100 Beers from Wales you must try: 11-20

Here is the second post for the ‘100 Beers from Wales you must try’ series, taking us through numbers 11 to 20:

11. Crafty Devil - Safe as Milk

Canton’s Crafty Devil are establishing themselves as a prominent player on the Welsh craft beer scene. A really high quality stout. An earthy and slightly smoky nose which leads to a strong flavour of black coffee with an almost charcoal-like flavour in the background. A smooth and creamy stout with a rich earthy finish. 

12. Hopcraft - Profits of Doom

Pontyclun brewery Hopcraft’s Profits of Doom is another very good Welsh stout. Woodsmoke and earthiness on the nose, which follows onto the palate with the interesting addition of dark fruits (berries and cherries), giving a slightly sweet malt kick. A slightly sharper finish than you might expect. An interesting beer. 

13. Grey Trees - Afghan Pale Ale

Aberdare’s Grey Trees are one of Wales’ most acclaimed breweries of recent years and deservedly so. Afghan Pale is an awarding winning ale which uses vibrant North American hops. A refreshing nose with floral and tropical hop-led notes. These notes follow on to give a refreshing and crisp palate which is very drinkable indeed!

14. Lithic - Black IPA 

Relatively new brewers Lithic have produced some very good beers, including this interesting Black IPA- which is a fairly uncommon beer style. As you would expect from the name, this is a black beer but has an attractive reddish glow and a creamy head. A malty nose with roast coffee which then gives way to an interesting palate of hoppy herbs, biscuity malt and coffee. An interesting beer which is worth seeking out. 

15. Geipel - Pilsner

Corwen based brewer Geipel specialise in traditional lager varieties. This Pilsner is a classic example of the style - a sweet nose with hints of money and zesty lemon. The palate is clean and crisp with the freshness of lemon giving a citrusy hit. Light and refreshing, an exemplary Pilsner. 

16. Felinfoel - Double Dragon

One of Wales’s oldest breweries and a pioneer in their own right - being only the second brewery in the world to produce canned beer. This bitter ale is a good example of the style- copper in colour, a sweet malty nose with a hint of berry. The flavour is driven by caramel and toffee malt notes with a subtle hint of sharper fruity hops adding balance to the palate. 

17. Cwm Rhondda - Pit Head

Treorchy based Cwm Rhondda produce beers which tend to be named after valleys or mining related tropes. This golden ale has a fresh sweet nose with biscuity hints, leading to a dry bitter palate with grassy and floral notes at the back of the mouth. A slight hint of citrus which lifts this beer nicely. 

18. Well Drawn - Pale Ale

Another relative new comer, Bedwas based Well Daren’s pale ale is a solid example of the style. Making use of English hops (fuggle and target) rather than their North American counterparts, this is a more traditional British session pale. Bitter flowers and mild hops on the nose followed by a well rounded flavour which this light with herbal notes and a distant hint of black currant. 

19. Bluestone - Crystal Ruby

Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone are a very accomplished brewery with an excellent range. Crystal Ruby is an American style red ale with complex flavours. Malt and cherry on the nose with notes of citrus and warm malt coming through on the palate. This is a very good beer. 

20. Bragdy Nant - Mwnci Nel

This winter ale is a great example of the style. A rich nose with dark cherries and burnt coffee, which follow onto the palate alongside a twist of strong dark chocolate. The finish lifts the beer with a hop-driven bitterness. A delicious beer for a cold winter’s evening!