International Beer Day
Aug 6
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Leeze me on drink! it gies us mair
Than either school or college;
It kindles wit, it waukens lear,
It pangs us fou o' knowledge:
Be't whisky-gill or penny wheep,
Or ony stronger potion,
It never fails, or drinkin deep,
To kittle up our notion."
~Robert Burns, "Holy Fair," 1785
Are you a cerevisaphile? A beer lover or enthusiast? You're in good company with Robert Burns. A team from the University of Glasgow has determined that Burns, who was known to make his own ink, using the dregs of his stale beer along with carbonised ivory, lard, and sulphuric acid as the main ingredients in an ink known as “Ivory Black’ (although the quality of the various components shifted slightly over time as his fortunes rose and then declined). Today you can sample beers and ales of all sorts from all countries and give your opinion on sites such as Untappd, where enthusiasts can rate alcoholic beverages and pubs of all sorts in a virtual pub crawl. And for those with a historical and video gaming bent, in the Assassin's Creed Syndicate game, there is even a cerevisaphile achievement award that can be obtained by searching Victorian London to sample twenty vintage beers! Cheers and Slainte!🍺
Pint O' Ale is Fain
International Beer Day was started in Santa Cruz, California in 2007 by four enthusiasts and now is celebrated all over the world. From lager, ale, porter, to stout, all the various styles, flavours, and colours have their devoted adherents.
The subject is too vast for canvassing, so pour yourself a glass to these interesting facts:
A beer lover or enthusiast is called a cerevisaphile.
In the Assassin's Creed Syndicate video game, released in 2015, there is a cerevisaphile achievement award that can be obtained by searching Victorian London to sample 20 vintage beers:
Whitechapel - Leaping Fox Lager, Merlin & Arthur Imperial Stout, Red Growler
Lambeth - Thames Brewery Pale Ale, The Blind Goose
Southwark - Big Bastard Ale, Robert Barnaby & Co Amber Ale
Westminster - E. Smith & Sons Pale Ale, Sons of Adam Irish Stout, Bryan's Renegade, His Lordship's Dinner Ale
The Strand - Bazalgette's Respite, Balfour & Barrett Vienna Beer, Doctor Garrett's Ale, R White's Table Ale
City of London - The Mariner Lager, Gunn & Sons Scotch Ale, Her Majesty's London Porter, Frye & Frye, Double Stout
Centuries ago in England, pub visitors used a novel innovation that enabled them to get their beer served quickly. They used mugs with a whistle baked into the rim, the whistle being used to summon the barmaid. It has been suggested this practice gave birth to the phrase “wet your whistle.”
And for those who prefer their beer in unusual incarnations, click the picture for a recipe for Chocolate Belgian Ale Pull-Apart Breakfast Loaf.
Good morning & Cheers!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
