Do your bit for the environment and your community – drink local ales
FEW people can be unaware that our environment is being significantly degraded at an accelerating rate, writes Neville Grundy.
At the same time, there is growing consumer demand for quality local produce that has not been expensively and pollutingly transported over great distances.
In 2007 Camra launched an initiative called LocAle to promote pubs stocking locallybrewed real ale in order to reduce the number of ‘beer miles’ between brewery and pub cellar.
Camra branches around the country award accreditation to pubs that regularly stock at least one local real ale.
The pub can then advertise their support by posting the window sticker in their pubs.
Some of the benefits of stocking locally produced real ale in local pubs include:
Pubs could attract more visitors through their doors, including tourists.
Consumers can enjoy greater beer choice and diversity.
Local brewers are supported with increased sales.
the local economy is supported as more money is generated and spent locally.
Fewer beer miles means less impact on the environment.
To find a LocAle pub near you, look out for the Camra sticker that pubs that have been awarded LocAle status can display in their windows or doors.
The stickers are dated with the year of the accreditation, and there may be LocAle pump clip crowners to show which beers have been brewed locally.
Another way is to check Camra’s What Pub website at whatpub.com, where you can type any place or postcode to find suitable pubs in your area.
At a national level, Fixed
Wheel Brewery has scooped gold in Camra’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition with Blackheath Stout, a 5% ABV stout.
Following more than a year of local tasting panels and regional heats, Blackheath Stout was named overall champion, with beer writer Roger Protz describing it as “a very fine example of a stout.
“We were all very impressed by its rich malty flavour, its fruity hop aroma and the overall flavour of the beer.”
Blackheath is a full-bodied fruity stout dedicated to the home of Fixed Wheel’s Blackheath brewery.
It is brewed with New Zealand and English hops to give it an oaky bitterness and dark fruits finish.
Runners up were Elland brewery’s 1872 porter (silver) and Hawkshead Brodie’s Prime Export (bronze).
You may find, or be able to order, bottled versions of these beers in local bottle shops.