The Wild Side

We want to revive the tradition of farmhouse-brewed beer in the Brecon Beacons. Left Bank Brewery in the spring of 2019 and has been brewing since then, using Brecon Beacons water from a local borehole. We want to start fermenting using naturally occurring wild local yeasts and local malt, barley, and hops if we can find them.

The Left Bank Brewery is now the only Craft Brewery in the Brecon Beacons and is located in a farm on the northern edge of Llangorse Lake. We were attracted to its farm location and want to revive the tradition of ‘Farmhouse Ales’, which were brewed using the farmer’s own supply of grain, hops, and yeast as well as water, which is the biggest ingredient of beer. We have the water, from a borehole on the farm, so it’s Brecon Beacons water, and we want to start using wild yeast from the local area. It’s a similar process to making sourdough bread or cider, both of which rely upon the yeasts which are all around us.”

But what about the grain, hops, and barley? “We would be very interested to hear from any farmers who are growing grains locally. There’s an oatmeal stout which is delicious if anyone is growing oats.” 

We already brew a Session IPA, French-style Saison, Blonde, and Rye Export, as well as a Porter Stout. We are also looking at producing lagers.

But are there any benefits to drinking local beers, like there are from eating local honey? Unrefined beers, which are not pasteurised, have all sorts of vitamins which people have been benefitting from for hundreds of years, as well as the flavour, of course.