Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale – UK Good Beer Guide

40 years ago the really essential up-to-date reading matter for any British student worth their salt was the new 'Good Beer Guide' by Roger Protz. At that point Britain was in the beer dark ages, threatened with being overwhelmed by nasty chemical brews such as Watney's Red Barrel and a host of pissy continental lagers or gassy iced American 'beers'. Hard times, indeed…

Protz and his friends at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) struck a chord with an unlikely mix of boring old Daily Telegraph reading farts, radical students, ramblers, cyclists, campers, caravaners, golfers, tourists of all sorts and beer bores/experts in general. CAMRA backed both independent or freehold pubs and encouraged larger pub chains to start stocking guest ales from the smaller breweries, brewed by traditional methods.

The campaign steadily increased in effectiveness and now, 40 years on, nearly every pub in Britain can offer you a choice of decent, traditionally brewed pints. In addition, CAMRA has supported the trend for pubs to offer decent food. While some nutters might claim that the new 'gastro pubs' have been the downfall of the traditional British drinking establishment, it has actually meant that you can now take the family out, or meet a friend for a decent meal at a convivial pub / restaurant which doesn't cost the earth and is a good deal more enjoyable and usually tastier than the average fast food establishment.

Back in the 1970s you were lucky to get a packet of peanuts or a dried up cheese sandwich along with your gassy pint.

The Good Beer Guide still comes out every year – but now you can access the details online, and even add the guide to your satnav (presumably with Health and Safety advice on drinking and driving). It will point you towards good beer, good food and pubs in wonderful locations.

All power to your elbow, Mr. Protz. Good job!

http://www.camra.org.uk

P.S. FYI the British pub is once more in danger – but now the threat is the onslaught of the massive supermarket chains with offers of low cost alcohol – beer, wines and spirits at prices that the pubs just can't match. In an economic downturn many people are choosing to drink and eat at home as it saves a few pounds.