The latest Iechyd Da beer column from brewer Simon Buckley
The latest Carmarthen Journal 'Iechyd Da' beer column by Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans Brewery -
Last week, I hosted a table at the Parliamentary All Party Beer Group annual dinner in the Great Hall of one of the finest banqueting venues in London, No1 Great George Street, near Westminster Abbey.
We were accompanied by some of the great and the good of the brewing industry and some of the new generation beer bloggers and modern beer 'journos'.
It is always a great evening in one of the finest banqueting venues in London.
In previous years, the party has been an excuse to forget all the problems the industry has been facing and to party.
The Welsh brewing industry was thin on the ground this year, but Charles Brain and I flew 'Y Ddraig Goch' (Welsh flag) for the Principality, ably assisted by the formidable Roger Williams, Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnor.
The party this year was different.
In the past, we have all bemoaned the state of the industry and wondered what the future will hold.
Not this year.
Riding on the back of the victory of reduction on beer duty the first time in 58 years and abolition of the beer duty escalator, George Osborne was heralded 'man of the match' and awarded a silver pot to prove it, presented by none other than Ken Clarke.
Although I find Ken Clarke’s politics alien to my thinking, what a great character he is - a man with a formidable brain. He is a man who loves Wales and likes to visit on a regular basis, or so he kindly said.
I have often been earmarked as the Black Sheep of my family, but at this year's party, a man I have a high regard for (who owns the Real Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire), Paul Theakston was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his lifelong commitment to the brewing industry.
He is older than me, but has created in the Black Sheep Brewery a magnificent beer brand, and I am only thankful that he is not Welsh!
So as I chatted with all those fuelled by a fine selection of beers chosen to accompany dinner, Pete Brown , famous beer blogger, Tim Hampson, beer journo, to name but two, there was mild optimism that with a good summer, and an increase in consumer confidence, that perhaps, just perhaps, 2013 may be a better than average year for us all.
I believe with what I know is coming we can live that hope.
With Llandeilo Jazz over for another year, it's time to head south on hols with Lady B and Miss Ffion. The brewing baton has been passed to James, who has the unenviable task of brewing three new beers for our end of summer beer festival, when temperatures are soaring, and demand for our beers are at the highest levels.
He will do it, and they will be fantastic, wait and see.
So, I will return raring to go. We will be thinking of new beers, and the start of autumn, but in the meantime it's time to savour a special moment, with the arrival for just one week of Harry Buckley on his first ever holiday abroad, aged just three. Can’t wait!
Last week, I hosted a table at the Parliamentary All Party Beer Group annual dinner in the Great Hall of one of the finest banqueting venues in London, No1 Great George Street, near Westminster Abbey.
We were accompanied by some of the great and the good of the brewing industry and some of the new generation beer bloggers and modern beer 'journos'.
It is always a great evening in one of the finest banqueting venues in London.
In previous years, the party has been an excuse to forget all the problems the industry has been facing and to party.
The Welsh brewing industry was thin on the ground this year, but Charles Brain and I flew 'Y Ddraig Goch' (Welsh flag) for the Principality, ably assisted by the formidable Roger Williams, Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnor.
The party this year was different.
In the past, we have all bemoaned the state of the industry and wondered what the future will hold.
Not this year.
Riding on the back of the victory of reduction on beer duty the first time in 58 years and abolition of the beer duty escalator, George Osborne was heralded 'man of the match' and awarded a silver pot to prove it, presented by none other than Ken Clarke.
Although I find Ken Clarke’s politics alien to my thinking, what a great character he is - a man with a formidable brain. He is a man who loves Wales and likes to visit on a regular basis, or so he kindly said.
I have often been earmarked as the Black Sheep of my family, but at this year's party, a man I have a high regard for (who owns the Real Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire), Paul Theakston was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his lifelong commitment to the brewing industry.
He is older than me, but has created in the Black Sheep Brewery a magnificent beer brand, and I am only thankful that he is not Welsh!
So as I chatted with all those fuelled by a fine selection of beers chosen to accompany dinner, Pete Brown , famous beer blogger, Tim Hampson, beer journo, to name but two, there was mild optimism that with a good summer, and an increase in consumer confidence, that perhaps, just perhaps, 2013 may be a better than average year for us all.
I believe with what I know is coming we can live that hope.
With Llandeilo Jazz over for another year, it's time to head south on hols with Lady B and Miss Ffion. The brewing baton has been passed to James, who has the unenviable task of brewing three new beers for our end of summer beer festival, when temperatures are soaring, and demand for our beers are at the highest levels.
He will do it, and they will be fantastic, wait and see.
So, I will return raring to go. We will be thinking of new beers, and the start of autumn, but in the meantime it's time to savour a special moment, with the arrival for just one week of Harry Buckley on his first ever holiday abroad, aged just three. Can’t wait!
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