Hello to all members,

Please take the time to read the information below, this has been sent by CAMRA HQ.

Thank You.

Help CAMRA in next stage of Carlsberg’s ‘Fresh Ale’ investigation CAMRA’s bid to educate and protect beer lovers from Carlsberg’s ‘imitation’ cask beer continues, and we need your help to investigate how ‘Fresh Ale’ is being presented at the bar. ‘Fresh Ale’ was launched by Carlsberg in March 2024, serving kegged versions of Wainwright Amber, Wainwright Gold and Hobgoblin IPA through the traditional cask handpull. ‘Fresh Ale’ has been promoted as a cask product with an extended shelf life of 14 days. Carlsberg claims that ‘Fresh Ale’ is “preserving the beloved hand pull ritual” but it is taking up space for genuine cask beer on bars and misleading pubgoers into believing they are drinking a cask product when they are not. CAMRA’s Handpump Hijack campaign quickly followed with the intent of protecting consumers who are being misled by ‘Fresh Ale’ on the bar. We are clear that only cask beers, and their real cider equivalents, should be served through handpulls at the bar – and that Carlsberg should stop pubs serving their kegged ‘Fresh Ale’ products from traditional handpulls that are intrinsically linked with cask. Carlsberg claims they have taken steps to ensure pubgoers understand ‘Fresh Ale’ isn’t a cask product by using the term ‘Brewery Conditioned Ale’ on each pump clip, along with a QR code explainer of the term, and instruction guides for publicans serving ‘Fresh ale.’ But it is not always clear whether you are ordering a genuine cask version of these beers – or if you are getting the kegged ‘Fresh Ale’ version. Now we are asking drinkers to help us build up a body of evidence about ‘Fresh Ale’ that we can use to challenge Trading Standards departments and the Government about the misleading practice of serving kegged beers through cask handpulls at the bar. We’re asking Gwynedd a Mon members to please fill out CAMRA’s quick sighting form along with an image of the pump clip whenever ‘Fresh Ale’ is spotted in Gwynedd a Mon pubs. For Carlsberg’s ‘Fresh Ale’ versions of Wainwright Gold, Wainwright Amber and Hobgoblin IPA, you can use this sighting form: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/8MH341 There’s also a form for sightings of Otter brewery’s ‘Fresh Ale’: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XLQ6G6 Members can contact ku.gro.armac@sngiapmac with questions on Carlsberg’s ‘Fresh Ale’ and CAMRA’s Handpump Hijack campaign.

Thanks

Branch: Gwynedd A Mon