Shropshire is big player in the real ale stakes
When former Midlands journalist Michael Hardman produced his first guide to real ale, it was nearly pulped before it reached the shops, over fears it contained a libel.
The following year, the second edition came close to biting the dust too for rather different reasons – this time Hardman had unwittingly pitched his tent at the side of a railway line, and narrowly avoided being mown down by an express train!
If ever there seemed to be a publication which looked fated never to see the light of day, it is surely the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide.
"It's a wonder it ever happened," says Hardman. "There was a complete lack of knowledge about pubs serving real ale and Camra had no effective branch structure."
But Hardman, who had founded Camra with a group of friends in 1971, used his journalistic nous to turn the alleged libel to his advantage. His comments about London brewing giant Watney were leaked to the Press, and the ensuing publicity ensured that when a toned-down version of the guide went on sale, it flew off the shelves.
Today, as the 40th edition of the beer drinker's companion goes on sale, it's an opportunity to raise a toast to the good county of Shropshire.
Because its reputation as one of the real ale capitals of Britain is well and truly cemented.
More than a dozen pubs or breweries across Shropshire and its Welsh borders have earned a place in the respected directory for the first time this year. Many more have retained their places in the 2013 guide, and earned glowing praise from the discerning judges – members of the Campaign For Real Ale.
In total, there are now more than 50 Shropshire pubs, along with 17 county micro breweries, on the 4,500-strong list, running across a monster 944 pages. It's a far cry from the first Good Beer Guide, which was just 96 pages long.
While pub closures continue to be a problem, the quality and range of ales they are selling seems to be broadening by the week.
Newcomers to the Shropshire real ale trail this year include two Red Lions in north Shropshire – Cheswardine and Market Drayton – along with the New Inn at Baschurch, and The Anchor at Whitchurch.
At the opposite end of the county, newcomers from south Shropshire include The Queens in Ludlow, The Ragleth at Little Stretton, and The Bridges at Ratlinghope.
The new William Withering pub in Telford also makes the guide for the first time, along with Odfellows at Shifnal, while Mid Wales debutants include The Stag at Llanidloes, and Horse & Jockey in Knighton.
At the same time, the number of micro breweries springing up across Britain has grown to its highest level since the 1940s. There are now 17 Shropshire breweries featured in the guide, including a new entrant this year, the Hop & Stagger at Bridgnorth.
Roger Protz is the man responsible for putting the 2013 guide together, and he says he believes Shropshire and the wider West Midlands is one of the best areas in Britain to enjoy good beer.
Among the beers shortlisted for the Camra Beer of the Year award are Batham's Best Bitter, which is brewed in Brierley Hill, and Hobson's Mild which is produced at Cleobury Mortimer.
"One of the things I love about the West Midlands is that in an area where mild used to be such a dominant style, that it is beginning to come back again," he says. "Hobson's is a beautiful dark mild, and I love Batham's bitter and mild too.
"I love it that you have got these old established breweries which are still family run," he says. "Often these breweries still have the family name, but the families are no longer involved.
"But not only do you have those, you have these new microbreweries snapping at their heels, keeping them on top of their game.
"In all of the 30-odd years I have been writing about beer, I have never known a time when there is so much choice. Even the big brewers like Banks's and Marston's are getting in on the act."
While the number of pubs in the UK has seen a sharp decline over the last 10 years, with the West Midlands one of the worst-hit areas, Protz believes there will always be a place in the community for a good pub.
"What we are finding is that he pubs that are doing well are the ones that are serving real ale and good food. People want more flavour, they will no longer just settle for bland, fizzy beers."
Shropshire's real ale trail: Pubs and breweries in the new guide
Baschurch: The New Inn
Bishop's Castle: Crown & Anchor Vaults, Six Bells pub and Brewery, Three Tuns pub and Brewery
Bridgnorth: Hare & Hounds, King's Head, Old Castle, Railwayman's Arms, White Lion, Hop & Stagger Brewery
Cardington: Royal Oak
Cheswardine: Fox & Hounds, Red Lion, Lion's Tale Brewery
Chetwynd Aston: The Fox
Cleobury Mortimer: Kings Arms, Hobsons Brewery
Clun: White Horse Inn, Clun Brewery
Clunton: Crown Inn
Corfton: Corvedale Brewery
Coalport: Shakespeare
Ellerdine Heath: Royal Oak
Habberley: Mytton Arms
Ironbridge: Golden Ball, Robin Hood Inn, Ironbridge Brewery
Little Stretton: Ragleth Inn
Ludlow: Charlton Arms, The Queens, Ludlow Brewery
Madeley: All Nations, Shires Brewery
Market Drayton: Red Lion, Joules Brewery
Oakengates: Crown Inn, Old Fighting Cocks, Station Hotel
Oswestry: Stonehouse Brewery at Weston
Ratlinghope: Bridges
Roden: Dickensian Brewery
Rowton: Rowton Brewery
Ruyton-XI-Town: Talbot Country Inn
Sambrook: Three Horseshoes
Selattyn: Cross Keys
Shifnal: Odfellows Wine Bar, White Hart
Shrewsbury: Admiral Benbow, Coach & Horses, Nags Head, Prince of Wales, Salopian Bar, Three Fishes, Woodman Inn, Salopian Brewery
Stottesdon: Fighting Cocks
St George's: Sports and Social Club
Tilley: Tilley Raven
Trefonen: Offa's Dyke Brewery
Wellington: Cock Hotel, William Withering, Wrekin Inn
Wistanstow: The Wood Brewery
Whitchurch: Anchor, Black Bear, Cricket Club
