North East Wales Feature sponsored by Food & Drink Wales If you wanted proof of just how vibrant the Welsh food and drink scene is right now, you need only look at the amazing array of food and drink represented at a recent Discover North East Wales showcase hosted by Hannah Blythyn AM, Assembly Member for Delyn, at the Senydd in Cardiff in partnership with Food & Drink Wales, Food Technology Centre/Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Menter a Busnes/Fine Food Cluster. Lesley Griffiths AM Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs said: “Welsh food and drink are key components of the Welsh economy and also an essential part of the tourism offer here in Wales, giving us the opportunity to provide visitors with a real sense of place. The outstanding businesses represented at the ‘Discover North East Wales’ showcase event are prime examples of this, illustrating the strength, depth, and quality that we can offer here in Wales.” In summing up Hannah Blythyn AM said: “It was fantastic to be able to bring so many of North East Wales’ successful and emerging food and drink producers to the Senedd. I’m pleased to have been able to provide the platform to showcase what we have to offer in our corner of the country to a wide and influential audience. “The growing food and drink offer of the region not only adds to our amazing tourism offer that I’m a keen advocate of, but also provides jobs and is a key contributor to the local economy.”
A spirited performance Leading the way, were a number of companies at the forefront of the craft beer and gin boom in Wales. Since 2011 Hafod Brewery has created over 50 different beers, from Iron Age ale to IPAs, all from the four ingredients you should find in good ale: malted barley, hops, water and yeast. Using the best quality ingredients, not the cheapest, the quality of the beer speaks for itself. Cariad Gins use the purest water sourced from the foothills of the North Wales mountains, a traditional copper alembic still and six essential botanicals infused with the finest local Gorse Flowers as the basis for their wonderful, flavoured gins. Wrexham Lager is a great story of renewal and rebirth. After a slow decline at the hands of a plc, local businessmen Vaughan and Mark Roberts have brought historic Wrexham Lager, Britain’s first ever lager brewery, back to life using the original recipe, as it was on the Titanic, and garnering numerous awards and accolades along the way.
Hannah Blythyn AM
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