Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival 2012

Yesterday myself and some of the usual suspects  Andy G and Tony made our way to Cardiff and the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival at the Motorpoint Arena.
We set off from Taunton station at 9:10am and arrived in Cardiff at 11.22am. It was a short walk then to the arena and after picking up our glasses, programme and tokens we went into the hall, surprised at how quiet it was.

Calm before the Storm.The Tiny Rebel stand to the left would be 'heaving' later on.

We secured a table and then headed off to the bar. I chose Ilkley Brewery from West Yorkshire and 'Black' at 3.7% an easily drinkable mild ale and a good start to the day.
Next up was the Otley Brewery from Pontypridd in Mid Glamorgan and O Garden at 4.2%. This was the supreme Welsh Champion beer in 2010 and was a fruit/spiced golden ale with a clove flavour coming to the fore.
Next it was off to Herefordshire and the Wye Valley Brewery with the first of my many stouts. I chose DG Stout at 4.2% which was rich and smooth with a chocolate aftertaste.
It was now that the rest of our party arrived when Andy J and his wife Helen joined us. They were staying overnight in Cardiff and we had prearranged to meet up at the festival.
After some food , I had the excellent veg. Curry it was back to the ales and a new brewery for me with Waen from Llanidloes in Powys. Blackberry Stout at 3.8% was OK but I couldn't get the fruity finish.
Next up it was back to the Otley Brewery and their excellent Oxymoron Black IPA at 5.5% with its rich chocolate flavour and bitter aftertaste.
I now headed north and another new Brewery with Big Bog from Waunfawr in Snowdonia. I tried 'Swampy' at 4.7% a ruby ale with supposed hints of licorice and malt. Although I could get the malt the licorice evaded me.
I was now back to Yorkshire and Timothy Taylor's 'Dark Mild' at 3.5% a really good session beer with malt and caramel flavours.
I was the only one to try this next beer which on for this day only. It was from the Brains Craft Brewery and was Barry Island IPA at 6.0% and was served by the brewer Simon Martin. A nice example of an IPA.
Now it was off to the Tiny Rebel stand, a new micro-brewery from Newport and only started in February 2012. There was quite a crowd around the stand for most of the afternoon, a testament to a great new brewery. On the bar was a Hop Rocket, an in-line filter system that delivers a burst of hops as the beer is being drawn. The beer getting this treatment was Fubar, but I went for Full Nelson, a golden ale with fruity and floral notes. I wanted to try first Doc Brown and then Dirty Stop Out but both were already gone, another testament to the excellence of their beers.

Full Swing

Next it was a beer that wasn't in the catalogue and the Kite Brewery's 'Jubilicous' at 4.4%. The Kite brewery was another relatively new venture which started in 2011 in Gorslas, Carmathenshire and I was really taken with the T Shirts that the barmen were wearing as it had a Red Kite for a logo and I did ask if I could buy one. The guy took my E-Mail address so hopefully they will get in touch.
I now chose my last festival beer as we were going to leave at 4.30pm so that we could get a meal before our train at 6pm. I went for another Brain's from Cardiff beer and 'Jack Black'  at 4.3% a dark oatmeal stout brewed with dark malts and roasted barley. A good way to end the festival.

The Usual Suspects-L-R Andy G, Yours Truly, Andy J and Tony

We now took our leave of Helen and Andy J and made our way back to the station stopping in The Great Western, a Wetherspoons pub for something to eat. Beer on offer was Rudgates Ruby Mild at 4.4% so we all went for that. By coincidence as we were eating a text came from Andy J to say that the Festival Champion was..... Rudgates Ruby Mild.
We got to the station in good time and at 8pm were back in Taunton to be met by Tony's daughter and our lift home.
A good day at a very well run festival that might become a regular on the calendar.