Roger Protz
Encyclopedia
Roger Protz is a British writer, journalist and campaigner. He was an early member of the Campaign for Real Ale
(CAMRA) in 1971, and has written several books on beer and pubs. He is the editor of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide
, and is a writer on beer in the UK and regularly contributes to The Guardian
.
and became editor of its newspaper, New Advance. While remaining in the Labour Party
, he joined the Trotskyist Socialist Labour League (SLL). In 1961, he resigned from New Advance to become the editor of the SLL's youth newspaper, Keep Left. He was sacked from that, he says, for being too left-wing.
Within a few years, he moved to the rival Revolutionary Socialist League
, where in 1964 he became the founding editor of Militant
. After leaving the RSL, he joined the International Socialists
where in 1969 he became the editor of Socialist Worker
. He was expelled from the editor's role in 1974, and soon afterwards from the party, going on to found the Workers League
.
He was an early member of the Campaign for Real Ale
(CAMRA) in 1971, and has written several books on beer
and pubs. He is the editor of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide
, and is a writer on beer in the UK and regularly contributes to The Guardian
.
In the mid-1970s, he was a tutor in magazine journalism at the London College of Printing.
Protz also frequently contributes article to website beer-pages, which he co-edits with Tom Cannavan
. He writes a weekly column for the Morning Advertiser
, a monthly column for What's Brewing, and also contributes to Beers of the World and All About Beer (US). In March 2007, he lectured on the history of beer to the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington DC. In 1988 he founded the British Guild of Beer Writers and was chairman of the Guild 2000-2003. His awards include two golden and five silver tankards from the Guild and he was named Glenfiddich Drink Writer of the Year in 1997 and 2004.
He is married and has two children and lives in St Albans
.
Campaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
(CAMRA) in 1971, and has written several books on beer and pubs. He is the editor of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide
Good Beer Guide
The Good Beer Guide is a book published annually by the Campaign for Real Ale listing what they consider to be the best cask ale outlets in the United Kingdom.-Details:...
, and is a writer on beer in the UK and regularly contributes to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
Biography
Protz joined the Labour Party Young SocialistsLabour Party Young Socialists
The Labour Party Young Socialists was the name of the youth section of the British Labour Party from 1965 until 1993. The LPYS was the most successful of the youth sections of the Labour Party in the post war period, at one point having nearly 600 branches and attendances at its national...
and became editor of its newspaper, New Advance. While remaining in the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, he joined the Trotskyist Socialist Labour League (SLL). In 1961, he resigned from New Advance to become the editor of the SLL's youth newspaper, Keep Left. He was sacked from that, he says, for being too left-wing.
Within a few years, he moved to the rival Revolutionary Socialist League
Revolutionary Socialist League (UK, 1957)
The Revolutionary Socialist League was a Trotskyist group in Britain which existed from 1956 to 1964.-Formation:After the dissolution of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Ted Grant and his supporters were expelled from the RCP's successor The Club in 1950 and formed the International Socialist...
, where in 1964 he became the founding editor of Militant
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
. After leaving the RSL, he joined the International Socialists
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
where in 1969 he became the editor of Socialist Worker
Socialist Worker
Socialist Worker is the name of several socialist/communist newspapers associated with the International Socialist Tendency...
. He was expelled from the editor's role in 1974, and soon afterwards from the party, going on to found the Workers League
Workers League (UK)
The Workers League was a small Trotskyist group in Britain.It began as the IS Opposition, formed in 1975 within the International Socialists , and containing many prominent IS members, including Roger Protz and Jim Higgins...
.
He was an early member of the Campaign for Real Ale
Campaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
(CAMRA) in 1971, and has written several books on beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
and pubs. He is the editor of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide
Good Beer Guide
The Good Beer Guide is a book published annually by the Campaign for Real Ale listing what they consider to be the best cask ale outlets in the United Kingdom.-Details:...
, and is a writer on beer in the UK and regularly contributes to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
In the mid-1970s, he was a tutor in magazine journalism at the London College of Printing.
Protz also frequently contributes article to website beer-pages, which he co-edits with Tom Cannavan
Tom Cannavan
Tom Cannavan is a Scottish author and a wine journalist. He is considered a pioneer presence on internet of the British wine writing establishment.-Biography:...
. He writes a weekly column for the Morning Advertiser
Morning Advertiser
Morning Advertiser is the only weekly pub trade publication in the UK. It currently has a circulation of more than 32,500 that reaches the key decision-makers in England and Wales. In March 2011, William Reed Business Media, bought The Publican from United Business Media and merged the two titles...
, a monthly column for What's Brewing, and also contributes to Beers of the World and All About Beer (US). In March 2007, he lectured on the history of beer to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington DC. In 1988 he founded the British Guild of Beer Writers and was chairman of the Guild 2000-2003. His awards include two golden and five silver tankards from the Guild and he was named Glenfiddich Drink Writer of the Year in 1997 and 2004.
He is married and has two children and lives in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
.
Publications
- Roger Protz, The Complete Guide to World Beer. ISBN 1-84442-865-6.
- Roger Protz, Classic Stout and Porter. ISBN 1-85375-220-7.
- Roger Protz, The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer. ISBN 1-86309-142-4.