The Campaign For Real Ale

CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.

The organisation was formed back in March 1971 by four men from the north-west who were disillusioned by the domination of the UK beer market by a handful of companies pushing products of low flavour and overall quality onto the consumer.

 Many brewers during the late 1960s and early 1970s had made the decision to move away from producing traditional, flavoursome beers which continued to ferment in the cask from which they were served.

Such a move was opposed by Michael Hardman, Graham Lee, Jim Makin and Bill Mellor … all of whom thought it was about time British beer drinkers were given better variety and choice at the bar.

Hence, CAMRA was born!   

CAMRA’s stated aims are to:

1-      Protect and improve consumer rights

2-      Promote quality, choice, and value for money

3-      Support the public house as a focus of community life

4-      Campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of our national heritage and culture

5-      Seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry

CAMRA’s campaigns include promoting small brewing and pub businesses, reforming licensing laws, reducing tax on beer and stopping continued consolidation among local British brewers.

CAMRA membership now exceeds 143,000 and spreads across the world.

It has been described as the most successful consumer campaign in Europe.

The Shepherd and Flock regularly appears in the Camra Good Beer Guide.

Is it ‘Gin O’ clock’ yet?!

The popularity of gin … and of course gin and tonic appears to be as strong today as it ever was.

Gin is one of the few alcoholic spirits which has fans from all age groups and both the sexes. Traditionally used as a health tonic, today gin is a popular ingredient in almost every cocktail.

The spirit has a very soothing and refreshing nature and has been in existence for many centuries.

Gin is made from any spirit alcohol of a 96% volume. In addition to the spirit, a collection of botanicals and juniper berries play an important part in giving gin its distinguished flavor and aroma. Gin is dry in nature and is therefore rarely consumed on its own, but is often used as a base to make various cocktails.

This fine spirit was first originated in Holland back in 1550 when a medical professor, Franciscus de la Boe was working on a cure for stomach complaints. While conducting various experiments, he accidentally discovered this wonderful drink which he named "Genever".

It soon gained popularity as an alcoholic drink and its export to the UK for its troops as a warm drink made it a global phenomenon.

Gin is probably differentiated in three main categories Distilled Gin, Compound Gin and London Dry Gin. Distilled Gin is fashioned in a traditional manner. It is made by re-distillation of white grain spirit with juniper berries. Compound Gin is a flavored grain spirit without re-distillation. London Dry Gin is re-distilled grain spirit which contains added citrus botanicals such as lemon, orange peel with a decent combination of spices like cinnamon, lime peel, dragon eye, coriander and nutmeg. London gin may not contain added sugar preservatives and colorants.

Not many people know but, gin is the only alcoholic spirit that was first developed as a medicinal tonic before it became popular as a social drink. For people who want to cut on their daily consumption of hard liquor, gin is a good alternative. It has less calorie content than beer or wine and it also gives the consumer variety, by mixing in with various cocktails.

Beer … your flexible friend!

Beer has received a bit of a bad reputation in recent years.

Phrases such as “lager lout” and “beer belly” have become part of the British vocabulary, while women have shied away from choosing to drink beer for fear of being labelled as “pint swilling ladettes.”

This should not be the case.

Beer should be revered not scorned! Its versatility is endless. There are more than 60 different beer styles to choose from – so whether it be fun and fruity, full and wheaty, or dark and malty there really is something for everyone!

One of the wonders of beer is that it goes so well with food.

Beer is the perfect accompaniment to curry, cheese, chocolate, pies, sausages, seafood... I could go on, but I’m getting hungry. It’s a party on your palate! Better still, beer works for every occasion... including a leisurely evening in the pub.

The best thing about beer though, is that it can surprise you...

Believe it or not, beer is NOT responsible for the beer belly - as a guide, a half pint of 4% lager contains 94 calories, while a medium sized glass of white wine (175ml) contains 131 calories – making it the lighter option in fact!

Drinkers in the UK looking for a beverage without a lot of alcohol know what to order at the pub: a shandy! This mix of beer and sparkling lemonade is lightly alcoholic and very refreshing.

In a traditional shandy, beer is mixed in equal parts with sparkling lemonade or a citrus-flavored soda like 7-Up, or with ginger beer for a drink called a shandygaff. Germany has its own version of the drink, called a Radler, and France and Italy call the combination a panaché.

The art of pouring … don’t spill a drop!

Wherever and whenever you’re serving wine … keeping your guests glasses full is a real art and you need to know how to pour a glass of wine.

In fact the best advice is actually based on “nots”

There are three “nots” to pouring: not splashing, not dripping, and not over filling.

Not Splashing
Hold the mouth of the bottle no more than an inch or so above the glass when pouring.

Any higher and the wine will splash as it hits the bottom of the glass or the wine remaining in the glass.

Not Dripping
There is something of an art to pouring a glass of wine without dripping it on the table. It takes a bit of practice but it is worth the trouble. As you finish pouring you must simultaneously lift the neck of the bottle while twisting it clockwise about 1/4 turn or so. This will make that nasty little drip fall back into the bottle rather than on the table cloth.

Not Over Filling

For red wine between 4 and 6 ounces and for white wine between 3 and 4 ounces would constitute a full glass of wine. If you use a properly sized and proportioned glass, filling the glass to the point where the bowl begins to curve inward will provide just about this quantity of wine. Over filling the glass reduces the area in which the aromas concentrate, reduces the surface area of the wine exposed to the air and hinders the ability to swirl the wine without spillage.

Use of military ID welcomed by Pub Trade and Minister

New guidance recently issued from the Home Office that allows for the use of military ID in licensed premises to check proof-of-age has been welcomed by both industry and defence Minister Andrew Robathan MP. False ID Guidance gives examples of military ID that can and should now be used by door staff.

Andrew Robathan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence and Minister for Veterans, comments:

“We are delighted that servicemen should now always be served in pubs and clubs as they can use ID cards to prove their age.

“We have previously seen the ridiculous situation where, just back from Afghanistan fighting on behalf of our country, young looking men have been refused service in bars on grounds of age. I would urge all door staff and publicans to accept this proof of age, which has been approved.

“At this time, when our troops are doing such good work in the public eye helping the Olympics, this new guidance is particularly welcome. I am grateful to the BBPA for supporting this real need for change and our armed forces.”

Brigid Simmonds, British Beer & Pub Association Chief Executive, adds:

“We will be looking at the new guidance in detail, but I am really pleased to see that this new version covers military ID. It is only right that the ID of our armed forces should be acceptable as proof-of-age, and this new guidance will make it easier for door staff to become familiar with the relevant types of ID card. This sends a positive message to police and local authorities that pubs can accept military ID.

“It is also a reminder of the real benefits to young people of having a card carrying the PASS hologram, so they can leave more valuable documents at home when enjoying a night out.”