The lastest issue of London Drinker magazine has been published and will be delivered to the pubs over the coming days.
For those who cannot wait, or who do not visit a pub that stocks the magazine, the online version is identical and is now easy and quick to view and download, either as a complete magazine or is smaller chunks.
The electronic version is available here. Click on publications, the latest issue is 2008, volume 30, issue 5.
London Drinker circulation is now 46,000 copies every two months. 30,000 are distributed by JD Wetherspoons throughout their pubs in the London area. The rest are distributed to London's pubs and beer festivals by CAMRA volunteers.
Circulation is only constrained by the number of volunteers. We print as many copies as we can logistically distribute quickly. Copies are collected by volunteers from the Royal Oak, SE1 and taken to their local pubs.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Activation
CAMRA branches are making an effort this year to engage more members to take part in social and campaigning activities. Something that is working for North London branch is a new email list for for general discussion of local pubs and social events.
The North London branch covers the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, Brent, Haringey and parts of Hackney. As well as organising the well known London Drinker beer festival every March it also holds weekly social meetings in pubs and at beer festivals in the branch. Details of all events will be publicised on this email list.
This email list is open to everyone, not just those that live within the branch area. It is also open to non-CAMRA members.
The weekly "what's on" message is gathering momentum and includes a variety of useful information.
Details on how to get the weekly message are hopefully here
Or send an email to subscribe to
camranorthlondon-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The North London branch covers the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, Brent, Haringey and parts of Hackney. As well as organising the well known London Drinker beer festival every March it also holds weekly social meetings in pubs and at beer festivals in the branch. Details of all events will be publicised on this email list.
This email list is open to everyone, not just those that live within the branch area. It is also open to non-CAMRA members.
The weekly "what's on" message is gathering momentum and includes a variety of useful information.
Details on how to get the weekly message are hopefully here
Or send an email to subscribe to
camranorthlondon-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Pub Signs
The Observer at the weekend carried a half page article entitled "Dismay at vanishing art of the pub sign"
Well, readers of this blog know otherwise. Pub sign art is alive and well in South West London - albeit a less traditional version.
Perhaps we should not be too harsh on Young's and others for their modern take on the traditional pub sign. After all, they are still ordering bespoke signs and supporting a dying trade.
Surely we would not want all pub signs to look like this one in Wimbledon :
Well, readers of this blog know otherwise. Pub sign art is alive and well in South West London - albeit a less traditional version.
Perhaps we should not be too harsh on Young's and others for their modern take on the traditional pub sign. After all, they are still ordering bespoke signs and supporting a dying trade.
Surely we would not want all pub signs to look like this one in Wimbledon :
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Martyn Cornell
Martyn Cornell is a serious beer writer. By that I mean he writes serious stuff about beer rather than this flippant rubbish.
His book Beer - The Story of the Pint is a detailed, well-researched chronicle of our favourite drink. Roger Protz described it as "a magnificent contribution to the history of beer and should be on every aficionado's bookshelf."
The book was published in 2003 and stands up well among other similar definitive text books.
A couple of things have just caught my eye. Martyn is the author of the zythophile blog. As you might expect this is a more serious read than most of the other beer blogs.
Firstly there is a recent post on a short history of yeast. There are books written on most subjects relating to beer but there is very little recently on yeast, that vital ingredient without which we would be lost. This article is a serious but readable piece.
Secondly, Martyn has just published an e-book called Amber, Gold & Black, the most comprehensive history of British beer styles of all kinds ever written.
Astonishingly, this is the first book devoted solely to looking at the unique history of the different styles of beer produced in Britain. Some 16 chapters and 223 pages cover in detail the true stories behind Porter, Bitter, Mild, Stout, IPA, Brown Ale, Burton Ale, Old Ale, Barley Wine, and all the other beers produced in Britain.
Available through his blog the book is available for download for only £5.
His book Beer - The Story of the Pint is a detailed, well-researched chronicle of our favourite drink. Roger Protz described it as "a magnificent contribution to the history of beer and should be on every aficionado's bookshelf."
The book was published in 2003 and stands up well among other similar definitive text books.
A couple of things have just caught my eye. Martyn is the author of the zythophile blog. As you might expect this is a more serious read than most of the other beer blogs.
Firstly there is a recent post on a short history of yeast. There are books written on most subjects relating to beer but there is very little recently on yeast, that vital ingredient without which we would be lost. This article is a serious but readable piece.
Secondly, Martyn has just published an e-book called Amber, Gold & Black, the most comprehensive history of British beer styles of all kinds ever written.
Astonishingly, this is the first book devoted solely to looking at the unique history of the different styles of beer produced in Britain. Some 16 chapters and 223 pages cover in detail the true stories behind Porter, Bitter, Mild, Stout, IPA, Brown Ale, Burton Ale, Old Ale, Barley Wine, and all the other beers produced in Britain.
Available through his blog the book is available for download for only £5.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Beer Exposed
Beer exposed is a new event that is happening later this week. It is described as follows :
...a fantastic new beer show which runs from September 25-27. At this unique beer experience you'll find over 20 styles of beer and hundreds of different samples on offer.
Visitors to the show can taste free samples of premium beers from around the world, take part in interactive beer tutorials such as Beer and Chocolate, Around the World in Beer and Gourmet Beer and Food Matching. The show also features a team of beer experts who'll be showcasing a hand picked selection of premium beers.
CAMRA are taking a stand and I will be leading CAMRA's effort at this event which looks like something a little different to the usual beer festival circuit.
An offer on tickets courtesy of Metro is here.
...a fantastic new beer show which runs from September 25-27. At this unique beer experience you'll find over 20 styles of beer and hundreds of different samples on offer.
Visitors to the show can taste free samples of premium beers from around the world, take part in interactive beer tutorials such as Beer and Chocolate, Around the World in Beer and Gourmet Beer and Food Matching. The show also features a team of beer experts who'll be showcasing a hand picked selection of premium beers.
CAMRA are taking a stand and I will be leading CAMRA's effort at this event which looks like something a little different to the usual beer festival circuit.
An offer on tickets courtesy of Metro is here.
Pub of the Year
Thursday last week saw my judging visit to The Trafalgar in South Wimbledon, London's winning pub for 2008.
Although I have been to the pub on occasions before and had a good time, this visit was a big disappointment.
Arriving at about 1.45, the pub was deserted. As I was the only customer for over an hour, it was impossible to score properly for atmosphere, style and decor and also clientele mix. I had expected the beer quality to be excellent based on previous visits but, with no customers, it was no better than good despite the barman pulling off a half pint before each pint that I ordered.
I will visit again for the presentation on the evening of 2nd October when I expect all of the boxes to be ticked. However, even averaging the scores of two visits will unfortunately not give a high score.
This was a clear winner for London based upon 10 sets of judges all visiting a different days and times. I have faith in the judging process and will also have faith in the Trafalgar as it is a fabulous pub. Alas, on this occasion, it did not score well.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Fine Ale Club
Arriving over the weekend was the latest issue of First Draft, the quarterly magazine of Fullers Fine Ale Club.
This is an 8 page, A4, glossy newsletter bringing news from Fullers about their beers mixed with some short articles about brewery tours, Irish whiskey, Protz on lack of information on bottle labels, the Ryder Cup, a couple of beer recipes, some competitions and some money off vouchers.
It is a fine way for Fullers to keep their customers informed and another example of the company going a little extra to keep ahead of their competitors.
Membership of Fine Ale Club is free. Email your name and address to finealeclub@fullers.co.uk.
Membership
The latest mailout from CAMRA HQ includes the latest analysis on membership numbers.
Membership currently stands at a beefy 94,585.
On current growth the 100,000th member will join sometime over the next 6 months and will be rightly trumpeted as a fantastic achievement.
There will be a photocall of that new member and care will undoubtedly be taken to make sure that our 100,000th member does not fit the usual CAMRA stereotype that is oft-time trotted out by the media.
In London we are approaching our 10,000th member over the same period.
Perhaps it is time for the landmark to be marked with a photocall of a middle aged man, with a beard, a large belly and sandals. Someone with a notebook, a trolley and some panda pop bottles. A brewery T-shirt, a fleece jacket and a baseball cap. Maybe someone who lets his membership lapse each year so that he can rejoin at a beer festival to take advantage of the usual joining offers.
Membership currently stands at a beefy 94,585.
On current growth the 100,000th member will join sometime over the next 6 months and will be rightly trumpeted as a fantastic achievement.
There will be a photocall of that new member and care will undoubtedly be taken to make sure that our 100,000th member does not fit the usual CAMRA stereotype that is oft-time trotted out by the media.
In London we are approaching our 10,000th member over the same period.
Perhaps it is time for the landmark to be marked with a photocall of a middle aged man, with a beard, a large belly and sandals. Someone with a notebook, a trolley and some panda pop bottles. A brewery T-shirt, a fleece jacket and a baseball cap. Maybe someone who lets his membership lapse each year so that he can rejoin at a beer festival to take advantage of the usual joining offers.
Thursday, 18 September 2008
The Green Man
Here is another from Young's new portfolio of modern pub signs. This one appeared after a recent refurbishment at The Green Man on Putney Heath, a pub dating from 1700 and owned by Young's since 1831.
The history and traditions of the name The Green Man are well documented but I can find no reference to its relationship with a gingerbread man.
The history and traditions of the name The Green Man are well documented but I can find no reference to its relationship with a gingerbread man.
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Pub of the Year
One of the categories for scoring in the pub of the year competition is "Sympathy with CAMRA aims" - a bit of a catch all category on general CAMRA values.
Judging a pub can never be an exact science but by way of illustration, the following is an extract from the judging guidance notes.
Relevant CAMRA policies on pubs are summarised below and a POTY candidate would be expected to conform with those policies. On a more general note, does the pub espouse and promote our values? Is cask beer given a positive push here? Is information offered about the ales sold? Does the pub try to stimulate interest in the sorts of issues we’re concerned about?
RELEVANT CAMRA POLICIES
3.1 For a comprehensive schedule of CAMRA policies, refer to the
regularly-issued Internal and External Policy Documents. If a POTY
candidate offends national policy to the extent that it would not be
eligible for inclusion in the Good Beer Guide, then it must
automatically be excluded from the competition. Positive support of
CAMRA policy will clearly count in its favour.
3.2 Pubs should be considered as important centres of community life
and places for informal social drinking.
3.3 We oppose entry restrictions on grounds of dress, shape, size,
gender, sexuality, colour, ethnic origin or religion.
3.4 Where practicable access should be possible for people with
disabilities, who should be treated with care and consideration.
3.5 We are concerned at the damaging effect of unnecessarily noisy
electronic amusement machines.
3.6 Price lists should be prominently displayed, as should opening
hours.
3.7 We support the introduction of full-pint legislation (and would
therefore expect POTY candidates to give full measure).
3.8 Beers should not be served through a tight sparkler if not brewed to
be dispensed in that way.
3.9 We deplore pubs advertising beers as “house brands” when they
aren’t produced by or exclusively for that pub.
3.10 We oppose the selling of non-traditional beer or cider using
handpumps (real or fake).
3.11 We will expose pubs guilty of over-pricing.
3.12 We will promote both mild and real draught cider and perry.
Judging a pub can never be an exact science but by way of illustration, the following is an extract from the judging guidance notes.
Relevant CAMRA policies on pubs are summarised below and a POTY candidate would be expected to conform with those policies. On a more general note, does the pub espouse and promote our values? Is cask beer given a positive push here? Is information offered about the ales sold? Does the pub try to stimulate interest in the sorts of issues we’re concerned about?
RELEVANT CAMRA POLICIES
3.1 For a comprehensive schedule of CAMRA policies, refer to the
regularly-issued Internal and External Policy Documents. If a POTY
candidate offends national policy to the extent that it would not be
eligible for inclusion in the Good Beer Guide, then it must
automatically be excluded from the competition. Positive support of
CAMRA policy will clearly count in its favour.
3.2 Pubs should be considered as important centres of community life
and places for informal social drinking.
3.3 We oppose entry restrictions on grounds of dress, shape, size,
gender, sexuality, colour, ethnic origin or religion.
3.4 Where practicable access should be possible for people with
disabilities, who should be treated with care and consideration.
3.5 We are concerned at the damaging effect of unnecessarily noisy
electronic amusement machines.
3.6 Price lists should be prominently displayed, as should opening
hours.
3.7 We support the introduction of full-pint legislation (and would
therefore expect POTY candidates to give full measure).
3.8 Beers should not be served through a tight sparkler if not brewed to
be dispensed in that way.
3.9 We deplore pubs advertising beers as “house brands” when they
aren’t produced by or exclusively for that pub.
3.10 We oppose the selling of non-traditional beer or cider using
handpumps (real or fake).
3.11 We will expose pubs guilty of over-pricing.
3.12 We will promote both mild and real draught cider and perry.
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