Has the 'Campaign' for Real Ale been won?

[The Large One]

Just on the back of a conversation I was having recently.

When CAMRA was set up in the 1970s, it was against a backdrop increasingly insipid lagers taking over the pub sales and a concerted campaign was set up in order to revert to traditional brewing methods, with local ales served, well, locally.

Obviously it's not the same everywhere in the country, but there is hardly a pub in Brighton where you can't buy real ale - the lure of John Smith's or Tetley doesn't appear to be there any longer - where once it was a bit hit-and-miss.

So should the Campaign for Real Ale change its name to something like Appreciation for Real Ale - because the name implies a fight still to be won? I believe it has been.

Just curious, what does NSC think?

 

[beorhthelm]

ive read somethign recently that implies CAMRA was a reaction not to lager, but to the poor ales in particular "Watneys red barrel". i think it has become a tad snobby in regards to lagers, when many are produced little differently to ales, only on a larger scale prehaps. the Germans and Czech probably shake their heads at the fuss made againt lager.

but certainly the Campaign part must be considered won, real ales are everywhere now, often more choice than the "commercial" lagers. particularly in London a typical pub will will be guiness, a wheat beer or pilsner (both if lucky), two well known lagers verses 3 or 4 ales. dont think ive seen John Smiths or Tetley for a while.

then again the war against poor beer is not lost, there is alot of shit being served up.

 

[BensGrandad]

I think that a lot of the move is due to the changes in brewing companies there are not so many brewers since the monopilies commission rulings about pub ownership.

You have lost the likes of Whitbread Allied Brewers and had Watney Courage and S & N merge into 1 company this then means a streamlining of products.

Although voted Pub of The year a couple of times I was always anti CAMRA as I thought that it was snob valued I know my beer better than you clique. With the vast majority unable to distinguish one beer from another.

 

[Notters]

No, because there are still plenty of places that don't know how to keep their ale.

 

[Brovion]

ive read somethign recently that implies CAMRA was a reaction not to lager, but to the poor ales in particular "Watneys red barrel". .

I don't think there's any 'implied' about it, that's precisely why it was set up. In the early days the enemy of real ale wasn't seen as being lager (that was still largely seen as a ladies drink), but keg bitter and Watneys Red Barrel in particular. One of the factors in the rise of popularity of lager was the fact that keg bitter was so awful; it's only recently that we've seen the "Real Ale v Lager" wars.

I agree with TLO inasmuch as I think the original battle has been won; apart from hotel bars and low-grade night clubs everywhere else you go there is usually some sort of real ale on offer. However we mustn't let our guard drop!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I think that a lot of the move is due to the changes in brewing companies there are not so many brewers since the monopilies commission rulings about pub ownership.

You have lost the likes of Whitbread Allied Brewers and had Watney Courage and S & N merge into 1 company this then means a streamlining of products.

Although voted Pub of The year a couple of times I was always anti CAMRA as I thought that it was snob valued I know my beer better than you clique. With the vast majority unable to distinguish one beer from another.

I think it's more to do with the microbrewery tax reduction. This has directly encouraged literally hundreds of new breweries to open; 99 this year, 78 last year and many more before this. Many of these re-introduced pale/heavily hopped ales and US style craft beers. These crucially provide a half-way house between lager and bitter and provide a alternative for lager drinkers who do not like bitter. Some also make properly brewed lager as well.

But yes, this is a welcome British success story.

 

[Commander]

It still tastes vile, so no, I don't think it has been won.

 

[BensGrandad]

No, because there are still plenty of places that don't know how to keep their ale.

Isnt that down to individual company or publican training. As an example for all of their faults Wetherspoons always produce good ale as the managers are properly trained in the way to handle it.

Also the pub ownership companies now are only interested in an applicant having the finance to be able to pay the rent as opposed to the old tenancy days when 6 people went for interviews for a pub and the company chose who they considered the best applicant for that particular pub.

 

[Bwian]

I had the misfortune to be in Blackpool last weekend and far from being won, the campaign appears to have never started there.

Family reasons mean I visit Blackpool a couple of times a year and it is almost impossible to get a decent pint. Their idea of an ale is any of the 'smooth' beers and if you can find any real ale it has the life squeezed out of it by sparklers because northerners must have an inch of froth sitting on top of their pint.

 

[readingstockport]

Too much of the market is now being cornered by the major pubcos imo so I would say there has been a tactical victory but the overall 'war' (for want of a better word) still carries on.

However I do think that many camra types are tedious boring nerds with the social skills of a wet lettuce, and drinking in the pubs I do in Reading I tend to know quite a number of them.

 

[Albumen]

A lot more pubs now pride themselves in the ale they keep. I think the recent trend in Ale came on the back of the shit cider trend, making people more aware there's something more tasty to drink than pissy lager. Eventually Ale took over and now I love the range, I just hope the trend stays. Kings Old Ale in the pubs within a month (my favourite brew).

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

And if anyone wants to make some money buy some shares in Brewdog. They currently have a public offer on the go to raise money for a new brewery complex. £95 minimum entry. You also get 20% lifetime discount on mail-order.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Thanks to Albumen for reminding me that the Old Ale season is nearly upon us, one of the consolations of the autumn / winter months. Wonderful.

I agree that CAMRA should be proud of its acheivements in helping to save us from a diet of chemical beers. I am not a geek but do enjoy a decent well kept pint. I generally prefer 'real ale' but still have the occasional quality lager. However I avidly avoid fizzy Europiss which is only good for cleaning the patio or drains.

I have noted just how prevalent the number of microbreweries there are to compliment the major ones here in East Anglia. Must be something to do with the area priding itself on producing barley for 60 breweries. As an exile from Sussex I do miss Harveys and Dark Star but have the consolation of Woodfordes (Nelson's Revenge), Adnams (Broadside) and Elgoods (Greyhound) challenging the Greene King juggernaut around here. Plus it is noticeable just how many pubs are serving by gravity from the cask. My local (an Elgoods house) has just built a new cellar with a large glass vision panel from the bar area so you can choose from the various casks on the racking. Its not rocket science to have a bit pride in how you keep and serve your ales - good for them.

 

[kevo]

Attila won it for the Amex!

 

[Old Greg]

not particularly, just fashionable - its "cool" to drink ale, its a real mans drink. Oh and its cheaper, usually.

 

[southern_sid]

Does real ale drinking, and train spotting go hand in hand?

Just wondering like.

 

[The Large One]

not particularly, just fashionable - its "cool" to drink ale, its a real mans drink. Oh and its cheaper, usually.

Is it? Blimey.

Or did you just make that up?

Does real ale drinking, and train spotting go hand in hand?

Just wondering like.

No. Apparently, it's the cool and fashionable thing to do.

 

[Biscuit]

People are drinking it because it's cheaper. As soon as larger prices come down, or Ale goes up, people will change. Unless of course the economy picks up pronto.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Isnt that down to individual company or publican training. As an example for all of their faults Wetherspoons always produce good ale as the managers are properly trained in the way to handle it.

Anybody else notice that the instant knee-jerk reaction of every single pub manager/landlord when its pointed out that their pint is, y'know, flat, cloudy and undrinkable is to go on the attack, start spouting their CV and generally square up to you, like you'd accused them of having a tiny penis or something: 'Ive been in the pub game for twenty/thirty/forty years blah blah blah'. You'd think they'd have learnt that beer sometimes goes off then...

 

[southern_sid]

Is it? Blimey.

Or did you just make that up?



No. Apparently, it's the cool and fashionable thing to do.

I was also told that real ale drinkers have unkept beards, smell a bit musty, and wear beer fesitval t-shirts that are one size to small.