I which they would get tough on drunks in the UK they are a disgrace and the problem is getting worst.
My advice to you is to have another beer! "Bartender! Give my friends and me another round of "Bigfoot Barleywine Ales," if you please!"
Hmmm... Historian, maybe you're getting a bit too riled up? I can see both sides of the smoking issue when it comes to indoors. Being a still-struggling-with-quitting smoker myself, and being an asthmatic- don't tell me for a second that someone smoking in ym pub is *not* bothersome to others. These days, it downright ruins my night. And secondhand smoke most certainly DOES effect asthma. However- I can ceretainly see the logic of smoking sections (so long as they are seperated enough to not make the whole establishment a smoking section). Or- if a pub/bar/wherever would like to be a "smoking-friendly" establishement, fine. Means some people will be excluded, but hey, that happens all the time for a variety of reasons. SO on the indoor establishments, I can easily see both sides of the coin. As far as banning smoking in public parks?! Now THAT one is downright retarded. Everything I sadi above about being bothered in a pub by smoke- completely negated by being outside. I can stand 3 feet away from a buddy smoking and hardly notice. Now, if only these damn cravings would go away...
Oh, and an update on the CrazyD homebrewing adventures... aa point of advice for any of you gents thinking of taking up the hobby (obsession)- should you decided to brew two batches at the same time, LABEL EVERYTHING PROFUSELY. I think we may well have an over-carbonated molasses porter, and an under-carbonated IPA- with a strong hint of molasses. (Both will still undoubtedly be thoroughly drinkable and enjoyable beers... just not quite what we planned!) But that's CrazyD for ya!
So Martin, was the beer drinkable or not? Was it a molassis based IPA or what? Inquiring minds want to know!
This thread reminds me of something my friend once said in a bar; "Barkeep keep bringing us pitchers every 20 minutes until someone passes out. Then bring us pitchers every 10 minutes!"
Too much work and no internet from home for two weeks makes CrazyD an unhappy camper! The IPA, unfortunately, came out pretty close to undrinkable. I had been working with a friend on the brewing, and that was the root of the problem- he (and the other friends of his who were hanging out when we bottled) had little to no concern for sanitation or proper handling, and the effects of that are clear on the IPA. It's "drinkable", as in tastes better than Bud or Corona, but it's nowhere near as good as it should be. Luckily, the Porter is another story entirely- that one came out pretty darn good. Will improve further with age as well, as there's still a bit much of a hop character to it. So half the batch came out well, the other half not so well. But with the "whole operation" now 100% under my control and whatnot- the current brew in the fermenter is lookign MUCH MUCH better. Another IPA- but this one went in with a recipe I came up with, was brewed patiently and correctly, and is looking (and smelling!) VERY promising. Should make a great companion to sitting out on the porch reading on a nice summer night!
I think i am the only person i know who doesnt drink (and to think, i'm close to 90% Irish!). Just turned 21 in march too, and the only sober 21 year old i know of on 21st Birthday. I think theres a screw loose in my head (perhaps more then one) but i havent suffered cus of it. Think i am in better shape (which isnt that good) then if i was a drinker...hmmmm
Did'nt the Americans give their troops a low alcohol beer during the war ? I can't recall the name and can't find it on the internet but can recall the sailors gripping about it on the TV show McHale's Navy. I think it was called 3.2
3.2 Beer was the alcoholic strength of the brew that was sent to American troops in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. The vast majority of it was packaged in cans painted olive-green, in order to save space and to help in its preservation. A number of stateside American breweries were engaged in this process and sent hundreds of thousands of cans of beer to the American troops serving overseas in the Pacific. The common issue for navy personel visiting an island "rest area" behind the lines was two cans per man, per day. Otherwise, no beer was permitted aboard ship.
Of the very little amounts of alcohol I've had in my rather short life, I can say the best American brew is Blue Moon. I've not had many foreign brews so I can't say which one is the best.
I have two favorite beers. One is called Creemore Springs Premium Lager and the other is Sleeman Cream Ale. Both are Canadian eh. If you ever get the chance, you might want to sample them. My girlfriend says the best she's ever had was a beer brewed by German monks called Kreuzberg Bier. It apparently gets good reviews worldwide, and if it's brewed my men of the cloth drinking it must be God's divine plan!
