Great Orme Brewery is celebrating its millionth pint pulled just days after one of its ales won a Champion Beer of Wales award.
The Glan Conwy brewery’s Welsh Black real ale beat off strong competition in Cardiff to win the Mild category at the CAMRA event.
It marked a hat trick of milestones for Great Orme Brewery, which during Jubilee Week sold 100 casks in a week for the first time.
The millionth pint was drawn at real ale pub the Red Lion Hotel in Old Colwyn, with John being the lucky recipient.
Jonathan Hughes from Great Orme Brewery was there to see the pint being pulled. “It has been a fantastic fortnight for the brewery. First the milestone of reaching 100 casks sold in a week, then the Champion Beer of Wales award for Welsh black and now our millionth pint being pulled is the icing on the cake.”
Jonathan explained that the Champion Beers of Wales Award had particular significance to the brewery because it won through votes cast by real ale drinkers.
“When creating a real ale you work hard to get it just right, but don’t know if everyone will agree with you until the casks and bottles are sent off,” he said. “When peers or real ale writers appreciate what you do it is hugely important, but you can’t beat a great review by a customer. ”
The millionth pint was pulled at the Red Lion’s real ale club, which takes place every Thursday, where customers have nine beers to choose from.
Publican Debby Hughes of the Red Lion said: “We have been stocking Great Orme beers since the brewery started almost seven years ago and the real ales have always been very popular. It’s great to be part of this milestone for such an excellent local brewery.”
The brewery, set up in 2005 has recently expanded, with Jonathan taking on a new brewer. It is also one of four micro-breweries running the Albion in Conwy. The pub, which opened its doors earlier this year, is the first of its kind to be jointly managed by rival breweries.
A year ago Great Orme Brewery utilised the soft Snowdonia water that feeds the brewery to launch into the lager market. Bottles of 1085 Snowdon’s Lager are also now available at the summit of the famous mountain itself.
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