The West Midlands beer scene booming, according to the Good Beer Guide

The local brewing and pub scene in the West Midlands is booming, according to the Good Beer Guide 2020, CAMRA’s premier publication featuring the very best pubs to find a great pint in the UK.

It reports that across the West Midlands there are 17 new breweries:

1. Bullen Brewing Co, Ledbury
2. Weobley Brewing Co, Weobley
3. All Nations Brewpub, Telford
4. Church Aston Brewery, Church Aston
5. Evolution Brewery, Shrewsbury
6. Finney’s Brewery, Wellington
7. Bridgnorth Brewery Ltd, Bridgnorth
8. Gentlewood Brewery Co, Gentleshaw
9. Izaak Walton Brewhouse, Cold Norton
10. Fosse Way Brewing Co, Offchurch
11. Attic Brewery Co Ltd, Birmingham
12. Glasshouse Beer Co, Stirchley
13. Halton Turner Brewing Co Ltd, Birmingham
14. Leviathan Brewery, Sutton Coldfield
15. Triumph Brewery Services Ltd, Coventry
16. Hartlebury Brewing Co Ltd, Hartlebury
17. White Rabbit Brewery, Honeybourne

In addition, the Prince of Wales in Shrewsbury has been named one of the best pubs in the UK, making its way to the next stage of the competition in the nationwide search for CAMRA’s Pub of the Year.

The pub is a welcoming, two-roomed backstreet local with a large decked sun-trap and heated smoking shelter facing out over the bowling green. The green is overlooked by a 19th-century Maltings and darts, dominoes and bowls teams abound. It hosts two beer festivals each year and Shrewsbury Town FC memorabilia adorn the building both inside and out, with some of the seating from the old Gay Meadow Ground skirting the bowling green.

It will now compete in the next round of the competition, hoping to be named one of four finalists – and stay in with a chance of becoming the overall winner, to be revealed in February 2020.

The Good Beer Guide, which reviews over 4,500 pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinkers’ guide to the very best pints in a variety of styles of pubs to suit individual tastes. Compiled by thousands of independent volunteers, it helps identify significant trends and themes locally and nationally.

The local branch will be hosting an event to celebrate on Thursday from 6-8 pm at the Head of Steam on Temple Street in Birmingham, which is its first time in the Good Beer Guide.

Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s Chief Executive said: “For nearly five decades, the Good Beer Guide has been a comprehensive guide to the UK’s breweries, their ales, and the best outlets to find them in across the country.

“What makes the Guide unique is that all the entries are compiled and vetted by a huge volunteer team, based around the country. We work hard to ensure that all areas of the country are covered and, unlike with some competitor titles, inclusion in this book is dependent only on merit, not on payment.

“The Good Beer Guide has always had an important role in acting as a barometer of the beer and pub industry. We believe information gleaned from the Guide is absolutely vital in the drive to save our pubs from closure and campaign for policies that better support pubs, local brewers and their customers.”

Discover all of the pubs listed, and more, with CAMRA’s new Good Beer Guide app, available on both iOS and Android device or visit the CAMRA shop for your copy: shop.camra.org.uk 

About the Good Beer Guide

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide is the original independent guide to good beer and good pubs. Now in its 47th edition, the fully revised and updated Guide recommends pubs in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and offshore islands that serve the best real ale. From country inns through micropubs and taprooms – if you love pubs, don’t leave home without the Good Beer Guide.

The Guide is researched by independent volunteers across the UK with every pub featured visited at least once for assessment. It is the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide, based on combined trade and direct sales.

The Good Beer Guide 2020 is published on Thursday, 12 September 2019 and is available to order at shop.camra.org.uk

Alternatively, discover all of the pubs listed, and more, with CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide app, available on both iOS and Android devices at https://gbgapp.camra.org.uk

About CAMRA

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 191,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community

CAMRA Press Office:

press@camra.org.uk

01727 337863