QUAY Arts returned to its brewery warehouse roots by hosting a beer festival last weekend.
The opening, last Thursday, was attended by many, including members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who enjoyed the three specially made ales, Quay Amber Ale, Oatmeal Stout and Lunchtime Ale.
All three were produced by Island Ales in a style Mew Langton would have recognised when the Quay’s buildings were a warehouse.
The barrel of stout almost sold out on the night, which featured Jeff Sechiari’s talk about the Mew Langton brewery.
Descendants from the family brewery, brothers Andrew and Peregrine Langton, attended the event and donated some family items to a display, which will be on show until the end of March.
A range of foreign beers Quay Arts will be stocking were also launched.
Quay Arts’ Paul Armfield said: "An introductory beer tasting was very well attended and the strong Belgian beers proved popular with the young crowd who turned out for Chalkpit Records’ gig on Friday night.
"Star of Howard’s Way Graham Pountney adapted his talk on Shakespeare to include his many references to beer and Graham’s son, Charlie, a professional beer sommelier, came from London and was hugely impressed with the selection of foreign beers, even discovering a new favourite."
Sunday began with a traditional Bavarian Beer Breakfast and a recital in the West Gallery with musicians Kirsten Xanthippe and Chris Hirst.
The Minghella Theatre was full for an afternoon performance by the Island Youth Wind Band and, in the cafe, Last Orders were joined by other musicians in an Irish session.
The barrels sold out during the final two events, when Bill Shepard was made a modern freeman of Newport and an entertaining slideshow on the pubs of Newport was presented by harbourmaster Wayne Pritchett.

Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk