London 2012: On Your Malts

London 2012: On Your Malts
There is a glorious tradition with the naming of ales that picks up on our national humour and panache for a pun, LocAle being just one of them. With the London 2012 Olympics just round the corner we are in for a great feast of unique ale names to celebrate this once-in-a- lifetime of this event being staged in our country.
Last year we had the royal wedding. Remember the Kinver Brewery’s offering to celebrate the wedding weekend. Whatever had they got in mind when they named their ale to celebrate the royal wedding as “Kiss me Kate, Kiss me Wiily”? Yes, the ale names seem to help us savour the taste and sell the beer.
In many ways it calls for a national CAMRA competition for the best named ale perry or cider to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics. Even if it’s not a national event those many meetings held over the spring and summer could help to give the hundreds of breweries we are now so lucky to have, some ideas for a catchy title. Yes we know the taste is paramount to the enjoyment of our great beers. What it also is about is getting the message across to a wider audience. The national and international brands know this. So come on to all you budding “punicAle” people out there. See if you can do any better than this offering from my family over a recent Sunday lunch.

Barley Made It
Running Jump
Belly Flhops
Front Crawl
In The Drink
Diving High
Baton Brown
CAMRA Finish
Pale Vault
What’s Yoars
Porter Polo
Perry Good Effort
Out For The Count
Trialeathon
Casket Ball

The only rules we made was to keep away from athletes’ names and not to be too rude. The London 2012 organisers have strict rules on use of the five Olympic Rings plus other guidelines, so beware.

So 2012 is going to be a great journey for this country staging a world class event. Having recently visited the Olympic site, I vouch for the fact that we are in for some great viewing even if you have not got any tickets. The London 2012 web site has got details of events across the country to celebrate the games. So get in the swing of it. From July through to the finish of the Para Olympic Games in early September there is going to be a feast of events to join in.