[oscarvan]

Off to Glasgow. Got a list off the CAMRA site, and duly mapped them. Time for a half pint hike.... 15 minute walk, find real ale, have a half pint, repeat until tired. Can't decide on Haggis or Bombay Blues...... I will report if I find anything exciting. Will definitely be looking for Scottish ale. I DO like Deuchards.

[jeffy]

I highly recommend buying a copy of the Good Beer Guide.

[hopfenundmalz]

I highly recommend buying a copy of the Good Beer Guide.

I second this.  The Good Beer Guide is worth it, just in the avoiding of dodgy pubs.

[alikocho]

I highly recommend buying a copy of the Good Beer Guide.

I second this.  The Good Beer Guide is worth it, just in the avoiding of dodgy pubs.

+1 and it will stand you in good stead when you go to other parts of Britain.

[gordonstrong]

They come out with new ones every year.  Don't waste the money ordering it in advance and having it shipped over.  Just pop into a book store once you get there and buy one.

[phillamb168]

They come out with new ones every year.  Don't waste the money ordering it in advance and having it shipped over.  Just pop into a book store once you get there and buy one.

Just ordered 2011 thanks to you guys' advice. Looking forward to planning a trip to the UK using this as the only reference.

How much does each guide change each year? Seems to me a good pub would hopefully stay a good pub for a while... It's like the Michelin guide of Pubs, right?

[gordonstrong]

I use it mostly to see what's on tap at the different places.  Sometimes I'm looking for a particular beer.  Pubs do open and close, they can change how they handle their beers, and other aspects that could make them more or less desirable.  Always best to have the latest intel.  They should have it as a smart phone app.  I can't think of a better use for location-based services than to tell me the closest place I can get London Pride on cask.

[hopfenundmalz]

They come out with new ones every year.  Don't waste the money ordering it in advance and having it shipped over.  Just pop into a book store once you get there and buy one.

Just ordered 2011 thanks to you guys' advice. Looking forward to planning a trip to the UK using this as the only reference.
How much does each guide change each year? Seems to me a good pub would hopefully stay a good pub for a while... It's like the Michelin guide of Pubs, right?

Pubs change Landlords (the pub operater) and parent pub companies all the time.  The skill of the Landlord in keeping the real ale on, and the other aspects of a good pub are what are rated.  CAMRA will have the feedback on which have improved or degraded over the last year or so. Many Pubs also close every year.  You don't want to make a trip just to find the pub listed in your 4 year old guide is now closed.
-Gordon was faster.

[alikocho]

They should have it as a smart phone app.  

They do, and it's very useful. Costs about 5 pounds ($7.50). The UI's a little clunky, but the functionality is great and you can see where yopu are in relation to the pub and how to get there.

[jeffy]

They should have it as a smart phone app.  

They do, and it's very useful. Costs about 5 pounds ($7.50). The UI's a little clunky, but the functionality is great and you can see where yopu are in relation to the pub and how to get there.

How cool is that?

[gordonstrong]

They should have it as a smart phone app.  

They do, and it's very useful. Costs about 5 pounds ($7.50). The UI's a little clunky, but the functionality is great and you can see where yopu are in relation to the pub and how to get there.

How cool is that?

Way cool.

[oscarvan]

Thanks..... I will have to get that. The app is cool, except for me it would require data roaming to be on and that is a very expen$ive proposition.

Indeed I had a hard time locating any of the Scottish Ales that I was after, BUT..... I did stumble across this place:

http://www.westbeer.com/Our_location.html

Although lagers are not my favorite beer styles, these were very well done, particularly the alt. They give tours on Saturday or by appointment. Will have to make it here on a Saturday.

[gordonstrong]

Can the app do location-based services on wifi?  If you turn off the cell network and just basically use it as an ipod touch, you shouldn't get any data charges.  That's what I did when I was in Australia.  Harder to get a connection on the road, but it worked better when you were in a city.

[oscarvan]

Yes it can. Downloaded. 

[gordonstrong]

Please post a report on how useful it was.  I'm quite interested.