Guilty as charged. Born in B'Ham, raised in Northants countryside, college and early pro career over in Essex. Started my drinking days during the great CAMRA renaissance of real beer and small breweries (yes, even Jolly Old England was a beer desert for many years after the War). Was a member of a traveling show that used to plan our route from one theater to the next to include as many CAMRA recommended pubs in as possible (afternoon rehearsal was always a joke!).

Fortunately, the US is also undergoing a revolution in availability and quality of micro-brews, a bit like England in the 70's. So my time over hear has not been wasted..! You bitch as much as I did about lousy American beers, there is bound to be a reaction! (You know how much of one I can get here!)

My little area now has a couple of micro-breweries, and even an Indian restaurant! I think there is hope for the Colonies after all!