Celtic Stout

In keeping with Sir Bowie's theme of beers with Bar B Q...well in this case with FREE pizza for my upcoming birthday...at our Sacred Watering Hole #1...Old Chicago...I give you Celtic Stout!

When the words "Celtic Stout" float out of ones mouth, one would automatically associated it with "Guinness", or perhaps for the truly informed and adventurous, "Murphey's Stout". Neigh I say! We're talking one that is so below the radar screen (well at least in the States) that it defies description. In fact, this is one brew where Scarlet would make you "Frankly give a damn!"

O'Hara's Celtic Stout, is brewed by an independent brewery in Ireland, Carlow Brewing Company. Dark as Shaft, Heady as Guinness, Smooth as your first teenage date on the vinyl back seat of a 57 Chevy...O'Hara's Celtic Stout is one excellent beer experience!

Old Chicago some how got their hands on this hard to find gem, with 8 kegs to last until the final drop passes my lips! So, my Knights and Lady's of the Tri-State, make sure to drop in Old Chicago and have them pull you a pint...you'll be glad you did!

Enjoying my birthday pizza with me, was my son...and newest member of the World Beer Tour, Sir Ryan of Warrick. He only has 357 more beers to catch up with me, a proud member of the Wall of Foam three times running!

Even though he is Celtic by his mother's blood, he still went with a Samuel Adams Summer Ale. At least it wasn't a Bud Lite! That's my boy!

Sir Hook the Celtic (By Marriage) Stout of Warrick

Beer Trash Talk!

I drive past our local landfill weekly -- sometimes Lady Suzanne and I take sunset rides in my topless M38A1 (Jeep) past the dump. Ahhh, the fresh air.

Though I have been accused of being a dumpster diver (picking through dumpsters to pick out good, reusable stuff, I've actually never gone into our landfill and searched for buried treasure.

After reading the following story, I might:

According to the USA and AP, Two Columbia sanitation workers apparently couldn't stand by and let beer go down the drain. They recently took dozens of cases of expired brew from the city landfill.

Police and city supervisors are trying to determine whether the salvage was a crime — theft of city property — or just a policy violation.

A Columbia distributor, Scheppers Distributing Co., sent 1,500 cases of expired beer to the landfill on April 1 in two shipments. The first shipment was destroyed immediately, but the second, containing about 700 cases of Budweiser and Michelob Ultra, was not.

Margrace Buckler, the city's human resource director, said two Solid Waste Division workers, who haven't been identified, brought a city pickup to the landfill and hauled off about 50 cases of the beer.

I guess word spread of the acquisition and a week later, city officials reviewed video from the landfill and saw the workers drive away with their haul.

"It's not unusual for people to want to take some beer, " Scheppers President Joe Priesmeyer said. "Every once in a while, we'll have some beer get stolen by overzealous people off of our trucks," he said. "Beer is a popular product."

Sir Bowie "Get your hip waders on Sirs and Ladies, let's go searching for golden treasure!" of Greenbriar

When Life Gives You Beer, Make Whoopee

Some of the stranded guests outside the Tan Hill Inn - Guests snowed in for New Year at UK's highest pub

Guests celebrating new year at the highest pub in England had a longer than expected stay, after heavy snow left them stranded for three days. About 30 people arrived at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2010. But the wintry weather conditions meant the residents were snowed in for a further two nights. Resident DJ Peter Richardson said: "We've kept our spirits up. It's actually been quite heart-warming." The Tan Hill Inn stands 1,700 feet (520m) above sea level in the Yorkshire Dales. Mr Richardson, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, said there had been a strong sense of camaraderie among the guests, who had come from across the UK. "People have been helping peel veg for the dinner and pitching in," he said. "We've also held quizzes." Guest Paul Manson, who lives near Alnwick in Northumberland, said: "Everyone's been chipping in by doing the washing up, peeling potatoes, getting cars out of the snow and keeping the generator going." A manager at the pub said morale had remained high. "It snowed heavily throughout the night on New Year's Eve, but no-one gave it a second thought until the morning when they couldn't move their cars," he said. So There you have it Ladies and Knights. A KMSA Dream for you to dream of tonight....stranded in a Pub and .....Judging by this website below.... I know where I'll be this time next year. http://www.tanhillinn.com/ Sir Dayvd ( anything for an excuse ) of Oxfordshire

Perspective

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2″in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - yes.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided,”I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children — things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “There is no room for the pebbles or the rocks.” “The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first –the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

Sir D ( who prefers Glenfiddich Whiskey on the Rocks ) of Oxfordshire

Think, Drink and Be Merry-Go-Round

Two blocks north of the very centre of Oxford runs a wide, tree lined Boulevard called St Giles'. It is owned by one of the richest colleges, St Johns, whose castellated towers flank the eastern side of it. On the west flank stands one of the KMSA's favourite bars, The Eagle and Child, haunt of The Inklings, and this summer the FF's and their Femmes.

Every year on the first Monday and Tuesday after the first Sunday in September

(St Giles' day), St John's allows the Oxford City Council to hold an Autumn Fun Fair along the full length of this boulevard. It is unusual for an English fair, being held in a major street of a city and blocking traffic for its two-day duration.

The origins of the fair related to St Giles' Church at the north end of St Giles'. This was originally completed in 1120, but the church was not actually consecrated until 1200, by St Hugh of Lincoln, a Cartesian monk and bishop. As part of the commemoration of the consecration, St Giles' Fair was established.

The medieval fair was held in nearby Walton Manor,then outside the city walls... where it took place in the St Giles' churchyard on St Giles Day and during the following week.

Queen Elizabeth I stayed in Oxford between 3–10 September 1567 and watched the fair from the windows of St John's College.

Traditionally, anyone with a beer shop was allowed to bring barrels of beer to St Giles' Fair for sale. Another custom was that any householder in St Giles itself could sell beer and spirits during the fair by hanging the bough of a tree over their front door.

The fair evolved from the St Giles' parish wake, first recorded in 1624, and which became known as St Giles' Feast. In the 1780's, it was a toy fair, with cheap items for sale. By 1800, it had become a more general fair with stalls and rides. From the 1830's, the fair included adult amusements and it became more rowdy, so much so that there were calls for it to be closed.

By the Victorian era, with train travel excursions becoming available, the fair was attracting people from places as far away as Birmingham and Cardiff.

In 1930, Oxford's city corporation, now the Oxford City Council, took over the running of the fair. During the 1930's, the poet John Betjemen described the fair as follows:

It is about the biggest fair in England. The whole of St Giles' and even Magdalen Street by Elliston and Cavell's right up to and beyond the War Memorial, at the meeting of the Woodstock and Banbury roads, is thick with freak shows, roundabouts, cake-walks, the whip, and the witching waves

These days the freak shows tend to be in the crowds rather than Bearded Lady Booths, and the delightful cake-walk and the Whips are still there with the food stalls, the funfair games, Dodgems cars and kiddy rides all supplemented by Bungee's Cranes and Catapults and gaily painted centrifugal equipment that could have been invented and used to train astronauts by NASA.

Yes, those are people strapped round this revolving ring

So Tonight, ( Monday) as it was a warm calm evening out, myself and a few pals took to the throng, via the Eagle and Child, and threw ourselves on the heady delights of letting our inner child out, without any of the beer coming up too. What strikes you as incredible is how they cram this much equipment into such a limited space, with the higher and more spidery of the rides flailing us literally within inches of the Plane Trees and the ancient buildings and windows of the surrounding colleges.

For me the sights and sounds and excitement of the Fair never seem to change since i was brought here as a child, and while i didn't this year bother to try and win a goldfish off a gypsy, or win a coconut at the Shy,......the delicious beer made us hungry for the Fair Food of Toffee Apples and Nougat Chunks and Ginger snaps, which sent us off happy into the dark night, to the sound of the Carousel Music, and with one of our crew clutching a big teddy bear he'd won for his gal, shootin' Air Rifles.

Sir Dayvd (who methinks is still on a candy and beer sugar rush at 2 am when sending this in..) of this Fair City

Indianapolis, The 21st Amendment & How to Tame Lynnville

The rather long title of this blog befits the length of time it took to develop, as it took a life of its own over a three day period. So, as the Cursillo movement says, the fourth day produced fruit. We begin our tale in Indianapolis...Capital of Indiana....home of the Colts...and now home to my son, Sir Ryan of Warrick.



We attended a preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Colts at the relative new Lucas Oil Stadium. The stadium reminds me of a "Hoosier High School Gym on Steroids"...with its large glass windows on either side (which open in good weather)...and arched ceiling (which also opens) that reaches towards the heavens as it echos the cheers that salute the glorious movements on the field.




Of course, life doesn't get much better than a good football game, 50,000 screaming fans, cheerleaders and beer! It was also an opportunity to witness the rebirth of Michael Vick. Sign of the day..."Hide Your Beagles, Vick's an Eagle!"

Pro Bowl Peyton and his Minions made short order of the Eagles in two impressive drives that lasted all of three minutes total! Then it was time for the "B" squad lead by recent addition and former Purdue Boilermaker QB Curtis Painter. He looked equally impressive and you could tell that in his youth he had the wisdom and humble ability to mimic his historic team leader in his style.



We then retired to Sir Ryan's "Eagle Nest" on the 17th floor of the City View Apartments on Meridian. Sir Ryan, recently receiving a medical discharge from the Army, has moved to Indy to finish his college and is opening up his own Computer Repair business. We are quiet proud of his accomplishments. One of which is the introduction to a "Beer Geeks Heaven on Earth"...the 21st Amendment liquor store.



Cleverly named after the amendment that repealed prohibition, another idiotic Utopian invention of the narrow minded religious right, 21st Amendment offers wine and spirits....but it really shines with its selections of "Domestic Bottled Brands" of Craft Breweries...especially those in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.



Of course, me and Daniel (pictured above), hit it off famously as he shared the ever so difficult to obtain "Bible of Craft Brews" and I shared with him the story and coasters of the Knights of Moleskine Spirit and Ale. It was a grand time...and I could have easily dropped a grand on beers to take home.

However, we made ourselves content to purchase four of Daniel's recommendations.




Representing four different breweries...Founders, Left Hand, Victory and Three Floyds...I had sampled beers from all but Left Hand before and was always pleased. I never had the selections we purchased above: Founders Centennial IPA (Michigan), Left Hand Milk Stout (PA), Victory HopDevil Ale (PA) and Three Floyds Robert the Bruce Scottish Style Ale (Indiana). WOW!



Of course, knowing that we were to meet up with the House of Greenbriar at their lake cabin hide away in Lynnville, Indiana in Warrick County...we loaded up the cooler with ice and began the process of beer tasting (OK...Beer Slamming) as we cruised the deep waters of this one time stripper pit mine.




Sir Bowie did an excellent job of guiding us through the sometimes narrow water ways and islands while we enjoyed every beer we could find.





It was a grand time for sure! We saw Beaver (no, not Lady A's unfortunately! LOL!), Falcon, Blue Birds, Water Falls, Rock Cliffs, All types of trees and vegetation and the ripples of feeding Bass and Bluegill as the sun began to set.




Of course, I had to sit up front so that I could periodically produce my Cherokee Indian Battle Cry that would echo across the water and bounce off the rock cliffs.




We made our way back to the Cabin as we navigated in the dark of night. Then we took the short ride into the little town of Lynnville, about 20 miles from my home.



It's the famous Old Fox Inn, where you will encounter "Real America" in all its wonderful and not so wonderful colors. We laughed as we sat next to the chain link fence that's inside which guards the stock of beer, as we thought about bringing Sir D here so that he could have "Freakin' Kittens"!

They closed the kitchen down for Karaoke Night, so Sir Bowie and I went to the pizza place down the block and ordered the biggest pizza we could get and brought it back and shared with the patrons.

Then Lady A and I danced to the surprise of all...only to be complimented by me bringing the house down with my cover of The Turtles "So Happy Together"!

As we were leaving to drive home before we couldn't...the crowd that at first where a little cold were begging us to stay!




The tip jar says it all. Not about the true character of these characters...but of the sense of humor humanity shares..."For A Small Town Like This One We Sure Have A Lot Of Assholes!"

As we were getting ready to get in our cars I turned to Sir Bowie and said, "Now...that's how you tame Lynnville!"

Sir Hook the Lion Tamer of Warrick

Knight Time at Jericho Tavern

It was Knight Time at Jericho Tavern on July 11, 2009. Knight Time has been a vision of the Founding Father's since its inception. To bring to life in video our adventures, travels and tales as we spread Unity Through Diversity across the globe. This section of our video will be available to view on You Tube later this evening after it downloads at http://www.youtube.com/DKWells57



Jericho Tavern, in Oxford, UK, is Oxford's leading Independent music venue where Radiohead made their debut in 1987 and Supergrass got signed to a record deal after a gig in 1994. It carries on that tradition in the music room upstairs today.



It is also an excellent Pub, and most recently has been added to the list of Sacred Watering Holes by the Founding Fathers of the Knights of Moleskine Spirit & Ale.



Sir Dayvd of Oxfordshire introduced us to a band he is very close to that evening. They are called the Joe Allen Band. I shot some video for the band which is now available to view on You Tube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/DKWells57



The Joe Allen Band consists of singer/song writer Joe Allen, accompanied by the very talented and elegant Angharad Jenkins on electric violin. The rhythm section is mastered by Chrissie Sheaf. The combination is absolutely stunning and utterly beautiful!

Here's a taste!




Cheers!

Sir Hook the Troubadour, Documentary and Candlestick Maker of Warrick

A Tale of Tell City

Following Lady Tammy's excellent blog on the Dublin Irish Festival in Ohio...and taking a break from all things English (still many more blogs on the England trip to come)...I decided to immerse myself back into real America...here in the Rolling Hills and Ohio River Valley of Southern Indiana.



Like so many communities in this part of Indiana, Tell City has German Catholic roots, with the land being fertile, the River open for transportation, and the scenery a reminder of the homeland. Of course the land also reminds me of the Somerset area of England. Tell City is about 40 clicks up river from my town of Newburgh. It was settled by the Swiss-German Colony in 1856 and named after the Swiss Hero, William Tell.



My reason for the visit was a joint business venture with Sir Tigger of Kidd, a native of the area. After our successful business venture we went to celebrate in Tell City's oldest Tavern, which has been a continuous tavern since 1872.




Originally called the Arbeiter Halle, which in German means Workers Hall...it's now called Braunie's Bar. Still sporting its original bar...modern Germanic faces belly up to a perfect place for a PBR!



Looking at the Pool Table (Billiards if in England) and Pin Ball Machine, the spacious bar looked like the perfect place to introduce Table Skittles and Shove Hapenny!



The Hoosier and Colts road signs hanging above the bar also hide gunshot holes, where the bartenders in the 1800's would shoot their guns up in the air to quiet the rowdy crowd! Now that's America! (Sir D can now see why I wasn't nervous at the Crown and Scepter in Frome!)



I'll be making quiet a few trips to Tell City in the future, so I can see Braunie's becoming a Sacred Watering Hole in the not too distant future.



Of course, just down the street is another historic building turned restaurant called Capers, where you can get classic American cooking. We also found Sara Palin hiding out behind the bar petting her latest hunting victim, a big Bull Moose. So, now you know what she's up to ! LOL!

Sir Hook Who Tells No Tell Before Its Time of Warrick

Get Your Fest On!

Last night my family attended the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio. This festival has been a tradition in Dublin for over twenty years and a tradition for my husband and I for three. This was the first year we took our daughters.


This is a really wonderful festival, featuring traditional Irish crafts and storytelling, food, dance, and of course, music and beer.

beer tokens

My youngest daughter was most interested in the historical reenactment village, designed to take us back to the Ireland of 1,000 years ago. We visited twice, giving us the opportunity to talk to twice as many folks. We were greeted with the Gaelic greeting: Dia is Muire. When we told the gentleman greeting us that we didn't know how to properly respond, it turned into a twenty minute discourse on life in Ireland in the year 1009. While we were all quite interested in our history lesson, my youngest was completely enthralled. She was rewarded for her attention by being allowed to try on a chain mail suit and a helmet and by being given a brief private lesson in sword play. A young knight in the making. Girls can be knights, right? It's 2009, not 1009...

Of course, before we left the historic village I had to visit with the woman who was spinning yarn on a spindle and discussing spinning and knitting. As knitting is a passion of mine and spinning is something I've always wanted to try, this was of particular interest to me. One of the yarns pictured in the basket is actually spun from dog hair. As the owner of a Golden Retriever who probably sheds a sweater's worth of yarn a month, I may need to read up a little bit on that.


One of the high points of the evening was the beer tasting. They held a whiskey tasting as well, but we were too late to register for that.


We dropped the kids off in a teen zone, where they played Guitar Hero on a screen the size of a bus. My eldest came away with a ridiculous amount of swag. She can rock her some Guitar Hero.

Bagpipe Hero would've been more authentic. And more fun to watch.

But you wanted to hear about the beer.


The tasting was sponsored by the folks who bring us the following brews:


We learned a little bit about each of the beers we sampled. We also learned a good bit about the brewing process. We were able to touch, smell and taste some of the raw ingredients that become beer after the Beer Fairy works her magic. (If you're unaware of the Beer Fairy, check out Tom Robbins' latest: B is for Beer.)

After the tasting, on to the show. The reason my husband, Tom, and I return to the Irish Festival year after year. The Prodigals.


We first heard The Prodigals in 1999 at the Folk Festival in Johnstown PA. We were immediately taken with their fresh, high energy show and their unique sound. They've titled their particular genre 'Jig Punk'. I suppose that works as well as anything. The band has undergone some changes in the past ten years (haven't we all), but they still put on a great show and attract a huge following. The music itself relies heavily on button accordian and bass guitar - an anomaly in the world of guitar-driven rock. They utilize traditional Irish lyrics set to a punk/rock beat. The effect is unusual and really cool.

With new knowledge in our brains, beer in our bellies and music in our souls we headed for home. An evening well spent.


Lady T. who was pleased and honored to have been invited to post and who wishes there was a festival every weekend of Pickerington