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!

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".

Large place that is welcome to tourists. Carne pizza was amazing. Had a tinge of spice and all the…read moreother flavors meddled together to make it a solid pizza that was able to be split between two people. For beer, we got the house Mango and Pilsner. Both stellar and I would get another round if we had time. Happy hour is £2.50 pints - can't get better than that. Parking around the building was atrocious, to say the least. Take public transit if you can. T took us 30 minutes to get out of the tinyiest parking garage known to man. Other than that, I hope we stop by again if we're ever in Cardiff.

We happened upon this place by chance as we drove by it early in the morning. I noticed all the…read morebrewing kit at first and just thought it was a micro distillery but turns out it was also a bar and restaurant so we decided to head back down once it was open at 12 for lunch. The staff here are incredibly friendly and helpful. Although not on the menu, we asked if we could sample all the beers they make which was no issue at all and all surprisingly cheap. They had a variety of beers from light mango beer, through to chocolate beer and even a 'black' beer. The smell from each beer was incredible and the bartender told us the reasoning behind each recipe and the flavours we should be able to taste with each glass. To line our stomachs as we drank we ordered a couple of things off the menu. We had the sharing starter which was smoked salmon , tomatoes, Parma ham and goats cheese on ciabatta followed by the thermidore mussels. Both of which were very good, the sauce on the mussels was Devine, incredibly rich and creamy ! They do have quite a limited menu here (mainly mussels, pizza and salad) but what they do have looks and tastes brilliant. They have a great open kitchen with an impressive pizza oven and each pizza looked incredible. I'd definitely come back here when we have a little more time and spend a bit longer trying to beers and taking in the atmosphere. Some days of the week they even have the distillers in operating the kit while you eat and drink which I am sure would be most entertaining ! Great place 4/5