TOPIC:

CAMRA, it seems, has become a victim of it's own success. In the past things like the narrowness of the definition of Real Ale, the fact that keg beer wasn't allowed at CAMRA run festivals etc. weren't such big an issue because CAMRA were fighting a good fight.
Now the term Real Ale, GBBF, the Good Beer Guide etc. have become so 'powerful' that people outside of CAMRA (as well as internally, granted) are insisting that this 'club' should change it's rules.

Séan said earlier:
[quote:2jwx6qao]
The term "Real Ale" annoys me[/quote:2jwx6qao]

and

[quote:2jwx6qao]CAMRA are free to do as they please with the GBBF. It's their festival, they make the rules.[/quote:2jwx6qao]

I know I'm selectively quoting there, but I hear this come up time and again. Yes, CAMRA are free to set their rules for their festivals; but equally they're free to set the definition of Real Ale, seen as they coined the term. If people are annoyed with the definition of Real Ale, then just don't use it. Simple as that.

"Tube":1y7kf1f7 wrote: Real Ale to me has become more of just a term to describe a particular type of beer as defined by CAMRA. It's not necessarily the same thing as real ale.[/quote:1y7kf1f7]

I'm sorry Tube, but that's not what the term means. If you are using the term to refer to cask conditioned ale, you are using it incorrectly.

Only CAMRA use the term Real Ale and they use is to further their own agenda. “Real Ale” does not mean Cask Conditioned ale. It means Cask Conditioned or Bottle Conditioned beer produced and served according to CAMRA criteria. It is not a useful term for anything other than dividing beer into CAMRA approved and non approved.

If you mean cask beer say cask beer. If you mean bottle conditioned, say bottle conditioned. Don't say real ale, because by using that term, you are telling me that the cornie of unfiltered Wissbier I am serving at the moment is in some way fake and inferior to a cask of filtered, dull brown beer with a couple of magic beans[/url:1y7kf1f7] in it.

"UpsidedownA":1y7kf1f7 wrote: I don't use cornies. So, I'm sure it fits the bill.[/quote:1y7kf1f7] How do you package your beer?

"UpsidedownA":1y7kf1f7 wrote: The processes you describe, while not technically real ale by their narrow definition, look like they ought to be exceptions to the definition. The use of extraneous CO2 to dispense beer conditioned in the corny would prevent off flavours from oxidisation.[/quote:1y7kf1f7]

I agree, the definition is very narrow, results in beer spoilage, does not have any bearing on quality and does not mean the beer was produced by a small producer. But that is the definition and there are no exceptions. When the term Real Ale is used, that is what is being talked about.

"sbillings":14wg56ej wrote:

"Tube":14wg56ej wrote: Real Ale to me has become more of just a term to describe a particular type of beer as defined by CAMRA. It's not necessarily the same thing as real ale.[/quote:14wg56ej]

I'm sorry Tube, but that's not what the term means. If you are using the term to refer to cask conditioned ale, you are using it incorrectly.[/quote:14wg56ej]
I didn't explain myself well. I am agreeing with you and noby etc.

In my opinion Real Ale™ has become a CAMRA term, whereas real ale (no capitals) can be any beer (with a few exceptions).

(Ok, I put in the ™ for effect:))

I never use the term real ale. I couldn't care for it in the slightest. Its a snobbish word for beer imho.

I couldnt care whether a beer is served from a cask, keg, bottle, Cornie keg, polypin or an old mans hat! Once it tastes good then it satisfies all my criteria for a good beer.

Might be a naive view bit Im a simple man with simple needs

"Tube":2rm9h7s8 wrote: whereas real ale (no capitals) is proper beer.
[/quote:2rm9h7s8]

As opposed to what? Fake beer?

"noby":3sn2cud7 wrote:
Anyway, this is a very UK-centred issue, as CAMRA has little say in what we do here.[/quote:3sn2cud7]

Damn straight and particularly good coming from a man who brews beer which satisfies the narrow definition in question. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->