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.

Now before you get all judgemental, lets have a little chat about the Wyndham. Yes, it was on Sky…read moreOnes roughest pubs ever and yes it does open at the crack of dawn. Yes the clientele is slightly on the rougher side, but really what do you expect in Merthyr Tydfil. But now, let me tell you a few things about the Wyndham that may come of surprise; the bar stock pretty much everything and anything, prices are god damn reasonable, the music is good and the place is generally very clean. So clean, customers even take their dogs there. Rough, scary looking beasts that once patted are as cute natured as a new born pup. The pub itself is big and airy and in general, a nice place to be. OK, the customers usually have no teeth and are completely plastered before the shops open but let me tell you now, what a bloody educating place the Wyndham is. Be warned, everyone will turn and look as you make your grand entrance, but once again, welcome to Wales! If your lucky enough to not get stared at and actually get involved with the conversation, i can guarantee, hands down, you'll have one of the best little afternoons of your life!

A warm and friendly place with several local ales (also to be recommended) all on top form. Can…read morehighly recommend.

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!

Craft people, I seriously wanted to love Tiny on the back of Jam Donut, Peaches & Cream et al, but…read morethey all turned out to be drink once Craft ponies. Lots of hip branding in the Garage Project vein - most Crafty brewery in New Zealand if you're ever there, but you knew that already! Unlike Garage, not a lot of Craftyness behind it though. Surprisingly limited tap selection - a couple of decent West Coast juices - and kinda posey Craft-cadets tending; they didn't even notice one of the kegs hadn't settled on my pour, instantly detectable to my Craft Jesus eyes. Craft Jesus rating a pretty weak 26 IBU

Not only do these guys make beer but they made a really top effort for the open day and had in some…read moreexcellent beers from other breweries too! All the beers I enjoyed (and I had at least 6 halves) were above average. An industrial estate is never the most pleasant place for a drink but they'd'made a.good fist of it. They were really friendly and we certainly enjoyed ourselves!

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".

My family and I often stop at The White Hart in Llanddarog on our way to Pembrokeshire. It is a…read morebeautiful thatched pub with excellent pub food and their own brewed beers. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

Firstly i will tell you that this is likely to be an expensive experience - but well worth the…read moremoney for a treat now and again. It is a beautiful Thatched Inn, built in 1371. It posseses open fireplaces, and a choice of cozy tables for 2 or 4, and long tables for larger parties in the back. HRH Prince Charles, Dylan Thomas have both visited here, to sample the beer still brewed on the premesis. The food is pricey, but what a meal you get for your money! A huge plateful that would be enough for two! the most reasonable is the Roast dinners, approx £10 a head. The walls and ceilings of the Inn are covered in memorobilia, from horse brasses to farming tolls, there is enough to occupy your mind while you wait for your meal. On your way to the loo you will encounter a full suit of armour, and in the back are fish tanks, and a talking parrot!

Unlike a lot of pubs in the area who only stock John Smiths or Worthington's, The Capel have 3-4…read moredifferent real ales from small breweries on the pumps at any one time, which are changed regularly. The inside of the pub is very old fashioned with original timber and stained glass. The pub holds it's own 4-day beer & cider festival on Mayday weekend, and a few yards behind the pub down Angel Lane is Gilfach train station (request stop), which is on the Cardiff-Rhymney line.

Seemed a reasonable bar but the accommodation has to be seen to be believed. No key for the room…read more Serious need of a lick of paint. Duvet covers don't match pillowcases and the beds appear to be mattresses on the floor. The wardrobe is a rail like you would find in the back of a clothes shop and the tea bags in the room are ordinary tea bags in a bowl. God knows how long they've been lying out! Is this what is called "Sue Ryder chic"? And don't start me on hotels which neither serve an evening meal or are able to tell you where you can get one. We ended up at one of those identikit chain hotels advertised in atlases. Bland but clean and we knew what we were getting there. It's a stunning Edwardian building in near original condition. Go and marvel at the building, savour a nice pint but for God's sake sleep somewhere else.