At a glance
Independent Welsh microbrewery in Porthmadog producing award-winning Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) and Glaslyn Ale (Cwrw Glaslyn). Brewery shop open to visitors; 10-min walk from Ffestiniog Railway station. LL49 9RJ.
About Purple Moose Brewery
Purple Moose Brewery — Bragdy'r Mws Piws in Welsh — has been producing award-winning ales from its base in Porthmadog since 2005. Founded by Lawrence Washington in a converted industrial unit on the edge of town, the brewery takes its inspiration from the landscape immediately surrounding it: the mountains of Eryri visible to the north and east, the Glaslyn estuary at the foot of the town, and the Llŷn Peninsula stretching west. The beer names are in Welsh — Cwrw Eryri, Cwrw Glaslyn — and reflect a genuine connection to place rather than branding convenience.
The flagship ales are well-established in North Wales pubs. Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale) is a session bitter with a citrusy, hoppy character; Cwrw Glaslyn (Glaslyn Ale) is an amber ale named after the river that flows through Beddgelert and out past the Cob into Tremadog Bay. Both are consistent award-winners in Welsh brewing competitions. A darker range and seasonal beers complement the core. The brewery is a regular supplier to pubs, restaurants, and off-licences across the region and exports to international markets.
Porthmadog is one of the railway capitals of Wales: the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway both start from the harbour station, and the Cambrian Coast Line connects the town to Barmouth and Shrewsbury to the south and to Pwllheli on the Llŷn to the west. Portmeirion is 3 miles south. The brewery shop is a 10-minute walk from the main stations.
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Frequently asked questions
Purple Moose Brewery (Bragdy'r Mws Piws in Welsh) is best known for two core ales: Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale), a light, citrusy session ale named after <span lang="cy">Eryri</span> National Park, and Cwrw Glaslyn (Glaslyn Ale), an amber ale named after the river that flows through Beddgelert and Porthmadog. Additional beers in the range include Ochr Tywyll y Mws (Dark Side of the Moose), a dark ale, and a rotating selection of seasonal and limited brews. The beers are available in bottles and on draught in pubs across North Wales and are exported to markets including the United States.
The brewery shop sells the full range of Purple Moose beers and merchandise and is open during business hours (check purplemoosebrewery.co.uk before visiting as hours vary). Brewery visits and tours are occasionally available — contact the brewery directly to enquire. The brewery is in Porthmadog town, within easy walking distance of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway stations and the harbour, making it a convenient stop as part of a day in Porthmadog.
Purple Moose ales are widely distributed across North Wales and appear in many pubs and restaurants in the region, particularly in the Snowdonia area. Look for them in pubs along the <span lang="cy">Llŷn</span> Peninsula, in Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Llandudno, and Bangor. The brewery's website lists current stockists. In Porthmadog itself, several local pubs carry the range on handpump. The beers are also sold in some supermarkets and specialist off-licences in Wales.
Purple Moose Brewery was founded in 2005 by Lawrence Washington, who established it in a converted industrial unit in Porthmadog. In the two decades since, it has grown steadily and won multiple awards, becoming one of the most respected independent breweries in Wales. The Welsh names for the beers — reflecting the <span lang="cy">Eryri</span> landscape and local rivers — have been part of the brand from the beginning and give the ales a distinctly Welsh identity.
Porthmadog is one of the best bases in southern Snowdonia. The Ffestiniog Railway — the oldest surviving narrow-gauge mountain railway in the world, running from the harbour station up to Blaenau Ffestiniog — begins its journey here, as does the Welsh Highland Railway (the longest heritage railway in Wales). Portmeirion — Clough Williams-Ellis's extraordinary Italianate fantasy village — is 3 miles south. The Porthmadog Maritime Museum on the harbour tells the story of the slate trade and the great three-masted schooners that once loaded here.