Wye Valley vs Hobsons

On the 24th July we played our annual sports match against Hobsons Brewery. This usually takes the form of a cricket match, but due to the number of injuries, this year we decided a rounders match might be a safer option.

The match turned out to be fantastic fun for everyone, with many rounders scored! Wye Valley Brewery, having lost the cricket for the last couple of years, were victorious, winning by just half a rounder!

Pictured is Tyler Davis (right), son of Hobsons Head Brewer Nick Davis, handing over the prize of the Golden Dipstick to Max Amor (left), son of Vernon Amor, Managing Director of Wye Valley Brewery.

Gold for Dorothy, again!

Dorothy Goodbody is quite used to winning gold medals for her beers, especially for her Country Ale!

Having already been awarded Gold at the SIBA Wales & West competition, the bottled beer has now been awarded gold at the International Beer Challenge 2011.

Managing Director, Vernon Amor said 'We are delighted to have won a gold medal at the IBC. It is a big pat on the back to our brewers and marketing team who combine their talents perfectly with our Dorothy Goodbody range'.

Dorothy Goodbody's Country Ale (6.0% abv) is a strong, full bodied ruby ale. You can buy it online at the Wye Valley Brewery shop.

For more information on the IBC awards visit www.offlicencenews.co.uk.

Summer Sting for August

We braved the nettle patch to bring you August's Monthly Cask Special beer - Summer Sting - back this year by popular demand. It's a lovely golden beer brewed with a late infusion of organically grown Herefordshire nettles, with a grassy aroma and sublte spicy aftertaste.

Photo shows Head Brewer Jimmy Swan picking nettles for his brew. Take care Jimmy!!

Success for Wye Valley employees

Product quality and a dedicated team of people are at the heart of Wye Valley Brewery’s values.

Val Williams, Quality Assurance Supervisor, has recently gained a Distinction grade in the Level 3 Award in HACCP for food manufacturing.

Since Val’s appointment in 2010 she has been responsible for bringing microbiological testing ‘in house’, and has strengthened Wye Valley Brewery’s commitment to maintaining the highest possible standards of product quality, and customer service.

Said Vernon Amor, Managing Director at Wye Valley Brewery, ‘At Wye Valley Brewery we make great beer using top quality raw materials, but our staff are the most important ingredient for success, investing in their training and development is essential.’

In addition to Val’s success, other members of the production team Sean Tobin, Matt Ingram and Jamie Craddock have achieved NVQ qualifications. Sean, Level 3 in Business Management, Matt and Jamie Level 2 in Team Leading.

Pictured is Val Williams with her certificate.

Wye Valley Brewery Wins Medium Business of the Year

A very proud Vernon Amor, MD of Wye Valley Brewery received the award for Medium Business of the Year 2011 award at Hereford & Worcester Chamber of Commerce Awards last Thursday. Said Vernon, "I am absolutely over the moon for me and everybody at the brewery. We are a relatively small business and it really is a collective effort. We are really really pleased."

The judges said that Wye Valley Brewery had shown 'real initiative' in selecting their market base and had clearly identified where their growth was going to be coming from.

Ancient Briton gets local CAMRA vote for 3rd year running!

Congratulations to the Ancient Briton at Pen-y-Cae in the Upper Swansea Valley, which has been voted the Pub of the Year for a record third consecutive year by the Neath Port Talbot Branch of the CAMRA.

A special presentation was held at the pub on Saturday 16th July, attended by members of both the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea branches who were ferried to the Event in a specially hired vintage double decker bus. Bar Manager Hywel Roberts was presented with certificates by Neath Port Talbot Chairman, John Skinner, for the Branch Pub of the Year 2011 and for the Runner Up for the South and Mid Wales Pub of the Year 2010.

The pub regularly features a superb range of real ales from breweries from all parts of the country, including Wye Valley Brewery Beers, dispensed from the impressive array of thirteen handpumps that now adorn the main bar.

The occasion was made even more special by celebrating CAMRA's fortieth anniversary with a special cake that was cut by landlady Janine David. It certainly proved to be the icing on the cake as far as the Ancient Briton is concerned.



Photographed(left to right): Gerald James, licensee; John Skinner, chairman Neath Port Talbot CAMRA; Hywel Roberts, Bar Manager; Wynford Day, secretary Neath Port Talbot CAMRA.

Ledbury Food Festival

We enjoyed a lovely sunny day out at Ledbury Food Festival on Sunday 3rd July. Thank you to those who came along and bought our bottle conditioned beer to enjoy at home. Andy from The Talbot popped to our stall and took our picture, Thanks Andy!