CAMRA is only too aware that beer styles in the UK aren\u2019t static. You only have to look at the growth of American Pale Ales, Golden Ales, aged beers and foreign beer styles such as sours to be aware of what a great time it is to be a beer drinker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early in 2019, CAMRA\u2019s National Executive set up a Beer Styles\nReview Group, which I chaired, to take a look at the beer styles then in use\nfor the Champion Beer of Britain Beer (CBoB) competition to see if they were\nfit for purpose. After consulting with people both within CAMRA and in the\nindustry, the overall conclusion was that the market has significantly moved on\nsince 2008 when the last major review was conducted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it would have been easy to simply expand the list of styles and judging categories, the Review Group had to consider the practicalities pertaining to the running of the CBoB Competition. This means ensuring that there are sufficient beers in any category to give a sensible number to be judged at the preliminary regional competitions and that there are enough local beer festivals available to host a judging. As a consequence, the new CBoB judging beer style groups will be increased from ten to twelve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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So what are the changes? The Review Group were aware that,\nalthough in some categories there were not huge numbers of beers, there were\ngood campaigning reasons to keep a particular style and protect it, for example\nmilds. There was also a strong feeling that CAMRA needs to protect traditional\nbitters (because if we don\u2019t, nobody will) and concern was raised about the way\nthe IPA (India Pale Ale) market has been developing, with some beers which are\nlabelled IPA not displaying the characteristics expected. This has resulted in\nthree categories: Session Bitters (4.3% ABV and below), Premium Bitters (above\n4.3% ABV) and IPAs, with the latter encompassing both British and New World styles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the review, it was noted that there was some\nbewilderment as to the difference between porters and stouts, with both public\nand brewers being confused. These will now be combined but divided into two by\nalcohol content with the stronger category (above 4.9% ABV) including Imperial\nRussian Stouts and Baltic Porters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Group also considered the growing number of Pale Ales, a style\nthat currently doesn\u2019t fit into either the Golden Ales (too malty) or Bitters\n(too fruity). In future, these will be judged together with Blonds and Golden\nAles in two categories, Session and Premium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another area of growth has been speciality beers. In future, there\nwill be two Speciality categories: one for beers that have been made with\n\u2018non-conventional\u2019 ingredients or techniques and the other for beers that are\nflavoured. They will be judged as part of the winter judging rather than the\nsummer as currently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the plethora of beer styles available, the Review Group is\nonly too aware that there will still be some beer styles that do not neatly fit\ninto the new categories but we believe that these changes are a move forward.\nSessions are being planned for people to come along and taste the changes so\nthey are ready for the members\u2019 CBoB voting in autumn 2020. In London, a short session is being run at\nSambrook\u2019s Brewery on 11 March and a full taste training session at Wimbledon\nBrewery on 29 February. Go to https:\/\/cryneinyourbeer.sitelio.me\/ <\/em>for details on these and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Christine Cryne <\/em><\/strong>
Chair of CAMRA\u2019s London Tasting Panel <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n