User:Rogerprotzbeer/sandbox

Roger Protz (born London 1939) is a leading beer writer, historian and lecturer. He has written more than 20 books on the subject of beer, including the best-selling 300 Beers to Try Before You Die (2005). A successor to this title, 300 More Beers to Try Before You Die, was due to be published in September 2013. He joined the Campaign for Real Ale in 1976 and went on to become editor of its monthly newspaper What's Brewing and the annual Good Beer Guide. He edited six editions of the guide between 1978 and 1984 and returned to the guide in 2000. His major books on beer include The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer (1995), The Taste of Beer (1998), The World Beer Guide (2000), and the Complete Guide to World Beer (2004). He has lectured widely, including to Friends of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and at Beer Expo in Melbourne, Australia. His many beer-and-food matching events include Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, Galvin at Windows, Park Lane, Hilton, London, and the Monks' Place, Philadelphia. His awards include twice being named Drink Writer of the Year in the Glenfiddich Awards (1997 and 2004), two Gold and five Silver awards from the British Guild of Beer Writers and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the guild in 2006. In 2012 he was named Best Writer in National Publications in the guild's annual awards. He was the founding member of the guild in 1988. His website, launched in January 2012, is www.protzonbeer.co.uk. Protz was born in New Cross, south London. His parents' home was bombed early in World War Two and he spent the war years with his mother in Norfolk and Kent. After the war, the family settled in East Ham, East London. He attended East Ham Grammar School and left at the age of 16 to pursue a career in journalism. His posts included production editor of New Society, chief sub-editor North London Press Group and features sub-editor on the London Evening Standard. He was active in left-wing politics in the 1960s and early 1970s and edited Socialist Worker from 1968 to 1974. He played club cricket for many years and is a season ticket holder at West Ham United FC.