tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445569787371915337.post5165802658337802288..comments2024-03-28T06:20:10.699-07:00Comments on Shut up about Barclay Perkins: BachanaliaRon Pattinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03095189986589865751noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445569787371915337.post-80520524814097668472012-12-23T13:00:42.494-08:002012-12-23T13:00:42.494-08:00Just yesterday at an LCBO in Toronto, a nice young...Just yesterday at an LCBO in Toronto, a nice young couple asked a clerk if "barley wine" was available. He said no and they wandered off dejected. I went up to them and pointed out the store offered Nogne's strong ale (described as a barley wine on the shelf-talker), Orkeny Skull Splitter which is the same thing essentially, and Shipyard's Barley Wine. There was a craft circa-10% ABV spiced Ontario barrel-aged ale that met the bill too and more if you really looked, but I left it at that. (Staff aren't always au fait with the latest offerings in obscure corners of the store).<br /><br />I wondered how and why they thought to ask for this, indeed in this post-Jacksonian era, the very term seems to be almost as obscure as it was before St. Mike flooded it with light in 1978. But anyway they were very happy and added numerous bottles of these three to their basket. I hope they liked them. <br /><br />If we had a time machine and could flit back to the 1830's to inform your classical scholar of this development in Upper Canada almost 200 years later he'd probably have looked at us like lunatics. Or maybe not.<br /><br />GaryGary Gillmannoreply@blogger.com