Tiny micro brewery which produces really, really nice continental style craft beers like Pilsners,…read moreBelgian and Bavarian style wheat beers (my favourite is the Chocolate Wheat Beer) At the moment you can only buy the bottled beer in a few venues in Cardiff (see their website) and in a few festivals, but I believe this about to change and will soon be available in shops. They also hold regular MicroBEER Festivals in the yard outside now and again, so sing up for their e-mails.

The microbeer festivals, the first weekend of every month, are lovely, intimate and busy affairs…read morewith live music and much conversation. The brewery itself is open most saturdays selling bottled beers. The beers are totally delicious and unqiue but not as cheap as your local pub, just a warning which shouldn't put you off since you pay for what you get. The entrance to the beer courtyard is opposite The Diary (formally Pontcanna Pine),just go under the archway. As well as the website the facebook site is an excellent way to keep informed about the festivals etc.

PAR-TY! PAR-TY! If…read moreyou love a beer then you will be overjoyed to know that Bath Ales open up their brewery in Warmley as a shop to buy ales in bulk. KEGGER! Staff will help you through the process of looking after and opening the barrels properly. You can get from bottles, 5 litre microcasks, 20 litre beer boxes and if you plan ahead you can order a 72 pint cask. All of their range is available, including Barnstormer, Gem, Wild Hare, Dark Hare, Natural Blonde, SPA and Festivity.

Simon of the Artisan Brewing Company is a very nice man, with a very nice business. He owns a micro…read morebrewery that produces 100% natural , handcrafted, unfiltered, extremely tasty beer. It would be fair to say that he is thriving. So, all is as it should be, suggesting that there may indeed be some justice in this world of ours! I want to apologise to Simon for something. I had hoped to post my review in time for the last micro-brewery beer festival, held in the gorgeous enclave that is home to Bare Naked Beer, just off the King's Road, but I missed the date, (it's been a busy time). Nevertheless, I hear tell that it went down famously without so much as a mention from me... I realise I'm irrelevant! However, the next one is on the 3rd of July. If the sun is shining I highly recommend that you pay Simon a visit! If it's not, perhaps you should go along and try some of his finest beer and commiserate with him, rueing the inclement times we live in... I can think of worse things to do! He does a fine selection of ales, including Altbeer, made how it used to be 250 years ago, and he even does a larger too... he's a progressive man! But best of all, he does a couple of chocolate wheat beers... pure genius!

The Artisan Brewing Company is one of those small businesses that remind us how much fun running…read moreyour own business can be! Predominantly run by one man, and his pal and assistant, the micro-brewery is the reult of the love of good beer, an interest in brewing an urge to share, and then the search for profit. This is a business full of love! I'm only giving it four stars because I am always a bit disappointed it isn't open as a bar every day - probably a good thing as you'd never get me out - but, it does open and when it does, it does properly! Approximately the first Saturday of every month (check the website) they hold a micro-brewery micro-festival. The little courtyard that hold the brewery is filled with revellers (and in the wetter weather, tarpaulin) and with a barbecue and some fab live music on the go, what more could you want? The beer is amazing. It isn't cheap, but then neither is champagne or diamonds. This is a beer to be savoured and enjoyed, and then try another type and savour and enjoy that one. I can particularly reccommend the Chocolate Beer (certainly not for children or chocoholics). But don't panic, there are other ways! Firstly, whilst the beer is amazing fresh from the keg, it can be bought bottled to enjoy at home or a party. And it can be found at various local festivals and bars. Keep an eye out for it. Definitely not your average beer!

Very polite staff and very friendly and helpful i will be coming back and the prices are greatread more

While I have occasionally had a bad Otter I've had a good…read morepint of each of their beers somewhere, so I know they are very good if they are kept well I like the simple but pleasing design of their pump clips and I feel a bit guilty for liberating a pint glass with their motif on from a pub once. Would love to visit the brewery but seems a bit remote.

Bristol is home to many a proud cider drinker, myself among them. Thatcher's probably take a…read moresizeable chunk of my income every week, providing pint after delicious pint of appley merriment. Much better than Strongbow or Blackthorn, they've got a diverse couple of ciders, and are bound to have one to suit your pallet. I particularly recommend a bottle of Katy's on a warm summers day. To get the best experience of what they offer head to the brewery. You can learn all about the highly technical business of making cider and, more importantly, sample some straight from the barrel. The educational side is fairly interesting actually, and you can take a tour of the orchards, which feels slightly more wholesome than just drinking lots of cider. Once you've sunk a couple of pints you can then make a trip to the giftshop and buy some cider themed tat. All in all, an excellent day out.

The West country is famed for its cider. Thatcher's is a success story and their appley alcohol…read moregoodness stands testament to local flavour. If you have a taste for Thatcher's, take a daytrip to their shop and visitor centre. The pens, umbrellas and t-shirts for sale are a bit superfluous, I say head straight for the bottles and kegs, tastier and cheaper than you can buy anywhere else. They also do some quality fun days for families and tours extensive orchards, it makes you feel super appley!

Came across this place by accident when investigating what the 'big pit' was near cardiff…read more(evidently, wasn't really worth seeing). A modern brewery with a nice clean set up. Tour is only £2.50 and is worth so much more. History museum, videos, interactive touch screens, a tour round the process and brewery kit and then into the bar for half a pint. Staff were incredibly friendly, good little place to visit to kill half an hour or so ! Lots of merchandise to be bought, a good choice if your like your beers !

You can't really take a trip to Cardiff without noticing all the Brain's adverts, or taking a trip…read moreinto one of their very many pubs. They have a very varied selection of pubs, some more targeted towards offering up really good food. The Brewery itself sits alongside the river Taff and if you look down the river from the Millenium Stadium you'll see the iconic old factory were all the beer is still made. Unfortunately they haven't seized on the option to open it up for tours like the Guinness factory in Dublin or the Heiniken factory in Amsterdam which is a bit of shame since it already has its own pub room inside which they use for training. Anyway visitors be sure to try out at least one brew while in Wales.

When I stepped off the train at Cardiff Central 11 years ago I was overwhelmed by the smell of…read moreHorlix. I later discovered that it wasn't Horlix it was hops and traced it to the Brains brewery. Since then I've heard newcomers to Cardiff take a sniff and say things like "hmm smells of dog buiscuits". Love or hate it the Brains brewery is one of the first buildings you'll see when you arrive here. The building itself is iconic. It's shiny silver tubes and branded brick chimney leave a powerful mark on the Cardiff skyline. The Brains brewing empire can be traced back to 1882 and it is still owned by the family that started it. You will find Brains beer in most Cardiff pubs and beyond. If you're into buying local, then buy a Brains beer. I'm definitely a fan "Pint of SA please barman".