First of all, a very happy New Year to one and all. Blwyddyn Newydd dda i bob un.

GOOD BEER GUIDE 2010

It seems that no sooner is one year’s Good Beer Guide published than it’s time to start thinking about the next edition. All members are very cordially invited – urged even – to attend one of the meetings at which we shall discuss selections for the 2010 edition. The more people that turn up, the more confidence we can feel in our selection. The meetings are very informal affairs, so don’t worry that you might feel left out – you won’t be. The first meeting will be on Saturday January 10th at the Cadwgan, Market Street, Aberaeron, starting at 2.15pm. (For those coming from the Aberystwyth direction, bus 550 leaves town at 1.35). At this meeting we will need to shortlist the local entries for the next Guide. Are there any gems we’re missing? Are there any in currently which perhaps shouldn’t be? Please make every effort to attend – it’s your opinions that count. (And if you absolutely can’t make it, suggestions are always welcome on the number below). We also hope to discuss our Pub of the Year 2009 at this meeting – see below for more on this – so please do your best to attend this important and enjoyable event. There will then be six weeks to carry out the surveys of our shortlisted pubs before we meet on Monday February 23rd at the Nag’s Head, Bridge Street, Aberystwyth at 6pm .We will need completed survey forms back by this meeting please, so that we can make our final selection. And if we haven’t decided our Pub of the Year selection at the January meeting, we’ll need to do that this evening as well.

PUB OF THE YEAR

The contenders which have come to the fore in discussions so far are the Harbourmaster in Aberaeron, the Seahorse in New Quay, and the Ship and Castle in Aberystwyth. All three are very good pubs which would be very worthy winners. There’s still time to visit them to help make up your mind, and feel free to get in touch any time with your thoughts on any or all of them, or indeed to nominate another candidate – dark horses are not excluded! The criteria for the award are quality of beer (and cider if available), atmosphere and style, service and welcome, mix of clientele, sympathy with Camra’s aims, and value for money. We shall be discussing the contenders at our January meeting, with the final decision made either then or in February (see above for meeting dates and venues) . The date of the presentation will of course have to be agreed with the winning pub.

FORTHCOMING BEER FESTIVAL

Don’t forget the National Winter Ales Festival at New Century Hall in Manchester from Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th January (evenings only Wed and Thur, all day from noon Fri and Sat). While there will be plenty of session-strength beers, along with a cider and perry bar, the main focus of the festival is on old and strong ales, porters, and stouts, with a huge range of both draught and bottled beers – and also some fine pubs to explore if you can tear yourself away from the festival. Anyone attending on the Friday evening may find yours truly behind the cider and perry bar, but I’m afraid that’s a risk you’re just going to have to take. Slightly nearer to home, Wrexham sees its first beer festival for many years on Friday and Saturday 27th and 28th February at the Gresford Colliery Social Club. It’s a ticket only event, and further details are at www.chestercamra.co.uk.

MEMBERS’ WEEKEND

This year, Camra’s national Members’ Weekend, incorporating the Annual General Meeting and Conference, takes place in Eastbourne in Sussex from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th April. Yes, I know it’s a long way from Ceredigion, but I would recommend anybody to attend at least one Members’ Weekend – it’s a great way to find out more about how Camra works through both the formal and the informal business. And speaking personally, if I get the chance to visit Harvey’s Brewery of Lewes, who are sponsoring the event, that alone will justify the weekend.

Iechyd da!

Rhys Jones, Chair, CAMRA Ceredigion.