional Cider and Perry Pub of the Year |
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The Penrhyn Arms
in Penrhynside has
won the award of Regional Cider & Perry Pub of the Year
2011 for the region Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.
This is the third time that the pub has won this accolade.
This gives the Arms a chance to progress to the next round
of the competition and be amongst the final four pubs in
the UK. |
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Picture House, Colwyn Bay is Abercolwyn CAMRA's Pub of the
Year 2011
The Picture House, the
Wetherspoon pub in Colwyn Bay, has just been announced as
the Pub of the Year 2011 by the Abercolwyn Branch of CAMRA
(Campaign for Real Ale). Manager Steve Bland and Cellarman
/ barman Jon Lyon were delighted that their hard work in
the last 12 months had resulted in this accolade.
Abercolwyn CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders commented that the
quality of the ales and cider had been second to none. He
said “eight ales were always on sale and usually one or
two ciders. The total number of beers over the last year
was 365, one for every day of the year – highly
commendable! This now makes the Picture House the flagship
pub in the area”. On the night of the presentation the
favourite ale amongst the CAMRA members present was Mordue
Workie Ticket, a 4.5% beer from North Shields. Other
delights included Cotleigh Long Eared Owl from Somerset
and Rhymney Export from Merthyr Tydfil. |
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Pictured left to right are:- Jon Lyon (cellarman),
Steve Bland (Manager) and Ian Saunders (Abercolwyn
CAMRA Chairman). |
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The
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside is the Abercolwyn
CAMRA `s Cider Pub of the Year 2011 making it the
best pub for traditional draught cider and perry (made
with pears) for miles around.
At the
presentation evening there were no less than 8 ciders and
4 perries available. These came from 6 different
producers: Broadoak from Somerset, Moore’s, Westons from
Herefordshire, Gwynt-y-Ddraig from Pont-y-Prydd, Rosies
Triple D from Llandegla and Seidr y Glyn. The latter is a
brand new local cider from Trefriw. Glyn’s Seidr was
making its debut retail appearance on draught at the
Penrhyn Arms.
At the
presentation night there was plenty of food to be had, all
made from cider including Bara Brith, sausages and ham
made with Thatchers Green Goblin.
Abercolwyn CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders praised licensee
John Sumbland for his efforts and commented that the range
of ciders and perries currently available at the Arms was
probably the best selection of any pub in the UK currently |
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Pictured (left to right) are landlord
John Sumbland and Chairman Ian Saunders |
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The Swan Inn,
Llanfairtalhaiarn Pub of the Season for Spring 2011 |
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The Swan Inn,
Llanfairtalhaiarn has been named as Pub of the Season for
Spring 2011 by the Abercolwyn branch of the
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Licensees Vic and Sheila
Shaw have run this traditional village local for the last
eight years and have always been keen on real ales. They
are currently only one of eleven pubs in the county of
Conwy to still sell cask mild in the form of Banks’s
Original. They also sell Marston’s Bitter and two guest
ales. On the evening of the presentation the guest ales
were Brains the Reverend James and Wychwood Dirty Tackle.
Black Sheep Bitter from Masham is another firm favourite
with the locals. Abercolwyn CAMRA chairman Ian Saunders
presented Vic and Sheila with their award and applauded
their efforts for being able give such a good choice of
quality cask ales to the village. |
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Picture (left to
right) licensees Vic & Sheila Shaw and CAMRA Chairman Ian
Saunders |
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Y Giler Arms Hotel
in Rhydlydan near Pentrefoelas has been named Mild
Pub of the Year 2011 by the Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA.
When people think about Real Ale they tend to think of
Bitter but there are many other beer styles such as stout,
porter and barley wine. The often forgotten real ale is
Mild. Therefore, every May CAMRA promotes this beer in
what they term ‘Mild in May Month’. The Abercolwyn branch
of CAMRA (which covers the county of
Conwy) celebrates this often maligned beer style by crowning a Mild Pub of
the Year, a pub which has done its best to promote mild
and, more importantly, sell the best pint of the beer. Y
Giler Arms Hotel is a Bathams pub and so naturally they
sell Bathams Mild Ale which is a dark 3.5% beer hailing
from the West
Midlands, arguably the home of mild. Marc and Heather
Thorn have been at the Giler for 19 months and were
extremely excited to receive their first CAMRA award. Marc
said that mild was very popular at the pub and the good
sales helped to keep the beer in such good condition. Ian
Saunders, CAMRA Chairman praised Marc and Heather for
their good work and declared that their mild was the best
in the County. |
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Pictured left to right are Marc, Ian and Heather. The
group shot shows the whole Giler team. |
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The Gladstone in
Dwygyfylchi near Penmaenmawr has been commended by the
Abercolwyn branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for
selling quality beers from North Wales breweries. LocAle
is a CAMRA initiative that is designed to promote pubs
stocking locally brewed real ale. The scheme builds on a
growing consumer demand for quality local produce and in
increased awareness of ‘green’ issues, that is fewer ‘beer
miles' resulting in less road congestion, pollution and
fuel consumption. The Gladstone is very proud to support
local breweries such as Conwy, Great Orme, Nant, Purple
Moose and Facer’s. As a result of their dedication the
local CAMRA group have presented them with the award of
LocAle Pub of the Year 2011. The two LocAle beers
avaible on the presentation night were Nant Chwerw Braf
from Llanrwst and Facer’s This Splendid Ale from Flint.
Presenting the accolade CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders
applauded the pub for selling so many of the local
breweries beers and is such good quality. He also noted
the pub’s commitment to all things local with much of the
food on sale being sourced from local suppliers. Licensee
Adele Scally was delighted to receive the CAMRA award
which is the pubs third in the last five years. |
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Pictured (left to right) are CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders,
Licensee Adele Scally and barman/cellarman Ben Moody |
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