tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post6432994463332571758..comments2024-03-28T17:11:52.333+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: A swift half centuryCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-56441056186065597812021-02-24T18:12:56.217+00:002021-02-24T18:12:56.217+00:00You know, you really ought to start a blog :PYou know, you really ought to start a blog :PCurmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-14478095149866086652021-02-23T16:00:07.190+00:002021-02-23T16:00:07.190+00:00There are those that choose to criticise CAMRA for...There are those that choose to criticise CAMRA for reasons of their own bitter internal narcissism, but it is important to defend CAMRA when these apostate heretics emerge. My journey with CAMRA began when I saw an advertisement in Opening Times magazine for a “mild challenge”. Visit pubs, drink mild, collect tokens, claim a t shirt and most important of all SAVE MILD. It didn’t work but that is not the point. Something needed to be done and they were doing something. Next year they did the same with the same results but at least they were doing something. What was everyone else doing? Nothing.<br /><br />Mild’s decline continued. Year on year mild slumped in volume. It disappeared from pubs, it suffered quality issues of low turnover but every year I knew something must be done so I did it and so did CAMRA. No one wanted to drink mild anymore as it was a bland wishy-washy sort of beer, but it needed saving and nobody else was trying to save it. My wardrobe filled with t shirts recognising that in this battle I was a soldier. Did I ever believe we would win this fight? Not for a minute but that’s not the issue. We were there for the fight.<br /><br />The more mild declined the more successful our mild challenge became. As more pubs took part and sold mild for a month and more people joined in the battle and collected their t shirt token. The challenge was renamed magic at one point but that didn’t quell my enthusiasm it enhanced it. At the peak of our success Robinsons discontinued mild as no one drank mild anymore. Not even us to be honest. We all agreed this much improved the mild magic as Robinsons mild was a dull tasteless drink, what with it being mild, and the new micro brewed milds that were not really milds in any real sense, just low ABV flavourful hoppy ales, were much nicer milds. This was the mild we are now saving as they don’t make actual mild anymore.<br /><br />So, I ask you CAMRA critics. Without CAMRA who is there to save mild? What are you doing to save mild? I’m doing my bit, are you?<br />Mild Drinker Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-65267750174723366682021-02-22T22:06:35.385+00:002021-02-22T22:06:35.385+00:00As a Life Member, I wouldn't resign my members...As a Life Member, I wouldn't resign my membership except on a serious issue of principle. I would have done so had CAMRA decided to actively support the smoking ban which, despite what Lucretius1 says, they didn't. I wouldn't have over their ludicrous support for minimum pricing, although there are one or two other touchstones of aligning with the anti-drink lobby that might prompt such a decision.<br /><br />I continue to value the social activities it provides and also its work on pub preservation through the National Inventory. On balance, despite the outbreaks of silliness, it does a lot more good than harm.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-29864052559654451062021-02-22T21:49:54.416+00:002021-02-22T21:49:54.416+00:00It is unfortunate that since Cookie locked his twi...It is unfortunate that since Cookie locked his twitter this is the only way I can see his numerous 140 character piss-takes.<br /><br />As for CAMRA. I really liked hanging around the committed ones in my former branch, they were insular in a way that benefits the aims they all originally signed up for.<br /><br />CAMRA is now spread to thinly and a non-entity that has some brand recognition because it hosts beer festivals and even hosting them it can somehow tie itself up in knots about which way it goes, in a cultural sense.<br /><br />Having said that, witnessing the clusterfuck of the last year highlights just how pointless and useless all beer/pub/brewing associations and representatives actually are. They really are nothing more than "Angry from Tunbridge Wells" except they have membership fees to serve as nest feathers.Boozy Pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-45164954631260339022021-02-22T16:30:21.287+00:002021-02-22T16:30:21.287+00:00Some unconvincing multi-character trolling there, ...Some unconvincing multi-character trolling there, Cookie :PCurmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-90122323369688559682021-02-22T14:46:19.288+00:002021-02-22T14:46:19.288+00:00It is certainly a socialist organisation and it co...It is certainly a socialist organisation and it contains and welcome marxists, trots, pinkos, tankies, reds, commies and guardian readers though not a marxist organisation per se.<br />In my observation it is managed by proud comrades and I would take issue with your insult.<br />Maybe at 50 starting meetings with a rendition of the red flag ought be considered? Then a ritual burning of effigies of tory scum.<br />It would encourage me to attend.Red CAMRAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-26047480450061680172021-02-22T12:04:46.494+00:002021-02-22T12:04:46.494+00:00Enjoy CAMRA for what it is not what you wish it to...Enjoy CAMRA for what it is not what you wish it to be. Are you retired? The kids left home, the wife busy with none shared interests? Want some beer snob drinking associates at the pedantic end of the scale with odd rules about acceptable drink? Sign up & enjoy some mediocre pub crawls, some decent enough beer festivals and some boring meetings and be part of something! Don't knock it till you've tried it.CAMRA Is Brilliantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-75699487713650031432021-02-22T11:58:47.565+00:002021-02-22T11:58:47.565+00:00Indeed, though surprising. My guess from reading t...Indeed, though surprising. My guess from reading through a number of posts would be the vanity of remaining a regular contributor to your local CAMRA magazine kept you in the fold. Happy to be corrected. I had assumed the "benefits" for things you did not appear to enjoy would be negligible and not of appeal to someone that disliked wetherspoons or beer festivals and preferred traditional pubs. It is fascinating to see how a life membership is less a bargain and more a trap. A fair warning to those considering it.The Corbyn Tapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-47047506827780527302021-02-22T08:04:28.197+00:002021-02-22T08:04:28.197+00:00Normal CAMRA activities won't really be able t...Normal CAMRA activities won't really be able to resume until all social distancing rules have been scrapped.<br /><br />And I suspect it will be a very long time before beer festivals can return to what they were before, as many people will be reluctant to venture into crowded places.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-33856195098107243012021-02-21T22:11:49.689+00:002021-02-21T22:11:49.689+00:00As I've said previously, had I taken out life ...As I've said previously, had I taken out life membership of CAMRA, when it first became available, then I would still be a member. <br /><br />It will be interesting to see how the organisation re-groups, when we are finally allowed to meet up freely with our fellow citizens, after the pandemic.Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-55756933898801291572021-02-21T16:24:01.032+00:002021-02-21T16:24:01.032+00:00Camra is anti smoking and did not support smokers ...Camra is anti smoking and did not support smokers in 2007 when the smoking ban came in. Consequently I and many other long term members left.Lucretius1https://www.blogger.com/profile/18213610249777895917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-74979645432862428872021-02-21T15:27:34.586+00:002021-02-21T15:27:34.586+00:00How precious. I thoroughly enjoyed your cogent res...How precious. I thoroughly enjoyed your cogent response and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. ABrewHaHahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03380577738378902797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-57924288455741758172021-02-21T12:35:28.121+00:002021-02-21T12:35:28.121+00:00And miss out on the Spoons vouchers and free entry...And miss out on the Spoons vouchers and free entry to beer festivals?Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-79006934713809690802021-02-21T11:50:17.905+00:002021-02-21T11:50:17.905+00:00Usually what people do when they no longer share t...Usually what people do when they no longer share the aims and objectives of an organisation is to leave it. <br />The Corbyn Tapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-57251045775170927422021-02-21T09:55:11.737+00:002021-02-21T09:55:11.737+00:00I must agree CAMRA adopting dialectical materialis...I must agree CAMRA adopting dialectical materialism and endorsing the dictatorship of the proletariat was a mistake. No, hang on a minute, I'm not a complete loonspud. Ignore that. <br /><br />Cask beer is more widely available, of more variety, and better quality than when I started drinking and I'm happy with that. I don't really care that in a large organisation that's been around for 50 years at times people have used it to further their own particular interest. Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13844169940650659196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-2152029843615967292021-02-21T08:52:05.377+00:002021-02-21T08:52:05.377+00:00What I mean by the lack of common ground is that t...What I mean by the lack of common ground is that there seem to be some members of the organisation whose sole interest is weird craft beers in trendy bars, and who recognise no threat from anti-drink policies which in their minds only threaten the plebs. If you organise days out that omit excellent pubs simply because they sell no unusual beers then you have lost me. Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-49109668353890749102021-02-21T08:29:30.445+00:002021-02-21T08:29:30.445+00:00Must re-read posts before clicking send, but hopef...Must re-read posts before clicking send, but hopefully my point is clear.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-65367233527674867522021-02-21T08:28:14.196+00:002021-02-21T08:28:14.196+00:00Pretty good analysis Mudgie.
I know what you mean...Pretty good analysis Mudgie.<br /><br />I know what you mean about common interest as you find some for whom real ale is only of peripheral interest.<br /><br />I kind of look as expanding our purview into other areas as a sorat to catch a mackeral,in that you need to embrace the drinkers of non real ales to bring them into the camp. Others maybe not so much.<br /><br />There is always a dichotomy between sticking with the knitting and embracing change. Has CAMRA got that balance right is the question.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-46405421604296892262021-02-20T22:51:32.644+00:002021-02-20T22:51:32.644+00:00Too Marxist for my liking, managed by twats and cu...Too Marxist for my liking, managed by twats and cunts.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10603987317820861401noreply@blogger.com