CAMRA's real ale scoring system has changed from the 1st of June. By using descriptions instead of numbers we hope to encourage more people to score their real ale.

For lovers of a decent pint, it’s important to be able to find them. CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide has been the ‘bible’ for finding the very best ones since 1974 and continues to be relied upon by tens of thousands of people.

But, CAMRA’s online pub guide "camra.org.uk/pubs" can also help because beer quality is indicated by the ‘3 Pints’ symbols that CAMRA members can see when logged in.

To help identify them, CAMRA members should score their pints whenever they have the opportunity. Their scores help local branches determine candidates for the Guide, and these can change year on year because the standards are high. Serving live cask beer requires skill in the cellar and attention by bar staff all the time. Competition for a place is stiff because only 4,500 places are available.

So, to make things easier for everyone, a new intuitive ratings system is being introduced, which is more descriptive of the beer being drunk. Each of the new ratings has a description and a likely reaction to help you pin down the most appropriate rating.

ADVANCED TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR MBCF 2026, where you get two pints of real ale /cider discounted at £4.50/pint. https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/510/maidenhead-beer-cider-festival-2026.

If you would like to volunteer at this year's festival please fill in the MBCF 2026 Volunteers Form

Beer Day Britain, a.k.a. National Beer Day, is celebrated on June 15 to mark the signing of the Magna Carta. It was on this day, in the 13th century, when a group of English barons successfully negotiated a pact with the King of England that curtailed the seemingly universal rights of a monarchy. The pact also standardized the measurement of beer, ale, and wine throughout the country. In 2015, beer sommelier Jane Peyton honored the 800th anniversary of the charter by establishing Beer Day Britain..

WELCOME TO INDIE BEER - Independent beer is handmade by real people who truly care about the quality and flavour of the beer they are producing. Choose independent beer for a great tasting pint and much more choice of styles and flavours than you get with global mass-produced beers. Importantly, you’ll be supporting local business, protecting local pubs, and making a more sustainable choice too. Support independent breweries by buying beers that carry the INDIE BEER mark on their pump clips, labels, or bottle caps and look for INDIE BEER posters and window stickers in pubs and brewery taprooms that are proud to serve it.

TO CHECK IF IT IS AN INDEPENDENT BREWERY GO TO https://www.indiebeer.uk/.

Fresh Ale Campaign. https://camra.org.uk/take-action/handpump-hijack.

And we have been vocal when cask beer has been under threat. Carlsberg’s so-called ‘Fresh Ale’ continues to appear on bars, presenting as cask beer when it’s nothing of the sort. Remember to get a photo and submit a sighting report if you find it on a bar near you. As far as we know the beers involved are Wainwright Gold & Amber plus Hobgoblin IPA Report a sighting of Carlsberg "Fresh Ale". In addition Otter Bright Ale is also in the same category. Please report that separately using the link Report Otter "Fresh Ale".

Each May and October CAMRA celebrates cider and perry to coincide with the production cycle of apples and pears.

This May’s Cider and Perry Month begins in the wake of the sobering news of Heineken’s decision to cut down almost 300 acres of orchards. Heineken – which manufactures products including Bulmers, Strongbow and Inch’s – has felled the trees ahead of its planned sale of the Monmouthshire land.

SWM CAMRA - supporting Real Ale, Real Cider and Real Pubs in East Berks & South Bucks