Getting to Know Britain's Real Ale

CAMRA, which saved Real Ale, was Europe's first successful consumer movement. Today more than 50,000 Britons belong. The organization continues to fight brewery takeovers, but it has expanded its agenda, lobbying to preserve historic pubs, cut beer taxes, and fight deceptive practices by pub owners.

Visit the Home of Real Ale

Even if you're not a Beer Traveller, you ought to visit London at least once. But if you are one, an embarrassment of riches awaits you. London has literally thousands of pubs; your problem is finding the ones with the right atmosphere, good pub grub, and, of course, Real Ale. The most comprehensive reference is CAMRA's annual Good Beer Guide, which lists thousands of member-selected pubs throughout the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the guide is hard to find in North America (though Canadians can buy the 1999 edition through www.chapters.ca).

Other sources of pub recommendations can be found online. The best I've come across is the "Pubs, Bars & Drinks" site maintained by the London Evening Standard. It contains reviews of more than 1,000 pubs, and can be searched by location or for specific amenities like live music or wheelchair access. You can even find out what beers are on tap.

If your itinerary will take you beyond London, an interesting site to visit is Real Ale and a Bed. It has reviews of hundreds of pubs that either offer accommodation or are close to a hotel or inn. Another site worth a look is that of the Cask Marque program, a joint effort by Britain's brewers and pub owners to ensure that ale is handled and served correctly. Pubs that pass inspection--there are some 1,000 in England and Wales--earn the right to display the Cask Marque plaque.

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