CAMRA's Light and Dark Supporters Committee seeks to highlight all beers that are light in strength and all beers that are dark in colour. These include: Stouts, Porters and Old Ales, Light and Dark Milds, 60/- Ales and Light Bitters (those with an ABV of 3.4% or less or OG of 1034 or less). All these styles of beer are under threat of extinction; in so much as they are much more difficult to find in cask-conditioned form than the bitters that you normally see on handpump. However many are actually growing in popularity.

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Some Statistics...

A check of the beers listed in the rear pages of the 2006 Good Beer Guide shows that out of over 2000 beers listed there are 171 (up 11% from GBG 2005) Cask Conditioned Milds, and 60/- Ales in regular production, plus another 24 (up 20%) that are produced seasonally. There are also 28 Light Bitters (a decrease of 10%, making it the most threatened beer style currently) and 122 Old Ales (up 94 %, partially as a result of including some barley wines which are now felt to be part of this style). This contrasts with 216 Cask Conditioned Stouts and Porters that are either regularly or seasonally brewed, a decrease of 3% from 2005. The Republic of Ireland microbrewers now offer 11 stouts or porters, some available in cask-conditioned form - some are even available in the UK. However, whilst a lot of Mild is brewed by Regional and some National brewers, most of the Stouts and Porters come from the much smaller micro brewers, so Stouts and Porters are in fact much in the minority in terms of barrelage.

This year there are 125 stouts, porters, old ales, light bitters or milds now available as Real Ale in a Bottle (RAIB), an increase of 7% from 2005.

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What is being done to promote these styles of beer?

Mild Month Every year, drinkers are encouraged to make May Mild Month. This is supported by activities organised by CAMRA branches, including tastings and trails around pubs selling Milds and 60/- Ales. Brewers and pub chains also lend support. May 2005 saw the launch of new posters and leaflets to promote mild, and it is hoped that will see an even more successful Mild Month campaign this year. Celebrate Mild in May

Light Bitters Campaign During the summer months Light Bitters is promoted with a new poster campaign featuring the slogan - ‘Really Refreshing!' Summer 2009 should see local CAMRA branches continue to put their weight behind this worthy campaign, especially as it is this style which is most under threat currently.

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Stouts, Porters and Old Ales - Beers with Real Personality!

Stouts, Porters and Old Ales are promoted through the winter months. Artwork which illustrates different cartoon characters for each of these beer styles was launched in January 2006. Beer mats, posters, and pumpclip crowners are available to promote this campaign.

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Publicity Material

Publicity materials for all of these campaigns is available to order from the admin department at CAMRA HQ.


Mild Month publicity material