Just In Case You Happen To Be Traveling Through Kent ... In 1982...

Hey, a person can dream, can’t they? Heck, yes!!! I picked up this book on line just for the fun of it. Although I have done a decent bit of running around the UK, I have not had a chance to run around the County of Kent. I have flown over it a million time, on the way down to the continent, but never on the ground. And, even when I get a chance to travel through Kent, since this book was published back in 1982, I wonder how much many of these pubs are still serving a pint of fine ale. Still, it is an interesting piece of history. The public houses listed in this book number well over one thousand, 1,326 pubs in all. Wow! Although I know differently, one could hope that all of these pubs still exist today. As with all of the CAMRA guide, there is a certain criteria that must be met for a pub to be included. A decent, cask conditioned ale, preferably locally brewed, should be on tap. Fair enough. This book was produced locally, by the folks who know the territory - none of whom were paid for their efforts. These folks use their local expertise to update the reader on the brewing scene in the county. Each pub is detailed - beer, food, music, games, etc… One kind of neat thing about this book, which I did not know when I bought it, was that a previous owner seems to have been keeping track of the pubs he or she had the pleasure of visiting. Take Tunbridge Wells, for example. The previous owner had marked eight of the pubs in the village. There are at least that many more pubs in the town that he or she did not mark. Perhaps these pubs were on the schedule, but something intervened to prevent a visit. Who knows?

Hey, a person can dream, can’t they? Heck, yes!!! I picked up this book on line just for the fun of it. Although I have done a decent bit of running around the UK, I have not had a chance to run around the County of Kent. I have flown over it a million time, on the way down to the continent, but never on the ground. And, even when I get a chance to travel through Kent, since this book was published back in 1982, I wonder how much many of these pubs are still serving a pint of fine ale. Still, it is an interesting piece of history. The public houses listed in this book number well over one thousand, 1,326 pubs in all. Wow! Although I know differently, one could hope that all of these pubs still exist today.
As with all of the CAMRA guide, there is a certain criteria that must be met for a pub to be included. A decent, cask conditioned ale, preferably locally brewed, should be on tap. Fair enough. This book was produced locally, by the folks who know the territory - none of whom were paid for their efforts. These folks use their local expertise to update the reader on the brewing scene in the county. Each pub is detailed - beer, food, music, games, etc…
One kind of neat thing about this book, which I did not know when I bought it, was that a previous owner seems to have been keeping track of the pubs he or she had the pleasure of visiting. Take Tunbridge Wells, for example. The previous owner had marked eight of the pubs in the village. There are at least that many more pubs in the town that he or she did not mark. Perhaps these pubs were on the schedule, but something intervened to prevent a visit. Who knows?

Cherry Chouffe

It’s a nice warm day, and you need a refreshing beer to help you cool off a bit. Cherry Chouffe is just the right beer for the job. Bright, tart, and very cherry-ful, Cherry Chouffe is a fine addition to the Chouffe family of beers. Although is has been in the U.S. for a while, it has now begun showing up in my area. Good for me! Cheers.For more of the Brasserie d’Chouffe story - Click Here.

It’s a nice warm day, and you need a refreshing beer to help you cool off a bit. Cherry Chouffe is just the right beer for the job. Bright, tart, and very cherry-ful, Cherry Chouffe is a fine addition to the Chouffe family of beers. Although is has been in the U.S. for a while, it has now begun showing up in my area. Good for me! Cheers.

For more of the Brasserie d’Chouffe story - Click Here.

Eastcheap ... Not to be Confused with Westcheap

The sign for the Boar's Head Inn - circa 1668. This pub was located in the East Cheapside area of London. The word "Cheap" was old English slang for a market - so this area could also be referred to as the "Eat Market. There was also a West Market. Today, the entire area is known simply as "Cheapside." From the book "Historic Hotels of the World," by Robert B. Ludy (1927, Philadelphia)

The sign for the Boar's Head Inn - circa 1668. This pub was located in the East Cheapside area of London. The word "Cheap" was old English slang for a market - so this area could also be referred to as the "Eat Market. There was also a West Market. Today, the entire area is known simply as "Cheapside."
From the book "Historic Hotels of the World," by Robert B. Ludy (1927, Philadelphia)

Join With Me Brothers...

Join With Me Brothers: And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O LORD, bless this Thy hand grenade, that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy." And the LORD did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats and large chu... “Skip a bit, Brother” ... And the LORD spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it." Amen

Join With Me Brothers: And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O LORD, bless this Thy hand grenade, that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy." And the LORD did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats and large chu... “Skip a bit, Brother” ... And the LORD spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it." Amen

Thinking About Heading Over To The Colonies?

From the book: Information For Emigrants to British North America, published in London (1842)

From the book: Information For Emigrants to British North America, published in London (1842)

In this case, the Colony is British North America - consisting solely of Canada, and at the time, New Brunswick. Looks like rum was more popular than beer, at least amongst the laboring folks. This little snippet was from the aforementioned book, which was a guide for those thinking about crossing the pond.

Another Great Name in British Brewing

Allsopp's-India-Pale-Ale-Burton.jpg

Here's another Trademark application, dated 4 December 1888. Allsopp's was a big British brewer until the early 1900s when it began to stumble, after which it went through the typical series of mergers, the name was dropped, then added back, was sold and resold, until today it has little connection with the original. Apparently, a group is trying to buy the name, and recreate this beer using the original recipe.

The Berkeley Sports in the US - I Wonder How Many....

Fiberglas, two-stroke motorcycle engine, ultra-lightweight sports car - how many made it across the pond?

Here’s an advert from a 1958-era newspaper from Pensacola, Florida. Although not noted, the car appears to be either a Berkeley Sports ES328 or Berkeley Sports ES 492 - all depending on the engine. In all, records indicate that some 4,100 - all years, all models - were built in the company’s short life span. How many were imported to the U.S?

Here’s an advert from a 1958-era newspaper from Pensacola, Florida. Although not noted, the car appears to be either a Berkeley Sports ES328 or Berkeley Sports ES 492 - all depending on the engine. In all, records indicate that some 4,100 - all years, all models - were built in the company’s short life span. How many were imported to the U.S?

Just Along For The Ride....

I was out for a quick spin around the block in my Midget, when, at a stoplight, I noticed I had a passenger riding along by the vent window. You get a lot of these in Florida. He (or she) held on for the rest of the ride, and when I got home, with a nudge of encouragement, hopped away into the grass.
Cheers!

midget-mg-frog.JPG

You Only Get To Chose One...

I originally opted for the MGB GT, until I saw the fine print under the Jag - “Also available XKE V12 convertible.” So I may go for the XKE instead.
Cheers,
Dave

Advert from a March 1973 issue of the Edmonton Journal newspaper - so that price would be in 1973 Canadian dollars.

british-leyland-mg-ale.jpg