LOVE LOCAL
Taste of the West top three wines, spirits and liqueurs:
Fowey Valley Cider
“Fowey Valley Eau de Vie”, Cornwall Old Chapel Brendon
“Wicked Wolf Exmoor Gin”, Devon Sharpham Vineyard
“Sharpham Sparkling Blanc”, Devon
The best local beer
While the South West is known for its cider, it also has a thriving beer industry. As well as being home to giants such as St Austell Brewery and Sharp’s, you’ll find a whole host of smaller independents, using wild yeasts, intriguing ingredients and a combination of both old and new brewing methods to create their brews.
The best way to discover the region’s finest beers is to visit a local beer festival – and there are several coming up this summer. Here are our picks…
Kingsbeer Festival, Kingswear, Devon: July 15th to 17th: With beautiful views over the River Dart and over 50 ales to choose from, the selection is listed on the festival website.
www.kingsbeerfestival.com
Beer & Bluegrass Festival, Poole, Dorset: July 22nd to 23rd: This annual event combines live music with a huge selection of ales, including plenty of local options.
www.poolerhythmroots.co.uk
Taste of the West top three hot drinks:
Dorset Tea
“Golden Blend”, Dorset Henny & Joes
“H&J Chocolate Chai Infusion”, Bath Westcountry Tea Co.
“Time Out Tea – Camomile & Elderflower”, Cornwall
Dobwalls Beer Festival, Dobwalls, Cornwall: July 22nd to 23rd: All profits from this charity festival go to the Cornwall Air Ambulance. All beers and ciders will be 100% Cornish.
www.facebook.com/dobwallsbeerfest
Weston-super-Mare Real Ale & Cider Festival, Somerset: July 29th to 31st: Now in its 9th year, this charity festival gives visitors the chance to try a huge range of beers, both local and from further afield.
www.westonlionsrealalefestival.org.uk
Taste of the West top four beers:
Arkells Brewery “Kingsdown”, Swindon
Exeter Brewery “Avocet”, Devon Dartmoor Brewery
“Jail Ale Commemorative Strong Ale”, Devon
St Austell Brewery “Proper Job”, Cornwall
Heavenly hot drinks
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more… the South West has it all. There are numerous coffee roasters across the region: DJ Miles in Somerset offering both raw and roasted beans, Cornish speciality coffee roaster Origin Coffee whose blends you’ll find throughout the South West, and Bristol-based Extract Coffee, from whom you can even buy coffee subscription gifts, to name but a few.
We’re lucky enough to have the UK’s first and only tea grower – Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall – as well as businesses such as Bristol’s Cox & Baloney and Pukka, who create fantastic herbal and fruity blends.
And don’t forget the mulled cider during the colder months! A true West Country-style hot drink, we recommend the Wassail from Cornish Orchards: a blend of cider, apple juice and spices.
42 | THE WEST COUNTRY FOODLOVER
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