What is CAMRA?

CAMRA is the Campaign for Real Ale.
It is a consumer body, formed in the early 70's, in order to prevent
the big brewers from totally killing the taste of British beer
with such 'advances' as Watney's Red Barrel etc.

CAMRA nowadays compaigns for more choice and quality in beers and brewers,
and fights the dominance of the national brewers with their keg beers
and lagers.

CAMRA has been quoted as being Britain's most successful consumer body,
and currently has over 31,000 members, mostly in Britain, but also
has many members worldwide. There are hundreds of branches dotted around
Britain. It has a full time staff of about 10 people at CAMRA HQ
(address below), but enlists the help of many volunteers in the branches
for most of the active campaigning.

The various branches organise many beer festivals around the country,
ranging from very small local festivals, all the way up to the
Great British Beer Festival, which is the largest beer festival
in Britain, with approximately 30,000 customers over 5 days.

CAMRA produces the annual ``Good Beer Guide'', which lists around 5000 pubs in
Britain which sell good beer, and also lists every British brewery and
the beers they produce.

As at Autumn 1991, membership costs 10 pounds, or 14 for overseas.
This will give you reduced cost entry to most CAMRA beer festivals,
plus a monthly newspaper ``Whats Brewing''. To join, send a cheque to
the membership secretary at HQ.
You can ring them up and join by credit card too.

CAMRA Ltd, 34 Alma Road, St. Albans, Herts, AL1 3BW. (Tel: 0727 867201)