Camra urges 'go traditional' on St Patrick's Day
THE Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is urging pub-goers to seek out a pint of real stout or porter this St Patrick's Day.
A spokesman said: "In recent years large brewers have used massive advertising campaigns to promote pasteurised, filtered and chilled stouts as the only drink to enjoy on St Patrick's Day.
"We are urging anyone planning to visit the pub on March 17th to ask for real, cask-conditioned stouts and porters at the bar and indulge in an authentic taste experience."
Cold, bland, filteredTracy Saunders, Chair of CAMRA's Light and Dark Supporters Group which campaigns specifically for Britain's endangered beer styles, added: "The bland, cold, filtered stuff that calls itself stout can't compare with real, traditional stouts and porters that have flavours ranging from roast and tangy to chocolaty or fruity. Its character and flavour will shine through without needing gimmicks Tracy Saunders, CAMRA
"You will not be disappointed if you are served a real stout and porter at the bar. Its character and flavour will shine through without needing gimmicks like drawing clover on the head or dying the beer green."
According to CAMRA's 2006 Good Beer Guide there are 216 cask conditioned Stouts and Porters that are regularly or seasonally brewed.
Popularity increasingCAMRA says their popularity is increasing among consumers and yet they can be more difficult to find and identify among other styles at the handpump.
The group launched a campaign at the beginning of the year to emphasise the characters of Stout, Porter and Old Ales.
Tracy Saunders continued: "Ask at the bar for real stouts and porters and stand out from the crowd as someone who appreciates the true taste of St Patrick's Day's favourite beer style."
St Patrick's Day is on Friday, March, 17.
