CAMRA, BrewDog, BJCP Styles and (Grand) Pappy Protz

Well, there is yet more controversy around BrewDog. As a blogger, I'm legally required to write about this. They've tried to push the limits of brewing, and especially British brewing, to the breaking point-- using, horrors of horrors, Champagne Yeast and traditional German techniques. Bowing to the French and Germans, about beer no less, naturally set off CAMRA, and even the usually level headed Roger Protz, who is the singular reason I went gay for CAMRA. Protz, as detailed beautifully over at Brookston, was refusing to call this beer. This story was reported there better than I can do myself.

What I can add here are two things, one about my speculation of what Brew Dog might do to British brewing, the other about our interpretation of British beer as Americans, through the guise of the BJCP. As Brew Dog pushes the limits of British Brewing, they run the risk of running themselves out of business. There are great traditional breweries, sure, but there are a large number of startups that brew ultra-traditional brews because they sell, mainly to CAMRA. These breweries could expand to doing more creative beers, in established markets and with established tones. Perhaps they could even bring back the Old Ales, Barleywines and XXXX beers so well established and discussed by Shut Up About Barclay Perkins. Not to mention, there are 3.5% alcohol beers in the UK that pack much more, and more appropriate, ranges of flavors into the medium than many of the 7-9% Brewdog beers have done. These masterful breweries, if invited to do more 'American' style beers, could likely whomp the whippersnappers at Brewdog, if their base would let them. As a CAMRA member of dubious standing, I say go on.

As Americans, we believe in antiquarian British beers. We want the beers of our forefathers when they were stationed there, hence the continued inclusion of Southern English Brown, a beer I have never seen popularly mentioned in two years of living there and numerous trips back since (including being at the GBBF and Festivals south of the Thames). The BJCP, following a mission of preservation, are nice enough to keep these styles alive, but it belies what we want from British beer. It is also what the flat-caps and bearded wierdies (both of which I qualify for at times) of CAMRA want. British beer is marketable as twee, and while some lovely baby steps have been made, this wholesale attack by Brewdog might be shortsighted. As I mentioned above, they could easily be beat by expansions in the product line by the most traditional brewers. They also will open up the UK to the amazing, longer standing, American beers. While I wish them luck, enjoy their beers and think they do put a bit of a UK spin on things, I'd be more interested in a British version of a US IIPA or even an American (Texas) Brown with UK hops and malts, rather than Dogfish Head: Scotland.

I owe you all an update, GBBF, BrewDog

Well. I owe you all an update. I've been to the GBBF, which was awesome and totally changed my mind about CAMRA. Roger Protz's beer seminar was awesome, and we tried beers from all around the world. It totally went against the jack-booted CAMRA persona I was expecting. His new book, A Life on the Hop is also pretty good. This is a good man who loves beer, and I'm impressed and thankful to have met him.

(I didn't make this, sorry. But it is what I saw after the Baltic Porter to finish)

We started with a Brakspear Triple, followed by a Budvar. Then some Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Orval, Salvator and finally a weird Polish Baltic Porter. The festival was awesome and there were some great beers. I stuck to the Milds mainly, as I can't get them at home and was on a bit of a mission, in part from the brew club I belong to. The championship beer was excellent, the Rudgate Ruby Mild. Full reviews forthcoming next week, but I have to say I was impressed by the festival and wrong about CAMRA.

(Pork and Pulchritude)

We also did a BrewDog tasting, which was great. The Atlantic IPA wasn't as amazing as I'd hoped, but it was definitely unique and punishingly hoppy. Some of the other beers were astounding, especially the honey infused ale. Full details on that are also forthcoming.

However, I'm off to San Francisco in the morning and can't wait to try some more new beers. Suggestions encouraged in the comments section. I showed up at my in-law's at 2am last night, and my mother-in-law asked if I brought any beer. I hadn't but a quick trip to the store landed us on Duvel richer, which is good, if a tad young and alcoholic.