London Calling – CAMRA Rejects Craft Beer In The UK

Members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) an important industry voice in the United Kingdom built around its support of the British cask ale tradition, have rejected an attempt to modernize the organization by including craft beer (and lager) to its operating mandate.

CAMRA has championed what they refer to as ‘traditional brews’ for almost 50 years but not craft beer an increasingly important segment in the UK beer industry especially among its younger consumers.

The initiative which was introduced as part of the organization’s attempt to expand its relevancy by engaging with all beer drinkers, “irrespective of what they choose to drink,” narrowly missed being approved by its members who voted either online or at CAMRA’s annual meeting which took place over the weekend.

In order for the motion (which also included perrys  and ciders) and ciders) to have passed  it needed approval from 75 percent of its members, but according to The Telegraph only 72.6 per cent had voted for the change.

CAMRA’s outgoing national chairman, Colin Valentine did his best to spin what many see as a schism in the organization’s ranks…

The recommendations for change that we made to the membership were based entirely on feedback received from members when we consulted with them as part of the Revitalization Project.

“It was the largest consultation CAMRA has ever carried out and we listened to the views of over 25,000 of our members, who filled in online surveys and attended consultation meetings across the country.”

In a vague nod to craft beer, members also agreed that CAMRA’s beer festivals should not be limited to serving just real ale.

And while new diversity and equality measures were approved, what many saw as the most important resolution (primarily the inclusion of craft beer as an equal part of their mandate) failed…

A huge disappointment to many who had hoped that CAMRA would be willing to evolve beyond its aging cask beer core and be willing to embrace new brewing directions.

 

The Clash London Calling image credit: Epic Records