The latest 'Iechyd Da' beer column from Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley

The latest Carmarthen Journal 'Iechyd Da' beer column by Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley, chief executive of Evan-Evans Brewery - 

Where else in the Celtic world would we accept another country dumping products in our marketplace?
Could you see the French accepting that? Or our Spanish cousins?
Yes, dear reader, I am about to have a rant, but one that I know every one of you will read in disbelief.
You, in turn, will ask the questions: why are we letting it happen, and why as a consumer nation are we drinking these products?
Those who have bravely followed my brewing career will know that 10 years ago I (along with a small group of Welsh brewers) led a campaign to fight the demise of the great Welsh brewing industry and the establishment of Worthington Best Bitter as the No1 brand here in Wales.
The power of the mega-brewers was almost too much for us smaller guys and the routes to market were dominated by the large English brewers.
However we took the fight to them with a campaign that said ‘Save Welsh Jobs, Drink Welsh Ale’ - and it worked!
The small brewing sector then went on and created great Welsh alternatives and, with the support of the licensees of West Wales, we created a new market that was proud to push the home-brewed beers.
What a sense of pride we all felt as the home-grown industry expanded and new jobs were created throughout Wales.
Some 10 years further on, I am proud to be part of the new Welsh brewing scene, where, yes, we may disagree about beer quality and flavour (and there may be too many brewers), but we are proud to be Welsh brewers creating Welsh jobs for Welsh men and women.
One day, I know we will achieve my long-term goal of achieving beer excellence in the marketplace.
You will, therefore, understand my incredulity when Coors (formerly Welsh Brewers) try it again and decide to attack us and to try and take us off the bars of Wales by using skullduggery and smoke and mirrors to influence the licensees of West Wales to sell Doom Bar, a beer from Cornwall.
Coors, who own the brand, are American. They repatriate their profits to the States and frankly have no care whether there is an indigenous small brewing industry in Wales or not.
Each time a landlord stocks this product in favour of their local Welsh brand they not only export Welsh jobs to Cornwall, but also deny the tourist industry in Wales the one thing they want - local beers from local brewers.
By financial intimidation, the small brewers are being eased off the bars of Wales in favour of a beer from Cornwall. So, I have now laid down a challenge to those licensees to abandon this beer from Cornwall in favour of beers from Wales.
We offer the very best local option and fairly-priced beers that reflect the quality of an internationally award-winning brewery that can genuinely boasts about its Welsh pedigree and products.
Time will tell, but we as a nation are far more sophisticated than perhaps our Anglo-American competitors think we are. Now is the time to stand up and ‘Save Welsh Jobs’ and to drink ‘Real Welsh Ale’.