WHR (Caernarfon) Rail Ale Festival 2011

Rail Ale
May 20th - 22nd 2011

The Rail Ale weekend is now an established date in the Welsh Highland Railway's calender and 2011 was no exception.

Dafydd Thomas reports:

"The Real Ale Festival was once again an exceptional success, numbers attending were up, which surprised us on Saturday evening which was very wet and windy. Friday evening was very busy with the Goods Shed and adjoining marquee almost full to capacity, as well as a large number outside enjoying a pleasant evening.

All the cider and perry on offer had gone by the end of the evening. Saturday's weather confined almost everyone indoors but despite the weather a good time was had by all, being entertained in the afternoon by 'The Rough Shunters' & 'Gadjo Gypsy Jazz'; the evening entertainment was the ever popular 'Y Moniars'.

By the end of Saturday night the number of upturned (empty) barrels had grown substantially leaving not much choice for those coming on Sunday. Sunday turned out to be quiet despite the far better weather. Over the weekend the trains, especially the shuttles between Caernarfon, Dinas and Waunfawr, were well patronised."

The images show the marquees, with the remains of the tender of NG15 no 133 in the foreground of the second image:

Rail Ale May 20th-22nd 2011

The festival will take place over the weekend of Friday May 20th to Sunday May 22nd. It is based at Dinas as usual with various hostelries close to the railway, together with one some distance away, taking part as well. Those taking part are:

The ‘Snowdonia Parc Brewpub’ at Waunfawr; the pub with its own acclaimed microbrewery alongside the railway’s station at Waunfawr, where there is also a fine selection of food available. The pub also has its own caravan and campsite alongside the railway.

The ‘Black Boy Inn’, Caernarfon will have a choice of beers on offer as well as providing a tempting menu of locally sourced food and also accommodation.

The Newborough Arms, Bontnewydd. This new venue joins the list of those participating in this year's Festival. The Newborough Arms will be offering a small selection of Real Ales and also serves lunchtime and evening meals. This venue is accessible from the railway'sBontnewydd Halt, which is a short walk from the centre of the village.

Ty'n Llan, Landwrog. This venue is 2.5miles distant from Dinas

The 'Royal Goat' in Beddgelert. A newcomer to Rail Ale this year and also a sponsor of the event.

The provisional list of beers is:

The list of Sponsors so far is:

Black Country Pig On The Wall

Kingstone Humpty's Fuddle

Wye Valley Butty Bach, Dorothy Goodbody.

Bull Mastiff Brindle

Beartown Brewery Bear Ass, Kodiak Gold.

Brecon Brewery Cribyn, Ramblers Ruin.

Woods Brewery Wheatear

Blue Monkey BG Sips

Purple Moose Cwrw Eryri, Cwrw Glaslyn, Cwrw Madog, Ochr Tywyll y Miws.

Bryncelin Brewery Oh Boy

Rowton Brewery Meteorite

Llangollen Brewery Llangollen Bitter

Mayfields Brewery Pioneer Bee

Dark Star Brewery Hophead

Montys Midnight, Sunshine, Mojo, Mischief.

Corvedale Dark & Delicious

Evan Evans May Special, Archers Golden.

Saltaire Brewery Elderflower

Enville Enville Ale, Chainmakers Mild.

Bragdy Nant Brewery Chwaden Aur, Mwnci Nel, Chwerw Haf.

Elland Brewery Bargee, Eden Ale.

Phoenix Brewery Arizona

Otley Dark O, O1.

Great Orme Great Welsh,Welsh Black, Celtica.

Salopian Oracle

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild, Pale Amber.

Heart of Wales Welsh Black

Holdens Golden Glow

Swansea Deep Slade Dark

Marble Brewery Lagonda IPA

Vale of Glamorgan Chocs Away, Wheat's Occurin?

Jacobi Dark

Fuzzy Duck Cunning Stunt

Windsor Castle JPA

Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri.

Brunswick Ironworks, Caernarfon.

Travis Perkins, Caernarfon.

Ivan’s Taxi, Penygroes.

Designer Signs, Penygroes.

Axis Precision Ltd, Penygroes.

J & M Transport, Llanwnda.

Gelli Civil Engineering, Llanfrothen, Penrhyndeudraeth.

Purple Moose Brewery, Porthmadog.

Ystwyth Ales, Aberystwyth.

Monty’s Brewery, Montgomery.

Evan Evans Brewery, Llandeilo.

Gwasg Dwyfor, Penygroes.

Parciau Farm, Llanfairisgaer.

Dwyfor Coffee Company, Nefyn.

Newborough Arms, Bontnewydd.

Ty’n Llan, Llandwrog.

Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert.

RJS Scaffolding, Penygroes.

Blackboy Inn, Caernarfon.

Gypsy Wood Park, Bontnewydd.

Moduron H G Jones Motors, Penygroes.

Blas Mȏn, Rhosgoch.

G E Tools, Y Rhyl.

Micrographics Colour Imaging Ltd, Llandudno Junction.

Caldo Oil Co - Hallett Oils, St Helens.

I T Davies Fencing, Trawsfynydd.

There will be entertainment at various timed duing the weekend and the following is confirmed so far:

Friday afternoon - Neil Wilde - see his website - www.neilwilde.com

Friday evening ‘Gwibdaith Hen Frân’ a popular local band of young musicians.

Saturday afternoon - back by popular demand: 'The Rough Shunters'. Also the Welsh harpist Siân Jones.

Saturday evening the usual stalwarts ‘Y Moniars’ who will play their usual mix of rock and pop.

Sunday afternoon – some local folk musicians come together for a jam session.

More details are available, including train ticket pricing for the weekend, on the FR/WHR website

LATEST NEWS - There will be 58 beers + 9 ciders at Dinas to choose from and a choice of 9 beers at the Snowdonia Brewpub, Waunfawr

Back to Special Events, or WHR Project homepage

Authored by Ben Fisher; last updated May 25th, 2011 byDavid Tidy