The People Have Spoken: The Top 10 Welsh Breweries on Untappd
We spend a lot of time talking about our favourite Welsh breweries here at Nearest Beer Shop, but we wanted to know what the rest of the country thinks. So, we turned to the public’s choice: Untappd.
For the uninitiated, Untappd is the world’s largest beer-rating app. The craft beer community uses it to log and score every beer they drink out of 5. It is a brilliant, brutally honest reflection of who is brewing the best beer right now.
We looked at the data, filtered out the brewpubs, cideries, and meaderies, and pulled the current top 10 highest-rated dedicated craft beer breweries in Wales. Let’s see who takes the crown.
1. Dark Element Brew Co. (Caerphilly)
Untappd Rating: 3.93 Taking the gold medal is Dark Element. Basedjust up the road in Caerphilly, they have exploded onto the scene with an uncompromising focus on modern, hazy, and hop-forward styles. (Shop note: We frequently stock Dark Element here in Bridgend, so grab them while they are fresh!)
2. Polly’s Brew Co. (Mold)
Untappd Rating: 3.93 Missing out on the top spot by a fraction of a decimal point, North Wales legends Polly’s Brew Co. take second place. Known across the UK for their world-class IPAs and Pale Ales, their consistency is incredible given the massive volume of ratings they receive.
3. Cold Shelter Brew Co. (Cwmbran)
Untappd Rating: 3.87 Cold Shelter has been quietly building a massive reputation. Operating out of Cwmbran, this microbrewery is producing some seriously highly-regarded small-batch beers that the Untappd community absolutely loves.
4. Dog’s Window Brewery (Bridgend)
Untappd Rating: 3.83 Our hometown heroes! Bridgend’s own Dog’s Window proves that nano-brewing creates serious quality. Because they brew in tiny batches, the attention to detail is off the charts. We always try to keep our fridges stocked with their latest releases.
5. BeerRiff (Swansea)
Untappd Rating: 3.80 Located right on the marina in Swansea, BeerRiff pairs a brilliant taproom experience with fantastic beer. They brew a wide variety of styles, but their hop-forward pales are what keep the Untappd ratings climbing.
6. Lucky 7 Beer Co. (Hay-on-Wye)
Untappd Rating: 3.77 Nestled in the famous town of books, Lucky 7 is a fantastic microbrewery making a big splash. They have a brilliant core range and aren’t afraid to experiment, earning them a solid spot in the top 10.
7. Anglo-Oregon Brewing Company (Newport)
Untappd Rating: 3.77 As the name suggests, this Newport-based nano-brewery takes heavy inspiration from the legendary craft beer scene of the American Pacific Northwest. If you love piney, resinous West Coast styles, they are doing it right.
8. Crafty Devil Brewing Co. (Cardiff)
Untappd Rating: 3.77 A staple of the Cardiff beer scene, Crafty Devil has been flying the flag for South Wales craft beer for years. From juicy IPAs to rich porters, they have built a fiercely loyal following both locally and on the app.
9. Wild Horse Brewing Co. (Llandudno)
Untappd Rating: 3.75 Wild Horse’s modern, unfiltered beers (like their famous Nokota Session IPA) have become iconic in North Wales and are highly sought after across the entire country.
10. Bragdy Cybi (Holyhead, Anglesey)
Untappd Rating: 3.74 Rounding out the top 10 is Bragdy Cybi, a fantastic nano-brewery operating out of Holyhead. They might be small, but they are producing incredibly well-crafted beers that clearly resonate with the Untappd community.
Taste the Top 10 in Bridgend
Want to see if you agree with the Untappd community? We regularly stock several of the breweries on this list.
Pop into Nearest Beer Shop in Bridgend to browse the fridges, or shop online for fast UK delivery. Don’t forget to check your beers in at Nearest Beer Shop on Untappd and let us know what you think!