Posts Tagged: Beer History, Lore and Traditions
Even The Recent Past Is A Foreign Country
Posted by on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in - 10 comments
It is quite the thing to realize how almost, well, a bit dull this 1995 ad for Guinness is when seen 18 years later. But, it was not shown at the time due to the theme of the gay couple: • In 1995, an ad created by Ogilvy and Mather for the ever popular Guinness beer never made its way to the …
Two Wooden English Tankards From The 1500s
Posted by on Sunday, April 14, 2013 in - 10 comments
A few months ago, I referenced a wooden tankard that had been found on Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, as part of my review of Mitch Steele's book IPA. I didn't clue into one aspect of the tankard until I read this story about another similar wooden tankard from the 1500s found last year in …
Maybe Beer Helped Create Violent Tyranny?
Posted by on Monday, March 25, 2013 in - 6 comments
I find this beer "created civilization" line going around funny. Sure, it is an easy cut and paste story for bloggers needing to fill space. And, sure, it is an easy story for a newspaper to run. But really? • Hayden told Postmedia News that “there are lots of implications” of the team’s …
Albany Ale: Why Did They Grow All That Wheat?
Posted by on Saturday, March 9, 2013 in - 5 comments
Did I mention that I was tickled to get my copy of Alcohol and its Role in the Evolution of Human Society by Ian S. Hornsey last week? Oh, I did. One of the great truths of this mortal coil is how chronology must be obeyed. And I was particularly ticked to realize that since my last Hornsey, the …
Book Review: Alcohol and its Role in..., Ian Hornsey
Posted by on Thursday, March 7, 2013 in - 3 comments
That is Alcohol and its Role in the Evolution of Human Society by Ian S. Hornsey. I had no idea. In a work of beer writing that is still trying to find its way, seeking to evolve from fanboy gushing or trade focused boosterism or underdeveloped efforts at business journalism, Hornsey's 2004 book A …
The State Of English Fuel And Malt In 1593-ish
Posted by on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 in - 8 comments
Ah, the 1500s. Remember them? They were great. Jeff's comments yesterday got me thinking about causes for changes like the introduction of coke in the early 1600s and its application in malting at mid-century. See, there is this idea that goes well beyond brewing history that somehow folk in the …
Book Review: IPA, Brewing Techniques, Etc., Mitch Steele
Posted by on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 in - 8 comments
This is another book from Brewers Publications that bridges the worlds of brewers and drinkers. As with Stan's excellent For The Love of Hops, the book provides context, history, categorizations, practical application of the topic in brewing and plenty of evidence of sheer enthusiasm. That being …
The Sort Of Inn That I Wish Was On My Street
Posted by on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 in - 2 comments
Noodling around the internet for ideas the other day I came across this reference to an unfamiliar form of inn the book Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy: • Rolliver's inn, the single alehouse at this end of the long and broken village, could only boast of an off-licence; hence, as … read more »
As Pleasant A Snow Day Lunch As Ever I've Had
Posted by on Friday, February 8, 2013 in - 10 comments
Ron as Švejk caught in a beam of angelic light. • My favorite place to have a beer is a block from work and two from my folk's place. Today, during today's Snowmageddon, I looked outside at noon, then looked at my workload and realized an impromptu declaration of a half day vacation was in order …
Albany Ale: In 1670 The Best Ale Was Wheat Ale
Posted by on Sunday, February 3, 2013 in - 7 comments
You ever wonder why the reference you find after two and a half years took two and a half years to find? Look at this: • Their best Liquors are Fiall, Passado, and Madera Wines, the former are sweetish, the latter a palish Claret, very spritely and generous, two shillings a Bottle; their best … read more »
