Beer Guide to the 1970s (part fifty-one)

In a way, I'm pleased that I was persuaded to continue with this series. As it means I can bash out a load of posts with minimal effort. Which is what I need to do, as I'll be travelling for a lot of March.

We round off Bass Charrington with two of its breweries from the Celtic fringe. Both of which, oddly enough, are still open. I've only ever drunk one beer from the two. That was a pint of dodgy Tennent's Lager in a Glasgow curry house. It wasn't great.

And we start on Courage. With, appropriately enough, the original brewery in London. Whose beer, when you could find it in cask form, was decent enough. And, of course, they brewed the wonderful Russian Stout.


Tennent
Glasgow,
Scotland.
Founded:    1769
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    240

Bought by Charrington United Breweries in 1963. With the huge popularity of their Pilsner, Tennent concentrated mostly on brewing Lager. And, no, I never tried it. For two reasons: I didn’t drink Lager and it wasn’t available where I lived. Weirdly, the only cask beer was 60/-, a style that was on its last legs.

beer	style	format	OG	description
60/-	Pale Ale	draught	1031
Pilsner	Pils	keg	1037

Welsh Brewers
Cardiff,
Wales.
Founded:    1884
Closed:            still open (as Brains)
Tied houses:    505

Bought by Bass Charrington in 1968, the name was changed from William Hancock to Welsh Brewers. Sold to Brain in 1999 and currently operating under their name.

beer	style	format	OG	description
HB	Pale Ale	draught	1037	full flavoured
BB	Pale Ale	draught	1037	pleasant
PA	Pale Ale	draught	1033.6	light and bland
Worthington Dark Mild or Dash	Mild	draught	1033.3	smooth and fruity
PMA	Mild	draught	1033.2	smooth and pale

Courage (London)
Southwark,
London.
Founded:    1787
Closed:            1981
Tied houses:    

The original Courage brewery on the South Bank right next to Tower Bridge. They started brewing the magnificent Russian Stout after the closure of the nearby Barclay Perkins brewery.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Directors Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1047	malty, distinctive
Best Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1039	lightly hopped
Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1030
Mild	Mild	draught	1031.2	well balanced
Tavern Keg	Pale Ale	keg	1036.2	Courage's flagship keg beer
Draught John Courage	Pale Ale	keg		strong
Special IPA	IPA	keg		bland
Russian Stout	Stout	bottled	1101.8	rich and heavy
Bulldog Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1068
Velvet	Stout	bottled	1041
Barley Wine	Barley Wine	bottled	1081.1
Light Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1032.4
John Courage IPA	IPA	bottled	1047.6
Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled	1033.7

 

Time for yet another plug of my latest book, "Keg!".

Get your copy of "Keg!" now!

 

The police and pubs in 1914

There were some things a publican was allowed to do in a pub. And some things that the police were obliged to do.

But first, something about people pretending to be travellers to get a drink outside licensing hours.

IN AID OF THE LICENCE HOLDER.—Falsely Pretending to be a Traveller, &c.—A person who, by falsely representing himself to be a traveller or a lodger, buys or obtains, or attempts to buy or obtain, at any licensed premises any intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours is liable to a penalty of £5.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 311.

Not exactly sure what is meant by a "traveller" here. Opening hours didn't - and still don't - apply to anyone lodging in a pub. Something I've taken advantage of a couple of times myself.

A publican could get some use from the police. For example, with help in chucking out a customer who was causing trouble.

Calling in the Police.—All constables are required, on the demand of the licence holder, or his agent or servant, to expel or assist in expelling from the licensed premises any person who is drunken, violent, quarrelsome, or disorderly, or any person whose presence on the licensed premises would subject the licence holder to a penalty. Such force may be used in the expulsion as is required for that purpose.

Any such disorderly person who, on the request of the licence holder or his servant or agent, refuses or fails to quit the licensed premises is liable to a penalty of £5; but it is necessary that he should have been actually disorderly at the time that he was requested to leave.

This remedy is in addition to and not in derogation of the licence holder's ordinary right as a householder to expel from his premises any objectionable person who will not leave when requested.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 310.

And, of course, publicans could refuse to serve anyone and ask them to leave. The fine, £5, for failing to leave when asked, was a considerable sum. The equivalent of 600 pints of Mild. Which was probably more than a year's worth of drinking. Even for a committed pisshead.

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1895 Ny Carlsberg Pilsner

A bit of a change of pace here. As we cross the North Sea to Denmark for a  recipe.For a beer which is still around today.

Pilsner was far from being king at Carlsberg in the 19th century. By was the most brews were of Lagerol, which was obviously the big seller. As in much of Europe, the first Lagers brewed in Denmark were in the darker Munich style. When Pilsner was introduced, it was an exclusive drink, aimed at the better off.  Much like IPA in the UK.

This is a very different beer from the current iteration. With a much fight gravity and a much worse degree of attenuation. Which leaves it around the same strength, but with, obviously, way more body. Though the light hopping probably leaves it wit ha similar level of bitterness.

The grist is slightly more complex than you might imagine, with a little Munich malt in addition to the pilsner malt. Giving it a touch more colour. Though it’s still pretty damn pale.

All Saaz hops, with is a nice authentic touch. And which, I’m sure, given the finished beer a delicate hop character.

A couple of months lagering Should get this into a nice state. 

1895 Ny Carlsberg Pilsner
pilsner malt	11.50 lb	97.21%
Munich malt 20L	0.33 lb	2.79%
Saaz 90 mins	0.75 oz
Saaz 60 mins	0.50 oz
Saaz 30 mins	0.50 oz
OG	1052
FG	1019
ABV	4.37
Apparent attenuation	63.46%
IBU	18
SRM	4
Mash double decoction
Boil time	90 minutes
pitching temp	48º F
Yeast	Wyeast 2042 Danish lager

These are the decoction mash details:

Mash in at 35º C (95º F)	5 minutes
Warm whole mash to 52º C (126º F)	20 minutes
Rest whole mash at 52º C (126º F) (protein rest)	15 minutes
Draw off first mash and without a rest bring to the boil	30 minutes
Boil first mash	10 minutes
The rest of the mash remains at 52º C (126º F)	40 minutes
Mash at 70º C (158º F)	25 minutes
Rest whole mash at 70º C (158º F) (saccharification rest)	30 minutes
Draw off second mash and without a rest bring to the boil	15 minutes
Boil second mash	10 minutes
Mash at 76º C (169º F) and mash out	20 minutes

 

Beer Guide to the 1970s (part fifty)

There's still quite a way to go with this series, as we're still only on the second Big Six brewer. Not done Whitbread yet, either. And they owned more breweries than anyone.

Today we've the two smaller M & B breweries. The good ones. Both in the Black Country. One producing just Mild, the other just Bitter. Highgate was a real survivor, clinging on for almost 75 years after being bought by M & B just before WW II.

Then there's Stones. Who really only made the one beer, Stones Bitter. A very pale beer, which was pretty decent. At least in the early days.


M & B (Highgate)
Walsall,
West Midlands.
Founded:         1898
Closed:            2010
Tied houses:    30

A real oddity: a Mild-only brewery. Whose beer was only available in the Walsall area. It was remarkably long-lived, given its small size and early acquisition date, having been bought by M & B in 1939.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Highgate Mild	Mild	draught	1034	dark and malty

M & B (Springfield)
Wolverhampton,
West Midlands.
Founded:         1839
Closed:            1991
Tied houses:    830

Bought by M & B in 1960. I quite liked Springfield Bitter, which was way better than Brew X.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Springfield Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1035.9	sweetish

Stone
Sheffield,
South Yorkshire.
Founded:        1895
Closed:           1998
Tied houses:    257

Bought by Bass Charrington in 1968.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Best Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1038.2	well hopped and very pale

 

Time for another plug of my latest book, "Keg!". From which the above was taken.

Get your copy of "Keg!" now!

 

 

What wasn't allowed in a pub in 1914? (part five)

Yet more stuff that you couldn't do in a pub. Pretty much anything that was fun.

Though this one doesn't sound that unreasonable: you couldn't be open during a riot.

Riots.-Any two justices of the peace acting for any county or place where any riot or tumult happens or is expected to happen may order every licensed person in or near the place where such riot or tumult, happens or is expected to happen to close his premises during any time which the justices may order; and any person who keeps open his premises for the sale of intoxicating liquors during any time at which the justices have ordered them to be closed is liable to a penalty not exceeding £50; and any person acting by the order of any justices may use such force as may be necessary for the purpose of closing such premises.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 310.

Not only could the justices tell you to close, they could physically force you to. I wonder when pubs were last forced to close on account of a riot? My guess is that most landlords wouldn't open anyway if there was a riot going on around them.

Next, it's the turn of children.

Children in Bar of Licensed Premises.—Any person who causes or procures or attempts to cause or procure a child under the age of fourteen years, not being a child of the licence holder or a child who is resident but not employed in the licensed premises to go to or be in the bar of any licensed premises (not being railway refreshment rooms or other premises constructed, fitted, and intended to be used in good faith for a purpose to which the holding of a licence is merely auxiliary), except during the hours of closing, or except for the purpose of passing through to some other part of the premises to which there is no other convenient means of access, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £2 for a first offence, and £5 for any subsequent offence.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, pages 310 - 311.

Note the wording. It doesn't say that children weren't allowed on licensed premises. It's just the bar they couldn't go in. Meaning it was fine for kids to be in a room which didn't have a bar.

Note the exceptions: children of the landlord or children who were resident. And then the one that surprised me: railway refreshment rooms, I wonder if that still applies?

You weren't allowed to sell to children, either. 

Sale to Children.—Any person who knowingly sends any person under the age of fourteen years to any place where intoxicating liquors are sold or delivered, for the purpose of obtaining any description of intoxicating liquor, except in the manner permitted by law, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £2 for the first offence, and not exceeding £5 for any subsequent offence.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 311.

Note the age: 14. The drinking age was only raised to 18 during WW I. You weren't allowed to send anyone under 14 to fetch beer for you. But there's a very important proviso: "except in the manner permitted by law". Because it was still common for people to send their kids to fetch beer. It was OK, as long as a seal was placed on the container. My mum used to fetch beer for her mother in the 1920s. (Mild Old Ale mixed, if you're wondering.)

Beer Guide to the 1970s (part forty-nine)

By popular request, I'm soldiering on with this series. If only because of the opportunities it gives me to push the book it comes from, "Keg!".

Three more Bass Charrington breweries today. Two of which closed just around when I was starting to drink. And one which was one of the company's main production sites, lasting just into this century.

The closure of Joule prompted an early CAMRA protest. No no avail, obviously. The brand has since been revived, though I've not tried the new version of the Bitter. Who knows how close it gets to the original.


Joule
Stone,
Staffordshire.
Founded:    1780
Closed:            1972
Tied houses:    214

Bought by Bass Charrington in 1968 and closed a few years later.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Joules Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1035

Massey's Burnley Brewery
Burnley,
Greater Manchester.
Founded:    1750
Closed:            1974
Tied houses:    312

Bought by Charrington United in 1966.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Kings Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
Light Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled

M & B (Cape Hill)
Birmingham,
West Midlands.
Founded:    1851
Closed:            2002
Tied houses:    

The original Mitchell & Butler brewery in Birmingham. And, for a while, the largest cask brewery in the world. I can’t say I was that keen on their cask beer. Brew XI was a crap, sweet excuse of a Bitter. The Mild was OK. But no better than that. When in Birmingham, I much preferred Ansells Mild.
 

beer	style	format	OG	description
Brew XI	Pale Ale	draught	1038.8	sweet
DPA (Dunkirk or Darby Pale Ale)	Pale Ale	draught	1032	pleasant
Mild	Mild	draught	1034.6	dark and malty
Family Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1031.6
Export Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1044.9

 

Time for the plug of my latest book, "Keg!".

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Let's Brew - 1895 Rose Stout

Finally, we come to the one Black Beer in Rose’s portfolio. A Stout.

It’s not the strongest Stout I’ve ever seen. In fact, it’s not much stronger than a London Porter at only 5.5% ABV. But, hey-ho, it’s reasonably dark and bitter, which is something.

As always, the Stout has the most complex grist. With three different malts: pale, black and crystal. Not exactly the same as a London grist, as there’s no brown malt. Though that was pretty typical outside the capital. The grist is rounded off with a little flaked maize. Oh yes, almost half of the black malt was added to the copper, not the mash tun.

There were two types of sugar, “White” and D. M. I. The former I’ve assumed is sucrose. And for the latter I’ve substituted No. 3 invert. Oh, and there was quite a lot of caramel, too. Obviously, for colour.

There were three types of copper hops: Sussex from the 1894 season, Californian from 1893 and Worcester from 1895. The dry hops were Californian from.1894, which is odd. Usually, American hops weren’t used for dry hopping as UK brewers weren’t keen on their flavour.

I doubt that this was aged at all, given its rather modest gravity. 

1895 Rose Stout
pale malt	9.50 lb	71.03%
crystal malt 60 L	0.875 lb	6.54%
black malt	0.75 lb	5.61%
flaked maize	0.875 lb	6.54%
No. 3 invert sugar	0.25 lb	1.87%
white sugar	0.875 lb	6.54%
caramel 1000 SRM	0.25 lb	1.87%
Fuggles 145 mins	1.50 oz
Fuggles 60 mins	1.50 oz
Goldings 30 mins	1.50 oz
Goldings dry hops	0.33 oz
OG	1061
FG	1019.5
ABV	5.49
Apparent attenuation	68.03%
IBU	54
SRM	36
Mash at	152º F
Sparge at	175º F
Boil time	145 minutes
pitching temp	58.5º F
Yeast	Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale Timothy Taylor

What wasn't allowed in a pub in 1914? (part four)

More forbidden activities from before the First World War.

The first is a surprising one. Not sure why billiards was singled out for particular attention.

Billiards.--The holder of a full licence may keep on his licensed premises, without any further licence in that behalf, a public billiard table, bagatelle board, or instrument used in any game of the like kind. But he must not allow any person whatsoever to play upon it at any time when such premises are not by law allowed to be open for the sale of intoxicating liquor, or before eight o'clock in the morning, or at any time on Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday. No other person may keep on his premises a public billiard table, bagatelle board, or instrument used in any game of the like kind, unless he is the holder of a billiard licence. Billiard licences are granted by licensing justices at Brewster Sessions in the same way as justices' liquor licences or certificates. The holder of a billiard licence is subject to the same restrictions with regard to the use of the table as the holder of a full licence who keeps a public billiard table, except that if he holds no liquor licence the hour at which play must stop is fixed at 1 a.m.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308.

Not totally forbidden, then, billiards. Just restrictions on when you could play. Even in places where no alcohol was served.

In London, music and dancing needed a licence.

Music.—A licence holder whose premises are situate within the County of London, or within twenty miles of the Cities of London or Westminster, or within the jurisdiction of any urban sanitary authority which has adopted Part IV of the Public Health Act, 1890, may not permit his licensed premises to be used for public dancing, music, or other entertainment of the like kind, unless he is the holder of a music and dancing licence, or, as the case may be, a music licence in respect of such premises.

Outside the areas above specified music and dancing licences are not required. 

Music and dancing licences are granted in the County of London by the London County Council in October; outside the County of London, but within the administrative county of Middlesex, by the Middlesex County Council, at any meeting convened with fourteen days’ previous notice or to any adjournment thereof; elsewhere outside the County of London, but within twenty miles of London or Westminster, by the Quarter Sessions at Michaelmas; in other places, by the licensing justices at Brewster Sessions or at any adjournment thereof, or at any Special Session convened with fourteen days’ previous notice.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308 - 309.

It's unclear as to how music and dancing could be legal outside London. Because . . music was forbidden without a licence.

Public Music.—As to music, the thing which is forbidden is the using of the house for public music without a licence. The use contemplated is an habitual or periodical use, not the mere permission of public music on a solitary occasion. The kind of music forbidden is public music which means a musical performance which members of the general public are admitted to hear, whether upon payment at the doors or on production of tickets purchased elsewhere or gratis. The mere keeping of a piano which customers are permitted to use is not keeping a room for public music.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.

At least a singsong around the piano was legal.

As was music in a private room, if you didn't let the public in.

Private Music.—But if the music is private — that is to say, if members of the general public are not admitted to hear it, as, for instance, if persons who have hired or have been permitted the exclusive use of a room on the licensed premises provide or execute music there for their own entertainment — such music is not unlawful, though the occupier of the premises has no music licence.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.

What punishment did the publican risk?  

Penalties.—Any person who keeps or uses any premises for public music or dancing or other entertainment of the like kind without being duly licensed in that behalf is liable to a penalty if the premises are within twenty miles of London or Westminster, but not within the administrative county of Middlesex, of £100, and if the premises are situate within the administrative county of Middlesex or in any other place where music licences are required, of £5 for every day on which such premises are so kept and used. In addition, such premises will be deemed to be a disorderly house.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.

Massive fines again. £100 was a massive sum back then. It's an amount even a wealthy publican might struggle to pay. And being labelled a disorderly house could lose you your licecnce.

Beer Guide to the 1970s (part forty-eight)

I'll be honest with you. I wasn't going to bother finishing off this series. Despite getting so far. Why? Because the book, "Keg!", was already out. And I'd moved on. Well, backwards in time. On, in terms of books.

But, one reader seems keen on the series. So why not? It will give me a chance to plug the book and make nice quick blog posts.

Here we go again, then, with three more Bass Charrington breweries. Had Charrington IPA when it was brewed at Cape Hill. It was OK if well looked after. Which wasn't that often. Never had anything from the other two. Jeffrey was notable for being one of the early Lager brewers. Being one of just half a dozen or so who made Lager in the UK between the wars.


Charrington
Tower Hamlets,
London.
Founded:    1770
Closed:            1975
Tied houses:    

One of the largest brewers in London, Charrington United Breweries merged with Bass, M & B in 1967 to form Bass Charrington.

beer	style	format	OG	description
IPA	IPA	draught	1038.9	fruity
Crown	Pale Ale	draught	1035.8	light and pleasant
Mild	Mild	draught	1034.6	thin but pleasant
Crown Royal Toby	Pale Ale	keg	1030.7
Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1035.4
Toby Best PA	Pale Ale	bottled	1047.4
Toby Brown	Brown Ale	bottled	1031.1
Jubilee Stout	Stout	bottled	1042.3

Cornbrook
Manchester,
Greater Manchester.
Founded:    1884
Closed:            1973
Tied houses:    270

Bought by Northern Breweries in 1961. It was an early adopter of tank beer in the late 1950s. One of the northern breweries “replaced” by Runcorn.

John Jeffrey
Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Founded:    1837
Closed:            1994
Tied houses:    

Based in the Heriot Brewery. Joined up with Hammond and Hope & Anchor in 1960. 

That done, it's time to remind you that the above, and other incredibly useless information, is included in my latest book, "Keg!".

Get your copy of "Keg!" now!

 

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1898 Rose IPA

Here we are then. At the Pale Ale pinnacle. A beer called IPA. Which, in itself, is fascinating. Because it’s a case where a brewery’s IPA is stronger than their Pale Ale. Which was by no means always the case.

The grist is much the same as for the other Pale Ales. Just base malt, flakes and sugar. Though, in this case, those flakes are maize rather than rice. Not sure if that’s a deliberate choice or just random. The percentage of malt from foreign barley is lower at just 15%.

It just says “invert” in the brewing record, but I’m pretty sure it’s No. 1 invert. And the remainder is listed as sucrose. Which is nice and simple.

In this case, the three types of hops are all English. One from the 1897 harvest and the other two from 1896. No indication of origin, unfortunately.
 

1898 Rose IPA
pale malt	11.00 lb	84.10%
flaked maize	1.00 lb	7.65%
No. 1 invert sugar	0.75 lb	5.73%
white sugar	0.33 lb	2.52%
Fuggles 150 mins	1.75 oz
Fuggles 60 mins	1.75 oz
Goldings 30 mins	1.75 oz
Goldings dry hops	0.50 oz
OG	1060
FG	1016
ABV	5.82
Apparent attenuation	73.33%
IBU	66
SRM	6
Mash at	154º F
Sparge at	172º F
Boil time	220 minutes
pitching temp	58.5º F
Yeast	Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale Timothy Taylor

 

What wasn't allowed in a pub in 1914? (part three)

More stuff that wasn't allowed in pubs.

Starting with gaming. Haven't we already had betting? No. Evidently, gaming and betting were two separate things.

(10) Gaming.—Suffers gaming or any unlawful game to be carried on on his premises. Note.-This offence is not committed unless the unlawful game or gaming is carried on with the knowledge or connivance of the licence holder or of the person left by him in charge of the premises. As all unlawful games will be found to fall within the definition of gaming, it is unnecessary here to enumerate them. Within the meaning of this provision the playing of any game, whether lawful or unlawful, whether of chance or of skill, for money or for money's worth is gaming. But there must be some element of wagering in it; that is to say, each of the players must have a chance of losing as well as of winning. Playing a lawful game for a prize given by non-competitors is not gaming. The offence is committed if a single act of gaming is permitted. There is no sort of exemption from the rule; no game however innocent which may be permitted to be played for any stake however small ; no class of persons, whether lodgers or personal friends of the licence holder, or anyone else, who may be permitted to play for any stake on licensed premises. Nor is it any defence that the gaming is among friends or lodgers after closing time. But simple betting is not “gaming” within the meaning of this provision.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 307.

You couldn't gamble on any sort of game. Not even with your mates after closing time.

And you definitely weren't allowed to run a brothel.

Permitting Premises to be a Brothel.-A licence holder who permits his licensed premises to be a brothel incurs a penalty of £20, and if he is convicted of permitting his premises to be a brothel under the Licensing Act or any other Act, he forfeits his licence, and becomes disqualified for ever from holding any liquor licence.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308.

The authorities really weren't keen on brothels. Disqualification for life was pretty a pretty harsh punishment.

Harsher than the punishment for allowing thieves hang around in your boozer.

Harbouring Thieves.—A licence holder who knowingly lodges or knowingly harbours thieves or reputed thieves or knowingly suffers them to meet or assemble on his licensed premises, or knowingly allows the deposit of goods on his licensed premises having reasonable cause for believing them to be stolen, is liable to a penalty of £10, or in default to imprisonment for four months with or without hard labour, and may be ordered to find sureties for his good behaviour for a year and to forfeit his licence, and on a second conviction forfeits his licence and becomes disqualified for two years from holding any liquor licence; and if two convictions for this offence have taken place within three years in respect of the same premises, whether the persons convicted were or were not the same, the premises may by order of the court be disqualified from being licensed for a year after the second conviction.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308.

Interesting that you could have been sent to prison, but were only disqualified for a couple of years.

This is a really weird one.

Permitting Seditious Meetings.-A licence holder who knowingly permits any meeting of any society or club declared to be an unlawful combination, or confederacy, or any meeting for a seditious purpose, to be held on his licensed premises, may by order of a Court of Summary Jurisdiction have his licence forfeited.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308.

I wonder what counted as a seditious purpose? It seems pretty vague. But you could trust the authorities not to abuse it. Surely?

Stout!

No, this isn't a plug for my book "Stout!" Though it is excellent and well worth buying.

Checkpoint Charlie is the theme. And it's a followup to an earlier post  Where I wrote that I was getting to feel more comfortable about Checkpoint Charlie as our new local. But that there was one thing that I missed from Butcher's Tears. The beer.

Being able to drink a Stout of a Mild. As at Butcher's they usually had at least one of each on tap. Something I really appreciated. But was never going to happen at Checkpoint Charlie.

And, blow me, if the very next time I went to Checkpoint Charlie they didn't have a Stout on their guest tap. And not just any Stout. De Molen Hel & Verdoemnis (Hell & Damnation). A really, really good Stout. I was in heaven.

A glass of De Molen Hel & Verdoemnis.

 "You really like the Stout Don't you?" the barman asked.

"Yes. How do you know?"

"You drink more than one. Most people only have the one."

"Well, I'm used to it."

The first sip is quite intimidating. But I soon got used to it. And it started going down scarily easily. 

Usually, the guest beer lasts two weeks. I think the Stout will last longer. As everyone else is sticking to just one. Fingers crossed it will still be on next week.

I can't pass up on this chance to push my book "Stout!"

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Get your copy od "Stout!"now!

 

What wasn't allowed in a pub in 1914? (part two)

More things that you weren't allowed to do in pubs before WW I.

Starting with ladies of the night.

(5) Harbouring Prostitutes.—Knowingly permits his premises to be the habitual resort or place of meeting of reputed prostitutes, whether the object of their so resorting or meeting is or is not prostitution, but it is no offence for him to allow any such persons to remain on his premises for the purpose of obtaining reasonable refreshment for such time as is necessary for the purpose.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 306.

Who were allowed to nip into a pub for refreshment, but not to hang around with colleagues or tout for business.

The next section is all about police constables.

(6) Harbouring Constables.—Knowingly harbours or knowingly suffers to remain on his premises any constable during any part of the time appointed for such constable being on duty, unless for the purpose of keeping or restoring order, or in execution of his duty.

(7) Supplying Liquor to Constables on Duty.—Supplies any liquor or refreshment- whether by way of gift or sale to any constable on duty unless by authority of some superior officer of such constable. Note.—This offence is not committed if at the time the liquor or refreshment is supplied to the constable, the person supplying it, after taking every reasonable precaution, has reasonable cause for believing, and does in fact believe, either that the constable is off duty, or that he has the authority of his superior officer for being supplied with liquor or refreshment.

(8) Bribing Constables.—Bribes or attempts to bribe any constable.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, pages 306 - 307.

So, no hiding police in the pub or giving them free drinks.

Next it's the turn of betting.

(9) Betting.—Opens, keeps, or uses his house or suffers it to be opened, kept, or used for the purpose of betting with persons resorting thereto, or for the purpose of receiving any money or valuable thing for betting on any horse race, or other race, fight, game, sport, or exercise. Note.-The offence here contemplated is the habitual and persistent encouragement of betting on the licensed premises—e.g., by permitting a professional bookmaker to take up his station regularly in the bar, and there make bets with the customers. To permit one single bet to be made on licensed premises is not a legal offence. To permit licensed premises to be used for the purpose of paying bets which were made elsewhere, is not an offence. The holding of a Derby sweepstake is not “betting" within the meaning of this provision; but it is an illegal lottery, and the licence holder can on that ground be convicted for permitting it.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 307.

I love that a sweepstake didn't count as betting. But was still illegal, just in a different way.