That's not all: Preston, England, "the Jerusalem of Teetotalism", has a
real ale beer festival, hosted by the Roman Catholic church of St.
Walburge's, featuring local brews such as Lancaster Bomber and Pickled
Priest.
The local county council of Lancashire, which is responsible for
promoting public transport, publishes real ale bus trails, combining bus
timetables with details of real ale pubs. They are produced jointly with
the local CAMRA group. It means that serious ale drinkers can travel
from pub to pub, using local buses and not risking being breathalized by
the police for drink-driving. The leaflets are printed and paid for from
local taxes.

Aidan Turner-Bishop
University of Central Lancashire
Preston, England

>>> [log in to unmask] 08/05/04 01:00am >>>
The (London) Guardian, 4 Aug. 04, included an article by Chris Borg,
"Skrimshander, Stoatwobbler and Scorcher: Not a Firm of Solicitors,
but
Just Three of the 450 ales available at the Great British Beer
Festival."  The festival is held at Olympia in London each summer under
the
auspices of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).  In addition to ales,
the
festival provided the 45,000 who attend a chance to sample 250 ciders,
lagers and perries.  Both the author and CAMRA object to the image of
drinkers of "real ale" as "men with extravagant beer bellies, bushy
beards,
knitted jumpers [sweaters] and sandals."  Many of those at the
festival
were young professionals, with women comprising about a third of those
attending.