vorlich – I’ve used Beers of Europe in the past, and they seem ok:
http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog/
As to the Camra thing, there’s nothing wrong with them as such, but as others have mentioned, they do attract a certain ‘type’ of folk. They did wonders for proper beer in the 70’s and 80’s and still do so now, so that can only be a good thing.
They aren’t the be all and end all of beer in the UK though, as Brew Dog and other breweries have shown.
I remember going to a local Camra meeting a couple of years back in which one prominent local brewer spent the whole time bad mouthing another smaller local brewery, and not for any other reason except that they were competitors. The local Camra branch seemed to be on his side too… 🙄
I also take the Good Beer Guide with a pinch of salt too, they seem to include some awful pubs, whilst ignoring some better pubs in the same area. The branch members put in their ‘favourite’ pubs I guess, even if they aren’t that good to non-regulars.
This ‘closed shop’ mentality doesn’t do Camra any favours I reckon.
(Or the woolly jumpers). 😉