Good Beer Guide - Over to You!

Every year we get complaints of two kinds about the Guide - "Why didn't you put pub X in?" and "What possessed you to put pub Y in?". Our current selection process was explained in ALE 322 and, as we said then, we don't claim it's perfect. Our main problem, as a Branch with few active members, is getting regularly round all 260 real ale pubs in our area. Many rural pubs in particular don't get checked out nearly often enough.

We've been looking at how we could improve selection and have agreed, for starters, to develop a "long list" of pubs where one or more of us has found very good ale. The idea is to keep this list of potential GBG entries open all year round so that members can visit as many candidates as possible.

This is where we need your help. At the end of the article is our first bash at a list. If you're reading this then the chances are that you're not averse to a drop of real ale and can no doubt spot a good pint when you sup one. So, if you know of pubs not on the list where the beer is consistently good, please let me know. Similarly, should you feel anything listed doesn't deserve its place, please tell me why not.