Local pubs star in Good Beer Guide

Birmingham hostelries continue to shine in 2021 edition of the real ale bible.

Despite the most difficult conditions for decades, there’s welcome news for the region’s beer drinkers with the publication of real ale bible the Good Beer Guide 2021, out this week.

Appearing in the Guide, published by the Campaign for Real Ale, are new city centre entrants the Bull, on Price Street near Aston University, and the Colmore on Colmore Row. They join regular entries such as the Wellington, Post Office Vaults (pictured) and the Craven Arms in the 48th edition of the guide and provide further evidence that although COVID-19 may present unprecedented challenges, Birmingham’s beer scene continues to flourish .

A total of thirty venues in the city are mentioned, ranging from micropubs such as the Wildcat in Stirchley to the Edwardian grandeur of the Barton’s Arms in Newtown.

Location is no barrier, with entries ranging from the Butlers Arms at Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield to the Kings Heath Cricket & Sports Club on Alcester Rd South. .

More than 4,500 of the best pubs, clubs and bars in the country are featured, along with details of almost 2,000 breweries currently operating in the UK, all selected by a small army of volunteer CAMRA members. Also included are such legendary local hostelries as the Great Western in Wolverhampton, the Windsor Castle at Lye, Sedgley’s Beacon Hotel and the Batham’s brewery tap, the Vine (better known as the Bull & Bladder) in Brierley Hill.

Also featuring in the guide, which runs to 916 pages and has a retail price of £15.99, are articles on the growing number of beer styles found around the UK, the importance of pub culture and more, plus news of the campaigns that have made CAMRA one of the most successful consumer groups in the world.

For more details of CAMRA and the Good Beer Guide 2020, visit camra.org.uk