When you’ve got nearly 245 years of brewing experience behind you, it pays to keep things in the family.
The Buckley name is synonymous with award-winning brewing in Wales, so it is no surprise to find that the latest recruit to the family’s Evan-Evans business has the famous surname.
James Buckley has joined the Llandeilo-based brewery as a seventh generation member of the longest-surviving brewing dynasty in Wales.
He is following in the footsteps of his father Simon who heads up operations at Llandeilo and holds the treasure chest of his family’s secret recipes.
James is joining head brewer Iven Kelleher at Evan-Evans.
“Iven has built up a great reputation as an award-winning brewer so it’s a great opportunity for me to build on the brewing skills I have already acquired,” said James.
This is his second stint at the brewery.
“After I left Llandovery College, I spent about a year and a half working for Evan-Evans before leaving in April, 2009, to take a brewing job at Oxfordshire Ales.
“There, I was taught and mentored by head brewer Steve Goryll, who helped me get to grips with the finer details of bottling and brewing.
“Oxfordshire Ales taught me what proper hard work is and the skills I picked up there are standing me in good stead now that I am back at Evan-Evans.
“Over the last four years, I have been lucky to be part of brewing teams that have won the following awards – second in the True Taste of Wales ’08; first with Cwrw at the GWBF ‘08 Great World Beer Festival; first in Best Golden beer in the World (voted by readers of Beers of World Magazine), beating established names like Hook Norton.
“I helped win a lucrative contract to export Oxfordshire Ales bottled beers to America in 2009 and a bronze medal at the International Brewing awards 2011.
“I am an active member of SIBA, the Small Independent Brewers’ Association, and The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD), where I am currently studying for my brewing exams and diploma.
“Being a member of the Buckley family means upholding a great and proud tradition of brewing quality ales in Wales and I am looking forward immensely to the challenges ahead as we look to grow the Evan-Evans business and leading brand names such as our Cwrw.”
