ALE Summer 2004 No. 314 : Next section

Real Ale in a Bottle

The scheme has been devised in response to an increased number of enquiries from both CAMRA members and the general public about what constitutes a bottle-conditioned beer, how they can be identified, and most importantly where they can be bought.

Many more people are learning to appreciate the brewer's art to the full by savouring the complex, fresh taste of a beer that has been allowed to mature naturally in the bottle.

The aim of the scheme is to recognise bottle-conditioned beers as a separate category to other bottled beers, and encourage buyers to stock and promote them in their retail outlets.

All breweries listed in the CAMRA's Good Bottled Beer Guide are eligible to join the scheme and of those surveyed 90% think that it is a good idea. The general consensus appears to be that once consumers understand that they are drinking bottled real ale, they really appreciate and enjoy exploring different tastes, styles and products.

The accreditation markings form two parts, to be used on the label artwork to help consumers easily differentiate products:

• a clearly-identifiable hallmark "CAMRA says this is real ale";
• a method-of-dispense logo to create a better understanding of how to look after and serve bottled real ale.

It is important to note that though a particular beer is a real ale in draught form this is not a guarantee that the bottled version will be real also. Most real ales will be clearly labeled but a quick check to see if there is any yeast sediment will confirm if the beer is a RAIB.