Comments on: Inside the mind of CAMRA http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:29:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: How we research pubs, from Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5068 How we research pubs, from Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog Mon, 11 May 2009 19:27:37 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5068 [...] have a copy of the Good Beer Guide (2007 edition) which we refer to, but as we’ve mentioned before, its focus on consistently good cask ale, rather than on interesting beers across the board, [...] [...] have a copy of the Good Beer Guide (2007 edition) which we refer to, but as we’ve mentioned before, its focus on consistently good cask ale, rather than on interesting beers across the board, [...]

]]> By: Why cask ale matters — sticking up for CAMRA, from Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5067 Why cask ale matters — sticking up for CAMRA, from Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:48:28 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5067 [...] recent post of ours about the Good Beer Guide set off a wider debate about CAMRA’s focus on cask ale, at the [...] [...] recent post of ours about the Good Beer Guide set off a wider debate about CAMRA’s focus on cask ale, at the [...]

]]> By: Tim http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5066 Tim Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:31:29 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5066 My respose to the CAMRA types can be found <a href="http://thebeerdiary.blogspot.com/2009/02/outsiders-view-to-camra-and-good-beer.html" rel="nofollow"> here. </a> My respose to the CAMRA types can be found here.

]]> By: Stephen Harris http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5065 Stephen Harris Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:51:51 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5065 I've taken on the job of co-ordinating the 2010 GBG entries for CAMRA's East London and City area. Our selection is primarily based on more than 1,500 survey reports by members over recent months. If anyone is familiar with this area and wants to help with the selection you are welcome to come to my meeting which is at 8:30pm at the Black Lion, Plaistow High Street, London, E13 on Monday 9 February. All help gratefully received - if anything comes to a vote, then only CAMRA members may take part, but all are welcome at the meeting. As others have said, the GBG is a real ale guide and consistently high beer quality is the sole criteria for entry. I’ve taken on the job of co-ordinating the 2010 GBG entries for CAMRA’s East London and City area. Our selection is primarily based on more than 1,500 survey reports by members over recent months. If anyone is familiar with this area and wants to help with the selection you are welcome to come to my meeting which is at 8:30pm at the Black Lion, Plaistow High Street, London, E13 on Monday 9 February. All help gratefully received – if anything comes to a vote, then only CAMRA members may take part, but all are welcome at the meeting. As others have said, the GBG is a real ale guide and consistently high beer quality is the sole criteria for entry.

]]> By: Tandleman http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5064 Tandleman Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:22:18 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5064 As Tyson says it is interesting to hear an outside view, albeit one that seems to miss the point. I would be horrified though if a knowingly sub standard pub was knowingly put in the GBG just to make up numbers. Also as I pointed out to my meeting, it is the Good Beer Guide, not the Good Pub Guide, though usually where you get one you get the other. I have said before it isn't a perfect system, but what guide is? As Tyson says it is interesting to hear an outside view, albeit one that seems to miss the point. I would be horrified though if a knowingly sub standard pub was knowingly put in the GBG just to make up numbers.

Also as I pointed out to my meeting, it is the Good Beer Guide, not the Good Pub Guide, though usually where you get one you get the other.

I have said before it isn’t a perfect system, but what guide is?

]]> By: Barm http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5063 Barm Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:47:42 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5063 Where are these pubs selling amazing continental lager? In my experience, pubs that care about having interesting continental beer also sell real ale. Or is Tim proposing to include every tedious city centre bar in the GBG on the strength of them having some bottles of Budvar or Fürstenberg in the fridge? Where are these pubs selling amazing continental lager?

In my experience, pubs that care about having interesting continental beer also sell real ale.

Or is Tim proposing to include every tedious city centre bar in the GBG on the strength of them having some bottles of Budvar or Fürstenberg in the fridge?

]]> By: Tyson http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5062 Tyson Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:24:51 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5062 Interesting to hear an outisde view-it is actually quite simple, but I can see how it may seem mysterious to those not in the know. I wouldn't say incosistency is half the fun of real ale and if you bear that it mind, it might answer why some pubs you think interesting don't get in. On the specific point about Wetherspoons and Greene King. Firstly, if really shouldn;t matter what the pub serves, or if it's a chain pub or not. Always remember it is the Good Beer Guide, first and last. What can happen-luckily not in my area-is simply a matter of practicality. There are a certain number of places available in each area. In an area where real ale pubs are scarce, the 10 places (for example) may well include a JDW as that is one of the top 10. The only other way would be to set a minimum standard score across the country and any pub failing below that would fail. This would mean that the GBG would vary in size from year to year. Branches are very reluctant to leave quotas unfilled and so the GBG is simply the best 4500 pubs currently out there. Allegedly! Interesting to hear an outisde view-it is actually quite simple, but I can see how it may seem mysterious to those not in the know. I wouldn’t say incosistency is half the fun of real ale and if you bear that it mind, it might answer why some pubs you think interesting don’t get in.

On the specific point about Wetherspoons and Greene King. Firstly, if really shouldn;t matter what the pub serves, or if it’s a chain pub or not. Always remember it is the Good Beer Guide, first and last. What can happen-luckily not in my area-is simply a matter of practicality. There are a certain number of places available in each area. In an area where real ale pubs are scarce, the 10 places (for example) may well include a JDW as that is one of the top 10. The only other way would be to set a minimum standard score across the country and any pub failing below that would fail. This would mean that the GBG would vary in size from year to year. Branches are very reluctant to leave quotas unfilled and so the GBG is simply the best 4500 pubs currently out there. Allegedly!

]]> By: Tyson http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5061 Tyson Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:06:11 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5061 Tim I think you're missing the point. As explained, CAMRA is an organisation dedicated to promoting real ale. The GBG is a by product of that-it was started and its purpose still is to help find real ale pubs. It is not close minded for an organisation to fulfill its remit-it is normal. The Catholic Church does not print a directory of Anglican churches, nor does the AA print the Good Train Guide. Tim

I think you’re missing the point. As explained, CAMRA is an organisation dedicated to promoting real ale. The GBG is a by product of that-it was started and its purpose still is to help find real ale pubs. It is not close minded for an organisation to fulfill its remit-it is normal. The Catholic Church does not print a directory of Anglican churches, nor does the AA print the Good Train Guide.

]]> By: Beer Justice http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5060 Beer Justice Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:52:29 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5060 Kind words, thank you. The answer to your first line would be a resounding no - unsanctioned, unedited, unsupervised - makes people nervous. The answer to your last line is "not in every branch". Cheers Steve Kind words, thank you. The answer to your first line would be a resounding no – unsanctioned, unedited, unsupervised – makes people nervous. The answer to your last line is “not in every branch”.
Cheers Steve

]]> By: Tim http://boakandbailey.com/2009/02/02/inside-the-mind-of-camra/#comment-5059 Tim Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:43:14 +0000 http://boakandbailey.com/?p=1743#comment-5059 Ian, hence my use of the term closed minded and ignorant. Maybe they should call it, The Good Ale Guide? Ian, hence my use of the term closed minded and ignorant. Maybe they should call it, The Good Ale Guide?

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