Bryncelyn Brewery
Encyclopedia
Bryncelyn Brewery is a brew pub in 'Wern Fawr Inn', a pub located near Ystalyfera
, Neath Port Talbot
in Wales. Brewing was begun in July 1999, and the brewers are Will Hopton and Robert Scott.
The brewery produces three quarters of a UK brewer's barrel
of beer
at a time. The ale
s have been consistent and frequent winners of awards at beer festival
s since the brewery's inception.
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 beer types in 2000; by 2002, this had further expanded to one barrel and 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:
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.
; 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.
title in 2002, and Oh Boy that title in 2003.
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
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.
Ystalyfera
Ystalyfera is a former industrial village in the upper Swansea Valley, on the River Tawe, about north-east of Swansea. It is an electoral ward and a community in the unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, comprising a resident population of just over 3,000 people, approximately 60% of whom...
, Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
in Wales. Brewing was begun in July 1999, and the brewers are Will Hopton and Robert Scott.
The brewery produces three quarters of a UK brewer's barrel
Barrel (unit)
A barrel is one of several units of volume, with dry barrels, fluid barrels , oil barrel, etc...
of beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
at a time. The ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
s have been consistent and frequent winners of awards at beer festival
Beer festival
A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers are available for tasting and purchase. Beer festivals are held in a number of countries...
s since the brewery's inception.
Beers
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
(one-firkin
Firkin
A firkin is an old English unit of volume. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch word vierdekijn, which means fourth, i.e. a quarter of a full-size barrel.Nor need you mind the serial ordealOf being watched from forty cellar holes...
) batches. The brewery then expanded to 27-gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
batches and began producing five beer types in 2000; by 2002, this had further expanded to one barrel and twelve recipes are brewed, with brewing taking place up to four times a week.
Bryncelyn's three regular beers are Oh Boy
Oh, Boy! (song)
"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
, a bitter
Bitter (beer)
Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
; Buddy Marvellous, a strong mild ale
Mild ale
Mild ale is a low-gravity beer, or beer with a predominantly malty palate, that originated in Britain in the 17th century or earlier. Modern mild ales are mainly dark coloured with an abv of 3% to 3.6%, though there are lighter hued examples, as well as stronger examples reaching 6% abv and...
; and Holly Hop
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
, a golden ale. A further nine beers are produced on an occasional or seasonal basis. The Good Beer Guide
Good Beer Guide
The Good Beer Guide is a book published annually by the Campaign for Real Ale listing what they consider to be the best cask ale outlets in the United Kingdom.-Details:...
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.
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.
Buddy Holly
The names of Bryncelyn's beers all feature the motif of references to the singer & guitarist Buddy HollyBuddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
; the name "Bryncelyn" itself means "Holly
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
Hill" in Welsh. Pump clips and associated artwork for the brewery also feature Holly's image or references Holly in some way:
- Oh Boy refers to the song "Oh, Boy!Oh, Boy! (song)"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
" - Holly Hop refers to the instrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
of the same name - Peggy's Brew refers to the song "Peggy SuePeggy Sue"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
" - CHH are the initials of Charles Hardin Holley, Buddy Holly's birth name
- Rave On! refers to the song of the same name
- Feb 59 refers to Holly's deathThe Day the Music DiedOn February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song...
on 3 February 1959. - May B Baby refers to the song "Maybe Baby"
- That'll Be The Sleigh refers to the song "That'll Be the DayThat'll Be the Day"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
"
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.
Awards
Bryncelyn's beers frequently place highly in blind tastings performed at festivals. Buddy Marvellous was awarded the Champion Beer of WalesChampion Beer of Wales
The Champion Beer of Wales is a beer award presented annually by the Campaign for Real Ale at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival in Cardiff, Wales....
title in 2002, and Oh Boy that title in 2003.
1999
- CarmarthenCarmarthenCarmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
Beer Festival: Buddy's Delight, silver medalSilver medalA silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats.... - CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
Beer Festival: Buddy Marvellous, silver medal
2001
- Cardiff Beer Festival: Oh Boy, gold medalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
2002
- Carmarthen Beer Festival: Oh Boy, bronze medalBronze medalA bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
- Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Buddy Marvellous, gold medal
2003
- Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Oh Boy, gold medal; Buddy Marvellous, bronze medal
2004
- Carmarthen Beer Festival: Oh Boy, silver medal
- Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Buddy Marvellous, bronze medal
2005
- Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Oh Boy, bronze medal; Buddy Marvellous, champion mild aleMild aleMild ale is a low-gravity beer, or beer with a predominantly malty palate, that originated in Britain in the 17th century or earlier. Modern mild ales are mainly dark coloured with an abv of 3% to 3.6%, though there are lighter hued examples, as well as stronger examples reaching 6% abv and...
; Oh Boy, champion best bitterBitter (beer)Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
2006
- MumblesMumblesMumbles or The Mumbles is an area and community in Swansea, Wales which takes its name from the adjacent headland stretching into Swansea Bay...
Beer Festival: Oh Boy, gold medal - Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Holly Hop, champion bitter.
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.
2008
- Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival: Buddy Marvelous, runner-up mild; Holly Hop, runner-up bitter; Oh Boy, runner-up best bitter
The Wern Fawr Inn has itself been awarded the title of "Pub of the Year" in 2005 by the Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
and Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
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.