Oliver regrets Camra "hobbit" jibe

Marston's beer boss Stephen Oliver says he "regrets" some of his "intemperate" descriptions of certain real ale enthusiasts, who he labelled "hobbits" and "whisker-stroking stormtroopers".

Oliver's comments about some Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) members, from his My Shout column in last week's Morning Advertiser, caused a storm and were slated by Camra stalwart and MA columnist Roger Protz.

Oliver's target was the Camra members who talk "rubbish" about beer and want a greater choice of ales than those offered from Marston's.

In an email, Protz told Oliver he was "aghast" at his "grotesque language", and demanded an apology. Camra is a "modern, sophisticated organisation", Protz said, whose members don't fit Oliver's "crude stereotypes".

"You have not only done Camra a disservice, you have done a disservice to the truth," said Protz.

In reply, Oliver said "it was not my intention to criticise Camra in total or all of its members", adding that he's a Camra member himself.

Oliver said he was trying to draw attention to the "small minority of Camra members" who want more beers than Marston's pubs currently offer, "even though that might be deleterious to quality".

"I accept that in my column I used exaggerated language in order to make my point, as I know you do from time to time to make yours."

He added: "On reflection, I regret using the intemperate descriptions of some Camra members in my article."

Protz's letter in full:

Stephen,

When we exchanged emails yesterday morning my copy of the MA hadn't arrived. I would not have been so convivial if I had read your column earlier.

Frankly, I am aghast. I find it difficult to comprehend that in the year 2009 such vulgar abuse should be aimed at Camra -- gobby hobbits, sandle-clad, whisker-stroking stormtroopers (are you suggesting we're Nazis?) and beardies: this absurd and grotesque language thankfully went out in the 1980s until you revived it.

Cask beer would not exist in Britain but for the efforts of Camra. At least a dozen beer festivals are staged every month throughout the country as shop-windows for cask beer.

As it closes in on 100,000 members, Camra is a modern, sophisticated organisation. East Anglian members have built good relations with Greene King. London members, a vociferous bunch, accepted the real politik of the Wells & Young's merger.

I am not aware of any hostility to Marston's -- Ralph was a guest speaker at the Wolverhampton AGM two years ago. I think I have been a good friend to Marston's and given you generous coverage. I even admit when it get it wrong -- I thought you would close Jennings. You didn't. I put my hands up and wrote a positive feature about Jennings in the MA.

Do I really have to explain that Camra members do not fit your crude stereotype. In recent years, three organisers of the Great British Beer Festival have been women. The current national chairman is a woman. Mike Benner, the public face of Camra, is clean-shaven, well-dressed and enjoys a perfectly normal family life when he's not working his balls off to save cask beer and pubs.

You have not only done Camra a disservice, you have done a disservice to the truth. President Obama has admitted he made a cock-up, David Cameron has said "sorry".

Perhaps you'd consider joining the queue.

Written in sadness,

Roger

Click here for Stephen Oliver's reply.

Click here​ for Oliver's original My Shout column.