ALE July-August 2007 No. 329

Recent research carried out by CAMRA has found that:

• 54% of adults agree that every pub should sell at least one locally brewed beer
• 70% agree that pubs selling local beer help sustain the local economy
• 31% would buy locally brewed beer rather than beer from beyond the area.

Many licensees would no doubt love to oblige and sell beers from Milton, City of Cambridge and other local breweries - but they can't. This may be because their pub is tied to a non-Cambs brewery like Greene King who dictate what beers can be sold. Or the pub belongs to Punch, Enterprise or one of the other pub-owning companies who also place restrictions on which beers the licensee can buy. The number of genuine free houses, where it's entirely down to the publican which beers to sell, is sadly very small in this neck of the woods.

CAMRA is pressing strongly for pub tenants to be able to offer a Guest Beer of their own choosing. Back in the early 90s the Government did introduce a guest beer law in respect of breweries owning more than 2000 pubs. Those breweries ("the big six") proceeded to sell their pubs to the pub companies so the Government scrapped the law on the grounds it was no longer needed. Cue the likes of Greene King and Marstons to expand their estates (both of which are now well over 2000). So - bring back the Guest Beer rights we say.

In the meantime, it's a real struggle for our local brewers to find local outlets. You'll more easily find Milton beers in London than round here for instance. However, a few pubs manage to fly the flag for Cambs beers and we list the known outlets below. Please support them and also tell us of any others that you find.

Cambridge
Cambridge Blue	two or three Cambs beers from the likes of Milton, City of Cambridge, Elgoods, Fenland
Kingston Arms	Oakham JHB, Elgoods Black Dog, sometimes a Cambs guest.
Empress	Usually a Milton beer (though the pub has recently changed hands).
Live and Let Live	occasional Cambs guest.
Mill	sometimes has Fenland beers.
Regent Hotel	Kilderkin Double (bottled).
Fountain	often has a City of Cambridge beer or two.
Radegund	usually has a Milton beer.
Rural
Dullingham Boot	guest normally East Anglian, sometimes Cambs.
Madingley 3 Horseshoes	wide range of City of Cambridge "real ale in a bottle" brands.
Histon Red Lion	Elgoods Black Dog, often an Oakham.
Milton Waggon & Horses	full Elgoods range.
Reach Dykes End	two Devils Dyke beers.
Thriplow Green Man	can have Cambs beers as guests.
Little Wilbraham Hole in the Wall	most beers East Anglian, can be Cambs.
Great Abington Three Tuns	sometimes has Oakham.

P.S. There are also sound environmental reasons for supporting local beers. They have to travel less distance from brewery to pub hence reduced "beer miles" and less use of fossil fuels.