Berkshire South-East

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Beer Scoring

Beer scoring is one of the key criteria used in selecting which pubs are included in Britain’s best-selling pub guide, the Good Beer Guide.

Many things go into making a good pub but we believe the most important of all is for a pub to regularly serve traditional cask ales in top condition.

Unlike other beers, real ale is a living, breathing product. It needs to be stored and served in such a way that it is in prime condition when it reaches the glass. This is second nature to all good publicans.

In order to identify which of our pubs consistently serve their real ale well we run a scoring system. The more people who take part the better.

All we ask is for YOUR view on the beer quality once you have visited a pub in our area.

Score Rankings

CAMRA - National Beer Scoring Scheme (NBSS)
0.No Real AleNo cask-conditioned ale available.
1.PoorBeer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.
2.AverageCompetently kept, drinkable pint but doesn't inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.
3.GoodGood beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again.
4.Very GoodExcellent beer in excellent condition.
5.PerfectProbably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.
** HALF MARKS ARE ACCEPTIBLE ** - so you can make your beer score more explicit.

Important notes:

Score the way the pub has looked after the beer not how well it has been brewed. A basic bitter could score ‘5’ and the reigning Champion Beer of Britain could score ‘1’ if the former was in tip-top con­dition and the latter had gone off.

Use the top score of 5 only if you have never had the beer in better condition.

Do not score an off beer if, when you return it, it is taken back with good grace and the pump-clip turned round or the beer taken off sale.

How to Submit Scores

Submit your beer score through the WhatPub website.

Login using your CAMRA membership number and password, search for the record of the pub you wish to score, then fill in the form on the "Submit Beer Scores" tab for that pub.

If you have problems, contact the Branch Beer Scores Coordinator.

Thank you for your help.