Meadow Farm Shop

In his continuing search for the world's best beer shops, Des de Moor visits rural Wales.

No longer a land of keg-only pubs closed on Sundays, Wales is currently one of Britain’s most dynamic brewing regions.

The nation’s cultural independence and distinctiveness has been boosted further by devolution, including a renewed pride in its beer – whether from old-established independents celebrating their traditions, or the innovative new crop of small breweries springing from the hills and valleys of the mountainous principality. And many of them are finding that bottling plays an increasingly important role in the business plan, as craft-brewed beer complements other local produce in village shops and on market stalls for the pleasure and interest of visitors and residents alike.

A good time, then, for someone to specialise in selling Welsh bottled beer, which is just what Edward Biggs and his wife Tori thought when considering options for expanding their Monmouthshire farm shop. They’d given up earning a living renovating property and opened Meadow Farm Shop as an outlet for their organic fruit and veg and homemade produce in 2004.

Last summer they added The Welsh Beer Shop, and soon afterwards heard one of their suppliers, Kingstone Brewery in nearby Whitebrook, was to close. Edward, a former home brewer, seized the opportunity to buy the name, recipes and plant, which is now back in action at Meadow Farm.

Around a dozen other brewers from all over Wales are featured besides the extensive Kingstone range: Breconshire and Ffos y Ffin are best sellers but they al.....

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By Des de Moor

Section : Spotlight

Page number : 52