Getting to know Welsh beer
Wales has quietly built a really fun beer scene. It is smaller and more low-key than in England or Germany, but full of character, local ingredients, and strong regional pride. A pint in a Welsh pub often feels as much about the people and the place as it does about the drink itself, with conversation, atmosphere, and community all playing a part.
The word “beer” in Welsh is “cwrw” (pronounced a bit like “koo-roo”). You will see it on pub signs, menus, and brewery logos across the country. Traditional Welsh ale is often malty, slightly sweet, and made for easy drinking, but modern brewers now make everything from crisp lagers to punchy IPAs, rich stouts, and experimental seasonal brews.
This guide focuses on accessible, widely liked beers from Wales that are worth seeking out while travelling. It is not a complete list of every brewery, but a friendly starting point for planning what to try on your trip and understanding how beer fits into everyday life in Wales.
How to enjoy beer in Wales
Before diving into specific names, it helps to know how beer culture works in Wales. Most discoveries happen in three places: pubs, taprooms, and local shops. Exploring all three gives you a rounded picture of how people actually drink in different parts of the country.
Pubs are the heart of Welsh beer culture. Many are centuries old, with low beams, fireplaces, slate floors, and regulars who know everyone by name. They can feel cosy in winter and lively in summer. Ordering a “pint of local cwrw” is often enough for the bartender to recommend something from nearby. If you are unsure, it is perfectly normal to ask for a small taster before deciding, especially if there are several hand-pulled ales on the bar.
Taprooms are attached to breweries and feel more modern and casual. Here, breweries serve their own beers fresh from the source, often with food trucks, simple snacks, or street food pop-ups. These are great places to try several small glasses instead of committing to a full pint, and to chat with staff who know the beers well. Some taprooms also offer tours, where you can see the brewing equipment and learn how ingredients like Welsh water and local malt shape the final flavour.
Supermarkets, corner shops, and independent bottle shops also stock plenty of beers from Wales. If you are staying in a cottage or apartment, picking up a mixed selection of different Welsh beers is a relaxed way to sample more styles over a few evenings. Independent shops often label shelves by region, so you can easily compare beers from North, Mid, and South Wales and spot limited releases or seasonal specials.
Several Welsh breweries now print the Welsh for beer (“cwrw”) proudly on labels, along with bilingual descriptions. Reading the label can be a fun way to pick up a few words of Welsh while you sip, and it is a quick way to spot which beers are genuinely local.
Classic Welsh ales to try
Traditional Welsh ale tends to be darker and maltier than many modern craft beers. These are the comforting, steady pints that go well with pub food and rainy evenings, offering gentle bitterness rather than intense hop flavours. If you enjoy a slower pace and a more old-fashioned pub feel, these are a good place to start.
Brains SA – The Cardiff favourite
Brains SA is one of the most famous beers from Wales. Brewed in Cardiff, it has been a local staple for generations and is closely associated with the city’s pub culture. The style is often described as a “Welsh ale” or “best bitter” – amber in colour, with gentle caramel and biscuit flavours and a balanced bitterness that does not overpower the malt.
It is not a flashy beer, but that is exactly the appeal. Brains SA is the kind of pint locals drink every week, not just on special occasions. It is easy to drink, pairs well with classic pub dishes like steak and ale pie, fish and chips, or a Sunday roast, and feels very “local Cardiff”. Many city pubs, especially in and around the capital, will have Brains on tap. For a visitor, ordering an SA is a simple way to experience everyday Welsh pub culture and join in with what people around you are drinking.
Felinfoel Double Dragon – A true Welsh original
Felinfoel Brewery, based near Llanelli in South Wales, is one of the oldest breweries in the country and was among the first in the UK to can beer. Its signature beer, Double Dragon, is often called “Wales’s oldest beer brand”. This is a rich, reddish ale with a smooth, slightly sweet malt character and a gentle, drying finish.
Double Dragon is a good choice for those who like traditional British ales and want something with a bit more depth and history behind it. It works well with roasted meats, pies, and hearty dishes, but is also satisfying on its own as a slow-sipping pint by the fire. You will find it more often in South and West Wales, especially in traditional pubs that like to stock local favourites and celebrate long-standing Welsh breweries.
Tudor Brewery Black Rock – A taste of the Valleys
Smaller Welsh breweries have become very good at producing characterful bitters and dark ales that reflect their local area. One nice example is Black Rock from Tudor Brewery in Blaenavon, a town in the South Wales Valleys known for its industrial heritage and dramatic landscapes.
Black Rock is a dark, malty bitter with roasted notes and a gentle hop finish, more about smooth flavour than high strength. It is a great match for cold days and goes nicely with lamb dishes, casseroles, or strong cheddar. Pubs around the Valleys and Monmouthshire area sometimes have it on cask, and it often appears in local shops in bottles, making it a good souvenir from a visit to this part of Wales.
Modern Welsh craft beers and lagers
Traditional ales are still popular, but modern breweries in Wales have fully embraced the craft beer movement. This means more variety: IPAs, pale ales, stouts, sours, and crisp Welsh lager are now easy to find, especially in cities and tourist areas. Many new-wave breweries experiment with hops from around the world while still using local water and, where possible, regional ingredients.
If you already enjoy modern craft beer, you will recognise many of the styles on Welsh bar counters. If you are new to them, you can still explore at your own pace by starting with lower-strength pale ales or lagers and moving on to stronger, more intense beers later.
Tiny Rebel (Newport) – Colourful and creative
Tiny Rebel, based in Newport, is one of the best-known modern Welsh breweries. Its cans are easy to spot: bold colours, playful names, and a cartoon-style bear logo. Despite the fun packaging, the beers are solid and well-made, and the brewery has won awards in the UK and beyond.
A few widely available options worth trying:
- Clwb Tropica – A fruity pale ale with tropical flavours, soft and juicy rather than bitter. This is a good stepping stone for people who usually drink lager but want to try something more aromatic.
- Stay Puft – A sweet, marshmallow-flavoured porter; unusual but surprisingly approachable, with chocolate and vanilla notes that make it feel like a dessert beer.
- Cwtch – A red ale that mixes malt sweetness with hops; “cwtch” is a Welsh word for cuddle or cosy hug, and the beer aims for that same comforting balance.
Tiny Rebel has its own bars in Newport and Cardiff, which are convenient spots to sample several different styles in one visit. Staff are usually happy to recommend something based on what you already like, so it is worth mentioning whether you prefer lighter or darker beers, sweeter or more bitter flavours.
Brecon Brewing and other mid-Wales gems
In mid-Wales, Brecon Brewing uses the landscape as inspiration, naming many beers after local hills and landmarks. The beers are designed to be drinkable and food-friendly rather than extreme, making them ideal for long lunches or relaxed evenings after a day outdoors.
Look for:
- Welsh Beacons – A golden ale with a clean, refreshing taste and a gentle bitterness that makes it easy to pair with simple dishes like grilled chicken, salads, or fish.
- Red Beacons – A slightly darker, maltier version that still stays light and easy-going, good with burgers, sausages, or a plate of local cheeses.
Breweries in this region often appear on tap in rural pubs near walking routes, especially around the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog). After a hike, a cold local beer on a pub terrace can feel like the perfect reward and a chance to take in the scenery at a slower pace.
Great Orme, Purple Moose and other North Wales beers
For visitors heading to Snowdonia, Anglesey, or Llandudno, the local north Wales beer scene is well worth exploring. Two names appear regularly: Great Orme Brewery and Purple Moose (often seen as Cwrw Mŵs Piws in Welsh).
From Great Orme, look for:
- Great Orme Brewery’s Celtica – A pale, continental-style beer that feels similar to a light lager but with a bit more flavour and a subtly herbal hop character.
- Snowdon Craft Lager – A clean and crisp beer from Wales that is easy to enjoy after a day in the mountains, especially if you want something cold, simple, and refreshing.
From Purple Moose (based in Porthmadog):
- Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) – Light, refreshing, and perfect for those who prefer lower-strength beers that can be enjoyed over a long afternoon without feeling heavy.
- Dark Side of the Moose – A darker ale with chocolate and roasted notes, gentle rather than heavy, ideal for cooler evenings or pairing with rich stews and desserts.
Many pubs across North Wales proudly list these on their blackboards. Shops near tourist areas, such as Betws-y-Coed or Caernarfon, usually have a shelf full of local bottles and cans to bring back as souvenirs. Picking up a few different labels is an easy way to compare how breweries in the same region interpret pale, amber, and dark styles.
The phrase “beer Welsh” might not sound natural in English, but in Wales, seeing “Cwrw Cymru” (Welsh beer) on a label is a good sign you are buying something made locally rather than imported. It is a simple phrase that helps you support regional producers wherever you travel in the country.
Beyond beer: cider, lager and other Welsh beverages
While beer is a big part of Welsh drinking culture, it is not the only option. Some pubs and bars focus heavily on Welsh beverages more generally, offering cider, gin, and even locally produced wine, often listed on a separate “Welsh drinks” section of the menu.
Cider is especially common in rural areas with apple orchards. Welsh ciders range from very dry and tannic to sweet and fruity, sometimes with single-variety apple bottlings. If beer does not appeal, asking for a local cider is a good alternative that still supports regional producers and gives you a taste of the countryside in a glass.
Welsh lager has also grown in popularity. Several breweries now make crisp, continental-style lagers designed for easy drinking. These are good for those who like straightforward, refreshing drinks without strong bitterness or heavy flavours, and they suit warm days, barbecues, and casual meals particularly well.
Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol versions of Welsh beers are starting to appear as well. Some breweries offer 0.5% versions of their popular lagers and ales, often available in supermarkets and larger pubs. This can be a handy option for drivers, people pacing themselves over a long evening, or those who simply prefer to keep things light while still enjoying the taste of cwrw.
Practical tips for beer lovers visiting Wales
To get the most out of beer tasting in Wales, a little planning helps, but there is still plenty of room for spontaneity and chance discoveries in small villages or out-of-the-way towns.
- Ask for local recommendations. Saying “Which local cwrw do you recommend?” usually gets a friendly response and a good suggestion. Bartenders and regulars often enjoy explaining which brewery is nearby or which beer is new on tap.
- Check strength (ABV). Traditional ales can look light but still be strong. The menu or pump clip usually shows the percentage, so you can decide whether to stay with session-strength beers or try something a bit more powerful.
- Try cask and keg. Cask ale (served from hand-pulled pumps) is softer and less fizzy, with a more rounded mouthfeel. Keg beer is colder and more carbonated, often suiting lagers, IPAs, and stouts. Many pubs offer both, letting you compare how the same style can feel very different.
- Explore brewery taprooms. A quick search for “brewery near me” often reveals small local operations with weekend opening hours and a relaxed atmosphere. Taprooms are ideal if you like tasting flights, chatting to brewers, or buying fresh beer to take away.
- Look out for festivals. Beer festivals, sometimes organised by local CAMRA branches or breweries, offer the chance to taste many Welsh beers in one place. They are also a sociable way to meet locals and pick up tips on other pubs and breweries worth visiting.
Visitors from the United States sometimes arrive in Wales after having searched for “north wales beer north wales pa”, mixing up North Wales in the UK with North Wales, Pennsylvania. The two are very different places, but both have their own brewing traditions. If you are already familiar with American craft beer, Welsh breweries will feel exciting but not intimidating: you will recognise styles like IPA and stout, but with a distinct local twist in terms of ingredients, naming, and pub culture.
Key takeaways
Welsh beer blends long-standing pub traditions with a modern, playful craft scene. The word “cwrw” is a good one to remember, as it opens doors to local recommendations, helps you read menus and labels, and gives a small connection to the language and identity of the country.
Classic names like Brains SA and Felinfoel Double Dragon give a taste of traditional Welsh ale, while breweries such as Tiny Rebel, Brecon Brewing, Great Orme, and Purple Moose show how diverse and creative beer from Wales has become. Together, they cover everything from easy-drinking golden ales to darker, richer beers and modern, hop-forward styles.
Whether you are sitting in a centuries-old pub in a small village, a lively bar in Cardiff, or a taproom near the mountains of North Wales, there is almost always an interesting Welsh beer to try. A relaxed approach works best: ask what is local, try something new, and enjoy discovering how much character can fit into a single pint of cwrw – and how much of Wales’s landscape, history, and language finds its way into the glass.