The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent, voluntary, consumer organisation in the United Kingdom whose main aim is promoting real ale and the traditional British pub. It is now the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK. Image File history File links CAMRA.jpg Summary CAMRA logo Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... Consumer organizations are organizations that seek to protect people from corporate abuse. ... It has been suggested that Real ale brewing process be merged into this article or section. ... For notes on some individual UK pubs, see Notable United Kingdom public houses. ...

Founding members

The organisation was founded in 1971 by a group of four drinkers - Graham Lees, Bill Mellor, Michael Hardman, and Jim Makin - who were opposed to the growing industrialisation and homogenisation of the British brewing industry. One of the early members was the Good Beer Guide editor, Roger Protz. CAMRA has over 82,000 members as of July 2006. Member benefits include a monthly newsletter, "What's Brewing", and reduced price admission to CAMRA-organised beer festivals. A 16th century brewer A 21st century brewer This article concerns the production of alcoholic beverages. ... GBG 2006 The Good Beer Guide is a book published annually by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) listing pubs in the United Kingdom that serve cask ales. ... Roger Protz is a British writer and campaigner. ... The GBBF beer festival A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers will be available for tasting and buying. ...

Details

The original name was the Campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale.

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. It also makes an effort to promote less common varieties of beer and other traditionally brewed beverages including stout, porter, mild, traditional cider, scrumpy, and perry. A pint of stout Stout is a dark beer made using roasted malts or roast barley. ... Porter is a style of beer in the ale family - developed in the 18th century which has a dark colour, originally from the use of highly dried brown malt, a roast malt aroma and hop bitterness. ... Mild Ale is one of the oldest styles of beer from England, and originally meant a young or immature ale. ... A pint of cider. ... Cider has different meanings in the United Kingdom and the United States. ... Traditional perry (poiré in French) is bottled champagne-style in Normandy Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made of fermented pear juice. ...

CAMRA publishes the Good Beer Guide, an annually compiled directory of its recommended pubs and brewers. They also run the Great British Beer Festival, a yearly event held in London at which a large selection of cask ales are tasted. It also maintains a National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors to help bring greater recognition and protection to Britain's most priceless historic pubs. GBG 2006 The Good Beer Guide is a book published annually by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) listing pubs in the United Kingdom that serve cask ales. ... The Great British Beer Festival (often shortened to GBBF) is a yearly event organised by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. ... Cask ale is the term given to unfiltered and unpasteurised beer which is conditioned and served from a cask without additional pressure. ...

CAMRA has established influence at national government level, including with English Heritage. English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ...

Awards

CAMRA presents awards for beers and pubs, such as the National Pub of the Year, in which approximately 4,000 active CAMRA members from 200 local branches vote for their favourite pub. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions which are then visited by several individuals who select the ones they like best. The best known CAMRA award is the Champion Beer of Britain which is selected at the Great British Beer Festival, other awards include the Champion Beer of Scotland and the Champion Beer of Wales. Pumpclip for the CBOB winner in 2004 The Champion Beer of Britain (also known as CBOB) is an award presented by CAMRA, at their annual Great British Beer Festival in early August. ... The Great British Beer Festival (often shortened to GBBF) is a yearly event organised by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. ... The Champion Beer of Scotland (also known as CBOS) is an award for Scottish beers presented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), at their annual Scottish Traditional Beer Festival in Edinburgh. ...

Festivals

Each year CAMRA 'hosts' Beer and Cider festivals around the country. The entry fee, which varies depending upon the area, also provides you with a year specific 1/2 or pint glass sporting the details of the festival in a year specific colour, you also get a list of the beer/ciders & perry's available for tasting, which includes a brief description of each beer. Crown stamped glass (pint to top) A pint glass is a drinking vessel holding a British pint (568ml; ≈1. ...

See also

• Society of Independent Brewers

The Society of Independent Brewers was founded in 1980 under the title The Small Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) to represent the interests of the growing numbers of independent brewing companies in the United Kingdom. ...

External links

• CAMRA website
• Rotherham CAMRA - For all things beer!
• Edinburgh & S.E. Scotland local branch