The Celt Experience Brewery might have one eye on Welsh mythology, but they’ve also got a clear vision of where they want to go.

In a relatively short space of time, founder Tom Newman has built up his brewery in Caerphilly in South Wales, boasting a well respected core range of beers and an abundance of seasonal specials, big hitters and collaborative brews with the likes of Wiper + True, Salopian, BrewDog and Alechemy.

Like the best breweries, the Celt Experience has its roots in home-brewing: Tom learnt his craft on a wee brewkit in his father’s garage, and later landed his first brewery job before he’d even turned 18.

Along the way, Tom upscaled and bought a brewkit from a defunct brewery, turning the demise of a business into the birth of another: he launched his brewery in 2003 and put Welsh folklore at the heart of Celt Experience’s branding and ethos.

The team at Celt have also been looking at using wild yeasts and bacteria to develop traditional farmhouse beers, another example of the brewery employing ancient ideas to move forwards; something that’s becoming increasingly common among the more innovative breweries in the UK and US.

Earlier this month, the Celt Experience team showcased their beers at the Bow Bar in Edinburgh, while at the beginning of February they hosted a fire festival in their home town of Caerphilly. They’re now planning on turning the beer, food, music and art event into an annual fixture.
 

Goddess of the Spring saison (6%)

A gorgeous beer to see in the start of the better weather. This strawberry-fuelled saison has a typically tangy reek with elements of berries creeping in, both in the aroma and the beer’s colour. First taste is a tart blast of sourness that quickly retreats leaving a reminiscence of strawberries. Clean, dry and refreshing, this one will mind you of jam on toast.
 

Dark Age mild (4%)

A nod to Arthurian times, this enjoyable, medium-bodied session beer pours a dark ruby-brown beer. Inhale it by the fireside and you’ll find coffee, chocolate and caramel notes … as well as some smoke. In the glass, the medium bitterness and fruity hop sweetness work well together, with roasted and spicy flavours also coming through. A pint for those evenings when winter decides it hasn’t quite finished with us yet.
 

Bleddyn 1075 IPA (5.6%)

A very lively IPA named after the king who ruled Wales until 1075AD (which, beer geeks may be interested to know, was also the beer’s original gravity). Lovely resinous and grapefruit notes, along with an aroma of Granny Smith, rest against a moderate bitterness that eases off to leave a crisp, dry and rounded finish, with some residual fruity sweetness, while that hefty carbonation helps reset the palate.
 

Brigid Fire smoked rye IPA (6.3%)

Named after the Celtic goddess of poetry and healing (and who later became patron saint of Ireland), this pungent beer has a complex and nourishing character. Made with continental yeast, smoked wheat and New Zealand hops, it sits you by the fireside and feeds you flavours of orange, resin and spices, before a rewarding and beautifully balanced finish.