Exeter & East Devon Branch

Purple Moose Brewery - Porthmadog

What to do on a wet day in Wales? Why go to a brewery of course! Together with friends who were staying with us in our caravan in Cardigan Bay, Wales, we decided to go to Porthmadog for the day. The train goes from Aberystwyth, through the village of Fairbourne (where we climb on), up through some impressive mountain and coastal scenery in Snowdonia National Park, all the way to Pwllheli on the Lleyn Peninsula.

After an enjoyable, and very reasonably priced, journey we alighted in Porthmadog. Like a lot of Wales, it hasn't got a lot going for it when wet, everything looks grey and depressing, but when the sun shines, now that's another matter! Unfortunately the sun didn't shine that day. We had a quick look round, including investigating the cost of a ride on The Welsh Highland Railway. We decided it was too pricey for a very short journey: we did patronise the tea shop though, and continued our perambulations round the town. Although the brewery does tours, these are by appointment only. We had done our homework before hand and knew that we may be disappointed.

The brewery was not hard to find and is fronted by a very large shop floor that appeared to be sparsely stocked. On entering we discovered that it also doubles as a reception and hospitality area. We were greeted by a very helpful young lady who confirmed that tours were by appointment only. She was most sympathetic to my explanation that we lived in Devon, so rather a long way to come, but said that as they were brewing that day she couldn't give us a tour. When we said that we understood, but could we just have a peep through the doorway behind her, so as not to have had a wasted journey, she very obligingly took us through into the brewery and proceeded to give us a tour! A verbal one, that is.

As brewing was taking place she couldn't take us physically round the brewery, but as all the action happens at one end of a huge building, we could see everything that she described without moving. Brewing began initially in Cheltenham at the home of brewer Lawrence Washington in 1995, then went on at Moor Beer Co Somerset 2001 to 2003, finally settling in Porthmadog. The brewery was opened in summer 2005 after years of searching for, finding and equipping with a 10-barrel plant from Harviestoun, Scotland. Brewing takes place five times a week, twice on some days at 5.30 am and then again at 1.00pm. Equipment includes four fermenters, two large and two small. They brewed their 500th brew on 27th May. There is much more to say about the brewery, and the best place to find out more, with lots of photographs and a year by year account of the history of its brewing, is to visit their website.

Purple Moose Brewery

Four regular beers are available on draught and bottled. They are: Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale) at 3.6%; Cwrw Madog (Madog's Ale) 3.7%; Cwrw Glaslyn (Glaslyn Ale) 4.2% and Ochr Dywyll Y Mws, better known as Dark Side of the Moose. Seasonal beers are produced monthly and are at capacity. They are shortly to expand the brew length, fermenters and conditioning tanks. Bottling takes place at Rhymney Brewery where beer is brewed under licence. Nearby farmers are on a rota to take away the spent grain, such is its popularity among the local pigs.

After this informative and interesting visit we repaired to Spooner's Bar, at the terminus of the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway and just missed a steam train pulling out. I thought Philip was running to get to the beer first, but I misjudged him - he wanted to see the steam train! This is an interesting pub with the bar at one end of a long room and a café at the other, and then round the corner just when you think you've seen enough steam trains - a steam engine! We sampled a selection of beers including Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale, Monty's Mojo, Salopian Barry's Light Mild, and Bishop's Castle Big Nev and Golding's BB. We didn't bother with the Ruddles Best! By this time we felt we had seen the best of Porthmadog and set off for the return journey home.

For kids of all ages!

Jane & Philip Roberts