What an honour to be asked by the editor to contribute to the first edition of The Yard of Ale. And what a great title! I’ve downed a few in my time and was once a champion. Turn the vessels slowly and open your throat. I always loved competing, often after cricket so have done it world over, with lager drinkers. They start with an immediate handicap thanks to all the bubbles. I am known to be rude, proudly so, about lager and when I had a pub if I went behind the bar I refused to serve lager. I never appeared on the rota, but would help out if I was in the bar and it was busy or if I just wanted some fun. Loved it.
One day I was just jumping in to help out when two regular ale drinkers, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Harveys Sussex, came in with a third person I didn’t know. They told me later they held back for me to serve them. I said “Hi” and pulled their pints; it was still busy, and asked: “What’s your mate having?”
He replied: “Becks, please.” It was all so fast but I could see them struggling with their facial muscles. I told him: “I don’t serve FGP!” (Foreign Gnat’s Piss). I’ll take the money and you’ll have to wait for someone else to pour it!” He just looked at me, they dissolved into laughter and he said, “They told me you’d say that but I didn’t believe them!”
Maybe another day I’ll tell you about some “names” and the story of how lager came into being in Norway…
Till we ale again!