As is traditional, the new Beer Guide is greeted by some of the newer Retired Martin family. This year it’s Snuggles, Wilbury and Buzzy Bee.
They come to praise the Guide, officially released this morning with little fanfare and seemingly even less interest amongst CAMRA members.
Bit of a brick compared to those early editions with pithier descriptions like “workingmen’s pub“. This year’s edition comes with a free Stanley knife to extract the pointless brewery section.
CAMRA may be struggling to understand the point of its own existence at the moment following a poorly attended (but excellent) Great British Beer Festival, but the GBG is a triumph for the many volunteers who survey pubs, score beer and reward hardworking publicans each year.
September used to be the most exciting few weeks of the year, as tickers hid away with hot towels and cans of murk crosschecking editions, exclaiming “FIVE new entries in Rotherham!“.
Less new pubs (churn) apparent on my inspection (so far), with only a couple of newbies in South Yorks and Cambridge.
But what’s the future for pubs, or cask, anyway ?
My lad phoned me last night to tell me he’d been on an unsuccessful hunt for Boddingtons (sold out in the Taps). He’ll move on to Bass soon enough.
This is him in the Hare & Hounds, drinking Holt with his mum this year. Holt seem to be a big winner in GBG26, with a lot of re-entries around Manchester. I take great heart from that.
Let the ticking begin.
retiredmartin 
Is Buzzy Bee a tribute to, our probably soon to be PM, Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester bus network?
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Quick check of the Cornwall section shows 14 changes, higher than usual I think.
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As is traditional, the new Beer Guide is greeted by some of the newer Retired Martin family. This year it’s Snuggles, Wilbury and Buzzy Bee.”
I read that quickly as the newer retired ‘members’ of the Martin family! Luckily it’s a variety of various plushies to accompany on some of your journeys.
“This year’s edition comes with a free Stanley knife to extract the pointless brewery section.”
(slow golf clap)
“CAMRA may be struggling to understand the point of its own existence”
I’d be tempted that’s become a bit of a thing with many an institution. Morphed into something no longer recognizable.
“September used to be the most exciting few weeks of the year, as tickers hid away with hot towels and cans of murk crosschecking editions
Cold towels surely, to keep the excitement damped down.
But what’s the future for pubs, or cask, anyway ?”
One would hope a brighter one, even though that may be overly optimistic alas.
“He’ll move on to Bass soon enough.”
Heh. 🙂
“Holt seem to be a big winner in GBG26, with a lot of re-entries around Manchester. I take great heart from that.”
Hear, hear! Give me a good bitter any day of the week.
Cheers!
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