Welsh Beers, Spirits & Wines

Welsh beers

Beer is the national drink in Wales and it is said that Welsh Druids began brewing grains and herbs as early as the 6th century. In the 1800s there are records of a distinction between "fine ale" and Welsh ale, also called bragawd, which was like a combination of mead and ale often made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, herbs and honey. Welsh beer continued to be noted as unique as late as the 1850s. Wrexham was one of the first places in the UK to brew lager when immigrant from Saxony, Germany opened the Wrexham Lager brewery in the 1880s, and the Felinfoel brewery was the first in the UK to sell beer in cans. The last 20 years have seen a massive growth in microbrewing in Wales, and you will now have over 60 Welsh beers to try as your explore the country.

welsh spirits

While not having the same reputation as Irish Whiskey and Scotch, whisky was produced in Wales from the middle ages to the late 1800s, and ceased partly due to the influence of the temperance movement. In the 1990s there began an attempt to revive the industry and the Penderyn distillery was established. In 2016 the Dà Mhile distillery near Llandysul in west Wales bottled its first whisky.

The Aber Falls distillery in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd commenced production in late 2017 and is scheduled to release its first whisky in 2020. All 3 also produce gin, and with a number of other gin businesses, such as Foragers and Dyfi Distillery, established in recent years, the industry has grown swiftly with 17 producers now dotted around the country.

welsh wines

The Romans, and French monks, are said to have introduced wine to Britain, but, Scottish industrialist, Lord Bute planted Wales’ first commercial vineyard at Castell Coch near Cardiff in 1875. Wales now has 17 vineyards, which produce around 100,000 bottles each year and their wines are developing an excellent reputation worldwide. Ancre Hill Estates’ 2008 vintage was voted best sparkling wine in the world at the Bollicine del Mondo International Competition in Italy in 2012.

More than 20 grape varieties are grown in vineyards across Wales. White Castle vineyard near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, has been going since 2008 and it offers tours and tastings. At Glyndwr Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan you walk with llamas through the vineyard. At Jabajak Vineyard in Carmarthenshire you will have the opportunity to feed a pair of red kites.

Whether your exploration of Welsh drink culture is more focused on beer, wines or spirits, or you want to experience a mix of them all, contact us today and we will prepare the perfect itinerary for you to explore this aspect of Welsh life.