ITS BEEN FIVE YEARS !

I've just realised that this week it's been exactly 5 years since I joined CAMRA. So by way of a small celebration here are some thoughts on how its been so far.

I have been drinking and enjoying real ale for a number of years now and in fact have been to the Great British Beer Festival for the last 12 years. When I packed in work at the end of 2009, although I kept myself busy, I was looking for something new as a hobby and an interest. So I joined in CAMRA at the end of 2010.

Now the most important thing about being a member has to be the people. I have made many new acquaintances over the 5 years and its good to share a common interest. At every meeting, beer festival or other social occasion there is always someone new to share experiences with.

There are some material benefits in joining. There is the quarterly magazine and monthly newspaper, although I find they seem to be southern biased. Free or discounted entry into beer festivals is always welcome. Some pubs offer discounts off a pint of real ale, but I've noticed most don't seem to publicise this in the pub. Of course, the 50p vouchers from Wetherspoons always come in handy. 

I mentioned beer festivals. I have really enjoyed helping out at the branch Octoberfest on the last 4 occasions, number 5 coming up soon. There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing the event come together on the day, pulling pints and chatting to old and new acquaintances. It always fascinates me that the taking down of a festival takes about the 10th of the time of actually setting it up.  

As well as branch meetings, which I attend when I can, there has been the occasional meet the brewer nights. Black Paw, Fyne Ales and Maxim (twice!) spring  to mind.    

Since joining I have embraced social media, first with Facebook and recently using Twitter. This got me thinking - how on earth did we communicate before "T'internet" came along? Why back then it was all down to word of mouth, the post (remember that?) or ads in the newspapers. I have a friend who has never had a mobile phone or a computer and he seems to get by.  

I have enjoyed reading and writing for our branch magazine. Most recently I have started this blog, again something I wouldn't have envisaged 5 years ago.    

When I was working part of my role was doing  surveys in buildings. Now I am occasionally doing surveys in pubs for entries into either The Good Beer Guide or the CAMRA pub website, Whatpub, altogether a much more pleasurable experience.   

I also got a lot of satisfaction helping to produce a couple of real ale trail leaflets. For one of them I walked the route, taking pictures and sussing out bus stops etc. Although I  admit this was the only pub crawl I have ever done when I didnt have a drink!

A previous post, which can be read here , covered a recent day working in Maxim Brewery, which I have to say is one of the highlights of the last 5 years.

As with all things, there is nearly always a downside. Here are a few.

CAMRA sell books using their online shop. I have purchased several over the years, including a Good Beer Guide, Real Heritage Pub Guide and the Good Bottled Beer Guide; BUT NEVER FROM CAMRA BOOKS.  Instead a well known online book seller is cheaper and doesn't sneakily add postage at the end of a transaction.

Before the recent Great British Beer Festival it was possible to purchase tickets online. You could have them delivered or print your own. It was the same additional cost for either option. So you paid for the privilege of using your own paper. Cheeky! 

The C in CAMRA stands for Campaign. I admit I have had limited success doing this.  

I remember during the last coalition government CAMRA campaigned for the stopping of the beer duty escalator. I dutifully completed my online petition which went off to my MP. Eventually the reply came back that it was government policy and the increased tax was needed to reduce the budget deficit. And this from an MP in the Opposition! I was so disgusted I gave the letter from the House of Commons to my mate to fuel his summer barbecue.

More recently, off went another online petition concerning  community pubs. Back came a letter about the National Trust or English Heritage (I forget which). That went straight in the shredder. I have no confidence in my MP doing the right thing. Hopeless.

Having said that, the positives have far outweighed the negatives. You get out of something what you put in. I met a CAMRA member for the first time last week who said he doesn't go to branch meetings as he didnt know anyone. I thought that was strange as it wasn't a problem for me. How else do you get involved if you don't make the effort to make yourself known?

I've found I now tend to focus more on beer quality, rather than the downing of copious quantities as in my younger days. However this could be a sign of getting on a bit, and not joining CAMRA. 

There are now more breweries than 5 years ago, but less pubs to drink the beer in. Work that one out!

So if you're not a member and you enjoy drinking good beer, I hope this gives you something to think about . Come along to your local branch beer festival and see what goes on.  Follow this link for more info

So heres to the next 5 years.

Cheers