Pub Awards: Best Beer finalist - Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd, Wales

Run by ex-fashion photographer and chef Nick Otley, the Bunch of Grapes puts as much effort into its beer range as it does its superb food offer.

The pub has eight cask ales available from independent brewers, including three flagship beers from Otley’s award-winning brewery. The expanding brewery “makes beers for the new adventurous drinker who craves new tastes and aromas” and the Bunch, as it is known locally, serves as a perfect venue to showcase those beers.

As you would expect, beer quality is top notch with a forensic focus on cellar management. As reigning CAMRA Pub of the Year for Wales, the pub encourages beer enthusiasts to try something new and interesting through beer flights and staff recommendations. The pub has begun to push craft keg beer through the installation of five new keg lines, which allows it to feature more UK and international brewers.

Programme

A beer swap programme through the brewery allows access to different brewers, complemented by the use of independent wholesalers. A regular schedule of beer-focused events such as a ‘Grape vs Grain’ night, food pairing evenings, beer festivals, meet the brewer nights and brewery visits aims to increase loyalty and broaden horizons.

Staff are encouraged to build their knowledge through monthly ‘beer academy’ sessions that include tastings and brewery trips. There is a takeaway beer offer and the pub is very active on social media.