Cask Marque
Generally, CAMRA is happy to give broad support to the
Cask Marque
scheme on the basis that it champions beer quality by accrediting real ale cellarmanship.
However at the detailed level it seems all's not well.
As an example, in theory a beer could arrive from a brewery at a Cask Marque pub and be properly
looked-after in the cellar according to the approved standards.
It could then be delivered, chilled, via inappropriate dispense (e.g. sparker) to the customer,
who finds the beer is bad - as that's how it came from the brewery.
In summary
- Good points:
- promotes quality in real ale
- frequent reviews of award holders
- Bad points:
- encourages beer to be over-chilled, masking the taste
- does not check the freshness and other essential aspects for the enjoyment of fine ale
For 2001
However, as described in What's Brewing November 2000,
Cask Marque plans to extend its scope in 2001:
- accredited pubs must offer try-before-you-buy and have a perfect-pint guarantee;
- the quality of the supply chain will be checked.
If these work as intended, they should address most of the problems.
The "Key to Symbols" has an unfortunate error:
for the Cask Marque accreditation symbol it says "all such pubs are chosen by CAMRA"
whereas it should make it clear that such pubs passed the Cask Marque audit and then were
independently chosen by CAMRA branches for the GBG.
Branch Cask Marque page.
How to get What's Brewing.
ALE Winter 2000 No. 300
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Cambridge & District CAMRA