The Bristol & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is pleased to announce that it’s Bristol and District Rare Ale Styles Group “BADRAG”, has won a national award for the promotion of rare ale styles. These styles include real ales such as porter, mild, light bitters, stout, old ales and barley wines. 

Pictured are Laurie Gibney (right) receiving the award for BADRAG from Brett Laniosh, the Promotions and Marketing Director of CAMRA.

Peter Bridle a member of CAMRA’s national Promotions and Marketing Committee who lives in Bristol, said

“The local BADRAG group was only set up a short time ago. In that time, a lot of hard work has been put in by the team of volunteers who have shown tremendous enthusiasm in driving forward this aspect of CAMRA’s campaigning, as well as supporting all of the other activity within the Bristol and District CAMRA branch. As well as producing promotional material for pubs, liaising with pub licensees, dealing with the administration, encouraging breweries to produce rare ale styles, attending meetings all over the area these guys also hold down a day job!”

Recent activity led to the appearance of more mild ales during CAMRA’s May promotion than has probably ever been seen. Over 50 pubs had a beer style that has not normally been found in the South West region on their bars. This is a refection of the fantastic campaigning that has taken place.

The runners-up for the award were:

Steve Gibbs (Durham brewery) Endorses old syle brewing methods and revives old recipes. Produces a number of dark beers, from a ruby mild to a Russian stout. (Nominated by Cleveland Branch) Trevor Readman (Captain Cook Inn, Staithes) Trevor's love of dark beer means that he puts at least a couple of pins (more in Summer) of dark beer on over each weekend. Also holds a number of themed beer festivals at the pub each year, in which milds, porters and stouts are always well featured. Won a special award from Cleveland Branch, "Mild supporter of the year" in 2007. (Nominated by Cleveland Branch).

Becky Newman, licensee at the Bricklayer's Arms in Putney, London SW15. Becky and her brother-in-law rescued this pub from closure in 2005, and have since steadily increased the beer range. Even though there's not a huge market for mild in London, the Bricklayer's regularly has both Timothy Taylor Dark Mild and Golden Best on sale, as well as Ram Tam.  The Bricklayer's was voted SW London Branch Pub of the Year for 2006, and went on to win the London regional award in 2007. (Nominated by SW London Branch).

Please email rare ale styles related information to BADRAG@camrabristol.org.uk or bring it along to a branch event and ask for it to be passed to a BADRAG member.