I haven't brewed my own ale for years but when I did Ken Shales' book, Brewing Better Beer (published 1967), was my bible. My copy has long vanished but I was pleased to find on the net Ken's Ballad Of Boozeldon (he lived in Basildon, Essex).

THE BALLAD OF BOOZELDON
by Ken Shales

1 am a happy booze runner, with a production line,
I've set the town of Boozledon awash with beer and wine.
For years 1 have been brewing, it always was tax free,
Though it wasn't really legal 'till the year of '63.

We brew it by the dustbin, and drink it by the pail.
You name it and we'll make it, lager, stout or ale.
If our stocks are running low, somebody will shout,
"Let's have a drop of heavy in, and lay these fellows out."

We are all good noshers too, just every kind of dish,
Steak and chips, or Goulash, or even Flying Fish.
Pies of Cheese and Bacon or a bowl of Cook up Rice,
Roll mops and Heimishers, all are very nice.

A cheerful band of drinkers, together we all stand,
Maybe a bit unsteady, with tankards in the hand.
'Prentices or Craft Brothers, we have our little joke,
We are always drinking, but the Publicans go broke!