CAMRA at it again

[marshbrewer]

Have to disagree there. CAMRA was specifically formed to champion cask. That's what they should have stuck too. Thinking that they should champion craft keg is like saying the campaign for real champagne should also champion Merlot. Misses the point - different products both with their own attributes.

What they should have done is extend the hands of friendship to the emerging craft keg scene with the idea they set up their own campaigning organisation, with which they could cooperate on issues on which they both agree, which are many.

Unfortunately, it seems there were to many entrenched prejudices on both sides of that divide for that happy outcome to become a reality.

Now, big beer must me pissing their pants with laughter as we all rip each other apart

Bravo.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

In defence of the few landlords who really know their stuff, when you get a really well-kept pint of e.g. TT Landlord, London Pride or McMillan’s AK it can really stop you in your tracks - very lucky to have three pubs within half an hour’s drive or wobbly cycle ride that can *reliably* hit that target time after time (one for each of those beers). As a result I go back time after time after time. In contrast, the ‘same’ beers served in the generic pubs in the town centre are always very disappointing (to me).
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s good that the people who run excellent pubs are recognised and their businesses supported - and I think CAMRA (or whoever) should ideally be doing that.

 

[MickDundee]

In defence of the few landlords who really know their stuff, when you get a really well-kept pint of e.g. TT Landlord, London Pride or McMillan’s AK it can really stop you in your tracks - very lucky to have three pubs within half an hour’s drive or wobbly cycle ride that can *reliably* hit that target time after time (one for each of those beers). As a result I go back time after time after time. In contrast, the ‘same’ beers served in the generic pubs in the town centre are always very disappointing (to me).
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s good that the people who run excellent pubs are recognised and their businesses supported - and I think CAMRA (or whoever) should ideally be doing that.

Unfortunately CAMRA, until recently, were in partnership with Wetherspoons and gave out Wetherspoons vouchers with annual membership - that kind of goes against what they should be aiming to do, especially given that the last time I was in my local Wetherspoons and had a pint of cask ale it tasted like wet dog

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Unfortunately CAMRA, until recently, were in partnership with Wetherspoons and gave out Wetherspoons vouchers with annual membership - that kind of goes against what they should be aiming to do, especially given that the last time I was in my local Wetherspoons and had a pint of cask ale it tasted like wet dog

you've got to be joking... OMG

 

[MartinF]

Unfortunately CAMRA, until recently, were in partnership with Wetherspoons and gave out Wetherspoons vouchers with annual membership...

Just to put it in context, "recently" ended two years ago.

 

[MickDundee]

Just to put it in context, "recently" ended two years ago.

And even then the “new” voucher scheme appears to only link in with chain pubs, and the only pubs in Dundee that accept them are the city’s 2 Wetherspoon pubs.

 

[Sadfield]

The problem with Camra is their focus has always been towards the visability, availability of cask rather than quality. Poor cask beer being better than no cask beer. Leading to their glacial approach to accepting cask breathers and why others felt the need to form the Cask Marque Trust. The problem with this approach has probably led to many people being driven to the consistency of keg beer over the last forty odd years. Better the devil you know.

Just to put it in context, "recently" ended two years ago.

In the context of a 50 year old organisation, for two years ago, 'recently' appears fair.

 

[Jim Brewster]

I don't think it's a bad thing to advertise that cask doesn't require any further CO2 for carbonation really, but doing it in a gloating sceudenfredue way during a potential shortage in times of uncertainty is probably not the best idea.

 

[peebee]

Well, I had to Google it! If there's anyone else too afraid to admit their ignorance:

 

[MartinF]

In the context of a 50 year old organisation, for two years ago, 'recently' appears fair.

That is itself out of context, though: the conversation was about CAMRAs voucher scheme; not about CAMRA itself. To be fair, I can't remember when the voucher scheme - which, as already correctly stated, was originally tied to JDW pubs - was introduced. Probably around 10 years ago to hazard a guess.

 

[Hanglow]

Have to disagree there. CAMRA was specifically formed to champion cask. That's what they should have stuck too. Thinking that they should champion craft keg is like saying the campaign for real champagne should also champion Merlot. Misses the point - different products both with their own attributes.

What they should have done is extend the hands of friendship to the emerging craft keg scene with the idea they set up their own campaigning organisation, with which they could cooperate on issues on which they both agree, which are many.

I take your point, but they somewhat bizarrely support cider, which would be like the campaign for real champagne supporting the whisky industry.

 

[marshbrewer]

Agree, it's an odd one. I never really understood why they did that.

 

[Dads_Ale]

I take your point, but they somewhat bizarrely support cider, which would be like the campaign for real champagne supporting the whisky industry.

You really can’t win can you.
A lot of people who supported Real Ale also supported Real Cider.
Rather then knocking CAMRA people Are more than welcome to start their own I Love Beer group. Good luck.

 

[user 43495]

This is a very strange post. It's fine not to appreciate real ale but I'd have to disagree with virtually every point made.
Real ale isn't trying to appeal specifically to kids. Most of it isn't sweet or lack flavour and it's rarely more than a fiver.
The reference to refugees is just a bit weird as well. Maybe a UKIP style joke but actually just a cheap shot.
My suggestion is to go to a traditional boozer which specialises in Ale. Maybe that would be an education. If you'd prefer to quaff cheap lager when you go out you are well catered for in most High Streets and you'll probably get a breakfast for a fiver as well.

Yours is a truly strange reply; It is as though you have chosen to apply your preferred veneer on everything I wrote. Eg, You claim I need an education, yet you obviously do not know the difference between ale and beer. That's fine by me, but, I have been brewing 'real ale' for over 45 years sonny. The rest of your observations are equally silly and unfounded. Another clear example is I was clearly not talking about 'refugees' at all.

 

[user 43495]

Have to disagree there. CAMRA was specifically formed to champion cask. That's what they should have stuck too. Thinking that they should champion craft keg is like saying the campaign for real champagne should also champion Merlot. Misses the point - different products both with their own attributes.

What they should have done is extend the hands of friendship to the emerging craft keg scene with the idea they set up their own campaigning organisation, with which they could cooperate on issues on which they both agree, which are many.

Unfortunately, it seems there were to many entrenched prejudices on both sides of that divide for that happy outcome to become a reality.

Now, big beer must me pissing their pants with laughter as we all rip each other apart

Bravo.

Campaign groups are always about prejudice and dogma.

 

[Thorbz]

I'd love to support the idea of a CAMRA-like organisation, but sadly I can't. I'd class myself as a bang average all-grain brewer, but the beer I've consumed at the Peterborough and Cambridge festivals in recent years has been dire. It boggles my mind to think that anyone from CAMRA thinks that the bilge I've drunk at those festivals has been worth drinking or promoting. My message to CAMRA would be ' worry about how the beer is served after the beer has been brewed to a decent standard ' .

 

[user 43495]

I'd love to support the idea of a CAMRA-like organisation, but sadly I can't. I'd class myself as a bang average all-grain brewer, but the beer I've consumed at the Peterborough and Cambridge festivals in recent years has been dire. It boggles my mind to think that anyone from CAMRA thinks that the bilge I've drunk at those festivals has been worth drinking or promoting. My message to CAMRA would be ' worry about how the beer is served after the beer has been brewed to a decent standard ' .

Hear hear! CAMRA has morphed into a typical modern-world campaign group where the message, as if some sort of religion, means far more than any substance. However, bearing in mind as time goes on, the quality of so-called real ale, which one curious contributor thinks I need to be educated on (!) has deteriorated to the point where this and the keg beers of the 1970s have almost reached behind each others' backs to form such a similarity, it is hardly surprising that the new breed know little better than to promote anything dispensed via a handpump. It's like wearing a badge. But that is all.

 

[user 43495]

You really can’t win can you.
A lot of people who supported Real Ale also supported Real Cider.
Rather then knocking CAMRA people Are more than welcome to start their own I Love Beer group. Good luck.

Groups, clubs and societies all tend to go the same way sooner or later.

 

[user 43495]

you've got to be joking... OMG

Ah yes politics and religion are always inseparable.

 

[user 43495]

I take your point, but they somewhat bizarrely support cider, which would be like the campaign for real champagne supporting the whisky industry.

I truly think the issue with CAMRA is that of a group which got what it wanted but was never willing to admit it. That is why they have to continue to invent issues to try to remain relevant. A few of the old guys who founded CAMRA knew something about the beers they found were being foisted upon them and retailiated brilliantly. However the newer lot did not and could not because they were still in nappies when the beers they claim to champion were at their height. That is simply a fact, not a criticism. My criticism is that they have waded in with more ignorance than anything else and believe that a handpump is the mark of quality rather than what it dispenses. It's unrealistic I know but I would recommend any aspiring CAMRA member has to make at least 3 batches of mashed home brew before he/she is accepted. And that all CAMRA officials have to do the same thrice over!