Ffos Caerffili to host new national awards celebrating the best of Welsh beer

Ffos Caerffili will take centre stage this autumn as the host venue for the grand final of the inaugural Welsh Beer Prize.

The new national competition is open to independent and commercial breweries across Wales.

Applications for the free-to-enter awards are open until July 20, with a shortlist announced in mid-August before the main celebration comes to Caerphilly in September.

Actor and comedian Mike Bubbins, star of the BBC Wales comedy Mammoth, has been announced as the first official judge and will host the awards evening.

Bubbins said: “I’d like people to join us at Ffos Caerffili this September where we’ll be celebrating Welsh breweries, Welsh brewers, and trying our very best to find the best beers in Wales. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it…”

Gareth Jones, co-founder of the Welsh Beer Prize, said: “There’s so much pressure on breweries and the hospitality sector more broadly right now, but we have a thriving community of breweries in Wales that we should be proud of.

“We wanted to organise these awards to put a spotlight on breweries, big and small, up and down the nation, and help consumers identify those breweries when they’re looking to buy local.”

Tom Williams, co-founder and owner of Lockup Bottle Shop at Ffos Caerffili, said: “With new pubs and breweries seemingly closing every other week, I think it’s important to put a spotlight on the amazing brewers we have on our doorstep.

“We hope the Welsh Beer Prize is an opportunity to showcase the fantastic beer we produce in Wales and give smaller breweries a platform to promote their quality amongst the big players in the industry.”

The competition features seven distinct categories, including lagers, pale ales, traditional ales, stouts, speciality brews, high-alcohol beers, and non-alcoholic options.