How important is the beer?

Subject: How important is the beer?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 02:40 PM

How much importance do you attach to the quality and price of a pint at your folk haunt?

Its £1.95 a pint at the Legion in St Albans ona Sunday night.

This Sunday its Mick Pearce

Floor songers welcpmed to augment the residents

anything goes!!

folk, blues, jazz,

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 03:00 PM

Ah but you don't say what kind of beer! I think that that's a consideration for many people. Some people won't go if there's no Real Ale for instance.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 03:10 PM

Listen mate down here thats a good buy no matter what.

it is a real ale but I'm not allowed to advertise cos the cheque aint arrived, you know what I mean?

how much is it at your place then?

and the quality of music is first rate.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 03:30 PM

It depends what you mean by my place. Tomorrow is our session at the Black Boy in 'ull's 'istotic 'high Street. There's a choice of about four hand-pulled guest beers, all priced about £1.95 a pint, but I won't know what they are until tomorrow.

The quality of music will be wonderful as usual. We will have El Ted (or SuperTed as he now is - Hull's acknowledged flamenco master and pilot of the Hull Smoking ClubMobile. And and the mighty vocal tones of Ossonflags. Plus other players and singers.

And then it's off to the Grafton to a session hosted by local heroes CowFish.

On Monday it'll be the White Horse Folk Club in Beverley to see Peg Leg Ferret at Nellie's, which, as a Sam Smith's pub, lets its beer go for considerably less, about £1.24 a pint.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 04:03 PM

Hmmm, iffy subject Breezy - you'll have noticed I only drink Guinness at the Legion..... Price looks good though!

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 04:09 PM

I only drink pints at appropriate pubs - Irish or English, doesn't matter as long as they keep their kegs the right temperature. The chain restaurant Bennigans (U.S.) offers Guinness, but they usually keep the keg in the same coller with the Bud, Michelob, etc. Ruins the flavor. They also charge nearly $1 more a pint for a glass than most pubs do.

A pint (20 oz.) of good quality ale or stout goes fro around $3.75- $4.25 in Orlando, FL. No bad when you consider they charge $2.00 for a 12oz bottle of domestic swill.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 04:28 PM

I cant work that one out at this time of night

roll on match of the day.

I'll check the price of guiness tomoro

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 06:31 PM

Blackcatter - if the pubs keep their beer in kegs and not casks, then you're living in the wrong country.
Ray

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 02:54 AM

Hey, if the turn is great, who gives a sh^t about the beer? Surprising though it may seem to some people, it is entirely possible to have a bloody good time without drinking alcohol. (It also means you can drive home and arrive at a sensible time, rather than depending on the vagaries of public transport and end up at the wrong end of the Central Line at bat fart o'clock).

Having said that, a good pint can make a difference. But that doesn't mean that I would not go to a place because the beer is awful. It's the atmosphere that's the important thing. I stopped going to one folk club simply because I never really felt at home there.

LTS

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 02:59 AM

Amen Liz.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 09:39 AM

All you beer drinkers go on about the beer, but no one ever seems to bother about the cider!!! All I get at most places is fizzy, chemical Strongbow, which hardly deserves to be called cider. If I didn't go to places unless there was good cider, I wouldn't go out at all!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 10:22 AM

Actually if you don't drink you are quite often in the shit. Most places have a a crap choice of non alcoholic drink and they are over priced.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 11:06 AM

True. If I'm driving I drink water.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 01:12 PM

The beer is not an issue if I am going to see a particular act. It would affect my decision to take a punt on somebody I had never heard of.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 01:31 PM

It definitely makes a difference.

Likewise the cider. The Kenny Cramps (alas no longer made by Kenny himself, he got cider brains!) at Ely this year was awesome.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 01:39 PM

I think the guest who is appearing is important next to the beer and the cost of the stuff comes in to consideration too.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Raedwulf
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 02:54 PM

Liz, you disappoint me. Good beer (beer, not bloody lager!) puts hair on yer chest. An' I knows yer likes 'airy chests... ;-)

More seriously, both are important. Given folkies, I find it difficult to believe that a pub that only has shite beer will attract much attention, & that means little atmosphere. Equally, I find it difficult to believe that a pub that isn't interested in getting some decent beers in is going to be much interested in attracting folkies by running/allowing them a night!

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 03:22 PM

For a Ceilidh, real ale is essential. The only alternative is to drink water. All the fizzy stuff (lager, carbonated sodas etc) are unsuitable in large quantities (to reduce dehydration during energetic dancing) because of the build up of gas they often cause. The build up of gas can either make one feel bloated, or, if expelled, can make one unnacceptable company.

Blackcatter:
The distinction BanjoRay is making is that "keg" beer is kept fresh by being in a sealed container which keeps oxygen out by introducing pressurised gas to replace the liquid consumed. "Cask" beer (a.k.a. real ale) is kept in casks which are broached with a spiggot (tap/faucet) from which the beer can be dispensed directly to a glass, or via tubing to a delivery point on the bar. A cask replaces the voulume of liquid dispensed by production of its own gas, as it is still fermenting within the cask. If too much is drawn out too quickly, air can be allowed in by knocking a second hole (The spile) at the top of the cask. This can be replaced by a wooden bung when the cask has equalised its pressure.

MBSLynne: Miskin (Easter) usually has a couple of good ciders (5 gal. polycasks) to supplement the real-ale bar

CHEERS

Nigel

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 09:10 PM

Speckeled Hen - at 2BPS - with an alcohol by volumn of 6.7 - is one of the best bargains in Britan for a buzz.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 11:14 PM

If all the beer in the World disappeared forever, I wouldn't blink an eye. Mangos, however, are something we definitely need more of, and at a good price! Chai tea also, when it's made right.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Cluin
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 11:28 PM

I'm working on it, LH. But I'm only one guy and I gotta sleep and pee sometime.

Hopefully not at the SAME time.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 04:29 AM

Raedwulf...good beer is a matter of taste and personally I prefer lager....if there is no real ale of course!!!!. And by the way...do you want a "Hairiest chest" competition?
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: John J
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 06:01 AM

It's of vital importance to me. If a pub doesn't sell proper beer then I won't go. Period.

JJ

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 06:24 AM

OK Liz, the beer probably doesn't rank as importantly on your list as it does on mine. Now if a venue were to offer Thornton's chocolate at a low price - you'd be there like a shot!

Incidently - there was a big tin of chocolates being handed round at the Banbury Mudgathering - when it came round for the fifth time it was obvious that you weren't there.   :-)

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Folkien
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 07:03 AM

I enjoy real ale more than anything else, but I'll drink that fizzy larger stuff if that's all that's available. I'm not missing out on good music just because of the lack of good beer!

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 08:53 AM

Hey, if the turn is great, who gives a sh^t about the beer?

WHAT!!! If the beer is great, who gives a sh^t about the turn? The turn is only music after all, and folk music at that. Beer is religion!

Apart from that I could survive for a couple of months on nothing but beer. The same can't be said for folk music;-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 10:19 AM

You Brits have no idea how lucky you are - you can at least get beer with your folk music. This side of the pond, most of the folk venues are coffeehouses. No beer license (my felicitations to "the Windham" in Bellows Falls, VT, one of the few exceptions that I can get to).

Does anyone remember a pop song from the early '50s called "How Important Can It Be?" Patty Page or someone like that. There's a song possibility here...

Peter.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 02:25 PM

Oh, that i had the luxury of choice! I've grown so used to drinking pisswater beer, i've actually developed quite a liking for it. You can take your fancy ales do something obnoxious with them, give me a warm can of tennents lager and ten regal and i'm happy...

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 05:29 PM

Hairiest chest competition? Bagsy I be judge!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 05:00 AM

No, you can be one of the contestants :-)

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,longpecker redneck
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 05:26 AM

Or how's about an 'airy arse competition?

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: breezy
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 06:31 AM

send for the gynaecologist quick

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 09:27 AM

I `ad that

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 09:42 AM

As I was saying before I was interrupted by the milkman. I `ad them "Taverners" in my cab once. They said, take us to the "AA" please. I said, what, you doing a dry gig at Alcoholics Anonymous?
They said, nah, you Wally, "The Angerstein Arms" at Charlton!!
What am I like!

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 10:50 AM

£1.95 a good buy!! Try Manchester where many many pubs still sell good ale for less than £1.50 or even Huddersfield where you can still get a good pint for around £1.65

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: breezy
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 11:21 AM

Yeah but Huddersfield aint got what St Albans has,

an Abbey

A verulamium

a folk-club?

2 folk-clubs

Kerry Pollard

but it was amenable to indoor busking!!

Most pubs charge 2.30 and upwards for the weakest beer round here.

Duncan Mcfarlane appears on Friday

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Peterr
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 11:36 AM

If the music's good, but the beer's awful, I'll probably go, drink lime & soda, and leave well before closing time so I can get a good pint somewhere else. Have to agree with Raedwulf that places which take kindly to folk tend to have good beer and vice versa.
My local brews its own, and sells it at £2 - and the landlord has a big house. In the words of the song

The landlord is so big and fat
With his great wig and big cocked hat.
I tell you friends from where I'm sat
He may thank you and me for that!

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Raedwulf
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 02:44 PM

GSilver - "Hairiest chest competition? Bagsy I be judge!!!"

I rest my case. Neither you nor I are interested in a hairy chest competition. But Liz is... ;-)

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 05:44 PM

Points for softness, length of hair, coverage and definition of crab ladder.

LTS

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 06:48 PM

Oh my! I do need to get across the pond. We hold our session in someone's kitchen and bring whatever bottled stuff we like to drink. Fortunately, VT's blessed with some good beer, but you guys sound much more serious.

Subject: RE: How important is the beer?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 09:13 PM

Both of course represent the tradition. I'd expect contemporary singers to eschew real beer.