What's the matter larger boy, fraid you might taste something? (CAMRA)

Member Name: LoolooMe

Product:	CAMRA
Date:	10/07/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great organisation.

Disadvantages: Ale fests are too far and inbetween.

I first got interested in Ales when I attended a beer festival. At first I was a bit worried being a G&T drinking girl in my twenties and only mildly knowing the different types of ale, however after 3 hours and a lot of half pints I was hooked. After three other beer festivals I finally joined Camra -so what's it all about?

Camra what is it?
Campaign for real ale (Camra) fights for the return of real ale, the survival of real local pubs and consumer rights. It might sound like an excuse for drinking, but there is a lot more to it. Our heritage and culture is wrapped up in having a local pub with proper ale and supporting local breweries. It campaigns so that the appreciation of beer is not lost and that "Larger Boys" will not be educating the next generation of drinkers.

How it does the campaigning?
Through increasing awareness through books, guides, presentations and events.

How to get involved.
Visit their website or join in at a beer festival.

Is it worth it?
I became a fee paying member because I support this volunteer group, especially when you take into account that 56 pubs close every month, even if it's not your pub just imagine the community which it does belong to.
So if you support them, then joing them.

Beer festivals are they worth it?
Yes, yes and yes. Like I mentioned I was the opposite of an ale drinker and now I'm hooked. The atmosphere at beer festivals is amazing, everyone is so friendly and will strike up a chat. It is like one big local pub where everyone is welcome. If you don't like beer then there are lots of cider on offer although I recommend that you give beer a try with half pints costing around one pound fifty and usually lower, and entry price is often very reasonable a couple of pounds at most. I would also recommend that you try local ones instead of the large Earl Court one as it is a very large event and so you will have to fight for the bar. Age wise I was the youngest, but was still made to feel very welcome, and there was no upper limit with generations mixing freely.

Summary: A very good cause, and don't knock it till you've tried it.