The latest Iechyd Da beer column by brewer Simon Buckley

The Iechyd Da beer column from the Carmarthen Journal by Simon Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans Brewery in Llandeilo.

Well, for those of you that stomped away at Brecon Jazz, it was a memorable weekend of beer, music and good food. A totally happy and crisis-free weekend, where the crowd were up and dancing, from almost dawn to dusk, and beyond.
So is Brecon Jazz back and here to stay?
Well that’s a question for others, but there is no doubt that the Jazz ‘Fringe’ movement is here to stay, and whether it is at Llandeilo, or at the Fringe Festival at the George in Brecon, cask ale is an important part of the mix.
The George is now unquestionably one of the great jazz venues in Wales, and if you did not go this year, come next, first to Llandeilo Jazz, and then exactly one month later to Brecon. It’s one hell of a party, not to be missed.
We were proud to be part of both events, and it was great to see that for both weekends the rains of this dull summer abated, and we enjoyed a weekend of great music and great beer.
This summer, however, has not been a great beer drinking summer, and the brewers have all suffered with trade down, and many brewers at regional and national level complaining of the negative impact of the Jubilee weekend and the Olympics.
For London, yes, they were great events, and the Olympics certainly gave us something as a nation to shout about, but for rural pubs it was far from boom time.
I have said for all too long that there are too many brewers in Wales chasing too small a market, and the stresses and pressures are beginning to show.
Brewers fighting to maintain market share, and the big International Brewers like Coors trying to drive all the small companies out of business.
Remember that this was the company that to our nation’s shame, made Worthington Best Bitter the National Drink of Wales, brewed in Burton-on-Trent and the profits and jobs exported to England and now to the USA.
With a poor summer, what concerns me is how will some of these rural pubs survive the winter months? Sadly, I don’t think they will.
In three weeks’ time it is national Cask Ale Week, when we celebrate the one thing that is unique in Britain, cask conditioned beers.
We will be celebrating with a series of new beers, and then two weeks after that we will be celebrating Welsh Beef and Ale Week when Evan-Evans will be encouraging the Welsh pub industry to be creative using great Welsh beef and beer to create new and exciting dishes for the consumer to try, and if they cannot make it to the pubs to cook at home.
Food and beer are going to be a big opportunity moving forwards as more and more people eat and drink at home.
Now, in many households in Wales, beer is the must have drink for a home cooked curry, or for those that want to create new and exciting dishes from all round the world. There is more to come.
And, finally, don’t forget the very best Beer Festival in West Wales, The CAMRA Carmarthen Beer Festival is at the end of the month, a great place to come and drink the very best of Welsh Brewing.
Hope to see you there!