CAMRA (Published May 1978)
Hands up all those who like to go down to “the local” for a pint or three. Have you noticed the changes that have taken place in the way your beer is served? In the good old days you could watch your pint being pulled by a handpump or being drawn straight from a barrel. Then along came the big brewers who suddenly decided that everyone was really going to love their new beer — keg it was called - so they ripped out all those tall shapely pumps and replaced them with little boxes with little lights in and little handles to dispense “lively”, “bright” fizzy beer and all the poor consumer could do was to stand around and watch (or drink). But over the past few years there has been a marked return to traditional beer as it used to be n no small part to CAMRA — the Campaign for Real Ale.
In 1971, four Lancashire journalists were moaning about the rise in the number of keg pubs in their part of the country and whilst holidaying in Ireland, dreamed up the campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale. The pregnancy was long and sometimes painful but by the end of 1972 the baby was born. It has been growing ever since and the campaign member- ship now stands at around 30,000. There are branches all over the country and each one plugs away at what they believe in — Real Ale. Members keep in touch with other branch activities through the CAMRA monthly newspaper “What’s Brewing” or by attending other branch meetings.
At this point there may be one or two of you who are wondering what the difference is between Real Ale and keg beers. Right, here goes. During the brewing process, beer is beer regardless, but having got to the stage when it is ready to go into barrels the difference becomes quite clear. Here the beer is living - the yeast is fermenting. Real Ale is beer which is put into the barrels now, and after some “finings” are added to settle the sediment to the bottom, the beer is ready to go off to pubs to drink. Keg beer, however, is pasteurised and filtered, cooled and killed. It is then put into kegs and goes off to the pubs to drink. When Real Ale arrives in the cellar it has to stand for two to three days before it can be served. Keg beer on the other hand is ready immediately or as soon as a carbon dioxide cylinder can be attached to bring it back to life.
There are some disadvantages to Real Ale - the time it takes to settle and the fact that it is more difficult to keep in good condition — although this is no problem if you have a good landlord — but we in CAMRA feel it is worth the effort to get traditional beer, naturally brewed and served. It costs £4 p.a.to join CAMRA as a full member and an extra £1 p.a.. for your spouse to join too. This entitles you to vote at meetings, become a committee member and receive the monthly newspaper. You could for £1 p.a. become an associate member and receive one copy of “What’s Brewing” to see what’s what where. CAMRA HQ is at 34 Alma Road, St. Albans, Herts and there is a branch in Medway. For further details contact Medway 47011.