NEW COMMITTEE

Following this summer’s Annual General Meeting, there’s just one change to the Committee of the Ceredigion branch of Camra: Kathy Giles steps down as Secretary with our grateful thanks after two years’ service, and is replaced by Sara Dyer. So the new line-up is: Chair Rhys Jones; Secretary Sara Dyer; Treasurer Chris Giles; Committee members Ian James, Nia Richards, Adam Watkin-Jones.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Our next branch meeting will be in the Druid, Goginan, on Monday 7th September at 6 pm. (The 525 bus leaves Aberystwyth at 5.40 pm. Lifts and/or taxi-sharing back will no doubt be arranged on the night). Licensee packs for the 2010 Good Beer Guide will be available for distribution.

On Saturday 26th September we’re having a trip by train to the beer festival at the Ty Mawr, Llanbedr, between Barmouth and Harlech. The train leaves Machynlleth at 11am, with connecting train from Aberystwyth at 9.30 (or the bus at 9.45 would also make it). Trains back run every two hours, so the itinerary can be appropriately fluid, with the possibility of also visiting the Branwen at Harlech (and those who called there on the way back from Purple Moose in the spring will remember what a good time we had). The Conwy branch of Camra will also be attending the Ty Mawr, so a good opportunity to meet and compare notes.

BEER FESTIVALS

Sadly, there is no Shrewsbury beer festival this year owing to difficulties in finding a suitable venue. However, September’s second weekend brings a festival at the Severn Valley Railway station at Bridgnorth. This atmospheric venue will be open on Friday September 11th and Saturday 12th from 11am to midnight, and there’s a drinking-up session on the Sunday.

This year’s Carmarthen Beer Festival at St Peter’s Civic Hall in Nott Square runs from Thursday 24th September (opening at 5pm) to Saturday 26th September (all day from noon Friday and Saturday). The same weekend sees the Great British Cheese Festival at Cardiff Castle – and where you have cheese, you really need beer and cider as well, so the Cardiff branch of Camra will be running a real ale and cider bar at the event on Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th September.

CIDER IN OCTOBER

October is Camra’s cider and perry month, and there’s just space to highlight a couple of events.

On Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th October the National Trust property Erddig near Wrexham holds its annual Apple Festival featuring displays on all manner of apple-related subjects, cider-making demonstrations by Ralph Owen of Ralph’s Cider in Radnorshire and a cider and perry bar majoring on Welsh producers (with yours truly among those serving – but don’t let that put you off). Then on Saturday 24th October and Sunday 1st November there are apple days at Llanerchaeron featuring cider-making demonstrations by Toloja Cider of Dihewyd.

Iechyd da!

Rhys Jones, Chair, Ceredigion Branch.