Camden Brewery beers 1922-1924

It seems like ages since I last posted a table of beer details. So here goes. This time it's the turn of the Camden Brewery.

There's a single volume of their brewing records in the Courage archives. There's nothing wildly exciting about them. They brewed a PA, a couple of Milds, a Stout and two Strong Ales. Nothing too different from what you see at the large London brewers like Barclay Perkins or Whitbread. Except for the Stout. There's no brown malt in it.

Why I have I pulished this now? I have my reasons. Hionestly. It's all to do with my current book project. One of my current book projects. If I don't get interrupted, I'll be able to make an announcement next week. If I do get interrupted (or find something more interesting) who knows when I'll tell you anything.

Milds. Almost forgot about the Milds. Interesting range of colours across the three Milds. The weakest, XX is about the colour of Bitter. The strongest, M, is in that no-man's-land of colour, around 40 EBC. Not quite dark, but not really pale either. There was no truly Dark Mild in Camden's range.

Here's the table. Hope you find it educational, or at least distracting.

Camden brewery beers 1922-1924
Date	Year	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Attenuation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl	boil time (hours)	dry hops (oz / barrel)	colour	pale malt	black malt	crystal malt	MA malt	PA malt	caramel	glucose	other sugar	oats	flaked maize	total
30th Jun	1922	PA	Pale Ale	1054.6	1013.9	5.39	74.62%	10.93	2.40	2	3.76		91.53%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	8.47%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
4th Jul	1922	M	Mild	1043.8	1010.8	4.36	75.32%	9.39	1.70	2		40	88.12%	0.00%	2.59%	0.00%	0.00%	0.65%	0.00%	8.64%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
4th Jul	1922	XXX	Mild	1036.6	1007.8	3.81	78.79%	9.39	1.42	2		32	88.12%	0.00%	2.59%	0.00%	0.00%	0.65%	0.00%	8.64%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
4th Jul	1922	XX	Mild	1029.9	1007.8	2.93	74.07%	9.39	1.16	2		25	88.12%	0.00%	2.59%	0.00%	0.00%	0.65%	0.00%	8.64%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
5th Jul	1922	S	Stout	1047.6				8.19	1.76	2			73.03%	5.92%	11.84%	0.00%	0.00%	3.95%	0.00%	5.26%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
11th Jul	1922	M	Mild	1043.8	1010.5	4.40	75.95%	8.36	1.53	2		40	88.41%	0.00%	2.90%	0.00%	0.00%	0.97%	0.00%	7.73%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
13th Jul	1922	XXX	Mild	1036.6	1009.1	3.63	75.00%	10.79	1.62	2		32	90.57%	0.00%	3.77%	0.00%	0.00%	0.63%	0.00%	5.03%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
13th Jul	1922	XX	Mild	1029.9				10.79	1.33	2		25	90.57%	0.00%	3.77%	0.00%	0.00%	0.63%	0.00%	5.03%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
19th Jul	1922	XXX	Mild	1036.6	1009.4	3.59	74.24%	10.95	1.61	2			92.45%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	7.55%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
19th Jul	1922	XX	Mild	1029.9				10.95	1.32	2			92.45%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	7.55%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
19th Jul	1922	DA	Dinner Ale	1036.6	1009.4	3.59	74.24%	10.95	1.61	2			92.45%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	7.55%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
20th Jul	1922	S	Stout	1044.6	1012.2	4.29	72.67%	8.45	1.63	2			74.10%	5.42%	10.84%	0.00%	0.00%	4.82%	0.00%	4.82%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
27th Jul	1922	XXX	Mild	1036.8	1008.9	3.70	75.94%	10.53	1.59	2		32	91.80%	0.00%	3.28%	0.00%	0.00%	0.55%	0.00%	4.37%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
27th Jul	1922	XX	Mild	1030.2				10.53	1.30	2		25	91.80%	0.00%	3.28%	0.00%	0.00%	0.55%	0.00%	4.37%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
3rd Aug	1922	S	Stout	1044.6	1012.5	4.25	72.05%	8.80	1.78	2			70.85%	6.03%	12.06%	0.00%	0.00%	5.03%	0.00%	6.03%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
15th Aug	1922	M	Mild	1043.2	1010.5	4.32	75.64%	8.35	1.52	2		40	87.12%	0.00%	3.29%	0.00%	0.00%	0.82%	0.00%	8.77%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
18th Aug	1922	PA	Pale Ale	1054.3				11.00	2.41	2			91.04%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	8.96%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
6th Sep	1922	XXX	Mild	1036.8				10.33	1.57	2		32	87.20%	0.00%	4.15%	0.00%	0.00%	0.35%	0.00%	8.30%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
6th Sep	1922	XX	Mild	1029.9				10.33	1.28	2		25	87.20%	0.00%	4.15%	0.00%	0.00%	0.35%	0.00%	8.30%	0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
29th Mar	1923	M	Mild	1043.5	1010.5	4.36	75.80%	10.12	1.72	2			88.38%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	6.64%	0.00%	0.00%	4.98%	100.00%
29th Mar	1923	PA	Pale Ale	1054.3	1014.1	5.31	73.98%	10.12	2.15	2			88.38%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	6.64%	0.00%	0.00%	4.98%	100.00%
4th Apr	1923	M	Mild	1043.8	1009.4	4.54	78.48%	6.85	1.22			40	84.65%	0.00%	4.46%	0.00%	0.00%	0.50%	0.00%	5.94%	0.00%	4.46%	100.00%
4th Apr	1923	XXX	Mild	1036.6				6.85	1.02			32	84.65%	0.00%	4.46%	0.00%	0.00%	0.50%	0.00%	5.94%	0.00%	4.46%	100.00%
4th Apr	1923	XX	Mild	1029.9				6.85	0.84			25	84.65%	0.00%	4.46%	0.00%	0.00%	0.50%	0.00%	5.94%	0.00%	4.46%	100.00%
15th Feb	1924	PA	Pale Ale	1054.8	1016.6	5.06	69.70%	10.00	2.14	2		11	86.19%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	8.84%	0.00%	0.00%	4.97%	100.00%
13th Feb	1924	S	Stout	1045.4	1012.2	4.40	73.17%	6.70	1.29				78.36%	4.48%	8.96%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	5.97%	2.24%	0.00%	100.00%
26th Feb	1924	M	Mild	1043.5	1011.1	4.29	74.52%	7.42	1.29			45	50.11%	0.00%	5.27%	31.65%	0.00%	0.66%	0.00%	7.03%	0.00%	5.27%	100.00%
26th Feb	1924	XXX	Mild	1036.6	1008.9	3.66	75.76%	7.42	1.08			33	50.11%	0.00%	5.27%	31.65%	0.00%	0.66%	0.00%	7.03%	0.00%	5.27%	100.00%
26th Feb	1924	XX	Mild	1029.9	1006.1	3.15	79.63%	7.42	0.89			27	50.11%	0.00%	5.27%	31.65%	0.00%	0.66%	0.00%	7.03%	0.00%	5.27%	100.00%
28th Feb	1924	WA	Ale	1066.2	1018.8	6.27	71.55%	10.42	2.78			50	39.20%	0.00%	4.52%	0.00%	45.23%	0.50%	0.00%	6.03%	0.00%	4.52%	100.00%
28th Feb	1924	SA	Strong Ale	1055.1	1013.9	5.46	74.87%	10.42	2.31			40	39.20%	0.00%	4.52%	0.00%	45.23%	0.50%	0.00%	6.03%	0.00%	4.52%	100.00%
Source: Camden Brewery brewing records

I realise it's a bit wide. But I though you might appreciate all the grist details.

Lazy

I am.

But interactive.

BGBW awards. Select six of my posts. Travel-themed.

Best set of six wins a copy of "Bitter!" and "Strong!".

Entrapment 19th century style

Time to return to Food and Sanitation. This time for a story of cruel entrapment

"DISGRACEFUL INLAND REVENUE DODGERY.

At the Handsworth Police-court, on February 9th, George Lester, a grocer and wine and spirit dealer, 75, Hamstead-road, was summoned at the instance of the Inland Revenue Authorities for selling one dozen bottles of ale on December 19th without having a licence. Mr. J. W. Clulow defended. Thomas Nisbett, an Excise officer, stated that on the date named he called at the defendant's shop, and after purchasing several articles of grocery which he asked to be sent to his house, he asked to be supplied with one dozen bottles of beer. The defendant replied that he

did not hold a beer licence, but to accommodate his customer he would buy the ale and send it with the groceries. Witness paid the bill which was made out, including the beer among the other items. Defendant subsequently had the groceries and beer delivered at Nisbett's house. The Bench were of opinion that a technical offence had been committed, and that a sale had taken place. Under the circumstances ithey were bound to convict, but they considered that the course taken to secure a conviction by Nisbett reflected no credit upon him, and little upon the Revenue Department. Mr. Lester had certainly been entrapped. For an Excise officer to go to the shop and, after being told by the defendant that he did not hold a beer licence, to insist upon him making a sale was not at aR honourable. The Bench imposed the merely nominal fine of 6d. and costs. Mr. Wright, the supervisor of Inland Revenue, wished to make some remarks with respect to the reflections cast upon the Revenue Department, but Mr. Clulow objected, and the magistrates declined to hear him.

We hope some Member of Parliament will raise this and recent other scandals in the House of Commons by necessary questions to the responsible minister. We confess we would rather see the Inland Revenue suppressing the sale of maddening potato or Indian corn spirit as whisky, or chemical "swipes" as beer, than laying such traps upon honest men's good nature, or bringing vexatious prosecutions like the following :

At Heywood, on February 14th, Mr. J. Birch, chemist, York street, was summoned for selling extract of malt and cod-liver oil, which it was alleged was liable to stamp duty. Mr. Squires, from Somerset House, prosecuted. The defendant was fined.

It would be more creditable to the Department were its chemists to learn snuff analysis, lard analysis, or butter analysis; and the responsible officials who advised Mr. Gladstone to abolish the malt tax that permitted the brewer to make his chemical "swipes" out of road sweepings if he likes, to retire, disgraced and degraded as they are, from injuring their country as public officials, than to put up jobs of this nature upon those who are taxed to support their ignorant existences."
"Food & sanitation, Volume 4", 1894, page 57.

I'm glad that the court sided with the defendent.

I wonder if excise men still get up to this sort of underhand trickery?

Bayreuth

Brauereischänke am Markt

Nice spot on the market. We're sitting outside, waiting for the 2nd half to start.

Mike says "It'll be nice on this square when construction is finished." Can't argue with that.

We order an Aktien Zwick'l each.

"Between 4 and 7 times better than the last beer." Mike remarks.

"Is it pulling into good station?"

"No, it's been diverted into a siding."

He's so fussy. I'm just happy to be sitting with a glass of something drinkable and alcoholic in my hand.

I nip inside to take some photos for my Bayreuth Pub Guide. I was right in my description. It is in that folksy kitsch style so beloved in Bavaria. I'm not so sure about it, myself.

Mike doesn't want to stay for a second. I have to put on my thinking head. I usually carry it with me in case I need it.

"What about one of the pubs close to the station?" We'd walked past a whole row of boozers on the way to our hotel. "We're bound to find somewhere decent to drink up there."

Mike agrees in a particularly unenthusiastic way and off we head.



Maisels Bierstube 16:45

We sit outside. For two reasons: there's a huge telly showing the footy; they allow smoking inside.

Mike's been doing some top-class complaining about the beer possibilities. As usual. All Aktien beers: Pils, Original or Landbier. He's lumbered himself with a dodgy Pils. Ha, ha, ha.

Aktien Original: tastes like the Zwick'l. Without the zwickliness.

"Why is Newark such a special place?" I don't expect Mike to answer. He's never been to Newark. Well, not the one I mean. I answer for him. "Because they'll shout radgeback or sheepshagger at you in the street."

Mike likes his beer so much he wants to pour it on an innocent plant.

"At least pour it on the tree, Mike. That'll have more chance of surviving."

Being cruel, I'm not letting Mike move on. I order another beer.

Aktien Landbier (bottled): odd whiff of vinegar.

Two - one to Greece. 4 - 0 Bayreuth beer against Mike.

I buy Mike an Obstler to disinfect his gob from the dodgy Pils.

The Weihenstephaner pub is next door. Surely he can't complain about their beer? He probably wouldn't. But he doesn't get the chance, as it's closed. That improves his mood no end.

Will we ever find a beer in this town that's up to Mike's exacted standards? Find out in the next installment.





Brauereischänke am Markt
Maximilianstr. 56,
95444 Bayreuth.
Tel: 0921 - 64919


Maisels Bierstube
Bahnhofstr. 3,
95444 Bayreuth.
Tel: 0921 - 3449551

Bass's Beer Prosecutions

There was a downside to Bass's fame as a Pale Ale brewer: publicans selling other brewers' beer as Bass. They frequently brought in their lawyers to fight against counterfeits.

The cases are below are pretty typical:

"BASS'S BEER PROSECUTIONS.

In the Chancery Division on May 31st, before Mr. Justice Stirling, Mr. John Cutler moved on behalf of the plaintiffs, Messrs. Bass, Ratcliff, and Gretton, the well-known brewers of bitter beer, against Mr. Butcher, the proprietor of the White Lion Hotel, Chippenham, for an injunction to restrain him, until the trial or further order, from passing off, or attempting to pass off, ale or beer not brewed by the plaintiffs as and for the goods of the plaintiffs.—Mr. Cutler said that in consequence of complaints made as to the quality of bitter ale bought or asked for at the house in question, the plaintiffs had sent some person to the White Lion, who ordered Bass's pale ale, and were supplied with pale ale, which they took away, and which was afterwards analysed and turned out to be not the plaintiffs' ale. He, therefore, now moved for an injunction, but he was instructed that the defendant appeared by counsel, and consented to treat this hearing as the trial of the action, to submit to a perpetual injunction and pay the costs, in which case Messrs. Bass waived their claim for an account of profit and damages. The learned Counsel said that his clients had received a letter from the defendant's solicitors, saying that the writers had just heard from their client, who consented to submit to a perpetual injunction with costs, and that he would instruct counsel accordingly on the motion, which could be treated as the trial of the action, but as yet counsel for defendant had not appeared.—The Judge said if Mr. Cutler found that counsel had been so instructed to that effect he need not mention it again, and the order would go, treating the hearing of the motion as the trial of the action; but, in case of difficulty, it might be mentioned later in the day.

Bass V. White.—Mr. Bousfield, Q.C. (with him Mr. John Cutler), said that he had a similar application to that which his friend Mr. Cutler had just made.—Mr. Young asked that the motion might stand over for affidavits.—Mr. Bousfield said that in that case he must ask his friend to give an undertaking ; but this Mr. Young declined to give, as he knew as yet nothing about the case.—Mr. Bousfield : Then he must move ex parte; but this Mr. Young submitted he could not do after giving notice of motion.—Mr. Bousfield said he felt sure that his friend would not say that it was right to sell Allsopp's beer for Bass's.—The Judge asked to see the affidavits, which were accordingly handed up.—Mr. Bousfield said that Messrs. Bass and Co. had reason to believe that there had been a practice of supplying other beer when Bass's beer was ordered, and they instructed agents to test the, matter on their behalf, and the affidavits gave in detail the different occasions on which one or other of these gentlemen ordered Bass's beer and were served with Allsopp's. They went to the defendant's house and asked for Bass's beer—generally as "a small Bass," and they observed that a bottle of Allsopp's beer was taken from another place, the bottle being attempted to be held so that the label should not be seen, and that was supplied as Bass's beer.—The Judge said it appeared from the first affidavit that the act occurred on May 18th, and they evidently had not thought it worth while to apply ex parte, The motion must stand over till next week.

Bass V. Keys.—Mr. Bousfield said this case stood on a similar basis to the last.—Mr. Warmington, Q.C., said that it did not stand on a similar basis. He complained of the way in which it had been treated. They had applied to Mr. Justice Kekewich for special leave on May 24th, but had not supplied his client with affidavits until the 29th.—This case was also directed to stand over.

Mr. Bousfield said he had still another motion, in an action of "Bass v. Riddle," which, under the circumstances, he would agree to stand over for a week."
"Food & sanitation, Volume 4", 1894, page 179.

I'm sure plenty of this still goes on today. Unscrupulous publicans flogging cheap beer under a different name. I wonder if Heineken ever take anyone to court?

Ale and Porter Brewing in Philadelphia in 1859

Here's an extract about brewing in Philadelphia, published in 1859. Thanks to Gary Gillman for pointing it out to me.

"ALE AND PORTER.

"Beer," says the author of the " Picture of Philadelphia, in 1811," whom we have before quoted, "was brewed in Philadelphia for several years before the Revolutionary war; and soon after peace, the more substantial Porter was made by the late Mr. Robert Hare. Until within three or four years the consumption of that article has greatly increased, and is now the table-drink of every family in easy circumstances. The quality of it is truly excellent : to say that it is equal to any of London, the usual standard of excellence, would undervalue it, because, as it regards wholesome qualities and palatableness, it is much superior; no other ingredients entering into the composition than malt, hops, and pure water. A fair experiment has shown, that even so far back as 1790, Philadelphia Porter bore the warm climate of Calcutta, and came back uninjured. In 1807, orders were given by the merchants of Calcutta, after tasting some of it taken out as stores, for sixty hogsheads. Within a few years Pale Ale of the first quality was brewed, and justly esteemed—being light, sprightly, and free from that bitterness which distinguishes Porter."

The reputation of Philadelphia Ale has but strengthened with the lapse of years; and at the present time the Malt liquors made in Philadelphia take precedence in every market in the Union. The qualities for which they are distinguished are purity, brilliancy of color, richness of flavor, and non-liability to deterioration in warm countries—qualities, the result in part of the peculiar characteristics of the Schuylkill water—in part of the intelligence, care and experience of our brewers, conjoined to the use of apparatus possessing all the best modern improvements made in England and in this country."
"Philadelphia and its manufactures" By Edwin Troxell Freedley, 1857, pages 192-193.

A few points to note. This is first I've heard of an American brewer exporting beer to India. Especially as it was Porter, the export of which to India has been greatly overshadowed by Pale Ale.

"There are now nine extensive Brewers of Ale and Porter in Philadelphia, viz. : Masset, Collins & Co., Frederick Gaul, Robert Smith, W. .C. Rudman, Robert Newlin, Gray & Staley, Dithmar & Butz, W. B. Taylor, and James Moore. The oldest Brewery in this city is probably that upon the corner of Sixth and Carpenter streets, which was built about one hundred years ago, by William Gray, a native of Philadelphia. The most noteworthy Brewery is probably that belonging to Massey, Collins & Co., situated at the northwest corner of Tenth and Filbert sts.; it was originally erected by the farmers of Chester and Delaware counties, Pa., and purchased from them by the Brewers' Association of Philadelphia ; they subsequently sold the establishment to M. L. Dawson, a member of the Association, and whose ancestors had been prominent Brewers for a period of eighty years. Poultney & Massey, the predecessors of the present firm, in the year 1855, greatly enlarged the buildings, which have recently been increased by the present owners. The buildings, as now erected, form a hollow square of one hundred and fifty feet each way, making an extent of buildings of six hundred feet, seven stories in height, with extensive cellars and vaults underneath the whole, eighteen feet in depth, which are furnished with large vats containing from two hundred to four hundred barrels each, and sufficient for the storage of ten thousand barrels of Ale and Porter. Their Brewing Apparatus has been put up within the past three years, of the latest and most approved description ; comprising large Mash Tubs, capable of brewing nine hundred bushels of malt daily; boiling Coppers heated by means of steampipes; large Coolers, and Refrigerators, and Fermenting Tuns, the capacity of the latter being forty-five thousand gallons. Attached to the Brewery are malt-houses, which are designed for the malting of one hundred thousand bushels of barley. From seventy-five to one hundred men are employed about the establishment. The firm is extensively engaged in the manufacture of Pale and Amber Ales, and Porter, for draught and bottling; Brown Stout, and XX Ale, for all the markets upon the coast, from Maine to Louisiana, also for the numerous markets of the West Indies and South America.

The greatest cleanliness is required in this establishment; every cask returned to the Brewery being unheaded, scalded, and scrubbed with hickory brooms by hand; and lime is used frequently to purify the utensils.

The capital invested in the Brewing of Ale and Porter is $1,500,000, and the annual product exceeds one million of dollars."
"Philadelphia and its manufactures" By Edwin Troxell Freedley, 1857, pages 194-195.

I particularly like that a typical range of beers is given: Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Porter, Brown Stout and XX Ale. Not very different from what a London brewer would have produced at the time. Though there's no indication of the strength of the American versions.

From later adverts, I'd noticed that Pale Ale, Porter, Stout and XXX Ale were standard products of American Ale breweries in the period leading up to prohibition. I've often wondered exactly what XXX Ale was like. I had Ballantine's XXX when I lived in the USA in the mid 1980's. By that time, it was very pale and not particularly distinctive. I'd love to know what it had been like a century earlier.

Here's what Ballantine's (the largest Ale brewery in the USA) beers were like post-prohibition:

Ballantine beers
Year	Beer	Style	package	Acidity	FG	OG	Colour	ABV	atten-uation
1939	India Pale Ale	IPA	bottled	0.07	1018.6	1075.2	16	7.39	75.27%
1939	XXX Ale	Ale	bottled	0.07	1014.9	1056	9	5.34	73.39%
1939	XXX Ale	Ale	canned	0.07	1014.5	1056.2	11	5.42	74.20%
1939	XXX Porter	Porter	bottled	0.08	1018.8	1059.6	1 + 13	5.29	68.46%
1939	Brown Stout	Stout	bottled	0.10	1021.9	1074.6	1 + 8	6.86	70.64%
Source:
Whitbread Gravity Book

The gravities are much like those in Britain pre-WW I.

Irish breweries in 1869

Below is a list of Irish breweries in 1869. Judging by the total number, it looks pretty complete.

It's taken from an almanac written by William Loftus, author of "The Brewer". The book also lists the breweries for the rest of Britain. I'm sure it doesn't include all the homebrew pubs, but it's still dead handy. Thanks to Gary Gilman for finding it.

Irish breweries in 1869
Brewery	first name	town	county
Aldrich & Waters		Limerick	Limerick
Anderson	Charles	Sligo	Sligo
Armstrong	R	Enniskillen	Fermanagh
Armstrong	A	Ballygawley	Tyrone
Arnott	John and Co	Cork	Cork
Beamish	R. P. and Co	Cork	Cork
Blake	Charles	Tuam	Galway
Blood	John L	Dublin	Dublin
Brenan	Charles	Dublin	Dublin
Butler	Michael	Ballymullen	Galway
Caffrey	J. and Sons	Dublin	Dublin
Cairns	Thos. P	Drogheda	Louth
Campbell	J. and Co	Dublin	Dublin
Carson	J. and Co	Londonderry	Londonderry
Casey	Patrick	Drogheda	Louth
Cassidy	J. A	Monasterevin	Kildare
Cherry	R. and W	New Ross	Wexford
Cody	W. and Co	Waterford	Waterford
Cuison	J. and Co	Londonderry	Londonderry
Darcy	Matthew P	Dublin	Dublin
Darley	Joseph F	Bray	Wicklow
Darley	Joseph F	Dublin	Dublin
Dawson	J. S	Lisburn	Antrim
Deasy	Jane and Co	Clonakilty	Cork
Dower	R	Dungarvan	Waterford
Egan	Henry	Tullamore	Offaly
Egan	John	Kilbeggan	Westmeath
Ewers	William	Belfast	Antrim
Feehan	Richard	Carrick-on-Suir	Tipperary
Finn	Daniel	Kilcock	Kildare
Fitt	Thomas	Limerick	Limerick
Fitzgerald	C	Limerick	Limerick
Flinn	John	Limerick	Limerick
Goff	S. D. and Co	Waterford	Waterford
Grubb	S. and Sons	Clogheen	Tipperary
Guinness	Arthur and Co	Dublin	Dublin
Henry	William	Newry	Down
Holmes & Hamilton		Strabane	Tyrone
Hurley	Johanna	Bandon	Cork
Jameson	Henry	Dublin	Dublin
Johnston	James	Lurgan	Armagh
Johnston	John	Antrim	Antrim
Kiely	P. and Sons	Waterford	Waterford
Kirkman	Alfred	Fermoy	Cork
Lane	William	Cork	Cork
Livingstone	W	Westport	Mayo
McCarthy	Dan	Skibbereen	Cork
McColgan	Jas	Ballymoney	Antrim
McEnery	J	Newcastle	Limerick
Macardle, Moore  Co		Dundalk	Louth
Manders	Rbt. and Co	Dublin	Dublin
Manly	Henry	Tullamore	Offaly
Moore	John	Coleraine	Londonderry
Murphy	T and Co	Clonmel	Tipperary
Murphy	J. J. and Co	Cork	Cork
Murray	James	Mullingar	Westmeath
Newtownard's Brewing Co		Newtownards	Down
Nugent	Sam W	Drogheda	Louth
Palmer	Thomas	Galway	Galway
Parry	Alex. and Co	Dublin	Dublin
Perry	R. G	Rathdowney	Queen's County
Pirn	T. T. and Co	Mountmellick	Queen's County
Purser	B. and Co	Dungarvan	Waterford
Reily	P. and Sons	Waterford	Waterford
Ring	E. F	Loughrea	Galway
Russell	John	Downpatrick	Down
Scott	Henry	Belfast	Antrim
Smithfield Brewing Co		Belfast	Antrim
Smithwick	E	Kilkenny	Kilkenny
Sullivan	James	Kilkenny	Kilkenny
Sullivan and Lee		Bandon	Cork
Sweetman	Patrick	Dublin	Fingal
Tighe	Thomas	Ballinrobe	Mayo
Wickham	James	Wexford	Wexford
Wolsey	W	Castlebellingham	Louth
Woods	William	Birr	Offaly
Source:
LOFTUS'S ALMANACK FOR Brewers, Distillers, AND THE Wine and Spirit Trades 1869
http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA38&id=hCEOAAAAQAAJ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Wiesau to Bayreuth

God, this is late. Very late. The holiday ended more than two months ago and I still have finished writing about it. My life is just too interesting.

Wiesau station 10:10

73 euros. That's what we paid for two single rooms, dinner and breakfast. The robbing bastards. We're just waiting for the train to Marktredwitz. Then one more change and on to Bayreuth. Mike's still excited about yesterday. We drank in three butchers and had real Zoigl. For him, it doesn't get much better.

Anspitzer. That's the German word for pencil-sharpener. Mike spotted one in the post office opposite Markredwitz station. Hence the nice clean lines of these words [in my original notes]. (I've been making do with peeling back the wood with my fingernails.) Still next to impossible to read, due to my shit handwriting, but at least the strokes are nice and sharp.

Gaststätte Bauernwärtla Bayreuth 13:00

First beer of the day, excluding that Mönchshof Bock on the train. This is more like a proper town. People, pubs. As we were checking in, I realised that where we're staying, a dependence of Goldener Löwe, is in the little pub guide I've put together for the trip. A restaurant called Spiegelmühle. It clearly isn't operating as such any more. It's also in my Bayreuth pub guide on the web. More bloody editing to do when I get back.

Stöckel-Brau Dunkles Landbier: beery enough, for the moment.

The football will be starting soon. They have a big screen outside where we're sitting. Argentina will be playing.

"Mike, don't you think Maradonna looks a right twat in that beard?"

"Yeah, he does look sort of ridiculous."

"Darf ich Bratkartoffeln statt Pommes. That's what you should have said, Mike."

"He understood me, so what does it matter?"

"I guess I'm too much of a perfectionist."

One of the middle-aged blokes on the next table says "Hello, Schätze." The schoolgirls walking past all look his way. He was actually talking to his girlfriend, walking just behind them. "See how everyone else looked, too."one of his mates says.

"That's quite an impressive sausage you've got there, Mike." You can never go wrong with a sausage joke.

"I'm looking forward to my next beer, because I don't like this one very much."

"I'm always looking forward to my next beer, Mike."


It's still early in the day. More pubs, more beers to come, I hope. Perhaps even an argument or two to spice things up. Who knows.

Argentina win, despite Maradonna looking like an idiot.

Draught Dutch Stout

Random Dutch advert time.

H.H. Coffee house owners, publicans and off-licence owners!

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Information will be gladly provided by

The DELI_BROUWERIJ
at Nieuwer-Amstel (Amsterdam);

Agents:

C. J. F. DE VOS. No. Goudsche Street. 70, Rotterdam;
HUJVENAAR & Co.., No. Veenkade. 4a, The Hague:
J. Ypes Jr., No. Oudegracht. 5, Utrecht.

The DELI BROUWERIJ brews only first quality Extra Stout Stout and no Brown Stoutand other inferrior qualities.
Sales of Stout by the glass from a pump, introduced into the Netherlands by the DELI-BREWERY, ensures publicans that on cold and rainy days they can sell their usual amount of beer.
Only Deli-Stout meets all requisites for serving Stout from a pump.

18th Century hop varieties

Yes. Finding that reference to Colegate hops has sent me cascading through the centuries at Google Books. One of the things I found was this snippet on late 18th century hop varieties.

"The VARIETIES of the hop, which are now found in cultivation, here, have either been imported with the art of cultivating them (supposing the English culture to be of foreign growth;) or have been culled from the native or wild hop, as bitterness and flavor directed ; or have been raised, by art, from the seeds of the wild, or the cultivated kinds, and improved by further cultivation; or have been selected from hops in a state of culture, by propagating from particular hills, of superior quality and productiveness, marked by attentive managers; especially, perhaps, in an unproductive season.

In West Kent, there are several varieties, in cultivation. The "Canterbury" is the favorite sort, and is the most cultivated : it is a "white-bine"* hop, of the middle size. The "Golding" has, of late years, been in high repute. It is a sub-variety, I understand, of the Canterbury; which was raised by a man still living (1790) Mr. Golding, of the Mailing quarter of the district; who observing, in his grounds, a hill of extraordinary quality and productiveness, marked it, propagated from it, and furnished his neighbours with cuttings, from its produce. The "Flemish Red-bine" is an early ripening hop, and of a large size ; but is deficient in "condition." The "Late-ripe Red-bine" is also large, but is likewise weak: " a mere wild hop." "Rufflers," "Apple Puddings," &c. &c. are inferior sorts ; and are chiefly cultivated in the Weald.

* "Bine" (probably a corruption of Bind) is the provincial term for the stem of the hop; and likewise for the plant, collectively, except the fruit, or " hops." It is perfectly analogous with Vine; when applied generally to climbing plants; as white vine, black vine, wild vine, grape vine, hop vine."
"The rural economy of the southern counties, vol 1", by Marshall, 1798, pages 182-184.

Goldings. They've been around since god was in short kecks. I wonder how many other commercial plant varieties have been knocking around so long?

Some of the others have wonderfully evocative names: Rufflers, Apple Puddings. I wonder when they were last grown?

Homeward bound

Or should it be Leaing on a Jet Plane? Tomorrow we fly back to Holland. Our bellies full and our minds blown. Or was that our minds full and our bellies blown? One of the two. Take your pick.

It's been cool, man, in the US. Met lots of people, some new, others old friends. Beer has been consumed and many words spoken. Which is what life is really all about. Food. Almost forgot about the food. We've eaten lots of that.

It not being a beer odyssey, I won't be compiling a full report. Just tossing you the odd scrap. It's a sign of the beer scene over here that even without hunting it down with hounds, I've had no trouble keeping myself supplied with drinkable stuff. A surprising amount of it cask.

From my two visits to NewYork last year, I'd got used to seeing a cask or possibly two in the better beer pubs. This time, I've been in pubs with 3, 4 or 5 cask beers. Finally. The beer revolution is catching on this side of the pond. (Irony warning, irony warning.)

Funnily enough, my favourite commercial beer wasn't cask, but an unfiltered Helles from Rock Bottom in Bethesda, Maryland. Very nice indeed, It could give many a Bavarian Kellerbier a run for its money.

I hope I can get back again soon.