The National Beer Scoring Scheme (NBSS) is a six-level scale for judging beer quality in pubs. It is an easy-to-use system that has been designed to assist CAMRA branches in selecting pubs for the Good Beer Guide and monitoring beer quality by encouraging CAMRA members to report on beer quality where ever they go.
CAMRA members submit scores via CAMRA’s website (login required).
More information is available on the main CAMRA site here.
After 1 June 2026
The beer scoring system is changing from 1 June 2026 and will use descriptive ratings. The ratings replace the old 0-5 score scale and remove the use of half points. There will be a new tick box, separate from the ratings, for ‘no cask beer available’. The new ratings and descriptions are as follows:
Before 1 June 2026
The ratings before 1 June are as follows, with scores being allowed in 0.5 step increments
- No cask ale available
- Poor
Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment. - Average.
Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing. - Good
Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again. - Very Good
Excellent beer in excellent condition. - Perfect
Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.