When youve 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 familys Evan-Evans business has the famous surname.
James Buckley, 22, 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, 53, who heads up operations at Llandeilo and holds the treasure chest of his familys 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 its 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 brewing and bottling.
Oxfordshire Ales taught me the meaning of proper hard work. It is this and the technical skills I picked up there that 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 Welsh Beer Festival; and first in Best Golden beer in the World (voted by readers of Beers of World Magazine), beating established names like Hook Norton.
We were also successful in winning a lucrative contract to export Oxfordshire Ales bottled beers to America in 2009. As well as a bronze medal with Evan-Evans at the International Brewing awards this year.
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 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.

James Buckley, left, with Evan-Evans head brewer Iven Kelleher.
James Buckleys family have brewed in Wales since 1767.
Evan-Evans has a reputation for brewing the highest quality cask-conditioned beers.
Evan-Evans is Waless largest specialist brewer of cask ale.
The company started brewing in 2004 to produce specialist cask ales for the Welsh and national guest ale market.
The brewing heritage of the Buckley family stretches back to the early 19th century after the Rev James Buckley married the eldest daughter of Henry Child who had founded Childs Brewery in Llanelli. It was set up to slake the thirst of the towns tinworkers, who were rapidly increasing in numbers.
Simon Buckley was the last Buckley to brew at Llanelli before moving to London in 1984. Buckleys Brewery had the distinction of being the only Welsh brewer to hold a royal warrant. In 1991 it became Crown Buckley when it was taken over by a subsidiary of Guinness. It was sold to Brains in 1997 and the Llanelli Brewery closed a year later.
Evan-Evans was founded in Llandeilo in 2003 and began brewing in 2004.
It is named after William Evan-Evans who married into the family four generations ago.
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