Industry bodies show support for CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide

Cask Marque and SIBA to sponsor CAMRA flagship title for 2012 edition

Issued: Wednesday March 30th 2011
Status: For immediate use

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is delighted to announce that both Cask Marque and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) have pledged their support to its best-selling title, the Good Beer Guide, by sponsoring the forthcoming 2012 edition, due for release in September.

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide is now in its 39th edition and remains a wholly independent guide to the best pubs in Great Britain, as well as the authoritative lowdown on every brewery currently operational across the nation. Pub entries for the Good Beer Guide are chosen by CAMRA’s 120,000-strong membership on the quality of real ale served at the bar.

The 2012 edition represents the 9th time industry watchdog Cask Marque has backed the Guide, with the body sponsoring the pubs section. Meanwhile, the forthcoming edition will be SIBA’s first sponsorship of the CAMRA title, and they will be putting their name to the breweries section. SIBA’s backing of CAMRA’s best selling Guide comes at a time when 54% of drinkers have now tried Britain’s National Drink, and Nick Stafford, SIBA Commercial and Finance Director, said:

‘SIBA represents most local brewers in the UK and they are proving to be a dynamic part of cask ale growth. Real ale consumers have always appreciated local artisans in brewing and SIBA wishes to thank them for their support through sponsorship of this iconic publication.’

Paul Nunny, Cask Marque Director, also expressed his commitment to the Guide. He said:

‘We are pleased once again to sponsor the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. This is our 9th year of our involvement and it helps us in delivering a beer quality message to all Cask Ale drinkers.’

The Good Beer Guide 2012 is due for release in September, and as part of its role to encourage more consumers to try real ale, is set to increase promotion of the Cyclops tasting scheme, an industry accredited initiative which has seen over 200 breweries sign up since its introduction in 2006.

Roger Protz, CAMRA Good Beer Guide editor, said:

‘The Guide is all about attracting people old and new to try the best British beer inside the best 4,500 pubs in the land. Thanks to the support of two of the industry’s foremost campaigners for quality in the beer and pub industry, we are able to continue this mission and we look forward to seeing what the readers think of our new edition of the Guide in September.’