retiredmartin

Yes, officially out today (order HERE !), the 2027 Good Beer Guide is a triumph of campaigning for real ale. And non-real ale, as we see more crafty keg outlets with the rider “Please ask which beers are Key Keg“, which I guarantee no-one is going to do. And who cares ? Good beer is good beer.

Once again, I applaud the CAMRA volunteers who visit pubs throughout the year and tell us which are the best ones. In my experience, they get it right far more often than not, which is why the Guide has so many pubs that don’t fit the CAMRA stereotype.

One of those crafty new entries is Thirsty in Cambridge, last visited by me the night City pipped U*nited to the league (by 19 points). For interest, here’s what Thirsty has on tap today;

Most of the GBG tickers vigorously drink craft keg (hope that’s not outing) as well as real ale, though a cool pint of, ooh, Track Sonoma will always beat the slightly carbonated version.

The tickers have been hard at work since their advance copies dropped (ugh) a week or so ago. Here’s our new mate Nobbie reading Simon’s annual GBG Day post this morning.

Since completing the GBG myself (you may have read about that) my September isn’t quite so frantic with cross-checking, spreadsheets, and pink Stabilo marker pens, but I’m still planning travel around new entries in exciting places like North Frodingham, Hobson, and Unstone (which appears to about 5 miles south of me).

This year’s “WTF !” entry is one stop out of Lincoln, where the Poacher’s Den offers you five (5) hours a week of top ticking.

But can you get home again afterwards, Si ?